The Impact Of Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why

Being a teenager can be hard.

Show’s like Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why reminds me just how much I don’t miss the sometimes complicated and emotionally tumultuous time of being a teenager.

The series is now in its third season and if you’re not familiar with the show, it begins with the story of a young, bright, and beautiful teenager named Hannah Baker, with a promising future, whose life was tragically cut short after she committed suicide after being bullied, assaulted, and ostracized by her peers. Before her death, she records her story and her interactions with her peers, via cassette tapes, with each tape leaving clues and startling and sometimes heartbreaking revelations about everything she has gone through and different troubling situations that a number of her peers have been involved in and stayed silent about.

Though controversial, it’s hard to ignore the impact the series has left on the culture and the spotlight it’s exposed on the sometimes harsh realities of what it’s like being a teenager in today’s world.

What kind of war zones are our youth up against these days and how can we keep them safe?

When I was a teenager and went through moments of humiliation or bullying or rumors or a falling out with friends, things usually went no further than awkward silences, some staredowns, and a few empty threats.

Today’s teens are often not as fortunate.

They’re up under a lot of stress, anxiety, and peer pressure. They also have the internet and social media at their fingertips via smartphones, so, unfortunately, humiliating and sometimes dangerous and scarring incidents are snapped, recorded, reposted, and shared at unbelievable rates. 13 Reasons Why shows just how quickly things can become escalated, exploited, misunderstood, and sadly have tragic consequences for all parties involved.

I believe this series has gone far beyond just having a conversation about bullying, but has additionally brought viewers into the deep, dark, and complicated world of what it can be like being a teenager not only trying to thrive in that space but to survive in it too. 13 Reasons Why is important and I hope it continues to speak to more and more people as the series (which is anticipated to go up to four seasons) unfolds.

Dear Young Black Professionals

As you embark on your career, I want you to know some things and stay woke about what you’ll be up against. Please understand that no matter what, you have value, and you matter. Always remember that. As progressive as this world and different workplaces may seem, every workplace has a culture. You’ll be in different places where a lot of people who don’t look like you will be in the room. But know that you belong in those rooms too. Spend some time observing and studying those spaces and learn as much as you can. There will be people you work with who will make presumptions about your competence, education, and ability to fulfill your job duties. There will be more who will think less of you because of the color of your skin and try to disqualify you the moment you make an error, mistake, or ask questions about things you may not understand. This will all feel uncomfortable and you may get insecure, feel like you’re all by yourself, and think you don’t belong there, but ride it out...

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