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Godspeed You! Black Emperor: Lift Your Skinny Fists…
Godspeed You! Black Emperor released their massive second album that combines grand compositions with rock instrumentation to paint a picture of the apocalypse and uses the album to spread awareness about the environmental problems that are hurting the planet today. -
9/11
An Islamic extremist group called al Qaeda hijacked four airplanes. They used the planes to carry out suicide attacks on four places in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. The third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C. The fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania (September 11 Attacks, 2018). -
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Iraq War
The US occupation of Iraq succeeded in deposing the regime of Saddam Hussein but also resulted in further military conflicts with other Middle Eastern countries that continue today. -
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Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was a Category 5 tropical cyclone that caused $125 billion in damage. The hurricane caused over 1,200 deaths in New Orleans and the surrounding areas of the city. It is known as the costliest tropical cyclone on record. -
First Apple Smartphone
First-generation of the Apple smartphone, known as the iPhone is introduced. The iPhone was a revelation. "Before the iPhone came out, smart phones were clunky devices — half keyboard and half screen" (It's Been Over...,2019). -
The stock market crash of 2008
The stock market crashed in 2008 because too many people had taken on loans they couldn't afford. "Lenders relaxed their strict lending standards to extend credit to people who were less than qualified"(The Market Crash...,n.d.).This made housing prices skyrocket to the level that many people could not otherwise afford. -
Barack Obama's Presidency
First black president of the United States. -
Michael Jackson’s Death
Michael Jackson better known as The King of Pop passed away in 2009. His cause of death was due to the negligence of his doctor at the time, Dr. Conrad Murray. -
Osama bin Laden assassination
The US Special Forces killed Osama bin Laden, the Al Qaeda leader, during an early morning raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan. -
Death Grips' The Money Store
Death Grips’ debut album was a revolutionary album that melded hip hop with noise rock and industrial to paint a picture of the darker sides of society and the growing Internet. -
Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting
Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. The mass shooting left 28 people dead and 2 injured. The shooter, Adam Lanza, murdered his mother at their home before then fatally shot 20 children and 6 adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School before taking his own life. The Sandy Hook shooting was one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. -
My Bloody Valentine's m b v Album Release
My Bloody Valentine released the follow-up to their classic 1991 album Loveless after 22 years and helped revive one of rock music’s most influential and innovative genres while still sounding fresh and unique today. -
Boyhood
A film following the life of a boy until he reaches college. This movie is important because it was the first time a director followed the same actors for 12 years to film the movie. -
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Ferguson unrest
The Ferguson unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, involved protests and riots beginning on August 10, 2014. The shooting and death of Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson caused these restless riots and protests. -
Kendrick’s To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar released a masterpiece album about the various struggles that black people face in America such as racial inequality and socioeconomic issues and also writes about having hope for a better future. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
The United States Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in the Obergefell v. Hodges cases. This guaranteed the right to same-sex marriage. This is protected under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. -
David Bowie's Blackstar
David Bowie released this album, Blackstar, containing his thoughts and feelings about his struggle with liver cancer leading up to his death in early 2016. It was a great way, to sum up, his iconic career and leaves his last impact on the world. -
David Bowie's Death
The glam-rock icon, David Bowie, passes away from liver cancer. -
2016 Presidential Election
Donald Trump wins the presidential election. This became a political turning point for America. -
Get Out
This horror film told a unique and interesting story that symbolized racism and how racism is used in our society today and was a ground-breaking film in the genre. -
Moonlight Best Picture Oscar Win
Moonlight is a movie that follows a boy in three stages of his life and illuminates gay culture through a black man's lense when the gay culture in America is white. The first time a black gay film won the best picture at the Oscars. -
Toni Morrison’s Death
Toni Morrison passed away on August 5th, 2019. She is a Noble Prize recipient and also a respected black novelist who was revolutionary in writing mainly about black women and fighting to strip the white gaze in her writing. -
Parasite Oscar Win
Parasite, a Korean film won the best picture at the Oscars. This was the first time a foreign film won the best picture at the Oscar in U.S history. -
The Killing of George Floyd
George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota by an officer kneeling on his neck which resulted in his death. The arrest was for allegedly using a counterfeit bill. This sparked huge protests and riots in response to his death. Many urged and protest for police reform not only statewide but around the entire United States.
