Listening to Kwame Anthony Appiah speak at Howard University I felt enlightened to say the least. Due to his dialect and the intelligent concepts he discussed some of the information was hard to grasp. This lecture challenged me to think critically. I believe Appiah challenged us to ask ourselves do we just want to be rich or do we want to impact someone else's life. The value behind our lives is the impact we leave on this world. Money will not be the answer to every solution. However if you can build a network of people who respect you, you've started building on your life longlong success.
PBS Resource Bank uses historical facts about Harriet Tubman that some may be unaware of. A fact that some may not be aware of is that Tubman, "even carried a gun which she used to threaten the fugitives if they became too tired or decided to turn back, telling them, "You'll be free or die."" When I first heard this accusation I couldn't fathom Tubman attempting to kill slaves who questioned fighting for their freedom. Reportedly she killed those who did not want to go on, but this a myth told by some and denied by others. As time went on I realized Harriet Tubman purpose was greater than the fear she instilled with the shotgun. Tubman wanted to preserve life for civilizations of black people and she would truly do whatever she had to. Some may find this history fact unbelievable or inconsiderate. I believe the only thing due to Harriet Tubman is respect for preserving the presence of the African American society in the world. By any means necessary Harriet Tubman fought for her people.
The biggest issue of relevance in the new election is the distribution of contraceptives, specifically birth control, throughout the middle and low class economies. Through economics and civil rights Gerhart reports that most conservatives and catholic churches believe women are using birth control as “an ordinary prescription” and an accepted “social behavior” rather than a last resort method. Most people are taking advantage of the governments resources through the intentional uses of birth control. However Planned Parenthood’s president, Cecile Richards, said argued during a rally in Austin: “Somehow in this country, in 2012, this election might turn on whether women should have access to birth control.”
This controversial topic stems from a simple amendment in the Constitution (as a violation of the separation of church and state), who are we (The government and fellow Americans) to say who should receive birth control and who shouldn’t? This article argues a qualifying argument by giving examples of those who are against this argument and those who agree with this argument. Gerhart explains the underlying issue that, “Our freedoms of choice are slowly disappearing. The government is telling us what light bulbs to use, what kind of cars to drive, what to eat and what kind of health care is required.” This article gave me a more in depth reasoning on how the government is affecting the lives of the average American citizen. The complexity of this issue can not be understood if a change agent isn’t created, to bridge the gap between the wealthy and the poor.
The latest controversy sweeping the United States by storm is the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in late February. Through using disciplines such as race and history this topic has been dissected. Many have asked why is this story just surfacing, who is the death of Trayvon Martin effecting, and what exactly happen on the horrific evening that ending in Trayvon’s death. Recently the 911 call George Zimmerman (the neighborhood watch who shot and killed Trayvon) made to the Florida police department was released and is currently being analyzed.
Sari Horwitz reports about the allegations that have been made about Zimmerman muttering a racial epithet on the call, but the tape is unclear. If the epithet can be heard more clearly on an enhanced audio version of the tape, it could be evidence of a hate crime, the officials said. The latest justice being served for the Marti family is the upcoming briefing on Capitol Hill about racial profiling and state “stand your grounds” laws. They are not expected to testify at the hearing, which has been organized by Shelia Jackson Lee (D-Tex.) and other House Democrats.
All of these factors in the case make it harder for the public to digest the facts. Over the past couple of weeks Americans have banned together to create justice for Travyon and his family. Only time will tell when that justice is served.
Don Omar's story is unlike most. Through using disciplines such as cultural studies and music this topic has great influence upon America.He is an Afro-Latino who inspires people through reggaeton music. Omar's Reggaeton music responds to those who thought he would not make make it and combines experiences relatable to the United States and Latin America. Omars music is simply a reflection of his life. Raised in a poverty stricken community, he was determined to get out and make something of himself.
Today not only is he a driving force in the Afro-Latino community, he also inspires others to be themselves as well. Within the Afro-Latino community Don Omar has casted himself as the "gangster godfather". His music connects directly with hip hop because it explains stories of violence, poverty, and perseverance through hard times. I believe Don Omar is a relatable artist to people of all races because he is genuine and sincere in his artistry.
Famous rapper Nicki Minaj lastest topic is her outfit to the 2012 grammy, shown above. Through using disciplines such as fashion and religion this topic has had great influence upon America. Most referred to this outfit as different and insightful. In all honesty we must look closely and ask ourselves, is this making light of some else's religion. Who are we to say it is ok to contradict an entire religion for one night at an awards show that has many followers. The theme of this outfit was creative but the message that this image is supposed to exude is unclear. Was this a joke? What was the underlying meaning? Is this offensive? This is something all of America must examine and at the same time question Nicki Minaj's purpose as an artist. Artistry is an expression of self but is this truly a reflection of who Nicki Minaj is and what she stands for!
The New York Times article by Nicholas Kristof titled, After Recess: Change, is a revolutionary story about how the Internet is impacting the world. Change.org is the go to site for everyday revolts about the issues that matter most to average citizens. Ben Tattray, who is 31 years of age, founded Change.org in 2007. This website is registered as a “B corporation (which is) a hybrid of a for profit company and a charity, seeking to make profits for social good”.
Kristof explains that skepticism is a rising epidemic but so far Change.org seems to have had remarkable success. Change.org is responsible for the Bank of America decision to remove their $5 monthly charge for debt cards, closing Ecuador clinics that were reportedly abusing lesbians, and even Verizon removing their $2 charge to pay bills online. Kristof reports that Change.org went from 20 to 100 employees in 1 year and expanded throughout 4 continents, which is more than they have grown in the past 4 years. Future plans by the end of this year have offices in 20 countries and to operate in several languages.
Rattray states, “ If ultimately we’re not getting leaders to ban out site, we’re not doing our job.” I believe Change.org is doing just what it says, making a change in the world that we stay in through everyday people. The overall site is powerful in my opinion because it gives ordinary people an opportunity to speak. Ultimately Change.org gives the opportunity for everyone to leave their mark on this world by letting their voice be heard.
For this argumentative essay assignment, I will attempt to analyze the question, “Why do certain characters types or of movies make it mainstream? Do you agree with Stuart Hall that the spaces allowed for minorities in popular culture are highly regulated?” To answer this question I will attempt to describe how minorities such as African American, Latinos, and Native Americans are depicted through the media today and how popular culture has effected each cultures personally.
African Americans, as well as many other minorities, were not allowed to act in films. Instead the genre “Black Face” was invented by white supremacist to serve as definition of African Americans at that time. Although this depiction served no justice to the African American population it became a popular past time of white supremacist. John Bull in blackface describes black face as a “sane white man blacking his face and hands with burnt cork, painting his lips and eyes to resemble those of an African nigger, and then , to complete the incongruity, attitying himself in English evening dress while he sange ditties allegedly emanating from the cotton platations of Ole Virginny!" (Feostead 1946, p. 55) This period lasted from the 1830s to the 1840s.
Eventually Blacks did begin to break into the film industry, but they only served as reinforcements of white supremacist views. Black were defined by the sterotypes of unfit black vernacular, primary users of drugs, and character filled with hostility. In Elizabeth M. Perse novel, Media effects and society, Perse explains one of the key correlations between media and society is “The effects of Media bias on stereotyping (minorities).” (Pg. 2)
A study released from the American Psychological Association studied the The mass media and judgments of risk: Distinguishing impact on personal and societal level judgments. The Abstract is listed below:
Recent research findings about whether mass media reports influence risk-related judgments have not been consistent. One reconciliation of the differing findings is the impersonal impact hypothesis, which suggests that media impact occurs with societal level judgments about general problem importance or frequency but not with judgments about personal risks. Three studies, with 465 undergraduates were conducted to test this hypothesis. Results support the impersonal impact hypothesis by suggesting that personal and societal level judgments are distinct and that media reports exert their primary influence on societal rather than personal judgments. Although media reports influenced judgments about societal risks but not about risks to one's self under the conditions examined in the present research, personal judgments may be affected under other conditions. Conditions under which media reports may have differential or similar effects on personal and societal-level judgments are considered in relation to the base rates of an event occurring, the strength of the media case that a problem exists, and the individual's identification with the problem. (55 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)
These survey results serve as proof and confirmation that media, such as film can have damaging effects on the societal views of others. However the positive outcome of this survey results is that all people are not affected by the brain washing effects of the media.
Within in my essay I plan to develop the struggles of the minorities in film from African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans. I also plan to use early films to explain the minorities’ view of film, as well as an in-depth look at Stuart Halls excerpt.
Sources: John Bull in Blackface Michael Pickering Page 181 of 181-201 Vol. 16, No. 2, May, 1997
http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/psp/47/4/693/ Database: PsycARTICLES [ Journal Article ] Tyler, Tom R.;Cook, Fay L., Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol 47(4), Oct 1984, 693-708.
The destruction on minorities, specifically the African American population, culture is at a point of waging war. In Stuart Halls, What’s this Black in Black Popular Culture, he attempts to describe how popular culture has attempted to explain a culture that is not their own. Through the use of a combination of, as Cornel West defines it, “cultural politics and popular culture" society is constantly searching for a definition to describe everyone, except themselves.
Hall explains 3 main theories of how popular culture is attempting to define Black popular culture. Through the use of (1) Displacement of European models of high culture, (2) the Emergence of the United States as a world power, and (3) the Decolonization of Americans who were colonized to only find out that everything they had been taught was false. African culture has been shifted by colonialism. Hall notes that American popular culture has always had certain traditions that “could only be attributed to black culture vernacular traditions”.
Black popular is excluded from the mainstream view for many reasons. Most of the reasons stem from the postmodern slavery that still occurs in today’s society. Hall explains how the goal of popular culture is to exclude the margins (the outcast or the minority) and show the life of the center power (generally a white, male, Christian). The “center power” attempts to describe the margin but only through their own experiences, rather than through the life of a person in the margin. One of the most powerful statements made throughout Halls exert is, “popular culture is not where you can find yourself but instead a theater of popular cultures and beliefs”, so in essence we can not let anyone define who we are but ourselves.
Source: Hall, Stuart. "What Is This "Black" in Black Popular Culture?"Social Justice (1993).
The film Pariah is about a teenage girl who is sexually confused. Alike is on a never-ending search to find herself. In the beginning of the film she lets others define her whether from her parents to her friends, but gradually as the film continues she comes into her own. Alike uses poetry writing as her outlet. The person she believes she needs the most, her mother, never came to terms with Alike’s sexuality. When in reality Alike is not whole because she seeks the approval of others. As the film progresses we see the journey of Alike’s downfall in relationships, her self image with school, and her attempt to hide herself.
There are certain parts of Pariah that are not well developed, like the outcome of her parents relationship. I believe overall this film was very powerful and it sends a positive message telling all to embrace themselves. We as a people must realize, like Alike stated in her poem, it is ok to broken but you must embrace your brokenness.
“Breaking is opening, and I am broken. I am open.” - Alike (Pariah)
Tucson Unified School District banned several books relating to Mexican-American studies; was this act on purpose or done to stay within state regulations? This is the question many Americans, of all races, are asking school officials’. Earlier this month the Tucson Unified School District ended the 13-year-old program in an attempt to come into compliance with the heated state ban on the teaching of ethnic studies. According to school officials’ books will be boxed up and sent to storage, however some books will still be available in the on campus library. Many of the books that are well know classics where banned from classrooms such as, “Rethinking Columbus: The Next 500 Years” by Tucson author Leslie Silko, Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest”, “Pedagogy of the Oppressed” by famous Brazilian educator Paolo Freire, “Occupied America: A History of Chicanos” by Rodolfo Acuña, and “Chicano!: The History of the Mexican Civil Rights Movement” by Arturo Rosales.
Within the article it stated that, “Administrators informed Mexican-American studies teachers to stay away from any units where “race, ethnicity and oppression are central themes.” In a school district that was founded by Mexican-Americans and which more than 60 percent of the students come from Mexican-American backgrounds, to avoid their culture is not only insentive but an ignorant decision. How can you not acknowledge what the Mexican American community endured but still demand their respect. To truly become confident I believe one must know their origins.
As Bigelow, a famous author, stated “What is the Tucson school district afraid of?
Question: Can you apply Gloria Anzaldua’s theory of border crossers and border crossing to other communities of color, such as African American?
Gloria Anzaldua’s theory of border crossing through the U.S. Mexican Border describes a conflict that is not addressed in the public eye from the oppressed point of view. Border Crossers are described as aliens waiting to trespass into the United States, rather than people just in search of a better life. Anzaldua’s investigation, with the use of cultural studies, of the emotional toll border crossers intake can relate to the African American culture in many ways.
Within the African American culture there is one prime example of how the judgment of others can affect an entire races perception. The constant battle between light skinned African Americans versus dark skinned African Americans is relatable to Anzaldua theory because, women in particular, “consider (themselves) inhabitants” stuck within the stereotypes based upon the color of their skin given by society. At one point in time, light skinned African Americans were awarded more opportunities than dark skinned African Americans. In this decade however the stigma of ones skin color is being analyzed by people of their very own race, the war is continued on by the oppressed.
I believe the American people are waging a war upon themselves. As a people no matter what race, religion or ethnicity we must decide to empower ourselves first.
