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All content by Joanna Baker
George Floyd is pictured in a hand-drawn portrait using colored pencils by senior Joanna Baker. Baker sells merchandise featuring the drawing on Redbubble in order to raise money for the Atlanta Solidarity Fund.

[Photo] Art Activism: Student artists support Black Lives Matter

June 26, 2020
On March 29, 2020, protestors marched from Centennial Park to the Georgia Capitol to the CNN center to nonviolently protest police brutality. Those protests later turned violent.

“We demand change immediately”: A student’s open letter to police and lawmakers

May 30, 2020
Baker's submission to the AHSAE, titled

[Photo]

May 30, 2020
Maura O'Sullivan, co-founder of Branch Out Initiative, teaches her younger brother, Finn O'Sullivan, about wildlife. Branch Out specializes in leading inclusive nature hikes.

[Photo] Branch Out Initiative offers humanities opportunities for kids with learning disabilities

February 5, 2020
Even when students seem to be managing huge amounts of work, some struggle under the surface.

[Photo] “Duck Syndrome:” Students Feel Alone in Academics

May 16, 2019
In Atlanta, the high concentration of liberal people gives the LGBTQ community a false sense of security.

Living in an LGBTQ “liberal bubble”

May 3, 2019
The anti-vaccination movement ignores the scientifically established effectiveness of vaccines in preventing deadly illnesses.

[Photo] Anti-vaccination community harmful to all

April 19, 2019
The United States Women's National Team filed a lawsuit with the U.S. Soccer Federation on March 8 for gender discrimination. Despite producing more revenue than the men's team in 2015, a wage gap still persisted.

[Photo] U.S. Women’s National Team files gender discrimination lawsuit

April 23, 2019

Affirmative action is not the best path to diversity

April 11, 2019
Race-based affirmative action has both advantages and flaws, and it has been a hotly contested issue since the 20th century. Photo courtesy of the Brookings Institute.

Should colleges do affirmative action for racial minorities?

April 11, 2019
News outlets covered stories about Grady High School without having the full picture.

[Photo] News media needs more facts before covering Grady

February 11, 2019
PTSD causes the memory of a traumatic event to constantly resurface.

Navigating through high school with PTSD

January 30, 2019
Football has a deep connection to American life.

[Photo] Impact of football in society undeniable

December 5, 2018
Screen Shot 2018-12-18 at 9.37.43 AM

[Photo] Staff member’s first-hand account of anxiety

December 19, 2018
The stresses of high school compared to those of middle school can worsen depression in students, particularly freshmen.

[Photo] Dealing with depression as a freshman

December 5, 2018
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[Photo] Popularity of class rings creates chaotic environment for students

December 10, 2018
Social media pits the two political parties against each other and fuels partisan hate.

Social media amplifies the split between political parties

December 3, 2018
The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of how immigrants have shaped America. At Grady, many students are first-generation or second-generation immigrants.

Connections to immigration shape students’ lives

November 28, 2018

High school sexual harassment and assault should always be punished

November 27, 2018
The Vortex bar and grill is one of Little Five Points most iconic spots. This location opened their doors just three days before Atlanta's 1996 Olympic Games

The turn of the 90s

November 26, 2018
Shops surround the Plaza where many people have continued to congregate despite changes in Little 5 Points.

A Vibrant Cultural Revival: Little Five Points

November 26, 2018
Satirical depiction of a Grady cheerleader in an Under Armour cheer uniform.

[Photo] Under Armour brand sponsors APS athletic teams

November 1, 2018
Finsta graphic 2

[Photo] Spam Instagram accounts affect students’ futures

January 9, 2019
Students can buy kits from a variety of websites that allow them to test their DNA.

Genetic tests reveal students’ DNA information

October 16, 2018
Grady students don't seem invested in school sports.

[Photo] Lack of pep for Grady athletics

August 22, 2018
Percentages are from a Southerner survey of 222, or 16 percent, of Grady students in August 2018.

Juul: the new generation of nicotine addicts

September 6, 2018
A girl is distracted by her phone as chaos ensues around her.

[Photo] Distracting smartphones dominate classrooms

August 22, 2018

Family meals are beneficial for students and parents

August 16, 2018
Poet A.E. Stallings reads from her book

Award-winning poet Stallings reads at Grady

August 16, 2018
Illustration by Joanna Baker

Required classes complicate scheduling for students

May 4, 2018

Student athletes shouldn’t get their hopes up

January 23, 2018
Men can be unhappy with their body image regardless of what their body looks like.

Males suffer body image issues, too

January 16, 2018

Teaching LGBT+ history would benefit all

October 29, 2017
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Joanna Baker