African American Essay Example for Free

African American Essay Literature gives writers of all creeds the vehicle to express themselves in numerous ways – love, hate, fear, sadness, and hope. Writers give their interpretations of life through verse and bring readers of their works into their world for just a moment. Although some may consider race and ethnicity the same, they are totally different. An example of this is in the poems, What Its Like to Be a Black Girl by Patricia Smith and Child of the Americas by Aurora Levins Morales. Both authors give their view of how race and ethnicity plays a part in one’s life when it comes to even the simplest decision. Growing up in a diverse community has its advantages. It is amazing to see people trying to guess each other’s race and ethnicity. Innocent as it may seem at a young age to do this, it may have been the precursor to feelings towards the opposite race. The United States is a melting pot of different races coming together for one purpose – to have a good life. This means raising a family, having a good job, buying a car and home without fear of being discriminated against. In the stories by two diverse women shows how race and ethnicity played a large part in developing their lives. Race is defined in layman terms as â€Å"the concept of dividing people into populations or groups on the basis of various sets of physical characteristics which result from genetic ancestry† (Diffen, 2013). Race encompasses the color of one’s skin (Causcasion – white, Asian – yellow), facial features (African American – physical features, Latinos – height) and so on. Ethnicity is defined in layman terms as â€Å"an ethnic group or ethnicity is a population of human beings whose members identify with each other, on the basis of a real or a presumed common genealogy or ancestry† (Diffen, 2013). Ethnicity encompasses ancestry of one’s family tree. Some believe they may be the descendants of Roman culture and others feel they are descendants of a culture before the time of Christ. Thanks to modern day technology, most have found they are part of a past culture or cultures – a mixture of cultures. According to the website, Difference Between explains the difference between race and ethnicity as: 1. Ethnicity gives us room to change because we can reject our own and embrace another. You can move from one region to another and assimilate your beliefs, actions and customs to identify with that ethnic orientation. You cannot do the same with race. 2. Race is your biologically engineered features. It can include skin color, skin tone, eye and hair color, as well as a tendency toward developing certain diseases. It is not something that can be changed or disguised (Difference Between, 2013). In the story, What Its Like Being a Black Girl by Patricia Smith, the author gives the audience an insider’s view into a young black girl’s transition into black woman-hood when being African American (Black) was not as welcomed as being white. â€Å"It’s being 9 years old and feeling like you’re not finished like your edges are wild, like there’s something, everything, wrong. † (Smith, 2013). Smith writes that growing up in this era for a young â€Å"black girl† is having the feeling of being awkward her body is changing and people will see her differently. For Smith, this hope is for the opportunity to live a life where she can become a doctor, lawyer or celebrated writer. In addition, a hope that people will see her through eyes of respect for her work and not her skin color or ethnic background. Author Aurora Levins Morales writes for those struggling to find their identities and their voices and speaks on issues pertaining to history and the multicultural experience. In the poem, Child of the Americas, Morales gives her views on life as an American of mixed race. It is a poem about an American who came from a mixture of various cultures that comprise her heritage and her identity as an American. â€Å"I am a child of the Americas, a light-skinned mestiza of the Caribbean, a child of many diaspora, born into this continent at a crossroads. I am a U. S. Puerto Rican Jew, a product of the ghettos of New York I have never known† (Morales, 2013). Morales continues â€Å"I am not African. Africa is in me, but I cannot return. I am not taina. Taino is in me, but there is no way back. I am not European. Europe lives in me, but I have no home there† (Morales, 2013). Morales believes she is a melting pot filled with different ethnic backgrounds but will not be accepted in these native countries because people of that country will only see the outside – her skin color, her hair, her eyes. We have all done this – guessing the ethnicity of a person – is she mixed with African or is she mixed with German, is he Italian or is he French? We do not get to know the person – we automatically judged them by the way they look. Both Morales and Smith write about what most people in this country are experiencing on a daily basis – racial and ethnic prejudice. However, in the 1970’s, African Americans embraced their African background by donning dashikis and wearing their hair in Afros and braids. This led to most people in this country to investigate their ethnic backgrounds. Now in the 2013, people are going to sites such as Ancestry to find out about their ethnic and racial history. People want to know more about their past in hopes it will show them where they are going. Even in the writing arena, both authors faced challenges getting their works published because of their race. Luckily, according to author Lee, brave publishers have pushed to have more and more authors of color works published. â€Å"Much of the work by mixed-race artists, though certainly not all of it, reveals the fault lines and pressure points that still exist in a rapidly changing America. It is on these rough edges that many multiracial people live, and where many artists find the themes that animate their work: the limits of tolerance, hidden or unacknowledged assumptions about identity, and issues of racial privilege and marginalization† (Lee, 2011). Still, a small percentage of publishers will not published women of color’s literary works. This is why many ethnic writers have established their own publishing houses and stores, such as Wal-mart, stock ethnic materials from not only well-known authors but those new to the literary arena. In an article by Martin Arnold detailing his interview with author and publisher Melody Guy, she states, â€Å"most of our first novels have an initial printing of between 17,000 and 20,000 copies, and a majority of them went back for second and thirds, and most are paying royalties. This is true for other women of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Smith and Morales gives the reader insight into their complicated lives as writers with diverse backgrounds. Although they differ in race and ethnicity, both encounter the same problems living in a country whose racial make-up is rich with diverse personalities. Smith wrote about growing up with a stigma already attached to her as an African American female wanting to be like her white counterparts. â€Å"it’s dropping food coloring in your eyes to make them blue and suffering their burn in silence. It’s popping a bleached white mophead over the kinks of your hair and primping in front of mirrors that deny your reflection† (Spoken Word Academy, 2013). In Morales’s world, it about being a born in this country, speaking a different language in addition to having a different skin color and being told she is still a foreigner. â€Å"I am a U. S. Puerto Rican Jew, a product of the ghettos of New York I have never known. An immigrant and the daughter and granddaughter of immigrants. I speak English with passion: it’s the tongue of my consciousness† (Diaz, 2013). Literature gives writers of all creeds the vehicle to express themselves in numerous ways – love, hate, fear, sadness, and hope. Growing up in the United States, race and ethnicity is a big issue especially when it comes to finding a job, a home and getting an education. People should not judge each other by their race or ethnicity. Getting to know the person – their thoughts, dreams, ambitions – should be first and foremost. Smith and Morales found a common outlet for their frustrations with life where they live and how they live – literature. With their literary writings about growing up in America struck a familiar cord with many in this land of many races. It is because of their writings, people can gain a better understanding of how life is on the other side – the diverse side – of life in America. What It’s Like To Be A Black Girl (For Those Of You Who Aren’t) By Patricia Smith first of all, it’s being 9 years old and feeling like you’re not finished, like your edges are wild, like there’s something, everything, wrong, it’s dropping food coloring in your eyes to make them blue and suffering their burn in silence. It’s popping a bleached white mophead over the kinks of your hair and primping in front of mirrors that deny your reflection. It’s finding a space between your legs, a disturbance at your chest, and not knowing what to do with the whistles, it’s jumping double dutch until your legs pop, it’s sweat and Vaseline and bullets, it’s growing tall and wearing a lot of white, it’s smelling blood in your breakfast, it’s learning to say **** with grace but learning to **** without it, it’s flame and fists and life according to Motown, it’s finally having a man reach out for you then caving in around his fingers. (Spoken Word Academy, 2013).

The Other Caste :: Essays Papers

The Other Caste For some professions the need for standardized higher education is obvious. We wouldn't want our doctors to have learned their craft by simply reading books and practicing on patients in their kitchens. Neither would we feel comfortable crossing a bridge or inhabiting a building designed by someone with a passionate interest in architectural engineering but who had not been subjected to rigorous testing of his or her own abilities. There are many professions, however, for which the unconsidered demand for a degree is unnecessary and creates an artificial class distinction. More importantly, the most qualified people for the job are often not even considered. My mother greatly influenced my views on this subject. She dropped out of high school when she was a freshman but she personified the self-motivated pursuit of knowledge. When she wanted to learn something, she read everything she could find on the subject. She then put her newfound knowledge to practical application until it because a new skill. Her library contained books on subjects as varied as horticulture, philosophy, stonemasonry, interior design, and architecture. She knew the Latin name of every plant in her extensive gardens. She knew more about heath and nutrition on a budget than the dietician at the assisted care facility where she worked, earning just over minimum wage. She eventually did get her GED but because she didn't have a degree in any of her areas of expertise she was poorly paid and sometimes perceived as uneducated. I saw this same prejudice all the years I worked for the Forest Service. They employ people with degrees and people without. Degree holders have the opportunity to advance professionally and become permanent employees. Those with no degrees are consistently paid lower wages and kept in a temporary status though they often do the same work as the permanent employees and return to work year after year. My Forest Service job required three things: being able to hike all day, not getting lost in the woods, and an appreciation that my repetitious acts were insuring future forests. A college degree was irreverent but I often had to train people with no aptitude or knowledge of the forest and watch them move ahead of me professionally because they had the degree. In Mark Salzman's book, Lost in Place most of the learning he writes about took place outside or even in spite of his formal schooling. The Other Caste :: Essays Papers The Other Caste For some professions the need for standardized higher education is obvious. We wouldn't want our doctors to have learned their craft by simply reading books and practicing on patients in their kitchens. Neither would we feel comfortable crossing a bridge or inhabiting a building designed by someone with a passionate interest in architectural engineering but who had not been subjected to rigorous testing of his or her own abilities. There are many professions, however, for which the unconsidered demand for a degree is unnecessary and creates an artificial class distinction. More importantly, the most qualified people for the job are often not even considered. My mother greatly influenced my views on this subject. She dropped out of high school when she was a freshman but she personified the self-motivated pursuit of knowledge. When she wanted to learn something, she read everything she could find on the subject. She then put her newfound knowledge to practical application until it because a new skill. Her library contained books on subjects as varied as horticulture, philosophy, stonemasonry, interior design, and architecture. She knew the Latin name of every plant in her extensive gardens. She knew more about heath and nutrition on a budget than the dietician at the assisted care facility where she worked, earning just over minimum wage. She eventually did get her GED but because she didn't have a degree in any of her areas of expertise she was poorly paid and sometimes perceived as uneducated. I saw this same prejudice all the years I worked for the Forest Service. They employ people with degrees and people without. Degree holders have the opportunity to advance professionally and become permanent employees. Those with no degrees are consistently paid lower wages and kept in a temporary status though they often do the same work as the permanent employees and return to work year after year. My Forest Service job required three things: being able to hike all day, not getting lost in the woods, and an appreciation that my repetitious acts were insuring future forests. A college degree was irreverent but I often had to train people with no aptitude or knowledge of the forest and watch them move ahead of me professionally because they had the degree. In Mark Salzman's book, Lost in Place most of the learning he writes about took place outside or even in spite of his formal schooling.

Brian Mulroney

Throughout Canadian history there have been many influential political leaders in the past, but none as powerful or significant as Brian Mulroney. Despite the many political criticisms, Brian Mulroney served as the longest conservative prime minister in Canada, he attained a struggle through his pre-political life, which lead him to cleaning up his act and leading the conservative party to the greatest majority in Canadian history, he goes on to serve the legacy of one of the greatest political leaders of all time. Martin Brian Mulroney was born in 1939, the son of an electrician, in the town of Baie Comeau, Quebec. He attended a very strict military all boys’ school until the age of 16 when he entered Saint Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. There he earned an honor degree in political science and he was active in campus politics. Before he graduated he was to become the Prime Minister of St. FX’s famous mock Parliament, a position that had been held for years by Liberal students. It was during these years in Quebec that Brian became known as the life of the party. He frequented most Montreal nightclubs and was quite a lady’s man. He also became a slightly more than social drinker. After becoming a lawyer in 1965 he joined a law firm known as Cate Ogilvy, later becoming a partner in that firm. In May 1973 at the age of 34 he married a beautiful 20 year old Mila Pivnicki, daughter of Yugoslav immigrants, and they had three children. Mulroney worked energetically for the Progressive Conservative Party as a young lawyer. Although Mulroney had not yet held public office, he ran for election as Conservative leader at the party's 1976 national convention. He waged a vigorous and expensive campaign but lost to Joe Clark after being criticized as the Cadillac Candidate for spending so much money. This was a very bleak time in his life, he took the Leadership loss very personally and it almost ruined him. A few years after taking the job of President of the Iron Ore Company of Canada he decided that he would clean himself up. In 1977 Brian went to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting for people who didn’t want the world to know they had a problem. In 1982, because of an economic depression, the Iron Ore Company of Canada was forced to close one of its mining and milling towns in Quebec. At first this appeared to be a disastrous political setback however, he turned it into a public relations triumph by making the people of the town in question believe that there were other alternatives when there were none and by negotiating settlements for the workers who had lost their jobs. This earned him respect and won him general support and his reputation was enhanced. In mid-1983 Clark's leadership was being questioned, Brian Mulroney was again a candidate who campaigned, he actually had been paying people to ruin Clarks chances of getting the nomination again. He was elected party leader on June 11, 1983 and he entered the House of Commons on August 28, 1983. Despite inexperience, he was an effective leader of the opposition against Pierre Elliot Trudeau. Trudeau retired and John Turner took his place. The new Prime Minister had a lack of political skills, having been out of politics for some nine years. Consequently, Turner's electoral campaign against Mulroney was difficult. This contained three debates between the two party leaders, during which both English and French were spoken. In these debates, Mulroney, who is bilingual, won wide support for the Conservatives. The election result was the greatest triumph for a party in Canadian history. The depressed state of the Canadian economy and Canada's somewhat tense relations with the United States were problems that Mulroney promised to deal with if his party were returned to power. With unemployment at more than 11 percent, Mulroney also said to make job creation his first aim. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came into effect January 1, 1994. NAFTA was launched 15 years ago to reduce trading costs, increase business investment, and help North America be more competitive in the global marketplace and Brian Mulroney is to thank for this. Mulroney's legacy is complicated and even emotional. March 31, 2009 it was reported by that a Conservative official claimed Mulroney was no longer a member of the party. They claimed his membership expired in 2006 and was not renewed. Additionally, Mulroney allegedly â€Å"called a senior party official two months ago to ask that his name be pulled off all party lists and materials and that communications with him cease. † However, A Mulroney confidante, speaking on condition of anonymity, called the party's claims preposterous. ‘He's part of the history of this party, you can't rewrite history. If they're worried about branding, then shut the inquiry down. They're the ones who called the inquiry. ‘ Mulroney possessed many important significant attributes to being one of the greatest Canadian politicians. As well as some great failures in his career as P. M. Mulroney would be remembered for some good things he had done such as the Nunavut Agreement with the Inuit of the eastern arctic, which set in motion the creation of a third Canadian Territory. He was also an architect of the Francophone summit, which is a yearly meeting of the leaders of the worlds French speaking nations. Though Mulroney had retained a parliamentary majority in the 1988 elections, widespread public opposition to the free-trade agreement and his inability to resolve the Quebec problem caused Mulroney's popularity to decline sharply, and he resigned in 1993. He was replaced as P. M. and head of the Progressive Conservative Party by Defense Minister Kim Campbell, a girl. In conclusion, Brian Mulroney was one of the greatest prime ministers of all time, he served as the longest conservative prime minister in Canada, he attained a struggle through his pre-political life, which lead him to cleaning up his act and leading the conservative party to the greatest majority in Canadian history, he goes on to serve the legacy of one of the greatest political leaders of all time. Work Cited Blake, Raymond Benjamin. Transforming the nation: Canada and Brian Mulroney. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2007. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/review-i-almost-feel-sorry-for-brian-mulroney/article1985513/ http://www.ogilvyrenault.com/en/people_BrianMulroney.htm http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/396954/Brian-Mulroney http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0834401.html

Honore de Balzac and Gustave Flauberts Writings on...

Honore de Balzac and Gustave Flauberts Writings on Capitalism The Revolution in France, during the 19th century, gave power to the people for the first time in France. French citizens now had faith that they could form a strong, independent country; but what they did not realize was that there must be some form of financial or monetary backbone present for a country to excel on its own in the modern world. This gave way to the rise of capitalism and all its follies, debaucheries, and mainly the exploitive nature it excites in people. Two authors, who were writing and observing these changes during this time in France, Honore de Balzac, and Gustave Flaubert, exemplify the demoralization of a people caused by the onslaught of†¦show more content†¦Eugene’s actions are exploitive because he has no regard for the well-being of his family by asking for their life-savings. Eugene also does not take into account how he is going to recover the sums he unethically acquires. However, capitalism’s influence does not stop with Eu gene in this instance. The idea of needing expensive clothes and flashy attire influences his sister Laura that she should use her sewing and clothes making skills in order to save Eugene some money, and therefore have a better chance of Parisian high society accepting him. Eugene says that his sister has â€Å"become as crafty as a thief† (87), which comments on the changes within her caused by the minute exposure to modern, capitalistic, ideals. However, really Laura is stealing from herself by willingly exploiting her own labor without compensation of any sort. Here, along with the ever-present portrayal of Goriot’s daughters bamboozling him for money, Balzac illustrates the most pathetic and demoralizing form of exploitation: when one exploits or unfairly takes advantage of their own family in a way that can lead them to starvation or even death. Pere Goriot and Eugene are not only involved with family exploitation, but they are also taking advantage of each other in hopes of gaining