A Raisin in the Sun (Researched Analysis)

A Raisin in the Sun (Researched Analysis) Introduction The paper is an analysis of the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. This was the first play written by a black woman and first appeared in 1959 and it about the life of Youngers, an African-American family. Youngers resided in a segregated neighborhood in Chicago.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on A Raisin in the Sun (Researched Analysis) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The play through its various well nurtured characters have successfully brought out various themes such as sexuality, American dream, civil rights, culture, poverty, faith, compromise, tolerance and prejudice, primacy of family racism and oppression (Hansberry 55). The essay will concentrate on the climaxes in the play, faith as well as racial discrimination. Climax in this play has been brought out clearly and successfully by the author. Climax is a situation in which there is a clear twist of events that usually take either form, good or bad. Similarly, climax is used to refer to the end of the piece of art that is usually captivating and can leave people either happy or sad and mostly in dilemma. On the other hand racial discrimination refers to a situation where an individual or a group of persons are treated in an unfair manner due to their skin color or cultural background (Orlando 7). Thirdly, the issue of faith comes out clearly in the play. This is true and clearly depicted by mama, after receiving the check, she indeed bought a house and entrusted his son with the remaining some. Additionally, the family of Youngers again confirmed their faith in Walter after he refused to take the offer Mr. Lindler was offering the Youngers’ so that they cannot move to their new apartment. Racial discrimination has occurred and supported by the fact that the Youngers were unfairly treated by Mr. Lindler who tried to block them from going to their newly bought house. Climax in the play is realize d when Walter is made to understand by Bobo that Willy, the man entrusted with the money to start a liquor business has run away with the money, this thus killed Walters dream of becoming a business man. Another climax based on the second definition is when Mr. Lindler the white man was bluntly informed by Walter that the Youngers have not relented on their quest to move to their newly acquired house.Advertising Looking for research paper on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More By definition, racial discrimination refers to a situation whereby someone’s skin color is used as a factor to determine a number of issues such as concerning jobs, acquisition of property, and promotion among others. It is generally the unfair treatment of an individual or group of persons on the basis of their skin color. In the play A Raisin in the Sun, there are clear instances where the Youngers have been sidelined as a result of being black (Hansberry 148). The first case of racial discrimination is depicted when the life style of Youngers is described, a bigger family that only have one bathroom and where one must wait for his turn to get a shower. This kind of life facing the Youngers can be associated with the difficulties of black American to secure employment. In case they are lucky, they are only capable of working in jobs that have very little earnings that cannot sustain life of an average human being. From the play we are told Walter works as chauffer for a white family, the salary from such kind of work cannot be sufficient enough to sustain such a big family. Similarly, what Mama says summarizes it all, â€Å"We just plain working folks.† On the same note what Walter says about his wife that she has been working â€Å"in somebody else’s kitchen for the last three years to help put clothes on her [Beneathas] back† (Hansberry 111). It is presumably house of a whi te native and she endured unfair treatment while struggling to fend for the family. Additionally, the issue of discrimination came to light in the play when mama bough a new house in Clybourne Park. Mr. Lindner, a white later come to the Youngers family and claimed to be the chairman of Clybourne Park Improvement Association. When he was offered a drink, he blatantly refused just because it was offered to him by a black. We later learn that his motive was to purchase the house bought by the Youngers, since he (Mr. Lindler) claims that the place where the newly acquired house for the Youngers is unsuitable for them; they do not deserve to leave in such an area. He plainly puts it, â€Å"Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities.† (Hansberry, 73) Although it is not very clear whether, Beneatha refusal to accept the attention of Murchison George a local was on the basis of race, it is clear that she liked Asagai more so because he was intelligent, articu late and proud of their race, Africans.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on A Raisin in the Sun (Researched Analysis) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Use of climax as a literature style is very significant as it keeps things or themes in the piece of art rolling as well as bringing things into conclusion. A good example of climax is depicted where Bobo brought made it known that Willy did run away with the money Mama had given Walter which he intended to open a liquor business, the hidden agenda of Walter then comes to light (Hansberry 91). As a result of such revelation, every member of the Youngers family was now aware of what Walter was unto with all the money entrusted to him by mama. Walter trust by mama has now diminished so to speak. This again makes the trust Mama had in him fade away, although she claimed previously when asked by Walter, â€Å"You trust me like that, Mama? Mama echoed that she still trusts him. Similarly, Walters’s dream of trying his hands on liquor business hit a snug. Another clear example of climax in the play is when Walter stood on his ground against what he had promised Mr. Lindner concerning the buying of the house the Youngers had acquired (Cummings 12) The news of Ruth being pregnant can also provide us with a typical example of climax. Although it was not planned by mama, we see her assigning some $3, 500 dollars as well as providing moral support and strongly object the idea of Ruth aborting.. Again the argument between Walter and his wife Ruth resulted to Walter proposing that Beneatha should either concentrate on her nursing career or just get married (Orlando 2). Faith in the play is depicted especially by mama. She strongly believes in her family despite the fact that she is in hard financial times. After receiving her check, she bought a house for her family; this not only depicts motherly love but also faith in her family members (Hansb erry 126). Additionally, she entrusted Walter, her son with the remaining sum of money. We see Walter being amazed and asking his mother if she had that strong believe in him, and what mama replies is that no single day has she lost trust in him (Cummings 4). Additionally, through Hansberry 126 we see an act of faith when mama set aside money for the purposes of educating Beneatha. The amount totals to $3,500. No one could have done that especially considering that the family was African-American. This shows us that mama has a dream that Beneatha is indeed capable of becoming a nurse which is her dreams.Advertising Looking for research paper on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the other hand, Ruth, Walter’s wife has no faith in him. When she found out that she was pregnant, after fainting earlier that day, she immediately opted for an abortion on the grounds that Walter will not provide for the additional kid due to financial problems (Hansberry 117). From the review of the play A Raisin in the Sun, the use of climax has been brought out effectively making the work interesting as well as captivating. Among the examples of climax in the play is when Walter refused Mr. Lindner offers on the house Mama had bought, additionally, the reporting of Willy running away with the money Walter had given him brought a new twist of events. On the other hand, the play brings out clearly the issue of racial discrimination. It is evident that the Youngers were leaving in a congested house since they could not secure well paying jobs due to their skin color. When mama bought a new and bigger house for the family, the white man who purported to be the chairman of Clybourne Park Improvement Association attempted to frustrate their effort just because the Youngers are black. Faith is also clearly depicted by mama in the play. This play is a typical literature on what happened to blacks in the past and indeed to a small extent at the present. Cummings, Michael. Lorraine Hansberry’s – A Raisin in the Sun / (The Ghetto Trap). 2010. Review of Arising In The Sun. Hansberry, Lorainne. A Raisin in the Sun. New York: Vintage Books, 1988. Orlando Green Review: â€Å"A Raisin in The Sun†, 2000. Web. Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun Summary. Web.

The Constitution Essays (238 words) - Constitutional Law

The Constitution Essays (238 words) - Constitutional Law The Constitution The founders of America initially thought the primary role of the United States government was to chastise lawbreakers. The forefathers knew this could not be accomplished if one group held all power. The idea to divide the government into the following three branches was an incredible ingenious idea. The executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch were all designed in hopes of creating a fair government. There are many benefits from the separation of power, the executive branch has the power to execute the laws, the legislative branch has the power to make the laws and the judicial branch has the power to interpret the laws. Through the separation of power, no one assembly can hold all the power, since this would mean that one assembly would have endless power. So instead each branch has limited power. In actuality the three branches of government are not separate, but are intertwined in most ways. Each branch as its own role or power, but one branch cannot be enforced without involving or requiring the consent of all three branches. This system of shared power is known as checks and balances; however, one branch cannot function properly without the others. All of the checks and balances are counterproductive. Nevertheless, that is by blueprint rather than by mishap. By pressuring the three branches to be liable to others, no one branch can assume enough power to become overpowering.

Organizational Transparency Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Organizational Transparency - Research Proposal Example The literature review will follow a systematic literature map on organizational transparency. Some of the issues that will be looked at in the literature review include: impact of transparency on effective communication, impact of transparency on performance, impact of transparency on whistleblowing, effect of transparency on trust and cohesiveness, impact of transparency on efficiency and productivity, corporate responsibility contrast of the private sector, corporate codes, and the disadvantages of organizational transparency. Communication is an important aspect in an organization because it contributes towards the nurturing of organization culture and behavior. Griffin and Moorhead (2012), explains that â€Å"communication is the social process in which two parties exchange information and derive meaning† (p. 300). In the organization’s perspective the general realization is that the definition takes even a more complex approach due to the nature and degree of the interpersonal relationships. Communication is usually characterized by three very important aspects. These aspects are: delivering the message, the nature of the message and the perception of the recipient. However, Griffin and Moorhead (2012) outline that for every one of the aspects to be effective transparency should be a key consideration for both the source and the recipient of the message. A study documented by Institute of Public Relations (2010) verified that democracy cannot thrive in any institution when there is lack of information. In the public sector lack of transparency has been a key issue affecting performance and determining the public relations of a company. However, it is very difficult for an organization to promise or even claim transparency when there is lack of effective communication. Government sector institutions have realized that transparency does not only promote good public

Diaspora Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Diaspora Assignment - Essay Example Croatian people have been dominant in many fields in the Australian society, especially in the sporting arena where they have made such a great impact by comprising the majority players in most Australian football clubs. This paper provides a critical analysis of the Croatian diaspora in Australia, development of media in the Croatian diaspora community in Australia, and examples of how media compares and contrasts to mainstream media on same key issues in the community, among other things. History of the Diaspora The concept of the diaspora grew out of the historic experience of scattering Jews outside their native lands and it implies that a whole community, usually a nation inhabiting a compact territory, underwent a forced dispersion. This concept was made popular in the sociology of migration in the 1990s and the relationship between the scattered communities and the homeland is crucial in defining the diaspora (Raggazi, 2009, p. 1). The homeland for immigrants is a source of id entity, in addition to being their source of values and loyalty; it can be generally understood that every diaspora is a migrant community because of the consciousness of belonging to a common nation and/or a distant homeland and acting upon this consciousness that eventually defines the diaspora. Diasporas are normally connotations of historically enduring strong emotional ties to the homeland, usually concerning some historical injustice that needs redress (Colic-Peisker, 2008, p. 158); the Croatian Diaspora in Australia was in response to the Yugoslav crisis of the 1980s and the war for independence and its aftermaths. The typical feeling of a lost homeland and tragic exile among the immigrants and the need to redress the historic grievances felt by a majority of the Croatian emigres led to the rise of diasporic transnationalism (Colic-Peisker, 2008, p.158). The emigres assumed leadership of Croatian communities outside Croatia and focused on the fight for Croatian independence f rom the communist Yugoslavia, and by 1991 when Croatian independence was confirmed by the failure of communism, Croatian emigres all over the world were known as an intensely politicized diaspora dominated by nationalist leaders. The most vocal part of the Croatian Diaspora in Australia had intensely emotional and political connection to the homeland, and its pronouncement of anti-communism and separationist agenda made it a clear-cut case of long-distance nationalism. The Croatian diasporic nationalism had two peaks: the 1970s after the Croatian Spring, Yugoslav Communist authorities had suppressed a Croatian nationalist movement in 1971, and during the war for Yugoslav succession in 1991–1995, which politically mobilised a large number of Croats in Australia. Development of Media Media development in the Croatian Diaspora in Australia has been stifled by lack of freedom of the press and the successive ongoing media manipulation that seeks to limit the influence of media bot h in the diaspora and in the homeland. In the old Yugoslavia, the Communist government controlled media and the Croatians knew only a limited range of information, and up to date, the Croatian media is not yet free and impartial. For instance, Karolina Vidovic, a Croatian journalist whose programme has been

QI Plan IV Implementing and Revising Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

QI Plan IV Implementing and Revising - Essay Example To achieve an effective result from the quality improvement, there has to be a well structured plan to govern the process. Structuring of the plan has to involve all stakeholders in a particular health care center from the board of directors to the least patient. The reason as to the inclusion of various stakeholders is to ensure a smooth operation and implementation of the plan characterized with little or no hurdles. Quality improvement may not exist without a well structured board of directors. In fact, board of directors define and set the direction of a particular health care institution. To outline and define proper direction in the implementation and revision of the quality improvement plan, board of directors need to define and establish realistic mission, objectives, goals and visions that need accomplishment (AIHP, 2007). After establishing the mission statements and governing rules, board of directors has to communicate the deliberations and messages to the other staff mem bers and stakeholders in the given health care institution. The board of directors is also responsible for determining and promoting values deemed right and worth of promotion throughout the company. Since plan cannot work without supervision, board of directors also play fundamental role of monitoring achievements and reviewing the goals and policies of the given health care organization. To ensure substantial implementation and revision of the quality improvement plan in health care organization, the board of directors has to determine working options, deliberate on the ones to pursue and provide the required support (Medscape education, 2007). The board of directors also reviews and evaluates future risks and challenges face the organization and set strategies to eliminate such perils. Furthermore, the board of directors of the given health care institution has to delegate authority to the management of the organization to achieve effective and ready internal control in the healt h care organization. As a way of achieving effective quality improvement plan in health care organization, it is the responsibility of the board of directors to ensure proper platform for communication and consideration of the interests of the various stakeholders in the institution. After defining the mission, objectives, visions, and goals of the given health care organization, board of directors passes the remaining implantation plan to the executive management heading the other workers. Being that executive director participates in the meeting of board of directors, the official helps in the planning process of the organization’s goals and missions. According to Bumpress (2012), executive manager plays very crucial part in the implementation process as the particular monitors the progress as well as advising on solutions in case of a problem. Improving quality of health care in a given health care organization requires collaboration with other like minded institutions and resource providers. Executive director satisfy this role by identifying the specific organizations and development partners who can help in quick realization of the plan. The manager also compiles progress reports and hurdles faced in the implementation process and propose systems to avert the overlying challenges. While playing the management roles, executive director

The problem with Management of Police Corruption

The problem with Management of Police Corruption Introduction Police corruption is a problem facing many global law enforcement systems. Most countries are faced with challenges of dealing with corrupt police women and men who undermine enforcement of the law. Police corruption involves acts of misconduct aimed at obtaining personal benefits, financial gain or advancement in careers which are performed in exchange for selectively pursuing or not pursuing an arrest or investigation (Peter 74). There are many forms of police corruption and one of the most common is acceptance of bribes in order to ignore arrest or investigation of certain criminal activities. In the US, this form of corruption is seen where organized crime such as prostitution or drug activities are concerned. Another common form of police corruption especially in the US is flouting conduct and procedures to gain conviction of a suspect. This may take the form of falsifying evidence which implicates a suspect. In rare cases, police participate in criminal activities. Most law enforcement agencies do not state statistics of police corruption due to fear of loss of public support for the force in fighting crime. However, it is acknowledged that police corruption is one of the greatest obstacles to fighting of crime. It is even harder to fight organized crimes since in many cases; police officers receive payment to protect the criminals. In countries such as Mexico, fighting drug use is a serious problem since most police officers are corrupt and protect the drug lords. This paper will evaluate poli8ce corruption, the forms it takes and appropriate recommendations which should be implemented in order to end the vice and ensure equal application of the law. The discussed issues will be summarized at the end. Forms of police corruption There are various forms of police corruption which are witnessed in the police force. These will be briefly discussed below; Opportunistic thefts This is a form of police corruption where officers engage in theft whenever they encounter an opportunity which facilitates the same. This is a major challenge facing the police force since it is difficult to prove opportunistic thefts by police officers in courts of law. An example of an opportunistic theft may occur when officers recover stolen property or money but intentionally undervalue it in order to keep some for themselves. Others may arrive at accident scenes or murder scenes and steal valuables from the injured or dead. In certain cases, police officers steal money or valuables from people they arrest. Such forms of corruption are difficult to prosecute since in most cases there are few if any witnesses who witness the crime (Roleff 16-18). Protection of illegal activities Protection of illegal activities is one of the greatest challenges facing established law enforcement agencies across the world. There are many police officers who are involved in protecting perpetrators of organized crime and in many cases, such officers have high authority. This makes it difficult for junior officers to arrest and prosecute such offenders (Jerome 8). Organized crimes such as sale of drugs, prostitution, human trafficking and gambling usually thrive due to protection from police officers. Usually officers are offered cash incentives or other benefits which compromise their principles. In yet other cases, police officers are either blackmailed or threatened with harm to their families or themselves in order to guarantee their protection of illegal activities. Such forms of police corruption are also difficult to prove in a court of law since organized criminals are usually intelligent and hide their activities very efficiently. Police officers who protect them also m ake prosecuting such criminals very difficult. Corruption of authority This is a form of corruption which involves the reception of free meals, drinks and gratitude from people the police are supposed to serve. This form of corruption may or may not be originally be intended to corrupt the police officer. Sometimes the public gives officers free gifts as a means of appreciation for services rendered. However, over time, this culture leads to corruption in the police force since officers feel obliged to serve people who reward them more efficiently than those who do not (Punch 53-58). Some corrupt individuals may also use such gifts as a means of blackmailing officers to perform specific services which may not be lawful. Many police departments have outlawed the reception of gifts of any form by police officers from the people they serve. Direct criminal activities There are cases where law enforcers including policemen directly commit crimes which they are supposed to prevent. Such police officers commit crimes while disguised as civilians and this makes it difficult for other law enforcers to arrest and prosecute them. Police officers have sophisticated training beyond that possessed by ordinary civilians and they are likely to leave little evidence when committing crimes which creates a challenge of prosecuting officers who engage in crime. Some officers have also been known to lend their weapons or uniforms to criminals who may commit crimes which masquerading as police officers. Other collaborate with criminals to commit crimes especially crimes involving stealing of large sums of money such as money escort services. Police officers who commit crimes are usually sacked fro the force and prosecuted as civilians. However, as was previously mentioned, their knowledge of handling weapons and gathering evidence makes tracking and prosecuting su ch officers difficult. Sabotaging criminal cases This is a serious form of police corruption which involves directly sabotaging evidence or court processes in order to ensure that a particular suspect is found not guilty and released. Some officers tamper with evidence gathered or intentionally do not follow rules of gathering evidence in order to ensure that suspects are released on a technicality. Other do not attend court sessions when summoned in order to ensure that there is inadequate evidence against a suspect. In extreme cases, officers have been known to aid the escape of suspects from custody. All these are serious offences since they undermine the justice system and prevent guilty people from being prosecuted for crimes committed. Solutions for preventing corruption in the police force There are various recommendations which may be useful in discouraging police officers from facilitating or engaging in criminal activities. These will be discussed below; Legislation Legislation is one of the most effective deterrents to crime. Harsh fines and sentences usually deter criminals from engaging in criminal activities. This form of deterrence also applies to corrupt police officers. Heavy punishment and fines against police officers who are proved to be corrupt in court will act as deterrent to other officers who are considering engaging in criminal activities. Legislators should pass laws which encourage stiff sentences to officers who engage in corruption. Local police departments should also develop tough policies which discourage corruption against police officers. These policies should encourage the sacking of officers who are found to have engaged in corruption at any level. This will encourage officers to follow their code of conduct and observe equal application of the law to all. Effective remuneration In many countries, police officers are underpaid and they are forced to work in dangerous conditions with little or no incentives. In fact, many officers are unable to cater for the basic needs of their families on their income alone and they are forced to supplement their income with income from other activities. This is one major factor which encourages police corruption. Many officers engage in corruption due to an inability to sustain their families with the income they earn (Tim 31-37). They are forced to engage in illegal activities in order to supplement income. Effective remuneration of officers including adequate allowances will reduce their motivation to engage in corruption and it is likely to reduce cases of police corruption significantly. Sensitizing police and the public Police and the public should be sensitized on the adverse effects of corruption in the police force as a long term solution to police corruption. This is the most effective solution to the problem of police corruption. The police should be informed that corruption goes against the oath they took and that it destroys the fabric of society. They should also be aware of the consequences of being caught practicing corruption. The public should also be made aware of the harm caused to society by collaborating with corrupt police. They should understand that corruption within the police force makes society unsafe and causes an upsurge in criminal activities (Prenzler Ransley 78-83). Community policing should be encouraged and communication avenues given to the public to report corrupt police women and men. Recording contact with public Recording contact between officers and the public is very effective in reducing corruption. Many officers are unlikely to engage in corruption if they are aware that their actions are being recorded. This is an effective strategy which has worked well in the US where police cars have cameras which record contact between such officers and the public. However, it must be noted that this is not a very effective long term solution to corruption in the police force since police have devised other methods of practicing corruption away from the glare of the camera. It must also be noted that such recordings are usually effective when police officers are dealing with relatively minor offences such as traffic offenses. Summary and conclusion Police corruption has been seen to be a serious problem affecting society. Although there are few statistics on police corruption, the effects of police corruption are clear to all. Various types of police corruption have been discussed and these include opportunistic thefts, protection of illegal activities, corruption of authority, direct criminal activities and sabotaging criminal cases. These forms of corruption lead to an increase in crime and few prosecutions of criminals. Solutions to the problem of police corruption include legislation, effective remuneration, sensitizing police and the public and recording contact with public. Once these recommendations are implemented, cases of police corruption will drastically reduce.

child development :: essays research papers

What major psychological challenges do children face during middle childhood? In middle childhood children face many new challenges: the challenge of knowing who you are, the challenge to achieve, the challenge of peers, the challenge of family relationships, and the challenge of school. All of these challenges are affected by influences of peers and family relationships. 2. What important changes occur in a child’s sense of self during middle childhood? A child’s sense of self begins to rapidly evolve in middle years and becomes more organized and complex. This sense of self is continuously revised with increasing age and experiences. This grows with social experiences and out of contacts with others. 3. What is achievement motivation, and what forms does it take? Achievement motivation is a tendency to show initative and attaining goals by increasing competence and meeting standards of excellence. There are two forms of achievement motivation: one focuses on competence as such and one that emphasizes the judgments people make about competence. 4. How have changes in the nature of the family, such as increases in the proportion of a single-parent and dual-wage-earner families, affected children’s psychological development? The changes in the nature of family can greatly affect a child’s psychological development. These changes such as divorce and blended families pose challenges to children. These situations usually cause stress on all members of the family even though boys and girls react differently. 5. How do peers contribute to development during middle childhood? Children are influenced by their school’s culture and peers. This influence is positive if a school’s culture and a child’s family culture are similar. This plays a role in how children experience and interact with others , how they percieve themselves, and how they develop psychosocially.

The Laws in the Reconstruction Era and the Civil Rights Movement

The Laws in the Reconstruction Era and the Civil Rights Movement The civil rights movement that started and grew through the years following the Brown v. Board of Education decision of 1954 and with the help of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (Patterson, 2001) marked an important period that accomplished more than ending segregation in cities and unfair rights; it led to the transformation of American social, cultural, and political life. The civil rights movement did not only demonstrate that the rights of African Americans should not be ignored but also showed how a nation as a whole had the power to change itself. The way the civil rights unfolded, gave others a chance to reach equal opportunity in the future. When one thinks of the words â€Å"civil rights† one often thinks of Martin Luther King’s â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech before the nation’s capital. Many can recall television footage of peaceful marchers being abused by fire hoses and police dogs. These and other images can be seen as a struggle and intense burst of black activists that characterized the civil rights movement of the mid twentieth century. Yet African Americans have always struggled for their rights. Many consider the civil rights movement to have begun not in the 1950s but when Africans were first brought in chains, centuries earlier, to American shores (Gillon & Matson, 2001). In particular, those African Americans who fought their enslavement and demanded fundamental citizenship rights laid the foundation for the modern civil rights movement. The first slaves were brought to America in 1619 ( Gillon & Matson, 2001). Not until the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery following the Civil War did blacks gain their freedom (Gillon & Matson, 2001). But the newly freed blacks could not read or write and did not have money or property, and racism and inequality remain, especially in the South, where slavery had predominated for so long. To aid black assimilation into white society, federal and state governments implemented many democratic reforms between the years 1865 and 1875, the Reconstruction era (Gillon & Matson, 2001). The Fourteenth Amendment, for example, guaranteed blacks federally protected equal rights, and the Fifteenth Amendment granted black men the right to vote (Gillon & Matson, 2001). Despite these and other measures to help the former slaves’ rights, the effects of the Reconstruction era were short lived. In the area of extreme southern white society, many did whatever it took to keep blacks from enjoying any of the benefits of citizenship. Some, for example, sought to keep African Americans from equal rights through harassment or intimidation. A number of racist groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), used even more cruel methods including lynching and other forms of violence to terrify African Americans seeking to exercise their rights or advance their social position. You can read also  Similarities and Conflicts in † a Streetcar Named Desire† As the constitutional guarantees of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendments continued to slowly disappear, the Supreme Court struck perhaps the most crippling blow to the black struggle for equality: In 1896 the Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that blacks and whites could be legally separated as long as the facilities for each were â€Å"equal† (Chong, 1991). Facilities for blacks and whites were rarely equal. More importantly, the Supreme Court’s decision, by legally backing segregation, gave white society a powerful tool to keep blacks from enjoying the rights of citizenship. With the Supreme Court now reinforcing the South’s segregation practices, the environment of white racism gave birth to the Jim Crow Laws, southern customs and laws that kept parks, drinking fountains, streetcars, restaurants, theaters, and other public places segregated (Conklin, 2008). In response to Jim Crow, which by 1900 extended into all parts of public life, several leaders in the black community stepped up to debate political strategies to fight injustice and racial inequality. One of the dominant figures of this early movement for civil rights was an intellectual W. E. B. Du Bois, who encouraged African Americans to fight for the rights that they deserved. Du Bois’ crusade led, in part, to the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), a civil rights organization that brought together lawyers, educators, and activists to collectively fight for black civil rights (Powledge, 2001). Through protests, agitation, and legal action, the NAACP continued a steady campaign to end segregation in housing, education, and other areas of public life. With the outbreak of World War I, well over a quarter of a million black troops joined the military, but were relegated to segregated units (Romano, 2006). At the same time, many blacks traveled north to take advantage of the rapidly increasing defense industries. This massive migration, however, aggravated unemployment and other problems that already plagued the northern urban centers. Racial problems continued. When the United States entered World War II, African Americans were, as before, subjected to discrimination in the defense ndustries and in military units, despite their willingness to risk their lives in combat (Powledge, 2001). These wartime experiences, along with a growth in the African American population resulted in a surge of black protest that brought Jim Crow under national scrutiny. During the 1950s, two incidents brought the issue of civil rights squarely into the public spotlight. On May 17, 1954, the NAACP, which had been steadily chipping away at the legal foun dations of segregation, won an unprecedented legal victory: The Supreme Court unanimously ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional (Polsgrove, 2001). Chief Justice Earl Warren presented the Court’s decision, in which he describes why â€Å"separate but equal† in education represents a violation of African Americans’ rights: â€Å"Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children. The impact is greater when it has the sanction of the law; for the policy of separating the races is usually interpreted as denoting the inferiority of the Negro group. A sense of inferiority affects the motivation of a child to learn. Segregation, with the sanction of law, therefore, has a tendency to inhibit the educational and mental development of Negro children and deprive them of some of the benefits they would receive in a racially integrated school system† (Patterson, 2001). By ruling against â€Å"separate but equal† doctrine set by the case Plessy v. Ferguson, the court had struck a blow to segregation. But still many southern racist practices were still being practiced, and many whites remained opposed to change. With the ruling of Brown, the affects remained slow, if not existing at all. Many school officials refused to comply with the ruling and the threat of harassment; for the ruling had unleashed fierce resistance preventing many black students from enrolling in all-white schools. At the same time, schools for black students remained overcrowded, dilapidated, and, in general, grossly inferior to those that their white counterparts enjoyed (Conklin, 2008). The second incident that captured the public eye unfolded in Montgomery, Alabama, when a woman named Rosa Parks started the spark that would provide the momentum for the entire civil rights movement. On December 1, 1955, the NAACP member boarded a public bus and took a seat in the â€Å"Negro† section in the back of the bus. Later, Parks refused to relinquish her seat to a white passenger, defying the law by which blacks were required to give up their seats to white passengers when the front section, reserved for whites, was filled (Polsgrove, 2001). Parks was immediately arrested. In protest, the black community launched a one-day local boycott of Montgomery’s public bus system. As support for Parks began, the NAACP and other leaders took advantage of the opportunity to draw attention to their cause. They enlisted the help of a relatively unknown preacher, Martin Luther King Jr. , to organize and lead a massive resistance movement that would challenge Montgomery’s racist laws (Kohl, 2005). Four days after Parks’ arrest, the citywide Montgomery bus boycott began (Kohl, 2005). It lasted for more than a year. Despite taunting and other forms of harassment from the white community, the boycotters persevered until the federal courts intervened and desegregated the buses on December 21, 1956 (Kohl, 2005). The Montgomery bus boycott was important because it demonstrated that the black community, through unity and determination, could make their voices heard and effect change. Picketing, boycotting, and other forms of resistance spread to communities throughout the South. Meanwhile, King emerged as the movement’s preeminent leader. His adherence to the nonviolent tactics used by the Indian nationalist Mohandas Gandhi would largely characterize the entire civil rights movement and inspire large scale participation by whites as well as blacks (Sunnemark, 2003). From 1955 to 1960, the efforts of blacks to bring attention to their cause met with some success. In 1957 Congress passed the Civil Rights Act, the first since Reconstruction, to establish a civil rights division in the Justice Department that would enforce voting and other rights (Davis, 2001). Meanwhile, the NAACP continued to challenge segregation, and out of that came numbers of new organizations that where formed. Among these, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), a Christian-based organization founded in 1957 and led by King, became a major force in organizing the civil rights movement (Sunnemark, 2003). An organization called the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) grabbed the media spotlight, and started many protests; when it backed four students who launched a sit-in campaign to desegregate southern lunch counters (Conklin, 2008). Not only was the nonviolent sit in technique used to desegregate other public places, but it gave large numbers of African American youths a way to participate in the movement. This helped gain national attention, bringing equal rights demands before the public eye. The protest movement continued to accelerate as different leaders tested new tactics and strategies. Many established community-based projects that sought to combat the barriers that kept blacks from voting. Others targeted the white terrorism that continued to intimidate blacks into submission. King and other leaders launched a massive campaign that brought together thousands of blacks in Birmingham, Alabama, one of the most segregated and violently racist cities at the time (Sunnemark, 2003). Early in the campaign, King was arrested and jailed. From his cell, he penned his famous â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail,† which earned him the support of many sympathetic whites (Conklin, 2008). Meanwhile, as blacks continued the desegregation campaign in Birmingham, an event occurred that irrevocably commanded the attention of America and its leaders: In an effort to stop a demonstration, the notoriously racist police Chief Eugene â€Å"Bull† Connor turned vicious attack dogs and fire hoses on the peaceful demonstrators (Sunnemark, 2003). The force of the water slammed women and children to the ground and sent others hurling through the air. Television coverage and other media reports of these brutal assaults shocked the nation and viewers around the world. After a month of this highly publicized violence, city officials repealed Birmingham’s segregation laws (Powledge, 2001). In Birmingham’s aftermath, mass demonstrations continued to spread, as did fierce resistance within the white community. In response to these events, King and other leaders planned a mass gathering on the nation’s capital in the summer of 1963 (Sunnemark, 2003). On August 28, the March on Washington brought an estimated quarter of a million people, black and white, in front of the Lincoln Memorial, where King delivered his now famous â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech (Romano, 2006). This triggered the SNCC to start a wide-scale campaign to bolster voting rights. The group launched a massive voter registration drive throughout the South, concentrating on Mississippi, where less than 5 percent of the state’s eligible blacks were registered to vote (Conklin, 2008). Freedom Summer, as it became known, was marked by episodes of extreme white terrorism. One of the most heinous examples involved three young civil rights workers. The trio was working to register voters when they were arrested and later murdered by the Ku Klux Klan (Patterson, 2001). By 1965 the voting campaign had shifted to Selma, Alabama, where, under the leadership of King, thousands of demonstrators began a fifty-mile trek to Montgomery (Sunnemark, 2003). This time, as the peaceful demonstrators approached the Edmund Pettis Bridge, state troopers used police whips and clubs to halt their progress. The scene blasted into American living rooms via the nightly news. After â€Å"Bloody Sunday,† thousands of people gathered again to complete the march, this time under the protection of the Alabama National Guard (Powledge, 2001). On August 6, 1965, shortly after the highly publicized events in Selma, President Johnson signed into law the Voting Rights Act, which, for the first time since Reconstruction, effectively opened up the polls to southern black Americans (Davis, 2001). By the mid-1960s, many black activists started to lose faith in the civil rights reforms that thus far had targeted only the most blatant forms of discrimination (Chong, 1991). While King’s nonviolent direct action approach had dominated the movement, many people particularly in the North, adopted a more revolutionary stance. As a wave of nationalist sentiment grew within the movement, organizations such as SNCC and CORE took up more militant agendas. SNCC, for example, began promoting a program of â€Å"black power† a term that meant racial pride (Conklin, 2008). The greatest spokesman for Black Nationalism was Malcolm X. With his working-class roots and charismatic style of speaking, Malcolm appealed to a lot of young urban blacks. Malcolm rejected Dr. King’s advocacy of nonviolence and instead urged his followers to secure their rights â€Å"by any means necessary† (Sunnemark, 2003). After Malcolm’s assassination in February 1965, another extremely provocative Black Nationalist group emerged: the Black Panthers, a group that boldly adopted the idea â€Å"by any means necessary† (Sunnemark, 2003). Race riots exploded across America, as blacks trapped in urban slums lashed out against the poverty and racism still rampant in their communities. Not only did the riots devastate ghetto areas that were home to millions of African Americans, including those in the Watts section of Los Angeles, but the racial violence started a separation between those who continued to believe that civil rights could be achieved through peaceful means and those who were more violent . King’s assassination in April 1968 struck a blow to the already fractured civil rights movement. Marin Luther King Jr. became the face of national equality not just for African American but to all those who sought justice and freedom. The American civil rights movement nevertheless left a permanent mark on American society. Most of the forms of racial discrimination came to an end, and racial violence decrease. Today, African Americans can freely exercise their right to vote, and in communities where they were once banned from the polls. Millions of African Americans have been lifted out of poverty as a result of the many economic opportunities created by the civil rights movement. Also important, the civil rights movement served as a model for the advancement of other minority groups, including women, the disabled, Hispanics, and many others. The civil rights movement has left a legacy in which generations after it can learn by reading it and not through experiencing it.

Falling Leaves return to their roots essays

Falling Leaves return to their roots essays Falling Leaves The Memoir of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter, by Adeline Yen Mah, is a story of a young Chinese girl growing up in an environment that most people would crack under. Under the reign of a evil stepmother, Mahs life was worst than most young unwanted Chinese daughters during the early 1900s. However, due to her strong will and the influence of a special Aunt she is able to over come such a horrid childhood. Today she is a medical doctor in America. However, if she did not have the strength of character to escape to America, where she attended school, is experiencing a fulfilling medical career and a happy marriage, her story could have never been told. The strong and intriguing meaning of her story, Falling Leaves is symbolic of Mahs life. Mah is represented as an individual leaf on the tree of life that has roots stretching back in time; each leaf has a different experience as shown by Mahs hardships, the significance of Falling Leaves is shown through Mahs insight of the beauty of life and its circle of renewal. All people have roots that reach far back in time that contribute to the legacy that makes up ones life in the present. Mah's family background, as she quotes in the story, [is with] a Shanghai family headed by my affluent father and his beautiful Eurasian wife, set against a background of treaty ports carved into foreign concessions, and the collision of east and West played out within and with out my very own home (Pg. 4). Since Mahs life is affected by the attacks that rocked twentieth-century China it is the presence of strong women that influence Mahs roots. Since Mah's mother dies shortly after she is born, Mahs female role model is her rebellious grandaunt, whom in an era during which Chinese women were still having their feet bound, founded a bank run by and for woman. Another woman who helped shap ...

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