The Stars of Dallas

Jamie Williamson

When it comes to Texas sports teams the Dallas Stars are usually the last team to come to mind. The Dallas Stars often get overlooked since they share a city with another Dallas team, the Cowboys. Many often assume the Cowboys are the only Dallas team worth watching or following the games, but that is not the case. The Dallas Stars are currently ranked number two in their division and third overall in the National Hockey League. The Dallas Stars have had a great season so far this year. The Dallas Stars have finally reclaimed the success they had in the early nineties.

The change in the Dallas Stars started in 2013 when they hired Jim Nill as the new general manager. As soon as Jim Nill came on board he made a six man trade deal with the Boston Bruins. The Dallas Stars acquired Tyler Sequin and soon he became a staple in scoring points on the first line. Another part of the change was in stating a new captain, Jamie Benn, and getting new uniforms to make them stand out. With the new captain, new uniforms, and new point scorer the Dallas Stars were well on their way to becoming a sports team Texas could be proud of.

The Dallas Stars made the playoffs tin 2013 thank in part to all the new changes the general manager put into effect. Even though the Dallas Stars did not make it past the first round in the 2013 playoffs, they have worked hard the past two years to get where they are now. The Dallas Stars made crucial trades in the off-season to become on of the best teams in the 2015-2016 season. One of the trades was with Chicago where the stars gained Patrick Sharp to play on the first line, and Johnny Oduya as a defenseman. These two players fit seamlessly into Dallas like they had been playing there for years. They brought a sense of renewed energy to the team, and helped propel the Dallas Stars to the top. Another pivotal trade for the Dallas Stars was Antti Niemi as a goalie. He has made some pretty impressive saves this season to keep the Stars ahead of the competition.

The starting of the 2015-2016 season seemed to unfold perfectly for the Dallas Stars. Jamie Benn has had a tremendous season so far he has led the league in goals followed closely by Tyler Seguin. The Benn-Seguin line has become one of the most successful lines in the league since they started playing together in 2013. The two players have such a good chemistry on the ice it sometimes seems they can read each others mind. If they continue to play with the success they have shown this season there will be no limit to what they can do in the future for the Dallas Stars franchise. The Dallas Stars may not be the go to team for many Texans, but they are fast proving to people they can be a big name in Texas sports.

 

You Are What You Think

Aaron Caraway

Altrusa International of Texarkana, TX held a dinner symposium at Wesley Hall in Williams Memorial Tuesday evening March 8th, at the beginning of this week’s large rainfall occurring throughout the ArkLaTex. Amidst this hostile weather, conditions proved favorable enough for the attendees to safely reach the event.

The symposium was the subject of a Living WELL Aware conference, featuring Dr. Patricia J. Sulak. Dr. Sulak founded Living WELL Aware to promote healthy lifestyles, with conferences held nationwide to offer “not only the latest published information in […] leading medical journals, but the skills […] to get attendees to a greater physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.” (“About Us”)

Dr. Sulak’s 90-minute lecture covered her Eleven Essential Elements to Health and Happiness, including a focus on attaining normal health numbers and seeking support from friends and family, which helped her achieve optimal health. She has spoken nationwide to businesses, organizations, and communities about them.

Altrusa International of Texarkana, TX – part of an international effort by business professionals to offer their abilities their communities – held this event with coöperation from Williams Memorial, donating the proceeds to:

  • CASA for Children, which “promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy so every abused or neglected child in the United States [is] safe, [has] a permanent home and the opportunity to thrive.” (“Organizational”), and
  • Domestic Violence Prevention, Inc. – providing 24/7 services to sexual assault and domestic violence victims through a cooperative effort between its staff and communities.

Longhorn Steakhouse provided the food for the event, served by volunteers from our Texas A&M – Texarkana campus. Altrusa derives its namesake from the word altruism, meaning “unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others” (“Altruism”). Considering the harsh weather rolling through the ArkLaTex this week, the Texarkana, Texas chapter made every effort to live up to it.

For more information on Altrusa International, Living WELL Aware or the events beneficiaries, consult the links below:

Altrusa International / Living WELL Aware / CASA For Children / Domestic Violence Prevention

Works Cited:

  • “About Us.” Living Well Aware. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
  • “Atruism Definition.” Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
  • “Altrusa International, Inc. – Leading To a Better Community.” Altrusa International, Inc. – Leading To a Better Community. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
  •  “Organizational Profile.” – National CASA. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.

All Work and No Play

Leslie Arietta

Being a 22 year-old college student with one year left to graduate means that I have to spend my time wisely. Many college students in their 20s can relate to the exact lifestyle I live. Some college students have all the free time in the world and others have to plan accordingly to fit things in their schedule. My life is literally all work and no play.

There are many events to attend on campus of Texas A&M University-Texarkana that are happening now and the near future. These events include super lectures, talking events with special guests, activity events, intramural sports, and collegiate sporting events. There is an event occurring on campus at least once a week. If you have time it would be a great opportunity to attend an event because it could be beneficial for your day.

Unfortunately in my situation I do not have a lot of free time to be able to attend campus events and get involved. My focus in life right now is school and work. I am currently taking 18 hours of class and on top of that I work at least 35 hours a week at my job. For some college students, the college life is all fun and games, but for my college experience it is about getting my degree and being able to pay for my education.

Coming from California to Texas I have learned to be independent and take care of myself. I currently pay for my own tuition through scholarship, loans, and out-of-pocket costs. In order for me to pursue my degree I must have a job to support myself by paying my bills and providing necessities.

In the beginning of the semester I was beyond stressed because I had no time for anything unless it was school related or work related. I did not have a fun life while people around me had plenty of leisure time. Now in the middle of the semester I have learned to appreciate the way my time is spent. Sometimes you have to work hard now in life in order to have a successful future and that is my life motto to get me through this semester. It is no longer about my life now, but it is about my life in the future.

If you are a current college student who is going through the same experience my advice to you is to take a deep breath. The college life is about building a lifestyle for yourself that can help you be successful in the future. It is okay to have a lifestyle of all work and no play, but remember to give yourself a little break when possible so you do not have stress. The key to stay motivated is to get organized and have a plan and all this hard work will pay off in the end. Appreciate your success that you are building now.

Love After Valentine’s

Anthony Hamilton

The highly anticipated Love After Valentines concert made its way to the Perot theater on Friday night, February 19th. Thanks to KTOY 104.7 and Soul Man Billy Bland, I was able to attend the show, and I must say it was a very good concert that any lover of R&B and Soul music would have enjoyed.

The performers were Vaughn Willis, Maad Moiselle, 2-time Grammy award winner Timothy Bloom and the Headliner, platinum recording artist, R&B diva KeKe Wyatt.

Up and coming R&B artist Vaughn Willis opened the show, and he proved to be a very talented 1 man band on this occasion. Willis performed a mixture of socially-charged and relationship original songs along with cover songs, namely Let’s Get it On, a Marvin Gaye classic, and Change is Gonna Come, which is a Sam Cooke classic. The highlight of Willis’ performance found him playing his guitar and harmonica at the same time. Willis also has a very strong vocal presence. He is not a household name, but I believe he will be at some point, as he’s a very talented artist with a strong stage presence. To find out more about Vaughn Willis, check out swifmusic.com.

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Maad Moiselle followed Willis. She is also multi-talented and what some would consider a jack of all trades. Not only did she perform her own material, but she was the DJ, and she provided the music for KeKe Wyatt. Her performance although short, was very high-energy and entertaining. At one point of her performance, she performed out in the audience. The highlight of her performance was the performance of her funk-tinged new single Sweet & Low, which is available on iTunes.

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Next was 2-time Grammy award winner Timothy Bloom. His performance was as soulful as it gets. Not only is he a very accomplished singer but also a guitarist as well as a pianist, and he put all of these talents on display. Bloom appeared to really enjoy himself, as there was a lot of playful interaction with the audience during the course of his show. It was amazing to see and hear him switch from guitar to piano and back to guitar flawlessly for the highlight of his performance which was the performance of his hit song ‘Til the End of Time, which is also available on iTunes.

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The last performance of the night came from headliner KeKe Wyatt, and you could tell from the reception she received from the crowd that her performance was highly anticipated. She also seemed to really enjoy the intimate setting that the Perot offers, as she interacted with the crowd while performing her hit songs including Nothing In This World, and her cover of Patti LaBelle’s classic If Only You Knew and the song that put her on the map in the late 90’s, the duet with Avant, a cover of the Renee’ and Angela classic My First Love. The highlight of her performance for me was when she revealed that her father had just passed, and she performed a tribute song titled Tears In Heaven during which she was overcome with emotion. Many celebrities won’t share vulnerability the way she did, and for those who have lost a parent who was indeed their world, it was very touching and emotional to us all. Her new album is available for pre-order as well on iTunes.

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All the performers pointed out how happy they were to put on this show for Texarkana, and each expressed a desire to return at some point in the future. If opportunity presents itself to see any of these artists in concert, I suggest taking advantage. It would be well worth an investment of time and money spent to see them perform. If you are a fan of good R&B music, these artists, in my opinion, are bucket list material. I would love to see each of them in concert again.

This was a very enjoyable as well as entertaining night for the lover of good soul music. I’m very happy to have been a part of it.

Manager Manning

Kevin Luthringer

Seeing what has become of Peyton Manning, one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game of football, has been an ending to remember. The man who holds the record for the most passing yards and passing touchdowns in NFL history has now become nothing more than a game manager. Who was once the most prolific passer the league has ever seen, to an old vet on his second team finishing his career with every bit of juice he can find in his tank.

On this improbable run to the Super Bowl by the Denver Broncos, led for the most part by the defense, we have seen a considerable dip in the play of a quarterback Peyton Manning. This began to occur about two seasons ago, when the Broncos made it to the Super Bowl to play the Seattle Seahawks. By those who watch consistently it was clear that Manning was beginning to lose a little bit on his throws. While he had a good season in the 2013 leading the Broncos for the majority of the season. Still, there was a noticeable decline in the production of a guy who was looking like the best quarterback in the NFL in the first four weeks to struggling in the last four weeks. Then in the 2014 season he started the year out fine, but as the weather got colder, he took more hits, and his aging body was hurting leading to another disappointing end of the season.

Peyton Manning started to make a comeback in the next season in which he broke the career passing yard record set by Brett Favre. It seemed as if we may had seen the end of the future Hall of Famer. In the game in which he broke that record against the Kansas City Chiefs he was benched for the young Brock Osweiler. Later in that week news came out that Peyton Manning, was suffering from Plantar Fascia in his heel, along with other injuries. The Broncos stated that he was going to sit out until he was fully healed while they decided who the starting quarterback would be moving forward. By saying this it seemed there was a chance of Manning not starting once he was healthy.

As this season went on, the Broncos won a few big games, and lost a few give-me games. They were winning due to the play of their league-leading defense, but were struggling to figure something out on offense. Then in week 17, the final week of the NFL’s regular season, Manning returned to action. With the number one seed in the AFC on the line due to an unexpected Patriots loss to the Dolphins, the world got to see number eighteen again. In the second half, Manning came in to replace starting quarterback Brock Osweiler. The Broncos came back to win that game and got a first round bye in the Playoffs with home-field advantage throughout the AFC Playoffs.

Then all of a sudden the world was seeing something that we all thought would never happen. Manning was playing to not lose, rather than playing to win. Instead of seeing Manning carving up defenses, seemingly knowing what the other teams were running, and throwing darts all over the field leaving defenders looking at each other confused, we saw a game manager. With one of the best defenses the league had seen in a few years, and one of the smartest quarterback, the Broncos were poised to make a run at the title, but just how far Manning could lead them was a major question mark.

The Broncos beat the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots in back to back weeks to earn a chance at the title. In both games the offense has done just enough to win the games by kicking field goals and winning the field position battle. Even when it seems Manning can’t quite get enough behind his throws, or receivers are unable to make even simple catches, the defense would force a timely turnover, or have a big stop that would give the offense another chance.

In a clash between the League MVP Panther quarterback Cam Newton and the NFL’s league leading scoring team against the Broncos, the NFL’s league leading defense in points allowed, we saw that once again defense wins’ championships. The Broncos were able to leave Cam Newton and the potent Panther offense looking confused the whole game forcing them into their worst output of the season. However, on the other side of the ball it was the same story. Peyton Manning and the Denver offense continued to do just enough to win the game. The Broncos won Super Bowl 50, beating the Panthers 24-10. The Bronco offense drove down on the first drive, but stalled at the end and kicked a field goal. That was then followed by a sack-fumble by linebacker Von Miller that was recovered by the Broncos for a Touchdown, two field goals, than eventually an offensive touchdown set up by another sack-fumble by the defense.

Although Peyton Manning was not the Peyton Manning we all grew to love, and he was not the same quarterback that has won four League MVP’s, he did go out a Champion. It is not known whether Manning is going to hang up the cleats and call a career yet. However, the overall assumption is that he will ride off into the sunset and retire as a Super Bowl Champ. One thing we know for sure is that Peyton Manning is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, and if Super Bowl 50 was his last game, it was an honor to watch him play.

The Beauty of Soccer

Leslie Arietta

My parents always told me, “no hands,” so I would run around the front yard with my hands up saying, “no hands.” That was the moment I became a soccer player. Soccer has been a part of my life for seventeen years. This sport is what I know best and I surrounded my life around it and it will always be a part of my life.

I chose soccer to be a part of my life because soccer to me is a unique sport. There are no constant set plays in soccer, there are no timeouts, and it is a one point game which makes it intense for the audience. Soccer is beautiful because there is so much freedom for the athlete to use their technical and tactical skills. On the field there are so many decisions to make, whether to release the ball and be a play maker, or keep the ball and use your skills to open up more space on the field. Whoever has the ball at their feet makes the decisions of the game.

Soccer is a dynamic sport. It contains eleven positions on the field, each having their own importance. Starting with the goalkeeper, this is the only position that is allowed to touch the ball with their hands. The goalkeeper is important because the keeper has the vision of the whole entire field. They are the directors and the voice of the field. Without a keeper there would be plenty of goals scored and the game would be too easy.

In front of the goalkeeper is the defensive line, which consists of; a left and right outside defender and two central defenders. Being a defender their job is to be mentally and physically smart. They have to be able to stop the opportunity of a goal happening.  The defensive line is important because if the ball gets through everyone else they are the last line to prevent the ball reaching the goalkeeper. The defenders are the ones who must distribute the ball to get the play to the other side of the field.

Before the ball gets to the defense it has to get through the midfield. The midfielders are considered the brain of the game. They have the most possession of the ball in a game. Midfield consists of one left and right outside mid, and three central midfielders. In the center midfield there are usually two attacking midfielders and one defensive midfielder that stays back to hold the midfield down. The attack midfielders are the play makers of the game these players have to be very technical and tactical in order to distribute the ball properly around the field. The outside midfielders are the marathon runners of the sport. Outside midfielders typically stay on the lines of the field to open up space and they distribute the ball with crosses to switch the field or to create an opportunity towards goal.

In order for the opportunities for goals to be created the team must have a forward. The forward position plays a huge role in the game of soccer because usually they are the targets on the team to get the ball to. Forwards mostly contain speed in short distance and their purpose of the game is to be able to make runs on the field to receive the ball. Forwards have the most pressure to score for the team because that is their one and only priority. Typically a forward should have the most goals scored in a season.

Soccer is more than just putting the ball in the back of the net though. It is more about what you do to get the ball in the back of the net. The dynamic thing about soccer is the tactics of the game. There are multiple formations you can play, but you have to be smart depending on the team you are going against. The two most common formations on the field are a 4-4-2; four defender, four midfielders, and two forwards, or a 4-5-1; four defenders, five midfielders, and one forward. Throughout the game the formation can change depending if you are trying to attack aggressively or maintain the game.

A lot of people believe soccer is boring because it is a low scoring game, but being a soccer player makes the game more intense. The game of soccer is about the decision making each player makes to get the ball in the back of the net. The game is exciting because it takes a lot of effort to score one goal. With football if you are down by a touchdown they can call timeouts to waste time or they can easily gain yardage in two minutes to score. In basketball it is possible to score in seconds and they are allowed to call timeouts. Soccer separates itself because one point is not simple to get under two minutes and there are no timeouts so the time is ticking as the team is trying to catch up. One goal in soccer has so much excitement behind it compared to three touchdowns in football because it’s a team buildup of getting the ball to the goal. A low scoring game makes the goals more memorable and important.

The fact the game of soccer is so dynamic and builds creativeness on the field makes it easy for me to be passionate about it. Many people have passions, but this sport has been my passion for seventeen years and now I am finally ending my collegiate career. I may no longer play soccer, but my interest in soccer remains. Everyone in this world has that one interest that will always be a part of their life. This is my interest because I know the ins and outs of this sport and as I look at it in a different perspective I continue to learn and develop on the game of soccer. Soccer will forever be a part of my life.

The Crisis in Flint…Coincidence or Environmental Racism?

Anthony Hamilton

By now we are all aware of the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan. There are an unacceptable amount of people in the city who are living below the poverty level and also over 60% of them happen to be African Americans. Whole families have been poisoned by drinking water that was never fit to drink, yet they’ve been fed this water for a period of time, and now there are many health problems beginning to show up because of this.

This story is actually not as new as one might think. It was first broken in 2014 that there was potential contamination in Flint’s water system. Al Jazeera America was first to break the story. The story was then largely ignored until recently when Flint became news again with residents showing the news samples of the brown water they are expected to drink, cook and bathe with, and it doesn’t appear to be fit for any type of human consumption.

The homes of Flint residents have been tested and their homes show there are 10 times the amount of lead that is considered the norm. As a result of this, members of the community who would wish to leave will not be able to sell their homes in any move, because it’s illegal to sell a home that has lead issues.

In all of this, it’s amazing that the Governor of Michigan isn’t indeed facing criminal charges over this situation. According to an article in archive.freep.com, Michigan has a 500 plus million dollar surplus, as well as a rainy day fund, yet the governor has said that removing the lead containing pipes is not even a priority to him. There is also strong evidence that he knew about the contamination as early as 2014 when he began shipping cases of bottled water to state employees but not everyday citizens.

When the first attempts to gather clean water for the residents of Flint, an amazing thing happened. Cher revealed, during an interview on CNN that she attempted to gather water for the citizens of Flint, and no American bottled water company was willing to donate any water to the poverty stricken, predominantly black community of Flint. Cher had to go outside of the United States to get water for them.

The Michigan National Guard was called in to distribute the water, but they declined taking it to the so-called worst areas of Flint, saying it would be too dangerous. This from people we would count on to help protect the U.S. during times of war.

The Flint police have also been using this situation to their advantage. According to articles on Bing.com/news and Trofire.com, under the guise of delivering water filters to the residents, they are in fact taking advantage of the opportunity to arrest those residents who have warrants. As an ex-law enforcement person, I do not agree with their actions at all.

According to westsidegazette.com as well as newpittsburgcourier.com, this disaster has indeed been labeled as a man-made disaster caused by the emergency manager that the state installed, in a cost-cutting measure that went horrible wrong, which again leads me to wonder why they are focused strictly on the emergency manager when he is simply a scapegoat meant to do the governor’s bidding.

When the change was made from the Detroit water system to the Flint River in 2014, the residents immediately began to complain about the smell and taste of their tap water, but they were largely ignored according to nytimes.com. Now they can no longer be ignored because they’re too black or too poor to have a voice. The entire world is now aware of what has been done.

Judge Greg Mathis, in an interview with journalist Roland Martin on Newsone Now likened this ordeal to a terrorist attack. “Every day, our homeland security’s biggest fear is terrorists poisoning the water,” Mathis said. “The Secretary of Defense talks nervously about it.” Mathis continues, “In this case, the government has poisoned the water, causing permanent loss of health.”

Mathis also speaks on the possibility of criminal charges in what he calls the poisoning of an American city.

Now there are children experiencing symptoms of lead poisoning, including headaches, anemia, dental problems and their internal organs not functioning properly. Adults are experiencing hair loss, skin disorders, and seizures as well as weakening of teeth and bones along with many potentially fatal cases of Legionnaires’ disease.

This whole situation is remarkably similar to the response to hurricane Katrina where the upscale areas of New Orleans immediately received aid, but those who, like the majority of Flint residents were poor, and less fortunate were left to fend for themselves and die. The same can be said for the residents of Flint.

I read an article on www.mlive.com about the General Motors plant in Flint having ceased using it for fear that it will corrode the metal, yet residents are expected to drink, cook and bathe in that water, and continue to receive water bills for water they can’t use.

I wonder how long this would have been allowed to go on and how quick it would be fixed were Flint an upscale community. Here’s to the hope that they receive justice, and those who perpetrated this tragedy upon the get what they deserve.

Life after Undergrad

TiAna Marshall

Less than a week from today 200 students will walk across the stage in A&M Texarkana’s greatest tradition–graduation.

Already, the pure thought of it is overwhelming for multiple reasons. Financial hardships, family struggles, will all lead up to that moment when names will be called. Degrees will be given, and happy tears will be shed.

I’m one of those graduates, and I am having constant flashbacks of where I was when I first came to A&M and where I am now. So many incredible people have touched my life in one way or the other, giving a push (sometimes friendly, sometimes not) whenever I needed it. To think that is all coming to a close in what seems such a short time, breaks my heart.

I will sit next to the rest of those graduating with me, I know I will feel a sense of pride. Being able to watch this school grow and the growing up it has caused me to do.

December 11th. A date echoing in my mind, as I am sure it is in the other 199 graduates. But what happens next? For some it will be grad school, while others will begin their careers. As for me, I’m willing to go where opportunity leads me, and I am not scared to have only that to say. The thought of life after graduation once scared me, but now it lights a flame of excitement.

As cliché as it is to say, there truly is a light at the end of the tunnel. What I once felt as fear is now an incredible feeling of confidence. There is no better feeling than to know that I can be proud of what is soon to be my alma mater. I can conquer the world if I choose to, and I have my A&M family to thank for that.

Student by Day, Worker by Night

Alyssa Bertrand

What is free time? What does time to relax actually feel like? For many, this is time to have fun or be able to just sit around the house and not really worry about anything. To an average college student, one may be able to experience this thing called free time. They can go out when they do not have class or have to worry about how they will study for a class. Being a full-time student and a full-time worker, is a different story.

Full time student means someone is taking 15-24 hours in one semester. A full-time worker is working 35 plus hours a week. With these times joined, time is very limited. Priorities is the key word. People have to make a list and know what MUST come first. To the people who are struggling, do not stress too hard.

Many students are also full-time workers and it is hard. It puts everything to the test. Your strengths and your weakness. What is more important to yourself as well as the other people around you. Free time is a rare gift that one gets to experience. This gift is something that is cherished dearly. Between work and school, the free time one gets is actually spent with a date with their bed. It is very exhausted when you go from work to school or from school to work.

Do not think that working and going to school is a bad thing or even the worst thing that could happen but it is actually a privilege. Even though the stress level increases daily, or not having much time to have fun and relax, but it shows the drive in someone. The most important part is to be motivated. The motivation that gives you the extra push is what one needs to look at all the time. Whether it is your past, the current struggle, or family that pushes you to succeed.

Take the no time as a good insight of what the future holds. If you are working and going to school, it means you are trying to make oneself better. The future is bright. Take it a roll with it. It will all pay off when the goal is reached.

Hip-Hop Hamilton

Jamie Williamson

Alexander Hamilton’s a prominent figure in history, the face of the American ten-dollar bill, considered one of America’s founding fathers, is causing quite a stir in today’s modern America. Hamilton, a new hit Broadway show based on Alexander Hamilton’s life is taking America by storm with its unconventional approach to music theatre.hamilton-the-musical-official-broadway-poster-3

Lin-Manuel Miranda is the creator of Hamilton. Miranda came up with the idea for the show after reading Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton. Miranda thought Hamilton’s story sounded like a hip-hop origin story. After he read it, he found it written so well it got him off the island he was living on.

Hamilton is throwing everyone off with its heavy use of rap and hip-hop throughout the score. When you listen to the cast album you almost expect the songs would come from the radio. Using hip-hop to tell Hamilton’s story is a new and inventive way to bring life to the Broadway musical theater scene. Hamilton has opened a new door for hip-hop in musical theater.

Hamilton is unconventional because it features a very diverse cast to play a very white past. Miranda is telling America’s history with people who look like America today. It also does not take away from the story or history at all. If anything it makes the history seem more real and the struggle the founding fathers went through relatable to a younger audience.

This play will be a part of history, like the story it is telling. It has been featured on 60 Minutes and Lin-Manuel Miranda has been interviewed on The Tonight Show. This is all unusual for a Broadway show. It is definitely worth the time to look up the cast album and listen to the cast tell the story of Alexander Hamilton.

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/02/09/hamiltons