Afro-Brazilian

The Transcendence of the Silhouette The Death of the Last Black Man in The Whole Entire World, a play by Suzan-Lori Parks, explores the intricacies of race in a nonlinear, disjoint, and unconventional manner. The conjunction of precise characters and language, though seemingly haphazard, signify in the perpetuation of racism and the history of African American subjugation. The first scene in the story places the audience in the middle of a disconcerting image. In this scene, Park presents a…

The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Dubois and Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates both speak of the difficulties of being an African-American in the United States. Both works address the inequalities and hypocrisy of the American Government with its treatment of black people. Although the two authors have slight contrasting upbringings they share similarities in the topic of African American struggle and the journey towards progress. Both authors agree that education is the path to…

Civic Engagement A theme in American history reveals the fascination America has with Black deaths as entertainment. The most popular TV shows and movies easily dictate the ways in which people view Black lives. Countless entertainment programs promote Americans to believe the lives of African-Americans are accurately reflected on television. The constant barrages of negative stereotypes involving Black people in the entertainment industry desensitize audiences from understanding the values of…

“A heritage beyond St. Louis”, a line from the sentimental recollection of memories of Colleen McElroy’s poem “For My Children”. Fascinatingly, McElroy was born just right across the river/40 minute drive from our very own house, on October 30, 1935 (Reid). Although born in St. Louis, Missouri she took up the studies and writing with a distinct African tone in her work. Colleen McElroy’s poem “For My Children” incorporates her African American heritage as well as African language and dialect,…

On the other hand, the negative attitudes and personal experiences of African Americans are often blown up in media. “More recently to examine such portrayals in business direct mail been one of the most significant of all factors in altering our living habits, our attitudes and our personal expectations” (Stevenson, Thomas). As Thomas Steveson explains, that people expect African Americans to this and that and so they don 't want them in their company. He was saying that all people don’t have…

The subculture I choose to observe were young black men within their neighborhoods, the ins and outs of what draws young black men to choose to involve themselves into the a life of crime. I had no idea where I was going to observe such a group, I feared going to certain areas in the North West side of Tulsa, where there are active gangs who live there. I knew of no one that could accompany me, however, my aunt in Texas invited me to spend the weekend with her, because she had friend who was a…

Poetic Justice Being black in America is an onerous task, and author Ta-Nehisi Coates understands. Coates writes an evocative letter to his son as well as the world with the book, Between the World and Me. This letter guides the reader through a pathway of Coates’ self-discovery as a black man, a black activist and a black writer. Coates provides insightful revelations on his own personal struggle for his body as well as the struggles of those around him through childhood anecdotes and memories…

Political Socialization, being the way thoughts and opinions about politics are formed, is of great importance as it helps shape views of politics. Politics is affected by many factors, some ordained by the creation of the world, and some fated by human interference. Black Lives Matter is an activist movement demanding freedom, justice and equality in the United States for African Americans. The manner in which citizens form opinions is an extensive process including environmental factors,…

Etheridge Knight’s poem “Hard Rock Returns to Prison from the Hospital for the Criminal Insane” depicts a disturbing era in American history and unjust system for prisoners in a time where discrimination ran deep. The mid 1900’s was the time when Black artists sought a voice. This quest, combined with the prison rights movement, focused on civil rights and an end to unethical practices. Prison laws and conditions in American were a disaster and the people needed a voice to reveal the…

The funny thing about the stock market is one person sells, and the other buys, but they both think they are astute. One can either make millionaires in the stock market or lose everything. Either way someone is losing and someone is winning. In Trading Places, by John Landis, brothers Randolph and Mortimer Duke own a successful brokerage firm. They watch a an encounter between managing director Louis Winthorpe III and a street hustler, Billy Ray. After the encounter, the Dukes make a wager to…