Image courtesy of Pixabay.com
Sammy McClintock
Features Columnist
Following all the unpredictable events of 2020, no one knew what to expect in 2021. It was a year full of big news stories and controversial moments that sparked debate across the country. Whether it be politics, pop culture, or public health, these memorable events shaped 2021 and future years to come.
Storming of the Capitol
The violent insurrection at the Capitol building affected the lives of many, making January 6th a day in our history that will not be forgotten. During the riot, Trump supporters broke through security and entered the building, threatening the people inside. The situation escalated more than anyone could have predicted—numerous people were injured, and multiple lost their lives.
Classes at Newton South took time to reflect on the hateful messages spread by the mob and the gravity of the situation. “I remember talking about it a lot in all of my classes, and the serious effect that it had,” says Sasha Kagan, a Newton South junior.
First COVID-19 Vaccines Given Outside of Trials
After a long year of being remote, the COVID-19 vaccine was developed and released to people over the age of 16 in December of 2020. Throughout 2021, the vaccine was gradually released to younger ages, and now anyone 5 years or older can receive the vaccine.
As the general public began to get vaccinated, South students returned to school with a hybrid model. The vaccine drastically helped slow the spread of COVID-19 and made symptoms milder for people that got infected. The release of the vaccine in 2021 allowed people to finally return to their normal lives and activities.
Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and Oprah Interview
For people interested in the royal family, this interview left many shocked as Meghan and Harry disclosed the challenges they faced and exposed the racism that is ingrained in the royal family. Some of these revelations included Meghan’s suicidal thoughts, questions about the skin color of their first son, and Harry’s drifting relationship with his father. “I think it is good for them that they decided to leave and start their own life,” says Amanda Cheng. “The whole family made a lot of racist comments to them.”
Murder Conviction in George Floyd Case
The murder of George Floyd caused outrage and sparked mass protests across America. Black Lives Matter supporters organized protests to fight against police brutality and racism in our country. This year, Derek Chauvin, the police officer who murdered George Floyd, was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison. The sentencing was a major moment in our country’s history and showed the importance of police officers being held accountable for their actions.
Tokyo Olympics
After the cancellation of the Olympics in 2020, many athletes were left devastated that they could not participate in the event they had been training for their whole lives. However, athletes recovered from this setback and prepared to compete in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics this summer.
One memorable moment of the Tokyo Olympics was Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast of all time, making the difficult decision to drop out of the games because of mental health concerns. Although she was met with a lot of backlash for her choice, she also had many people supporting her and was able to show the world that mental health is just as important as physical health.
Travis Scott Concert
This November, Travis Scott performed at the Astroworld Festival in Houston, Texas. At the concert, massive crowd surges caused the tragic deaths of 10 people and injuries to many others. There was a lot of controversy and debate about who was to blame for the deaths and whether or not Travis should be held accountable.
“Now, every time I hear one of Travis’s songs come on my phone or on the radio, I can’t help but think about all the people that lost their lives at this concert. It really shouldn’t have happened because it was just a concert, and people were trying to have fun,” says Noa Dahan.
