Category: Weekly Reviews

Perhaps you remember Leeya’s article from Bringing Food to Life about Garland; how the flavors of the dishes she had at Cheeti Kumar’s Garland, a restaurant located in Raleigh, reminded her of various family members. We are sad to say that Garland closed on August 27. However, that doesn’t mean we won’t see Kumar’s work…

This book aims to use historical events to explain present events. While the book is dense, there are quotes and stories layered throughout. Anyone who wants to understand the current political climate and dive deep into the ideals that make up America should read this book!

Elvis Presley is an American icon. His slicked-back black hair, integrated sound, and appeal to the ladies make him quite the superstar. But was this superstar really living the perfect life or was it all just a show? Elvis explores the relationship between Elvis and his manager: Colonel Tom Parker. What’s most impressive is how…

By Leeya Get Out, a horror movie that draws parallels to our racially complex society today, delves deeper into what one race wants that others have. For example, the movie centers around a White family wanting to steal a Black man’s strength. I interpreted this as symbolism of the phenomenon we are seeing today: cultural…

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is a creative, comedic, but heart-wrenching story that spreads a truly important message about community, love and kindness. This “mockumentary” follows the story of Marcel, a shell who lives in a house with his community: his family, friends and neighbors. Until one day, the couple who owned the house…

You probably haven’t heard of Pauli Murray. But their ideas influenced some of the biggest legal activists we do know of: Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Thurgood Marshall. Murray’s work fighting for women’s rights and rights for people of color began even before the Civil Rights Movement after the 60s started. This non-binary and Black activist,…

One of the industries with the worst gender discrimination is the media and entertainment industry, with only about 15% of movie and show directors being female and many movies starring mainly men with women put into stereotypical roles. This Changes Everything, streaming on Netflix, dives into the gender disparity in Hollywood with famous actresses and…

Presidents: the most powerful people in the world. But next to every president is their partner. The First Lady exhibits the sacrifice and change that many spouses bring to a job they didn’t ask for. The First Lady jumps between the stories of Michelle Obama, Eleanor Roosevelt and Betty Ford and their time at the…

Empire State of Mind is a great, upbeat song, which describes all the different aspects of the Big Apple. It describes different ethnicities of people, different neighborhoods, the intertwining of all the different cultures. This is a true love song to a city by two New Yorkers who feel at home in the “concrete jungle”…

We the People, created in the previous year, is a collection of beautiful animations and songs, sung by YOUR favorite artists. It covers topics from taxes to rights to what it means to be a citizen. This series is great to learn more about the US, especially this July 4th! Listen and watch more of…