Nila Roper

Hi there! 

Welcome to my portfolio! My name is Nila Roper, and I'm a Spelman College alumna with a B.A. in English and a minor in Comparative Women's Studies. I was previously a staff writer and column editor for The Spelman Blueprint, and am now an Education reporting intern with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

My Recent Work

Boldly Curated Media •

Students threatened with repercussions for participating in I.C.E. protests 

Georgia’s Cobb County School District has warned students of potential consequences for participating in walkouts in protest of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 


In response to increasing raids and arrests by ICE under the Trump Administration, many students across the nation participated in coordinated walkout protests on Friday, January 30th. Controversy has only intensified over the past several weeks following the high-profile deaths of protesters Renée Good and Alex Pretti, bot...
The Spelman Blueprint •

An Evening of Enlightenment: Jason Reynolds Comes To Spelman

On Friday, Oct. 24, the Literature, Media and Writing Department at Spelman College presented “An Evening of Enlightenment,” a powerful keynote discussion between renowned author Jason Reynolds and accomplished entrepreneur and civic leader, Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon. The event was also hosted in partnership with Page Turners Make Great Learners, a nonprofit literacy organization that aims to foster a love of reading amongst Georgia’s youth, as well as Little Shop of Stories, an independent bookstore...
The Spelman Blueprint •

Breezy Bowl: On Violence, “Cancel Culture” and Complacency

On March 26, Chris Brown announced his “Breezy Bowl XX” Tour, a celebration marking 20 years since his debut album’s release. It has been his highest-grossing tour yet: from its kickoff in June through only Sept. 26, Brown sold 1.7 million tickets and brought in 241.4 million dollars. There is no denying the sustained success of Chris Brown’s career, which I have grown up witnessing. However, despite his talent and the memories I associate with his music, it becomes impossible for me to separate...
The Spelman Blueprint •

The 47th: Trump’s Immigration Policy and the Fight to Protect Georgia’s Migrant Communities

On January 20th, 2025, Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States. One of the most prominent issues of the 2024 election was immigration policy– during President Trump’s first presidential run, he became infamous for his strict views on limiting immigration, particularly from Mexico and other Latin American countries. A central promise of his 2016 campaign was building a wall along the US-Mexico border, and he has consistently used prejudiced, inflammatory rhetori...
The Spelman Blueprint •

Grace in Action: Shiloh Wolfork’s Path Through Storytelling and Service

Shiloh Wolfork is a graduating senior majoring in English with a minor in Management and Organization from Cincinnati, Ohio. Throughout her undergraduate journey, she’s made an indisputable mark on Spelman’s campus through her passion and dedication to organizations like Spelmanites United for Justice and GRL-PWR, making her a deserving Spotlight Award recipient in the category of Public Service and Community Engagement.Shiloh initially applied to Spelman as an Economics major, then switched to...
The Spelman Blueprint •

Arts & Entertainment Alligator Bites Never Heal: Doechii’s Latest Contribution to Hip-Hop

When Doechii sat down with Apple Music Radio to dissect her latest album, she told host Ebro Darden this is what she wants new listeners to understand about her. Her most recent mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal, is a unique 19-track project that keeps listeners wondering what’s next from start to finish. Despite being released almost two months ago, it’s easily maintained its relevance as one of the most talked-about projects, and definitely stands out as one of the most outstanding releases...