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Marlize Duncan

Recent graduate of the University of Southern California with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Law and Social Justice. 

My creative work centers on identity, entertainment and social justice. DEI advocate. Check out my speech to USC's Black graduating class of 2023:

BuzzFeed News •

“Abbott Elementary” Is Funny To Teachers, Too

The moment Miss. Redacted, 24, a former early Head Start and high school teacher, knew that Abbott Elementary, a mockumentary-style comedy following a group of passionate teachers and a self-absorbed principal at an underfunded Black and brown majority school in North Philadelphia, was something special was when she watched the episode "Desking."


In the episode, students start a dangerous TikTok trend where they jump from desk to desk. Determined to put a stop to these antics, the faculty, wh
Annenberg Media •

Primetime just got Brighter

USC sophomore turned primetime television actress Alana Bright made her breakout performance in Fox’s “Our Kind of People.” The drama series premiered Tuesday and follows single mother Angela Vaughn on her journey to reclaim her family’s name amongst America’s Black elite.

Bright plays the role of 17-year-old Nikki Vaughn, daughter of Angela, a spoken word poet with a deep passion for the arts. Nikki finds herself adjusting to and navigating her new life in the elite society of Oak Bluffs, Mass
Daily Trojan •

The Minority Support: Light skin, dark skin, but what’s really fair?

While Hollywood can be filled with drama, the only media-worthy shade in this piece is the shade of actors’ and actresses’ skin. Colorism. In the entertainment industry it appears that lighter skin takes precedence over all other factors, and when darker skinned actors are given opportunities, they’re superficial stereotypes.

Colorism isn’t something that came out of the blue, either. Hollywood began as a white-only industry, and when folks from marginalized communities were integrated and cast
Annenberg Media •

New USC organization aims to end “period poverty”

“That time of the month.” “Aunt Flo.” In the 1995 film “Clueless” it’s called “the crimson wave.” Often treated as a taboo subject, a new student organization on campus is fighting to end the stigma around menstruation. PERIOD USC, a chapter of the national organization PERIOD, was founded this semester by students who’ve experienced that stigma and want to make change on campus.

“The fact that I was scared to talk about my period until I was in 10th grade is pretty weird considering that male
Daily Trojan •

Student creates public relations firm for silenced voices

Last year, Alex Zarchy found herself stressed out from running the social media accounts of two organizations. She was spreading herself thin by writing and strategizing social posts and asking favors from friends to assist her with graphics.

Zarchy, a sophomore majoring in public relations and nongovernmental organizations and social change, realized she could turn her self-described “one-woman PR firm” into an organization of her own, and she did just that. Two Cents Public Relations, a firm

In the AM with PM

Marlize co-hosted and produced, “In the AM with PM,” for Annenberg Media -- a show that explored pop culture news, games, guests, and fashion! 

Watch Here

From Tragedy to Triumph Part VI: "The Civil Rights Movement: Snapshots of Everyday Life"

Producer, Writer, Interviewer, Narrator

“The Civil Rights Movement: Snapshots of Everyday Life” presents an oral history of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and 70s, framing the daily experiences of living through this era of social justice and activism. The sixth part of this seven-part series features topics ranging from the war in Vietnam to housing discrimination and representation in the performing arts, with personal reflections and an expressive blend of jazz and archival footage. 

Watch Here