BY SYDNEE WALCOTT

Time and time again, people are continuously told to be mindful of what they post online because once it’s out there, there’s no taking it back.

On March 25^th, Daily Loud reported a story on a New York judge who lost his job for having an explicit OnlyFans account as a side hustle.

According to the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, Gregory Locke, 33, held a judicial role consisting of: supervising law clerks, presiding at pre-trial settlement conferences, and conducting formal hearings.

Locke has produced over 100 posts since opening his account in November 2020 and charges a $12 monthly fee.

He also has a Twitter account where he frequently posts NSFW photos and videos.

His now-former city bosses fired him when they became aware of his explicit side gig.

There was a mix of reactions to the story. Some: either had jokes to say, were surprised due to the main job Locke obtained, or saw no harm in having an OnlyFans.

The jokes were whatever to me, but those who saw no harm in what Locke was doing made me give them the side eye.

While some employers will say: “meh,” to employees posting NSFW content, most would prefer not to be affiliated with anyone who engages in that activity.

That’s what quite a few people continue to overlook.

Employers have a reputation to protect, and they don’t need to have someone ruin the reputation they worked hard to maintain.

We also have to think about how our relatives and friends would feel, because no one wants to see any explicit content of a relative or friend.

I understand we are going through a tough time with inflation, and more people are looking into getting a side job to avoid struggling. However, we must be mindful of the choices we make and the consequences for them.

BY SYDNEE WALCOTT

Time in prison is the most common consequence for someone who has committed a crime, but that’s not the only consequence one can face.

On March 7^th, 2023, 21-year-old Genesis Escobar was shot and killed while attempting to rob someone in Chicago, Illinois.

Escobar, who was seven months pregnant, entered a car to complete a drug deal and attempted to rob those inside the vehicle. An exchange of gunfire erupted, and Escobar was hit in the shoulder, back, and hand.

A passenger removed her body from the vehicle, placed it on the sidewalk, and dumped money on her before the driver sped off.

Escobar’s unnamed boyfriend, who waited outside the vehicle, allegedly grabbed some cash and fled the area.

Witnesses went outside to find Escobar’s body and helped her before being rushed to the hospital.

Escobar was pronounced dead at the hospital. Her unborn child, a baby girl, also didn’t survive.

No arrests have been made in the case yet.

It’s sad that a young woman and an unborn child both lost their lives. I also have sympathy for her family. However, I’d be lying if I said the intended victims did not have every right to defend themselves.

Just a few weeks before Escobar’s death, Ali Mian, 22, shot and killed an intruder who broke into his home and attacked his mother in Milton, Ontario.

The suspect, 21-year-old Alexander Amoroso-Leacock, was pronounced dead at the scene. 20-year-old Romario Clarke was arrested at the scene and charged with breaking and entering along with unauthorized firearm possession.

Three other suspects fled the scene.

Mian is currently out on bail and charged with second-degree murder.

Many people feel Mian should not have any charges pressed against him, and I agree with that.

People deserve to feel safe in their homes, and the suspects attempted to rob Mian and his mother of that safety. So Mian (a registered firearm owner) defended his mother and their home.

Although I do not promote gun violence, people have every right to defend themselves and their property when being victimized.

I hope people will take both situations as a lesson and understand that incarceration is not always the only consequence of committing a crime. If a suspect involves themselves in an illegal activity and loses their life, unfortunately, it is the toughest life lesson they will ever learn.

BY SYDNEE WALCOTT

While movies and television shows are mainly supposed to entertain people and be an escape from reality, there’s nothing wrong with having some which touch on relatable topics.

As a child, cartoons have always been something I have always enjoyed watching, and The Proud Family happens to be one of my favorite cartoons from my childhood.

Airing episodes from 2001 until 2005, The Proud Family is one of the few shows that featured Black representation.

As a person of color, I enjoyed watching the show because of its Black representation and also for its comedy.

The Proud Family was also one of those shows I would watch along with one of my parents as they would recognize some of the voice-actors, and because they also featured songs my parents knew from their childhood.

However, the show isn’t only known for its Black representation and comedic moments.

The Proud Family was also ahead of its time by touching on many real-life issues. Some of these issues include having an understanding of knowing who to call a friend, racism, sexism, homophobia, and Islamophobia.

In 2022, the show came back under the name, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.

Just like its predecessor, the revival continues to feature its comedic moments, old-school songs, and touch on social issues.

The second season aired on Disney+ on February 1^st, and some viewers weren’t fond of the most recent season.

According to reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, the reboot’s second season received bad audience reviews as many found the show to be “too woke” and shouldn’t be for children for that reason.

The second season saw a heavy focus on addressing social issues. Some episodes addressed colorism, preferences, slavery, and America’s racist history.

The Proud Family was always known for being woke, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Just because a show is mainly for a young audience, it doesn’t mean that it can’t teach children about tough topics.

We have shows such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, That’s So Raven, Static Shock, and Sesame Street that also address social issues.

It’s great to have shows that can help us escape from reality at times, but there are times when we need to get in touch with reality and develop an understanding of issues that need to be acknowledged and addressed.