Daley was a rough-tough character, Chicago rough-tough. His grammar and speaking skills did not bring the praise of teachers--far from it. He was hot-tempered, simple, devious and powerful. Many in the country may not have understood him, but Chicagoans did. Daley reflected Chicago. Daley was a product of his neighborhood. He reflected its values--loyalty to family, neighbors, old buddies, the corner grocer. Good neighbors cut their grass and don't have their TVs too loud. He was a pious man--ever faithful to his church, mom and apple pie, disturbed by public displays of immorality. But if somebody in City Hall had a chance to make some money on the sly, Daley wasn't into lecturing except perhaps for a simple one: "Don't get…
William Cooper’s Town: Power and Persuasion on the Frontier of the Early Republic is an amazing piece of historical writing. Alan Taylor, the author of this non-fiction work, engages the reader with detailed descriptions and thoroughly researched facts, bringing the society of New York in the 1780’s and 1790’s to life. The book portrays the true story of William Cooper and his American dream-come-true. William Cooper, the main character, is the middle child of a poor Quaker farming family, who lived in Byberry, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From such meager beginnings, he slowly climbs the social hierarchy to become a prominent land owner and a U.S. congressman. Alan Taylor uses the events of William Cooper’s life to portray important…
Mr.Lindner, the racist member of the Clybourne welcoming committee, shows us the racism and prejudice of the society in the 1950s. He goes to the Youngers and attempts to convince them that they shouldn’t move in and sell the house back to the committee. He tells the Youngers that ‘it is a matter of the people of Clybourne Park believing, rightly or wrongly, as I say, that for the happiness of all concerned that our Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities (A.2S.2).’ Lindner’s actions show us the views of the society and how they affect the family and their dream of moving to a better…
John Franklin Street was born October 15, 1943 and was the 97th mayor of city of Philadelphia. He was first elected to a term beginning on January 3, 2000 and was re-elected in 2004. He Is a democrat and became mayor after having served 19 years in the Philadelphia city council, including seven years as its president before resigning as required under the Philadelphia city charter in order to run for mayor. During his terms john was radical who vociferously fought his way into the system, and then worked from within to change it. Along the way, Philadelphia city changed as well--from a blighted hotbed of racial tension to an energetic, prosperous, and effortlessly integrated city. Street’s election victory was a close one, but observes deemed the reformed…
“We spent a lot of money on our homes” yelled one white man, “They’ll be worth nothing!”4 “No one wants them here! Lets drive them out!”5 “Our houses are worth half of what they were yesterday!”6 The white citizens of Levittown felt extremely threatened that their perfect community would be ruined by an African-American family moving in. In fact, the main reason they had come to Levittown was to separate themselves from African-Americans. Many of the concerned citizens of Levittown that gathered into a mob outside of the Myers’ house made it clear that they had come to Levittown because Bill Levitt had promoted it as whites-only, “Levitt promised!”7 8 Mob formed outside of the Myers’ house in…
"for safety is not a gadget but a state of mind" and so is hope. When you are facing obstacles all you think of is finding a solution no matter what . That was the case when the Joad family had no other way but to find a better place to live in.They decided to leave everything behind and go to California. The place that many families decided to go to believing they can find a good life waiting for them. Kind of similar to Christopher MCcandless's story except his parent's mistreatment is the reason behind his pilgrimage. He decided to move to a far place where he can find safety and hope and star a new life.My family's story could also relate to Christopher's but instead of family issues we had society and environment issues. We did not live in peace and all we wanted is to find a better place.…
As Lester and Willie travel throughout Linden Hills in an effort to make a little money, they encounter residents who have compromised themselves in one way or another in order to belong to Linden Hills. The only way to make it into this coveted neighborhood is to be hand picked by Luther Nedeed. Naylor’s description of Nedeed with his “short squat body” and “protruding eyes” (3) conjures up an evil and almost satanic picture in the reader’s mind. The original Luther Nedeed passed down not only his name to all the subsequent generations of males, but also his disturbing physical characteristics. The foundation of Linden Hills itself was formed by the original Nedeed who “sold his octoroon wife and 6 children” (Naylor 2) for the money to buy the land. Over…
● Mr. Brown's replacement is the Reverend James Smith, and he is not the tolerant and wise…
In the short story, “Wilhelm” by Gabrielle Roy, true love is put to the test and undergoes great scrutiny. Through perseverance and the power of love, true love can conquer all obstacles in its path. The story starts with the main character, a daughter of oppressive parents who has forbidden her to see and talk to Wilhelm, an immigrant employed as a chemist in a small paint factory. Her stern parents went to great lengths to prevent communication between Wilhelm and their daughter and implemented various tactics to thwart their plans of crossing paths with each other. The inspirational story of perseverance is told through the eyes of the daughter, the main character, making it in the first person point of view. The story takes place in Quebec, on the streets, at the main character’s home, and it all started at the O’Neills’ residence, a large gabled house located on Rue Desmeurons. One evening at the O’Neills’ house, the main character meets Wilhelm. It was a typical, musical night at the residence and the main character was asked to play Paderewski’s “Minuet”; and was then followed by a performance by Wilhelm on his violin. Over time, their relationship developed until one day, Wilhelm started accompanying and escorting her home from school. When her mother discovered who it was accompanying her daughter home, she forbade her from returning to the O’Neills, so long as she had not got over the chivalrous Wilhelm. Wilhelm, being as intelligent as he is, now finishes work earlier and waits for the main character at the covent door. Upon her coming through the door, he carried all her homework and books – including music sheets, and metronomes all the way to the corner of her street. Soon enough, her mother finds out about Wilhelm accompanying her home and carrying her books and prohibits her daughter from ever seeing Wilhelm again. Attempting to defend herself, she tells her mother that she can’t prevent him from even walking on the same sidewalk as her. Upon…
In 1895 there was discrimination everywhere. In America people of African descent had a miserable existence. Less than 40 years earlier, they were either “owned” property, known as slaves, or lived a very humble, poverty stricken life. Booker T. Washington was among a number of very few blacks that were articulate, well educated, and well informed. He was aware that his life stood as an example to both blacks and whites that his race was capable of much more. His purpose was to bring the United States together and show how everyone could benefit. In this speech, Booker T. Washington uses many rhetorical devices to promote changes in the combined community of the nation. In his opening statements he was clear that the audience as a participating element in society should recognize the “American Negro”.…
The people of Clybourne Park did not want a black family in their neighborhood, and were prepared to buy the house back from the family. Mr. Linder, a representative of the Clybourne Park Improvement Association, tells Walter Lee, “Our association is prepared, through the collective effort of our people, to buy the house from you at a financial gain to your family” (Act II). The Youngers could take the money, leave the house, and accept the racism coming from the neighborhood, or they could keep the house and their pride. African American families struggled between keeping their pride and falling for temptations which could result in the opposite, such as the Youngers almost had.…
Recently, Newark Mayor Cory Booker has been all over the news media. The Democrat is mayor in a city that is home to corporate giants such as Prudential Financial and PSEG. The city also boasts a list of cultural venue centers such as the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, the Prudential Center, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, etc. However, it’s not the success or improvement of his city that has allowed him to gain a national reputation. Rather, it has been his consistent personal involvement in people’s lives. For example, he has lived on a “food stamp” budget to illustrate the importance of food insecurity, shoveled the driveway of a constituent based upon their request, rescuing a dog from freezing winter weather, saving a woman from a house fire at his own risk, etc. Therefore, given all of this information, understand that when Cory Booker makes any rumbling about future political ambitions, Washington D.C. and his own constituents listen hard.…
As I placed the car into park, turned the key off and stepped into the crisp cold winter air, I begin to feel my pulse raise. With each step we took drawing us closer to the door, I felt my heart beating faster. With a quick turn of the ice cold door knob, I found myself standing in a whole new world. The food, the music, the faces, the language, everything was different than what I knew. For the first time in my life I was the minority in my small home town of Winamac, Indiana.…
Underage drinking and driving is a serious problem in our society today, and occurs all too often. There many dangers and problems that occur with underage drinking and driving that can affect everyone not just the drunk driver. Not only can the drunk driver injure or kill themselves, but they put the lives of other people in danger as well. Underage drinking and driving can ruin a young adults promising future as well as the future of others. There are serious legal ramifications for underage drinking and driving that could land an offender in jail, leave them with fines to pay, and many other penalties. With all of these dangers linked to underage drinking and driving it makes you wonder why anyone would want to attempt to drink and drive.…
As a progressive, Jane Addams committed herself as a social servant to the community in an attempt to fulfill the promise of democracy to everyone rather than a small elite group. Addams’s dedication to communitarian purposes as opposed to individualist gains can be attributed to her upbringing and her remarkable respect for her father, John Huy Addams. Although John Addams was extremely wealthy, his neighbors appreciated and respected him because of the benefits he brought to their community, such as a reliable mill, a railroad, a bank, and an insurance company (5). Remembering the respect her father earned from their community, Jane Addams did not see her father “as an overbearing capitalist dictator from the Gilded Age but as a self-made steward from an era when leaders put the community's interest alongside their own” (5). Jane Addams’s father did, in fact, influence her way of thinking, regarding the devotion to community service. She looked to her father for guidance and support (7) and after he died (the patriarch), Addams was left with a $60,000 inheritance, which she decided to use to establish the settlement house in Chicago, Hull-House (10).…