Ideas

Does My Neighborhood Want Me to Drop Out of College?

A Student in Watts Asks Why She’s Spent a Decade Choosing Between Survival and Her Degree

Zócalo celebrated its 20th birthday recently! As part of the festivities, we’re publishing reflections and responses that revisit and reimagine some of our most impactful stories and public programs. Watts resident and student Shanice Joseph revisits her own essay “Does My Neighborhood Want Me to Get Pregnant?” and pens an update on her journey—and struggle—to get her college degree.

Over a decade has passed since I published my first-ever viral essay.

I was struggling to make ends meet while pursuing my journalism degree at Long Beach …

by Shanice Joseph |

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More In: Ideas

Is Birth Control Under Attack?

Moves to Limit Contraception—From IUDs to the Pill—Are Following the Anti-Abortion Playbook

by Megan Kavanaugh |

Zócalo celebrated its 20th birthday recently! As part of the festivities, we’re publishing reflections and responses that revisit and reimagine some of our most …

‘Navigate’ Is an Overused Metaphor

And Other Observations From a Native English Speaker Who Relocated From India to the U.S.

by Ashwini Gangal |

In the 15th century, Italian merchant Amerigo Vespucci undertook many a voyage—navigating rough seas for months, sometimes years, between Europe and the New World.

There’s nothing I would change about that …

California Officials Can’t Build By Their Own Rules | Zocalo Public Square • Arizona State University • Smithsonian

California Officials Can’t Build By Their Own Rules

An Addition to the Capitol Is Over Budget and Behind Schedule—While Sacramento Keeps Exempting Itself From State Law

by Joe Mathews |

At the very center of state government, you’ll find a hole in the ground demonstrating that the people who make California laws can’t live by them. 

That hole is, for now, …

Small and big dogs playing at a beach while a 'No Dogs Allowed' sign is visible on the left.

I’m Autistic and Scared of Your Dog

Some of My Favorite Summer Places Feel Perilous When People Flout Leash Laws

by Jason Jacoby Lee |

It’s a beautiful summer day in Venice, California, and everyone seems to be out enjoying the beach—except for me.

I am profoundly autistic. As a result, I may jump up and …

Who Will Defend Us From the Body Snatchers?

The Pod People Are Back. This Time, Our Overworked Local Officials Are Even Less Prepared to Protect Us

by Joe Mathews |

Maybe I’ve been watching too many old movies.

Or maybe the body snatchers are back.

We’ve seen them twice before in my home state of California. Both invasions—of pod aliens, who secretly …


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