In November 2013, a typical event with an unusual topic occurred. Simply put, a Youtube video has gone viral. In my generation, this is a fairly common occurrence; nothing that might raise eyebrows or start a controversy. But this was no ordinary viral video of cats playing the piano; For once, someone from our generation has used their voice to speak out about what matters. Sy Stokes, a black student at UCLA, wrote and performed words about the myth of individual merit the year after affirmative action was removed from the admissions process. Stokes and the rest of the "Black Bruins" originally intended to reach out to the UCLA community, but the video spread around the world and started a petition for change. Stokes asks viewers to notice the relationship between races at UCLA and how black students are used to benefit the university where he sees fit, but are otherwise oppressed in a white-dominated culture. Stokes opens the show by saying, "We've learned that white mixed with anything makes it brighter / but we wouldn't dare mix anything with brown or black or our whole creation would be ruined" and then later, "...the dark section intact of the / palette of brushes became the symbol of the melanin in our skin / The painter only used us to write the words that were dark enough to / be noticed on a white background most likely, something on a larger scale In added to all this, the percentage of black students in the school is decreasing and Stokes describes it as “merely the second hand of a clock” when shown through the pie charts. At this point, the viewer realizes… in the middle of the paper... gives ruin / how the hell should I be proud... to call myself... a Bruin." “The Black Bruins” shows that subtle cues can have a big impact on an audience. By not explicitly stating that he was using the opening titles, color, and clothing to convey racial distinctions, the information had time to slowly sink in to the viewer instead of slapping them in the face. The metaphors in the piece also painted a very distinct picture for those who did not realize the extent to which racial boundaries affect students on an emotional level. Overall, Stokes has provided an excellent source for studying white dominance in academia and the restrictions placed on black students (and I think it is a reasonable step to consider faculty in this comparison as well). In conclusion, this viral video expressed issues that needed to be addressed and started a debate around the world.