A twenty year old college student, Allison*, whom describers herself as a “Black, but not really Black” woman, met with me to discuss what she is experiencing in today’s society (name has been changed). She brought up the recent kneeling of athletes during the national anthem, specifically during the NFL games. “It’s really frustrating that so many people just don’t get what it’s all about,” she began. “It’s not about the flag, the anthem or the troops. I just wish people could see the bigger picture of this entire thing.”…
In an attempt to persuade high school football players against following the footsteps of Colin Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback who refused to stand up for the playing of the American national anthem during their games to protest against systemic racism in the United States, David Brooks, in his article “The Uses of Patriotism,” calls Kaepernick’s actions “extremely counterproductive” as it creates a “crisis of solidarity.” To Brooks, sitting during the national anthem demonstrates a lack of gratitude to America’s ancestors and their legacy, and the loss of a sense that “we’re all in this together.” Throughout the article, he emphasizes on the importance of patriotism in the maintenance of the nation. He cites that the American…
As the United States evolved, the amendment effected arenas and situations where it never could’ve anticipated. One of the areas includes the First Amendment rights to free speech which is entering into sports. First Amendment rights and sports are becoming increasingly in conflict and are being brought into question. The Actions of NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick refusal to stand during the Star Spangled Banner demonstrates his interpretation of the 1st amendment. His deterrence to participate was because, the anthem itself has an unexpected connection to slavery. His exposition shows that Sporting events directly affect law enforcement and first amendment rights validating that no one has the right to provoke you from simply expressing your opinion when protesting at a sporting event.…
In “Let Athletes Love Their Country in Their Own Ways” by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the author references Sam Kendricks’s and Colin Kaepernick’s public displays of political expression to explain that true patriotism is when a person is willing to make sacrifices to their personal gain in order to promote their problems with the government. This article was published on August 30th, 2016 in the Washington Post. The United States in currently encapsulated in various civil rights issues such as problems with gay rights, women’s rights, and racial equality. Abdul-Jabbar uses Kendrick and Kaepernick to illuminate what happens when a famous person makes a patriotic act to stand up for these rights.…
Individual African Americans were achieving success during the 1980’s. Some examples were Condoleezza Rice and Colin Power, who worked under the administration of George W. Bush. Jesse Jackson also ran for president but lost the election because of the racism.After 1961 affirmative action was established in order to compensate for the past mistreatment and discrimination. However, African Americans had mixed beliefs on the affirmative action. Some believed that this was reassuring compensation for the past mistreatments, and others believed that this implicitly encouraged the distance of African American community from American’s ideals and notion of individualism.…
The issue of justice and equality has plagued the United States since the 17th century. Minorities in America experienced most of this plague throughout the years, and are still witnessing it currently. On September 1, 2016, Colin Kaepernick, quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers took a knee during the national anthem in support for the of the "Black Lives Matter" movement. He received heavy criticism over the next two weeks for his actions, and even death threats. However, I believe that protestors all across of the United States of America should be able to have their voice heard no matter any circumstance.…
During the period between 1865 and 1900, the lives of many African Americans had changed in both political and social ways. They had a lifestyle transformation. Politically, African Americans were able to vote. As for socially, African Americans were beginning to be viewed as equals.…
In support of relinquishing British colonial rule, Clement Davies stated the British objectives, which were two-fold had set the stage for “the old order [to] changeth, yielding place to new.” He went on to say “we have taught the peoples the rule of law and the value of justice, impartially administered.” Though not without “mistakes we will admit”, this included “the betterment of the conditions of the people and the improvement of their standard of life”, as well as having taught them “the ways of good administration…and to undertake responsibility”, so they could “manage the burden of their own government.” Although, still low, “the standard of life…[had] improved” and relinquishing British rule was not intended to “damp the hopes…
During World War I African Americans were determined to find their rightful place in American culture and society. Hundreds of thousands of African Americans migrated North in search of jobs, better living conditions and escape from racist voting laws and violent lynching’s. While voting was made easier in the North, violence could not be escaped. In 1919, 120 African Americans died by September due to racism. Many returning white soldiers had to now compete for jobs against African Americans and foreign immigrants. This caused race tensions to rise dramatically throughout the country. In Oklahoma, African American residents of the Greenwood District in Tulsa were forcefully removed by white citizens and even the National Guard, while 35 blocks…
In order to make myself up-to-date, I tried to read news everyday whether through internet, newspaper or radio but mainly on technology. Thus, I consider myself quite a technologically savvy person.…
Was an accommodationist approach the best method to gain equal rights for African Americans in the late 19th to early 20th centuries? Equality is a basic human right and needs to be realized for everyone but, unfortunately, it is not and never has been. Throughout history there have been great injustices faced by various groups of people, whether they were based on race, gender, sexuality, or religion. This discrimination has been combatted by brave, strong leaders through various methods.…
During the early decades of the twentieth century, African Americans left the South in growing numbers, migrating North, with hopes of leaving a life behind that was dictated by racism, Jim Crow law, disenfranchisement, and violence based on hatred of black skin. With dreams of new opportunities for economic self-sufficiency, political participation, integration and freedom from racial violence, African Americans were soon to be met with resistance from Northern whites and middle-class blacks who perceived the migrants as representing a black mass who would change the face of the northern urban landscape forever. The immediate…
Today I have chosen two speeches which are critical to the growth and development that our nation has gone through. Two men from different backgrounds and different times with one common goal, equality for all. The Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" and Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" both address the oppression of the African-Americans in their cultures. Though one hundred years and three wars divide the two documents, they draw astonishing parallels in they purposes and their techniques.…
Mississippi has gone through many cultural changes in its history a few major cultural changes have been the trail of tears and loss of Native American culture the end of slavery and agrarian based society, and the transition to a desegregated society.…
Additionally, a huge contributor of White Supremacy is mainstream media such a television shows, movies, and news channels. Growing up in the 21st century, media broadcastings and publications were being developed at an extremely rapid rate. Everywhere I would go, I would always be exposed to newspapers, magazines, articles, and television shows that discussed trending topics, political affairs, and seemingly important topics and stories. As time continued to progress, media and media access became “essential” to human survival, and today, it is almost impossible to walk down the street or around the corner without seeing someone using a cellphone or a laptop. In fact, in today’s society, even children are being exposed to technology and social…