Before the midterm elections, Radio Rootz students wrote and recorded their thoughts on voting, politicians, politics, and the choices before the nation. Here is one Election Reflection from Joshua Rodriguez, student at Vanguard High School.
Another Election Reflection from Crystal Santana, a student at Vanguard High School.
Another Election Reflection, produced by Naquan, a student at Vanguard Hifh School.
The Radio Rootz scholars from the South Bronx Academy of Applied Media took to their school hallways with mics and recorders to explore their annual celebration of Spirit Week. The curiosity of these middle school students allowed them to discover the meaning behind this celebration of their success and achievements.
Before the midterm elections, Radio Rootz students wrote and recorded their thoughts on voting, politicians, politics, and the choices before the nation. Here is one Election Reflection from Solange Daniels, a student at Manhattan Comprehensive Night and Day High School.
Thomas Wilson is a sneaker freak. In this piece, he looks at how much people pay for kicks, the cult of limited edition kicks, and the difference between wants and needs.
Kids these days, they're always playing videos games. Keith Sullivan and Nate Robinson, from the High School of Economics and Finance, find out why their friends play video games, whether boys actually do play more games than girls, and whether gaming is a viable career choice.
Beyonce said it best, you can get crazy in love. Rataysha Lavender, from the High School of Economics and Finance, investigates just how crazy love can make you, with perspectives from high school students to her grandmother.
The world is a great place, right? Well, let's see what happens when seven, almost strangers, get stuck in an elevator. True colors really shine!! This is a story of what some Latinos go through when they live on this side of the border.
Capstone students at Cesar Chavez High School in Washington, DC, worked with Rootz teacher Selina Musuta to create Public Service Announcements about HIV/AIDS in the district. This is the Second PSA.
Capstone students at Cesar Chavez High School in Washington, DC, worked with Rootz teacher Selina Musuta to create Public Service Announcements about HIV/AIDS in the district. This is the First PSA
Listen to our Hip Hop Show... Radio Rootz.. the Takeover
that aired live during WBAI’s Hip Hop Takeover, June 30.
It’s hiphop through our eyes. Romanian Hip Hop, spoken word and, best of all, good HIP HOP Music!!!
Radio Rootz reporters from Vanguard High School, Irene Martes and Beatriz de Jesus, recently traveled to Cambodia to cover the Khmer Rouge Tribunal.
They created the following radio documentary.
Take the time to listen, its definitely worth it and you might even learn something new!
2008 is already here and Radio Rootz is hoping for the best year yet!! Take a listen to our wishes for 2008.
Radio Rootz 6th graders at South Bronx Academy for Applied Media had a pretty memorable 2007 -- you gotta check it out! And then keep listening, because their wishes for 2008 might make you laugh, cry and powerfully thrust your fist in the air.
Radio Rootz's Kristal Graham, MD Samir Khan, Rataysha Lavender, Katia Reyes and Saima Tayeb, took an in depth look at the life of a Pakistani teenager as her family was tossed from place to place to avoid being targeted after 9 -11.The Rootz journalists uncovered heart wrenching stories about the family's journey as they struggled to become documented, and how DRUM's involvement avoided them from being deported.
Radio Rootz's Jaleel Huntly, Sidra Khatkaty, Ashleigh Rampersad, Nathaniel Robinson Radio Rootz investigates a recent sad incident that occurred in a high school in Elmhurst, Queens, where a Sikh student had his hair cut off by a Muslim school mate. Radio Rootz journalists investigate the root of the problem and find alarming conclusions about attacks against Sikh students in public schools.
Michelle Santamaria, Leslie Gonzaga, Manny Diaz, Mariela Estevez, & Jonathan DeJesus de Radio Rootz exploran la vida de la jente en la comunidad de inmigrantes viviendo en Sunset Park , Brooklyn, Nueva York. Imagínese las dificultades que uno encuentra cuando el o ella no sabe el idioma que los envueleve. Los jovenes de Radio Rootz descubren que sí hay ayuda disponible en la comunidad.
Radio Rootz Special!
As some Radio Rooters prepare for college, they start wondering "How am I going to pay for college and not be broke!" And so, we turned to the experts. Listen to our exclusive interview with financial expert, Carmen Wong Ulrich, and learn how to Battle your Debt Demons!
Brooklyn Theatre Arts High School takes up a whole city block in Canarsie, Brooklyn. Every single one of the over 2000 students have to pass through metal detectors each morning. A lot of students feel upset about the security system, and how we get treated by the security guards. The Rootz Crew at BTAHS decided to explore this issue of scanning and police in school. We spent several months working on this piece, starting with reading news articles about school violence and policing, then interviewing, listening to our tapes, and deciding on our audience and goal of the story. We hope you like it - check it out!
For our second year we are back with the wonderful scholars of The South Bronx Academy of Applied Media. This middle school was opened in 2005 and this year our students are a mix of 6th and 7th graders. Radio Rootz is one of the many after-school clubs that SBAAM offers its students and we look forward to the great work of the students. In fact, you can get to know our SBAAM Rootz Scholars by listening to their audio-bios. Put your seat-belt on, these are bios like you have never heard before!
We're almost one month into the New Year, and for many who started their year with a resolution or two; it has become a struggle to make the changes they promised themselves. So why do people make resolutions year after year? Calvin Coolidge Senior High School Students explore that and more.
Tina Salazar Hits the Mardi Gras parade and interviews Biloxi residents interested in voting in the super tuesday primary elections.
Myra Salazar Hits the mardi gras parade and interviews biloxi residents interested in voting in the super tuesday primaries.
Crystal Edwards Hits the Mardi Gras parade and interviews Biloxi residents who share their opinions and interests in voting in the super tuesday primary elections.
Crystal Edwards Hits the Mardi Gras parade and interviews Biloxi residents who share their opinions and interests in voting in the super tuesday primary elections.
Vincent Sather Interviews Bianca Salazar who expresses her feeling on what it's like recovering from Katrina almost 3 years later.
Radio Rootz students in New York City hit the streets to see what on people's mind this Super Tuesday. Who are New Yorkers going to vote for?
Produced by: Ayana Haith, Kareem Smith and Steven Cheung
Radio Rootz's Michelle Santamaria, Leslie Gonzaga, Manny Diaz, Mariela Estevez, & Jonathan DeJesus explore the lives of immigrant communities of Sunset Park Brooklyn, New York. We can immagine the difficulties one faces when he or she has no knowledge of the language that surrounds them. These Rootz youth later discover that there is help readily available within the community.
Nakia & Rshante hit Pass Christian's Pass parade on Mardi Gras to interview residents and long time Mardi Gras goer's on how they think the parade has changed, especially on what the Mardi Gras festivities are like now almost 3 years after Hurricane Katrina.
What is Media Justice? Radio Rootz reporters posed this question to a wide range of participants at the New York City Grassroots Media Conference on March 2. Here's what they said. What does media justice mean to you?
After having a fun and exciting 07, Manhattan comprehensive students look forward to successful 2008! Happy 2008!
Prodced by: Ayana Haith, Jennifer Garces, Fasheena Jones, Thomas Walker, Steven Cheung, Kareem Smith
If I rued the world: Nas was very clear on what the world would look like if he ruled it. But what would the world be like if a group of high school students from New York City were in control? Take a listen!
Produced by: Thomas Walker, Daquawn Walker Ayana Haith, Fsheena Jones, Kareem Smith
Thanksgiving is a time for reflecting on life. What makes us happy? What makes us unhappy? What do we take for granted?
Produced by: Jose Pino, Thomas Walker, Ayana Haith, Fasheena Jones, Daqwuan Walker, Kareem Smith
When it comes to digging for music or connecting with old friends, websites like Myspace, Friendster, and Facebook are rapidly becoming the new tools keeping youth in constant communication. Radio Rootz students at Bell Multicultural High School asked their peers what social networking sites they use?
Vanguard students conversed with college students at Hunter college about the elections. Take a listen to what they had to say!
Introducing the very humble and dedicated JAYRE. Born and raised in Spanish Harlem, this upcoming unsigned artist has a unique style all of his own. Fusing together the styles of reggae and techno with pop and Indian influences, JAYRE's music stands out above the rest.
Since the age of 13, JAYRE has had a passion and desire for singing and dancing, creating an eclectic style of dance to a very different genre of music. His dedication and overall essence will surely one day make him a force to be reckoned with.
For more on JAYRE, visit
Radio Rootz hit the streets once again and this time jumped on the "International" trainline, the 7 train. It was a very interesting day to explore and see how much diversity finds itself in and out of the train while traveling through communities such Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, Corona and Flushing. In the spirit of diversity and culture, afterward we couldn't rezist enjoying some delicious Chinese food at the Flushing Meadow Mall and later some good old fashioned authentic Mexican food at Plaza Garibaldi. Yummy! But this piece is about our trip on the 7 Train not food. Or is it? Listen for yourself!
The "N" word, once a deeply offensive derogatory term against African Americans, is today commonly used among our younger generation, and most notably in the African-American and Hispanic communities. Youth who use the word say there are a multitude of interpretations of the "N" word, which they sometimes use as a term of endearment toward one another or of self-empowerment, and it is often heard in Hip-Hop music. So if the term is so utterly offensive to so many, should our youth be able to use it?
Radio Rootz's Kristal Graham investigates whether our freedom of speech rights were put into question with the New York City Council's symbolic "resolution" to ban the "N"word earlier this year.
Note: this piece is unedited and contains explicit use of the N-word. Listen to the Edited Version.
The "N" word, once a deeply offensive derogatory term against African Americans, is today commonly used among our younger generation, and most notably in the African-American and Hispanic communities. Youth who use the word say there are a multitude of interpretations of the "N" word, which they sometimes use as a term of endearment toward one another or of self-empowerment, and it is often heard in Hip-Hop music. So if the term is so utterly offensive to so many, should our youth be able to use it?
Radio Rootz's Kristal Graham investigates whether our freedom of speech rights were put into question with the New York City Council's symbolic "resolution" to ban the "N"word earlier this year.
This Friday June 6, World Savvy launches the Global Youth Media and Arts Festival with an opening celebration at the NYU commons gallery. This free June festival features the artwork of over 500 students from 20 different schools in all five boroghs, focusing on immigration and identity.
World Saavy's Global Youth Media and Arts Festival celebrates the creativity and vision of NYC youth artists! The Global Youth Media and Arts Program (MAP) is an arts education program for youth ages 10 - 18 in New York and San Francisco which examines an annual global theme.
This is an event you don't want to miss!
Turning 18 in U.S. society technically means that you are legally an adult but for a lot of parents it's a hard reality to face. Bell Multicultural High School senior and recently-turned 18 year old, Shanell Williams takes a look at the struggle between parents and their 18 year old children.
Now that the end of the school year is approaching many seniors are experiencing a large amount of stress and are becoming overwhelmed with all the graduation requirements. The seniors at Bell Multicultural High School are no different. They have all become victims of the senioritis epidemic. Bell Senior, Aurora Graciano, explores the causes of the senioritis epidemic and asks her fellow classmates what it means to be its victim.
In the last 10 yrs more and more public schools in the District of Columbia have instituted a uniform policy. A lot of students can't stand them. Some students have accepted them. Chut Vu, Erwin Mutamba, and Marcus Williams, all students at Bell Multicultural High School, examine the reasons behind the policy and whether the policy is making school life better for DC's students.
Do you cross the street when you see a group of boys hanging out on the street? Do you think that that they are up to no good? Shaquita Holmes of Radio Rootz tries to find out the answer to the question of what is it that young men in the community do when they hang out on DC's street corners?
Radio Rootz students at the Brooklyn Theatre Arts High School in Canarsie, Brooklyn, and Bell Multicultural High School in Washington DC took over the airwaves at WBAI with an hour long show broadcast June 10, 2008. The hosts of Global Movements Urban Struggles handed over their weekly show to the Rootz Youth, who shared stories about their high schools, their parents, and their lives. Check it out!
Ninth grade is a time when you're new to high school, and learning a lot of new things. But what happens when your high school itself is new? In this story, Avianna Newton and Jelani Knight look at the pros and cons of being in a new small school.
Angela Heller is not going to let anything stop her from achieving her goals. Not bullying, and not her hearing impediment. In this piece, she explains why she talks "funny", and points out that she's not the only person with challenges and dreams.
Everyone says your teenage years are supposed to be the best years of your life. But as Meaghan Pamphile explains, teenagers suffer embarrassment and worse, just like everyone else. She gets some of her friends' most embarrassing moments, and learns some family stories she may not want to know.
Kids lie a lot, as Kemia Ford points out in this piece. Sometimes the lies are just funny little white lies, but sometimes they have serious consequences – including major guilt.
When most people think of fencing, they think of people in white suits hitting each other with sticks, as Jemima Williams explains in this story. And specifically, they think of white people in white suits hitting each other with sticks. But as Jemima finds out, she's not the only young African-American fencer out there. In fact, she gets the real deal from two African-American Olympic fencers, Keeth and Erin Smart.
Tuesday, May 20th was Social Change Day at Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning and Social Change in Harlem. The school went on an irregular schedule as students listened to keynote speeches from the People's Justice Campaign and Gender Violence and then went on to meet with people from a variety of organizations about different ways they could effect social change.
Radio Rootz was one of these organizations and took the opportunity to expose Thurgood Marshall Academy's students to the vox-pop. There were a good number of students who found the tool interesting and useful. Listen to Thurgood's first vox pop ever and find out what they think of social change!
Introducing the heart of R&B, Lyrical King. Representing Spanish Harlem, he was first introduced to R&B by the streets and his family. A mix of pop, blues and R&B is what creates the essential tone of this particular artist. Now a father of twins, he is still motivated in achieving his dream in becoming the next R&B artist of the year. Determination and voice is what he relies on to make it big. Visit Lyrical King's Myspace.
Myspace. A place for friends right? Wrong! now a days it's a place for comedy, music, movies and even tv! Radio Rootz's Jessica Montano takes us into this world of top 8's, comments, photo albums, and custom layouts as she collects the experiences of her fellow Myspacers as they reveal that it's not all fun and comments in the world of Myspace. Should it also be a place for caution?
You down with HPV? If not, lets get you informed! Radio Rootz's Degora Anderson investigates this very serious but often overseen sexually transmitted infection. Listen as Degora does her part in keeping the us informed.
Bang-Bang!
Put down that game controller and listen to this! Radio Rootz's Imane Coleman and Brandon Thomas compare their opinions on a more than popular lifestyle of today's young and old life. They investigate and gather opinions of the effects of the violence in today's video games from all of todays walks of life. What do you think? Mario Bros. or Grand Theft Auto?
