“Prison sentences for black men are nearly 20% longer than those of white men conducted for similar crimes”(Blake 1). Privilege is something that people can have and get taken away, like a rule. Since it is a choice to have, it is not a mandatory use. The issue with cross cultures in the word is that Europeans do not realize they are more privileged than they think they are. While European men and women argue that racial privilege does not concern them, African American men and women may implore that racial privilege has everything to do with them, and its negative impact.…
After viewing "Analyzing White America" by Paul Mooney, I was initially taken aback by the content. I never expected the rawness that Mooney brought to the stage and he hit the ground running with such a tone without looking back. A lot of the material made me laugh or at the very least smile because i found it to be identifiable with my own life and some of the surroundings that I was brought up in. The part that I found most amusing was Mooney's suggestion that white people were happier before slavery was abolished. I believe racism is very much present in today's world. When I was growing up, I can recall plenty of neighborhoods in my hometown that were considered "white" or even "black" for that matter. In these neighborhoods, if you were not from that part of town, you were not considered welcomed there. Any parts of the film that I did not laugh at, there was no particular reason other than I simply was not amused by the material because there were not any parts that I found personally offensive. I feel as though the word "nigger" is so controversial solely because of it's history and the origin of it's meaning. This word was meant to degrade and disparage African Americans when it was originated.Today, people use the term in a different context. The new meaning is one of affection but with it's use comes this unwritten rule that white people are prohibited from saying it. I never could wrap my mind fully around the idea that I can say the word "nigga" in reference to a friend of mine but a white kid was not allowed to use it, in the same context, all because we are of different races. In my opinion, it's not right for either myself or a white person to use the word in any context. In today's society, everything is just as much about race as it was in the days of slavery. The only difference between now and then is that openly addressing the issues that we, as a culture, all have with race is socially unacceptable. Mooney's antics on stage were…
I was born to protect this land And to be proud of what I came from I am an American And I can not change that As much as I can’t change The color of my skin America is a land of greed Red, White and Blue replaced by GREEN…
A recent event in my life where I felt proud was getting enough money to help my parents pay for bills and succeed and pursue "the american dream". I started to work for HoneyBaked Ham part time since I was eligible to work. The paychecks felt great and giving them to my parents was felt better. As my sister and I get ready for college, the money got tight and I did gigs on the side. I did everything from landscaping to repairing phone screens. Felt stressful but, mind over matter right? Thats exactly what my parents thought when they moved overseas to the new world. I felt a huge sense of pleasure as I could see stress lift off their shoulders when I gave them the money This would help me in college because I know I can give myself the extra…
“Every black person who lives in the United States at some point or another comes to accept one thing: the “N-word” is not going away. Whether you use it or not, whether you are OK with it or deeply offended by it, it’s a word weighted down with so much history and so much pain that is impossible to avoid” (Blay 1). The negative connotation around the “N-word” has been plaguing the country since its founding. One of the key principles that America is founded on is that “All Men Are Created Equal” (Jefferson Declaration of Independence), but let me continue it; All Men Are Created Equal except women, homosexuals and lastly niggers. The word “nigger” had so much power because it was used to belittle Africans and make it so that they were not…
This connection that I have with my mother is a dime a dozen if you look at our entirely culture here in America. Less and less families these days actually cook or sit down to eat a meal together which has left many Americans searching for something they have lost. This lost feeling is being capitalized on by television networks by the vast amount of cooking and food related shows that are being broadcasted. Frank Bruni asks in “An Experts Theory of Food Television Appeal”, “For these young people, does the televised cooking have have the appeal of a missive from a lost utopia” (Bruni 111)? I believe he hit the proverbial nail right on the head with this line of questioning and he couldn't be more correct. Young adults who lead busy lives,…
Let me start off with my mother's journey to America. It was 1985 when her parents decided it was time for a fresh start. It was very difficult to come to America legally, so they made their journey by traveling to other countries. They left Cuba and traveled to Spain where my grandfather found a job as a farmer. They lived in Spain for almost 2 years before they gathered enough resources to travel to Mexico. The journey from Mexico to the USA was very easy for them because they had a family member who knew their way around. They struggled for many years in America but soon became legal citizens. My mother later on went to college and completed her bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Miami. My grandparents purchased the…
In the book “White Privilege” author and writer Paul Rothenberg illustrates privilege in two ways based on different elements whites and blacks. She states “the characteristics of the privileged group define the societal norm which often benefits those in the privilege group. Second, privileged group members can rely on their privilege and avoid objecting to oppression” (Rothenberg, p.110). Based on Rothenberg’s expression on privileges being viewed in two ways takes away all the other discriminated categories that people put white’s and black’s privileges in. Looking at society expectations on black’s versus whites there has never been a black privilege. Rothenberg states “white people can decide whether or not they want go into a predominantly black neighborhood, but in most cases black people have no choice but to deal with a predominantly white world” (Rothenberg, p.130). The case that Rothenberg makes on whites and blacks shows that whites will always have the better outcome than blacks because blacks have no choice but to deal with white people. As an African American woman I can say we succeed in our career with them, we get an education with them, and even make deals with them. This all leads down to the reasons why blacks are not mentioned frequently likes whites are. Blacks are always the ones who are considered to have some type of downfall when it comes to being successful. This all…
Leaving your country is always a difficult decision, and whoever has experienced it understands the sacrifice it entails. When I left Poland at 18, I thought I was going to be in paradise, but to my disappointment it was far from that. I had to learn a new language and work hard to provide for myself. What kept me motivated was the hope for a better future and an independent life.…
The american dream is what all young people hope to obtain later in their life after college. Although the American dream is a wonderful life to have, I don’t want just the idea of living an average lifestyle that every person purses. I rather be more than average and live a life that is overly favored and blessed by God.…
America, land of the free and home of the brave, a country strengthened with rights, equality, and justice. For Americans it’s just a regular country, with regular rules and laws, nothing special about it. Although, to immigrants it’s a country to reinterpret their lives, a better life, a life where they’re free to pursue their happiness and follow their dreams. Even though America is a great country, adjusting to a new culture isn’t easy. It took patience, support, understanding, and passion in order for me to balance two different cultures.…
(Yeah, this is going to be a long one...so just be aware and you know forgive all the spelling and other errors because you know, I can't be trusted to edit.)…
Have you ever imagined that one day you had to live in a new country? You are surrounded by new people. You have to communicate to others by a new language. You have to do a bunch of things that you have never done before. How would you feel at that time? That was my story of the first days I lived in America. To me, those days were the most difficult time in my life up to now. Sometime, I even felt very stressful because of struggling with my new life. However, I did learn of lot from that. Now, I am going to tell you how I experienced the stressful time and some useful ways that I did to reduce my stress.…
When deciding if I was affluent I put a lot of thought into this. I could be considered affluent to one who does not have any money at all, or no place to call home, but I do not consider myself to be affluent. I am a college student who was thankfully blessed with a full tuition scholarship. With preparing myself for the next chapter of my life next fall, I wonder how I will ever pay for my bachelors degree. I think that in America a lot of people live like this they spend so much money to get a degree that has left them in a great amount of debt. They just hope that one day they will become an affluent person. At least that is my dream. It is an American dream to live life with not worry on costly expenses. The United States is considered…
Samuel, I really enjoyed your post as I like hearing about other people’s family history since mine is so diverse. With your skin tone, eyes, and hair I can see why someone may say you look Hispanic. At least you take it in stride. Today, too many people get offended when someone calls them the wrong race or ethnic origin. It is really good that you continue your family’s tradition of cooking Greek and Italian dishes and I hope your children continue that. My family has been in this country so long and has so many nationalities in the mix that we have Southern traditions instead of a specific country. I do enjoy researching my family’s history. I do not have anyone famous in my family so far, but my great-great grandfather, Private John Henry Gwathney, did manage to survive the Civil War while serving under General Nathan Bedford Forrest.…