::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

Vice President Kamal Harris renders the oath of office to Kristen Clarke, the first African American woman to lead the Civil Rights Division with Attorney General Merrick Garland standing by and her mother holding the Bible. SUMMARY It should not have taken any extra effort to get Kristen Clarke, an attorney with a luminous 20-year track record of advocating for equality for all, confirmed to the lead the Civil Rights Division. She was beyond qualified for the job. Clarke is now the first woman to head the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice. Proof that it is important to have women's voices in all areas of leadership, weeks before the final vote, several women spoke up for her in their own way: - Press Secretary Jen Psaki pinpointed several reasons Pres. Joe Biden had nominated Clarke for the role as justification for the Senate to move forward with the vote. - Melanie Campbell and her National Coalition for Black Civic Participation promoted her confirmation onl...

OPINION BY MONA AUSTIN  Madam Vice President.  These words would never have been spoken before the 20th of January, 2021.  On that day, Kamala Harris, a former California Senator became the first woman to be inaugurated as a Vice President of the United States (VPOTUS).  Harris fulfilling the role that was occupied by men for hundreds of years, disrupted the pathology of patriarchy and serves as a a source of pride for women everywhere.  Having a woman     serve in the second-highest position in the country, powerfully symbolizes that she is next in line to  be the Commander-in-chief if needed.   Women across the world gleefully posted pictures of themselves wearing Chucks and pearls throughout social media on Inauguration Day to honor Harris. Many women refused to participate in the proud occasion. Some critics online posted their opinions against the show of unity contorting it into a politicized moment about her views and valu...

buzzz worthy. . . RHETORICAL ESSAY/ANALYSIS By Mona Austin It was not until the election of President Barack Obama that African Americans could truly believe one of their own could be occupy the presidency. In fact, when Obama won, people started to believe anything was possible in politics.   This could be the year that changes everything for women in America.  With the prospect of a woman being elected as president, for the first time in America, women  having it all is a very real possibility. Are women handling their pinnacle moment to reap the benefits for all women's rights? I don't think so. Conversations about women's accomplishments and worthiness to appear on money and lead the nation, yet not in ways that would expand the narrative of a "feminine ideal" in society across the spectrum of American life. Two bold, historic  voices are currently at the center of women's rights conversations -- Harriet Tubman and Hillary Clinton....

buzzz worthy. . .#letgirlslearn NEW YORK (AP) -- A number of high-profile entertainers - including Oprah Winfrey, Mary J. Blige, Charlize Theron and Meryl Streep - have signed an open letter calling on world leaders to fight for gender equality across the globe. The letter released Sunday states that some 62 million girls around the world are denied the right to education, 500 million women can't read and 155 countries have laws that discriminate against women. "Nowhere on earth do women have as many opportunities as men. Nowhere," the letter states. "The fight for gender equality is global." Signers also include Tina Fey, Robert Redford, Shonda Rhimes, Ashley Judd, Amy Poehler, Colin Farrell, Danai Gurira, Connie Britton, Elton John, Patricia Arquette, Muhammed Ali, Sheryl Sandberg and Sean Parker. The push is organized by the ONE Campaign, co-founded by Irish rocker Bono to end extreme poverty and disease. "We still living in a time perio...