Cancel culture is the phenomenon of promoting the “canceling” of people, brands and even shows and movies due to what some consider to be offensive or problematic remarks or ideas. Cancel culture became more socially acceptable in 2017 when the idea of canceling celebrities for problematic actions or statements became popular. 

Dr. Jill McCorkel, a professor of sociology and criminology at Villanova University, told the New York Post in an interview that the roots of cancel culture have been present throughout human history. Societies have punished people for behaving outside of perceived social norms for centuries, and this is just another variation.

“Cancel culture is an extension of or a contemporary evolution of a much bolder set of social processes that we can see in the form of banishment,” McCorkel said. “They are designed to reinforce the set of norms.”

Over the last few years, the social-media trend has gained momentum under the trendy new name placing celebrities, companies and media under a microscope of political correctness. 

To be cancelled means being shunned from the same society that saw you to be insensitive. Cancel culture ruins careers. It ruins peoples images. For those who have already been cancelled, it’s something they are finding very hard to get out of. 

The pros to cancel culture:

On one hand, cancel culture allows people to seek accountability where the justice system fails. When the #MeToo movement first started, survivors demanded justice by exposing their perpetrators by sharing their names publicly. Now it’s used to justify more than just sexual assault. The list includes addressing those who’ve been racist, homophobic or just generally insensitive to the greater society.

Cancel culture gives a voice to less powerful people. Osita Nwanevu, MPP, Staff Writer at The New Republic, states, “The critics of cancel culture are plainly threatened not by a new and uniquely powerful kind of public criticism but by a new set of critics: young progressives, including many minorities and women who, largely through social media, have obtained a seat at the table where matters of justice and etiquette are debated and are banging it loudly to make up for lost time.”

Not everyone has access to legislators or other powerful people, but everyone can sign up for a social media account. Canceling is a way to acknowledge that you don’t have to have the power to change structural inequality. You don’t even have to have the power to change all of public sentiment. But as an individual, you can still have power through social media. 

At least 800 big brands like Coca-Cola, Unilever, and Ford are using cancel culture to boycott Facebook advertising due to the platform’s refusal to censor the speech of organizations deemed “hate groups.”

The cons to cancel culture:

On the other hand, cancel culture is a road that leads to intolerance in society as people systematically exclude anyone who disagrees with their views. Instead of canceling people, we should be encouraging more people to tell their stories, to add inclusivity and complexity.

Cancel culture turns into online bullying, and can incite violence and threats that are worse than the original offense being called out. Sam Biddle, the journalist who retweeted Justine Sacco’s joke about AIDS that resulted in her firing while on a plane to South Africa, later regretted his actions and their results, stating, “it’s easy and thrilling to hate a stranger online.”

People who engage in the cancel culture often want to criticize without listening or understanding why someone said something, and then trying to change the minds of those they disagree with. 

A consequence may be that some members of the canceling group join in for fear of being canceled themselves. People should be able to speak out or remain silent on the issues without the fear of being canceled. 

My opinion:

Even though I don’t participate in cancel culture, I see both sides of it. I don’t believe that by cancelling someone or something we are getting rid of the problem that society sees as unacceptable. 

No matter who or what we cancel those issues will still be there. Instead of cancelling someone why don’t we take the time to provide that person with resources and educate them on the issue? People make mistakes and they should be able to take accountability for their actions and grow from them. 

The only way there will be change is if we take the time to educate each other. That doesn’t mean I agree with everyone’s actions, but I don’t think it’s beneficial to completely cancel someone when the pain and the issue are still there even after the cancellation.

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Hurrahs for Zaza’s

Zaza’s is an Arkansas pizza gem, tucked off Kavanaugh Blvd. Though it has its own parking lot and guests do not have to worry about parallel parking, much of the lot is reserved for pickup orders, so parking in front of the restaurant, if guests plan to dine in, is close to impossible. This is a good option for guests who are more cautious with the pandemic, though. 

Upon entering the restaurant, the line to order food is sectioned off from the gelato section into two different lines. Social distancing stickers on the floor help guide guests through the line, but when I visited during a Monday lunch rush, there were quite a few people in the restaurant and social distancing was difficult. Despite being in a rush, the staff was friendly and patient with hearing me through a mask and the glass partition. It is good to visit a place that encourages employees to be cheerful.

The atmosphere of the restaurant is welcoming and unique, with wood logs stacked floor to ceiling, going up to a second floor loft where guests can eat and look out across the first floor of the restaurant. The patio area was set up well, and is dog friendly, so that was where I chose to eat. I enjoyed a half order of the Santa Fe South salad, with no tomatoes and medium dressing. The salad was fresh; the ingredients were colorful and the perfect crunch I needed to go with my Margherita pizza. I liked how I could see my salad being made and receive it directly after paying, that way I could eat my salad as an appetizer while waiting for my pizza to cook. It was cooked well in a brick oven, and the fresh mozzarella was definitely my favorite part of the pizza. They even brought the pizza outside to my table after it was ready.

Zaza’s has more artisanal pizza than a typical pizza place, so if guests are looking for the greasiest, cheesiest pizza in town, this is not the place to go. My only complaint about the food would be that the parmesan shavings on top of my pizza kept falling off the slices after I picked them up, but that is not too bad of an issue. All pizzas are one size, so some might find that to their disadvantage if they want more or less pizza, but overall, the food is amazing. It is worth the price, but somewhere I would not dine at frequently; it is good for special occasions. This also a favorite among other staff writers.

Zaza’s is located at 5600 Kavanaugh Blvd., and their menu can be found at zazapizzaandsalad.com. They do not require reservations to dine in. Guests can visit anytime 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday through Wednesday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Boba Tea Craze

Across the street from Zaza’s sits Kawaii Boba Tea. The corner store is directly off Kavanaugh, so parallel parking is more tricky for guests. The pink walls in the shop give it a playful atmosphere upon entering. There is art from local artists on display and for sale, and the shop also sells Japanese snacks and different trinkets. They have a bookshelf with graphic novels and anime that guests can look through, as well as a TV playing anime near the front door.

The menu is somewhat complicated, and the one online is different from the paper copy guests receive in the store, but once they figure out what kind of drink they want, they will keep coming back. I personally get a regular size raspberry fruit tea on ice with strawberry and kiwi popping boba. There is variety in the kinds of teas- there is milk tea and fruit tea, and then the beverage can be blended (like the consistency of a smoothie) or on ice. Guests can choose from popping boba, jelly boba or the traditional tapioca boba, with many different flavor variations of each. If they would rather not choose the makeup of their drink, they can pick from specialty drinks off the menu. It is a lot of fun to go in and try new drinks, and the shop also offers Japanese pastries to go with the tea. 

There has never been a time that I have visited and it was not busy, so that testifies to how popular boba tea is right now. After a guest’s first purchase, they receive a loyalty punch card that gives them a free drink after purchasing 10. I am halfway to my free drink already and I just discovered this place a little over a month ago! Guests can also pick up a free sticker after they order. I have one on my laptop and another on my minifridge.

I think that if someone is already willing to spend a little extra money at Starbucks, trying Kawaii Boba House at least once is worth it. Both places cost more than a typical drink at Sonic would, but boba tea is a different kind of drink that offers culture and fun flavors. Nearby boutiques and shops are fine with guests bringing in drinks; I have abused that privilege before. 10/10 recommend walking around Hillcrest with boba tea. There’s several murals and walls painted that would be perfect to take photos in front of, too. Make a day of your visit.

Kawaii Boba House is located at 5625 Kavanaugh Blvd, and their website is kawaiibobahouse.sqaure.site. Their business hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day except Sunday, when they are open noon to 5 p.m.

Step back in time at Burge’s

Before I visited this restaurant, I thought by the name Burge’s Hickory Smoked Meats and Hams that this was more of a pick-up-meat-by-the-bulk type place, but that was definitely not the case here. After I saw a video of this restaurant on my For You Page on TikTok, I knew I had to check it out. I was pleasantly surprised when I stepped through the front door and saw the old fashioned, diner-style restaurant. There were some neat artifacts and vintage decorations on the wall, and I enjoyed walking around and looking at what they had up.

The menu features catfish, coleslaw, salads and sandwiches with smoked meats that guests order upon arriving at the counter, and their food is brought to their table on a tray when it is ready. Food is served in paper containers and bags that remind me of my high school cafeteria, but I think that method of food delivery is classic and fits the restaurant perfectly here. It is so different from other places that people can dine at in Little Rock, it is like stepping into a time machine with authentic decor and food from decades past. I was disappointed that they did not have milkshakes, though. I feel like that would have completed the whole visit.

My smoked turkey sandwich tasted great, and usually I am picky about sandwiches because I don’t like when sandwich bread sits and gets soft. This bread was crispy and good. I also had an order of onion rings, and liked them with the dipping sauce that resembled horseradish so much that I ate all of them and went back to order another serving! It is difficult to find good, homemade onion rings and this restaurant nails them. I feel like I could have explored the menu better here, but I enjoyed the food I ordered. I also saw a refrigerator where you could grab different types of smoked meats and sides to take home and they had fried pies on their menu, so I need to go back soon.

Burge’s Hickory Smoked Meats and Hams is conveniently located with its own parking lot– no parallel parking here– at 5620 R St. True to its old fashioned traditions, Burge’s is closed on Sundays, but open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Interested guests can visit the restaurant’s website at smokedturkeys.com to view the menu, read about awards Burge’s has received and the history behind the establishment.

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“Heaven forbid we pass something that’s going to help the damn workers in the United States of America. Heaven forbid we tilt the balance that has been going in the wrong direction for 50 years. We talk about pensions, you complain. We talk about the minimum wage increase, you complain. We talk about giving them the right to organize, you complain. But if we were passing a tax cut here, you’d all be getting in line to vote yes for it. Now stop talking about Dr. Seuss and start working with us on behalf of the American workers.”

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Unequivocally, classes went online or hybrid for the spring of 2020 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Entire lessons had to be transferred online and students who did not sign up for this style of learning were forced out of the necessity of safety for all.

Sophomore Community Management and Development student Kayla Maxwell describes the effect of switching to virtual learning on her.

“[At] the beginning of this, all online classes didn’t bother me at all,” Maxwell said. “I enjoyed them but now I am starting to feel otherwise.”

She believes that once we are able to go back to being in a classroom with our peers’ coursework will be easier to do. She is thankful for her moms’ support right now and her sister is also at home doing work virtually. She is keeping focus currently with “several calendars, whiteboards, and a list going at a time.”

Senior Professional and Technical Writing student Micah Rodriguez is not impressed with online learning either.

“I prefer physical [classes],” said Rodriguez.“The class interaction is more fun and collaborating on projects is easier.”

Having a set time to be in class helps her balance work and school commitments. At home, Rodriguez has a space in her basement that she utilizes as an office and credits her wife’s support for helping her stay on track.

“My wife has been my biggest cheerleader as I try to finish up my degree,” said Rodriguez. “Making sure I have time to work, have access to snacks or fixing my laptop when it acts possessed…she has kept me sane.” Her routine and schedule are her best assets to stay focused.

Sophomore Mass Communications student Shyanne Kidd does not prefer either method of learning but confesses.

“I used to love in-person classes because you could be hands-on and ask questions and get demonstrations in-person,” Kidd said.

It was tough for her at first to be able to balance her online schoolwork with life but has adapted well. She has found what works best for her.

“Because I have become quite the procrastinator during COVID-19, with the help of writing and scheduling things I have been able to keep on target,” Kidd said. “I also found to not overwhelm myself with school 24/7 and taking time to myself has really helped me in remaining focused.”

Some students continued to work in the public space since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rodriguez was initially furloughed from her job. However, she is thankful for that time because it allowed her to work on school projects. Since then, she has found another job.

“Up until about 5 months ago I was delivering and installing appliances for clients,” said Rodriguez. “We had COVID-19 protocols to keep us safe, I didn’t feel safe. Listening to people complain about masks made me laugh as I was working in the heat and carrying fridges up flights of stairs while wearing a mask, gloves and practically bathing in hand sanitizer.”

She has now been promoted to a stay-at-home job.

Maxwell was working in the childcare center of a gym before they were shut down after spring break in 2020. The gym was unable to keep regular shifts because of their limited capacity, so she had to find other work to keep her hours. She acknowledges that her employers now are trying their best to keep her and fellow essential workers safe but is frustrated by those who don’t feel the need to wear a mask to protect others.

Kidd responds to a potential lift on the mask mandate with a rhetorical question, “We still have people dying from COVID-19 complications, and the state might lift the mask mandate?” She does not agree with relaxing this preventative measure.

Rodriguez lives with an at-risk individual and agrees with the sentiment.

“I think it is irresponsible,” said Rodriguez. “Even when the mandate is lifted, I am still wearing a mask to not only keep myself safer but my family.”

However, it looks like Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson will let the mandate expire by the end of this month.

The world has changed, and Rodriguez describes this well.

“I remember when my wife and I were visiting our cousins in March of 2020,” Rodriguez said. “The mask mandate was not a thing yet and nothing had actually closed. We made a joke about how this will all blow over and we will be back to normal before we know it. We visited them 5 months later. Social distancing was mandatory, masks were mandatory, some businesses were a thing of the past and were shared a laugh on how that statement didn’t age well.”

Many wonderful people and things have been lost. Maxwell has seen some positives of the slowing-down of the world COVID-19 has forced.

“It has made me explore interest that I typically wouldn’t have stopped to give a chance,” Maxwell said. “I have put a lot more time into thoughts and activities surrounding my future. It has also afforded me great opportunities. While I don’t neglect the bad that has happened during this time, I am so grateful for all the good that is coming.”

Kidd gives this advice, “Wear your mask, and one day we will be able to have our freedoms again. Whatever you do, always remain safe and protecting yourself, family and friends, and strangers.”

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On Wednesday, Mar. 3, the Arkansas State Senate passed SB24 or more commonly known as the controversial ‘Stand Your Ground’ Bill. Later that afternoon the Senate Bill was signed into law by Governor Asa Hutchinson, transforming the bill into Act 250.

Previous Arkansas law prohibited a person from using deadly force in a dangerous situation if they could safely retreat. This duty to retreat before using lethal force is reinforced by the widely accepted notion that law enforcement should be keeping the peace.

SB24 being enacted into law ends Arkansan’s duty to retreat before using deadly force if the person is not a felon, has a reasonable belief they are being threatened, is not engaged in criminal activity, is lawfully present and if the person is not the initial aggressor. Essentially Arkansas’ version of the ‘Stand Your Ground’ Bill shifts the reactionary compass from defense to offense.

Eliminating the ‘retreat’ type language in Arkansas’ current self-defense laws opens up a gray area where the use of deadly physical force could be exploited. Changing the wording in the existing law to allow the justified use of deadly physical force is a catalyst for deadly accidents and laws to be abused, in my opinion.

When trying to understand laws, it is important to research everything having to do with that piece of legislation at the point in time. This means you take into consideration how healthy the national and local economies are, varying socio-political climates, international relations, social and political movements and pretty much anything else going on when the Bill is conceived.

Hutchinson’s stance was that there was no need for this type of legislation in Arkansas, after a similar measure stalled in the Legislature over two years ago. After those two years and some excellent wordsmanship, Hutchinson was obviously persuaded enough by the changes in the Senate Bill to sign it into law.

It is disheartening to see the governor of Arkansas supporting such legislation as SB24. This decision is questionable because later that same afternoon Hutchinson urged lawmakers to pass legislation addressing hate crimes in the natural state. If the governor feels the need to push for corresponding legislation to combat crimes fueled by social and/or racial prejudices, maybe this iteration of the ‘Stand Your Ground’ Bill needs some amending.

A measure like this is dangerous for the community in 2021, during a rise in domestic terrorism and heightened political extremism popping up across the country. The subjective wording in the bill gives the person in question the role of judge, jury and executioner when using deadly force in the name of self-defense.

This ‘Stand Your Ground’ Bill puts the decision-making power in the hands of citizens, which seems incredibly risky given the ‘deadly physical force’ section in Arkansas Code 5-2-607. Leave the deadly physical force to those who are trained to deal with that caliber of savagery. Only time will tell if this senate bill turned law will save lives or if it will take them.

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The National Guard was even called to ensure the integration of Central High School. They were deployed after Dwight D. Eisenhower gave a subtle warning to Governor Orval Faubus not to defy the Supreme Courts ruling after Faubus threatened using the Arkansas National Guard to block integration.

These monuments and their hidden figures allow us to reflect on the past. We do not usually think about city history when we think of active change. We do not think about the fact that there used to be labels on water fountains and separate sections on our bus. Most of all, we do not think of the hidden figures in our very community that helped inspire social change. Today, there are activists stepping back up to the plate after resting years on the bench.

Mrs. Misty Cartright, an 85-year-old African American woman, is one of them.

“Segregation isn’t about color, but about how we treat people,” Cartright said.

Cartwright is a prior social worker who has enacted change in many lives. In the 1960s she worked through many cases to get where she is today. “Seventy years I have been fighting this fight,” Cartwright said with a proud smile. That fight presses on through years of social ignorance, and this last year we were faced with the hard truths. The color of our skin has always defined our ethnicity, but as we have grown there have been prejudices set out on both sides. In 2020, we had an opportunity to visit our views on racism and our morals. The emergence of Black Lives Matter was a profound moment in our year of troubles, and people everywhere like Misty and Tracey Dae continue to pursue social change.

“Black, white, yellow, brown or whatever color you are; your treatment should depend on your character,” said Dae, a retired teacher that continues to work with social activist groups. “Sometimes that means being the bigger man, and other times you should know when to admit your wrongs.”

Black Lives Matter was created to fight for freedom, liberation and justice. There were multiple peaceful protests in 2020 that hoped to develop social change. Although the peaceful protests received criticism, there was a lot of realization through these events.  There were multiple reform changes and a drastic development on dash cams and body cams for the police force.

Our country continued to push through these challenges during the race between Donald J. Trump and Joe Biden for President. Tensions ran high, but whenever inauguration came around- history was made. When President Joe Biden was elected as the 46^th United States President, Kamala Harris became the Vice President and made history as she is the first woman in a presidential office of both South American and African American ancestry.

These moments in history show us that social activism can bring about not only subtle change, but lasting effects. Our country is constantly evolving. We may seem to be taking steps back right now, but history is bound to throw us forward into the future, espeically with the amazing work of activists like Cartwright and Dae.

Take the time this Black History Month to learn the history of your city! Find the hidden figures everywhere around you. Take the time to watch history being made. How will you enact social change?

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“Being able to open or knock down doors that were previously closed is the only way to break those barriers dividing us,” Sen. Elliot stated.

“We can forward black history, other history, by being intentional, being inclusive, and having integrity. These are all monumental factors in making change,” said Mayor Scott Jr..

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