Kelly Ngo Professor Kevin Sverduk Kinesiology 332 8 October 2015 Forty Million Dollar Slaves By William C. Rhoden Sports has become a big part in our society, but also our everyday lives. For some, sports is what represents them. Sports is what allows some individuals to express their talents and showcase their strengths. Jackie Robinson, Muhammed Ali, and Althea Gibson are all legends of the sports industry. But they were more than just athletes; they are also pioneers. In William C. Rhoden’s…
Race is a social construct that has only served to cause separation between groups of different backgrounds. Upon interaction between groups of people, there are many ways that groups would react given their differences. In his essay, Models of American Ethnic Relations: A Historical Perspective, author George M. Fredrickson labels 4 cultural interactions that have occurred when people of different ethnic backgrounds have interacted throughout American History: Ethnic Hierarchy, One-Way…
During the 1960s, America was going through many changes and social movements. A few of these changes that were happening during this era included movements centered around civil rights, feminism, and antiwar. Each and every single one of these movements of the 1960s contains the concerns of equality and peace. These movements changed the identity of Americans through protests and the desire for reform. America’s identity was slowly reborn throughout all of the obstacles that were faced whether…
Malcolm X once said, “Usually when people are sad, they don't do anything. They just cry over their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about a change.” (Malcolm X). One might think that anger is destructive and counteractive and only causes people to yell. However; anger is a drive with in people that pushes them to fight for what they believe is right. In any revolution, movement or riot for change it was anger that drove the people to fight for their cause. Anger is a positive…
Jim Crow Laws were government-enforced racial segregation laws that existed with the purpose of dehumanizing, alienating and discriminating black people and other people of color. Jim Crow Laws were formed from 1876 to 1965, and existed on the premise of a “separate but equal” status for black people and white people, although they did not carry this idea out, and were violently racist. The name “Jim Crow” comes from a blackface minstrel show made in 1830, and became a derogatory term for…
The laws made it difficult for African Americans. Segregation was also enforced in public areas such as housing, work, education, and employment. In addition, all Southern states adopted Jim Crow laws, and restrictions were placed on African Americans. It was not acceptable to drink from the same water fountain or eat at the same restaurant as Caucasians. Additionally, blacks were prohibited to go to the same schools as whites. Signs that…
One of the most controversial eras in American history, the period known as Reconstruction saw immense changes in the country's political and social life. The United States government for the first time assumed the basic responsibility of defining and protecting the civil rights of African Americans. For the first time, black men in the South were given the right to vote and hold office, and the previously politically powerless African-American community united with their white counterparts to…
Mockingbird” racism played a major role because colored people were not given equal status, people ignored their equal rights, and were ignored as citizens. In “To Kill A Mockingbird” Colored people were not given equal status because of the Jim Crow Laws. The Jim Crow Laws were a big role in “To Kill A Mockingbird” because in the courtroom the blacks and whites were separated by law. “And so a quiet, respectable, humble, Negro who had the unmitigated…
Rhetorical Analysis of Letters from Birmingham Jail African Americans were not known for violently fighting for their God given rights. The black community felt they had waited long enough for those rights to be established. The clergymen questioned their actions and whether they were effective or not. They also believed non-violent acts would eventually lead to violent acts because the African Americans would get tired of waiting for things to start turning in a positive direction. Martin…
Historically, faith has had a massive impact on shaping American culture into what it is today in the modern era. Due to its widespread effect, faith has been a big topic in the realm of American Literature and media. While imprisoned in the Birmingham jail following a repulsed non-violent civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. penned “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” King’s powerful letter written primarily to white Christian leaders of the South utilizes many rhetorical strategies…