Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Racial Profiling And The United States - 1560 Words

Recently, there has been an epidemic in which minorities are being racially profiled on a daily basis. Individuals are being arrested, pulled over, and gunned down, simply because of the color of their skin. People cannot even walk down the street without someone thinking that they look suspicious. Whether the person is African American, Hispanic, Indian, or Muslim, racial profiling is wrong. With all of the recent controversy surrounding the problem, one would think that it would occur much less but that is not the case. Racial profiling has caused a recent uproar in America, and it has become the reason why many people have turned their backs on law enforcement for good. â€Å"Racial profiling is the discriminatory practice by law†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Who does racial profiling actually hurt†? using this as my research paper would shed light on situations that have been kept in the dark. This paper is intended for each race, the reader, and the next potential victim. This issue became important to me while reading many articles on officer Darren Wilson, and the mayhem that occurred in the aftermath when the riots in Ferguson began. I found that his case was not the only that had been subjected to being a potential accuser of racial profiling. True enough, there is a young African American male dead, due to an officer s actions, but with all of the media bashing and throwing dirt on his name, how is it affecting him? Who is the real victim? It makes absolutely no sense that African American men have to avoid wearing dark clothes, in fear that they might be gunned down. For instance, on February 26, 2012, Trayvon Benjamin Martin was just 17 years old when he was shot and killed by the neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman while visiting his father in Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman called 911, to report a â€Å"suspicious person† who was walking in between homes. Martin was wearing a dark hoodie, and was returning home from the store with skittles, and an Arizona iced tea. He was not bothering anyone but his life came to an abrupt end solely because he was a suspicious looking African American teen dressed in dark clothing. Trayvon was not the first and certainly will not

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Essay on I Must Write - 574 Words

I feel like giving up. Stop trying too hard because the result will always be the same despite of the effort I put in. I have tried to wheedle myself believing that I can do better, but so far there is no change in the outcome. Time is running out and hopes of making a change are dying and I am tempted to simply throw in the towel, and succumb to the defeat. It feels like am trying to catch the wind. Why is this so hard difficult for me? All I want is to make a step in English. To prove that I too can write a good paper. To relish writing the English papers, but it has proven to be extremely difficult. I wonder why it is the only subject that am not doing well or advancing. It is hard to concede that I cannot make any amelioration and†¦show more content†¦Now I’m forced to plan the little time remaining and finish with a remark to prove to myself that I can excel in English just as I do in other subjects. Improvements start today. I believe that my biggest problem is that I do not do much practice in writing. All my papers have no new ideas, because I do not read my notes, and I never make use of my extra time to practise the art of writing; even if it is just for the fun of writing. Since there are only two papers left. I will start with the one that is needed first, try to limit my time on this paper, evaluate it myself, then find someone else to go through it before handing it to the teacher. I am good at editing rather than doing the actual writing; so I must stop the editing and make sure the paper is complete first, and editing will be the last thing I do. I might not like writing because it demands more creativity, but I now know that the more I write, the more creative I become. I realize this is the time to make a sacrifice, that I should have made before, but because of my ignorance did not. I deceived myself thinking that i would remember the lecture notes without putting them in ink and paper. I now figured that to keep a record of my ideas I must be consistent in writing. I have drained myself by not keeping a journal to help keep my thoughts in writing and develop new better ideas. Although it seems a little too late, better late than never, and now I should do it mostly for myShow MoreRelatedWriting Essay : Going To Write Better1126 Words   |  5 PagesGoing to Write Better   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As researchers have shown, our brain naturally wants to learn, but if we want to be an expert in something, we must start to get more information. We are all living in such a century that for being successful, we must know academic knowledge. Our brain cells which are called neurons includes axon which could transfer information to the Dendrites. Dendrites would be grown by more information just like branches of a tree, if the tree gets more water and minerals, itRead More The Writing Process Essay608 Words   |  3 Pageswriting process?; and Must you follow one persons writing process if yours is different?; This is where I came across the answer to my questions, write however you wish to write. If one person likes free write first and another person likes to write a draft first, let them do how they please. The writing process is something that you figure out yourself as you go through school. I personally think that is why they make us take English for so many years. Through the years, I found that some teachersRead MoreHow Do I Learn Write? Essay987 Words   |  4 PagesHow Do I Learn to Write? Reading and writing go hand-in-hand. Those who learn to write, write so someone will eventually read it. Those who learn to read, learn to write through reading other people’s work. But, one must first learn how to do one of the following to succeed in both. So, how does one learn to write? The best, most concise, writers develop from avid readers. Through reading, I am always learning how to write. I believe reading is essentially the foundation of learning to write. WithRead MoreHigh School English Education Provides Every Students With A Basic Five Paragraph Formula872 Words   |  4 Pagescan I do to improve my own writing in college? Through high school I was herded, like most students, to write in the basic five paragraph formula and it provided a solid foundation for which to write a essay. But I am in college now I believe that the most important way I can improve my writing is to care more about it, to prod into unconventional sentence structure and to craft better works because I want to do better. In highschool I was more concerned with passing then learning, a mistake I doRead MoreHow Do I Learn Write?891 Words   |  4 PagesHow Do I Learn to Write? Reading and writing go hand-in-hand. Those who learn to write, write so someone will eventually read it. Those who learn to read, learn to write through reading other people’s work. But, one must first learn how to do one of the following to succeed in both. So, how does one learn to write? The best, most concise, writers develop from avid readers. Through reading, we are always learning how to write. I believe reading is essentially the foundation of learning to write. WithRead MoreWhat I Think When I Have A Writing849 Words   |  4 PagesWhat I Think When I Have to Write Since the first time I picked up a pencil and a piece of paper I have been taught how things ought to be done. Dot your i’s and cross your t’s, check your spelling, and do not forget the period at the end of each of your sentences. Writing shows you understand how to fit together facts and bits of information, but when does the real test of knowledge finally come into play? Your writing must express you, while still managing to cover all the appropriate content.Read MoreWhat Is Introductory English?758 Words   |  4 Pages One must be able to identify what the main idea is in each writing piece, and then transform the material into something greater. Students will learn to establish ideas in essay form, and then map them out by creating a rough draft, and then revising the essay. (â€Å"Course catalog†) Students will also learn how to find references for essays and how to cite information found. When I first started English class I was really apprehensive. The last time I was in English class was six years ago. I trulyRead MoreStephen King s Writing : A Memoir Of The Craft958 Words   |  4 PagesKing provided in his memoir that I believe is valuable for me as a writer is that you must read a lot and write a lot, trust the use of your own vocabulary, using simple sentences is not a bad thing, and to write the first draft with the door closed and the second draft with the door open. To write well, there are only two things you absolutely must do: read and write: â€Å"If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write† (King 147). I believe that reading and writingRead MoreThe And Of Content Marketing981 Words   |  4 Pagespretentious and useless fluff piece is all about. Are you unsure? Never fear! Here are some guidelines to help. How do I know if my content is useful? 1. Write content that suits your audience Your content must match your audience’s level of understanding. Experts won’t consider entry-level content useful and beginners won’t get much use out of advanced discussions. Your audience must have the required resources — time, energy, money, potato chips — to use the content. Telling new parents about a relaxationRead MoreThe Best Target Of Academic Writing Instruction Essay1497 Words   |  6 PagesI believe, every person has an accent in their writing in English, whether native English user or non-native English user. Therefore, it can be determined by sentence structure, word choices, and intelligibility of writing. There is no right or wrong accent in writing in English, also in speaking. Moreover, due to widespread of the English language, there is no way to determine who is writing and speaking in a right accent or wrong accent. Also, I disagree with the thought that, native users of English

Monday, December 9, 2019

Music and the American Culture Essay Example For Students

Music and the American Culture Essay Music has played a vital role in human culture and evidence based on archaeological sites can date it back to prehistoric times. It can be traced through almost all civilizations in one form or another. As time has progressed so has the music and the influences it has on people. Music is an important part of popular culture throughout the world, but it is especially popular in the United States. The music industry here is, and has been, a multi-million dollar business that continues to play an important role in American popular culture. This is also a art form and business that is forever changing as the times and more importantly, technology changes. Technology has changed the way music is made as well as how it is produced, marketed, sold, performed and other various factors associated with music. Women’s rights have progressed over recent history as well as gender roles associated with both genders. The feminist movement has made great progress for the betterment and advancement of women in this country. Women are seen as equals at home and in the workplace because of this feminist movement and theory. Women are not content with being stay at home moms and are pursuing higher education and better professions, previously reserved for men. The feminist movement fights for women in all aspects and is not afraid to stand up for what they believe in. Over my generation I have seen examples and conflict between music and the feminist movement in multiple instances. The artifact I have chosen for this assignment is the recently popular Fat Joe and Lil Wayne song, â€Å"Make It Rain†. This song came out in 2006 but reached more popularity with the remix in 2007. This is also a song that was nominated for a Grammy award in 2008. This is a very catchy song that immediately became popular in the club scene, radio, MTV, and in popular culture overall. Many see it as a catchy rap song with a good beat, but the actual message it portrays would have many listeners and parents disgusted. The basic message of this song is that Fat Joe and Lil Wayne like to throw stacks of money at strippers and make it look like its raining in the club, hence the title of the song. These rappers are portraying the lifestyles of young, rich, defiant rap artists. A portion of the lyrics in the chorus are, â€Å"Got a handful of stacks better grab an umbrella. I make it rain, I make it rain (Oh), Make it rain on them hoes†. This chorus is repeated multiple times throughout the entire song. This type of message and song does not fit in with the messages, goals, values and beliefs of the feminists movement and we see a clash between the music industry, specifically rap music, and the feminist movement before and after this song. Since the beginning of its art form rap music has been subject to scrutiny throughout its existence. In a Theresa Martinez reading from the semester, the author describes rap music as a resistance. She builds on a theory of oppositional culture that was composed by Bonnie Mitchell and Joe Feagin (1995). In this article, â€Å"POPULAR CULTURE AS OPPOSITIONAL CULTURE: Rap as Resistance†, Martinez explains how African Americans, American Indians, and Mexican Americans draw on their own cultural resources to resist oppression. She states that this very resistance to the dominate culture in turn, influences popular culture. She goes into detail on possible reasoning behind rap music and where the attitudes and beliefs stem from. She briefly touches on the topic of women in rap and where the attitudes come from. This article gave me a different way of looking at rap music as a whole and the influences of it. In a genre that has tried to bring light to many social issues such as poli ce brutality, poverty, healthcare, discrimination as well as others, I don’t fully understand why rap artists and record companies openly degrade and put women down. Martinez suggests that the misogyny of women can reflect ones family experience and/or structure as well as reflect the sexist American culture and music industry. This type of behavior and example that is being set for younger generations seems to undo all the positive messages and plights that was endured by generations and musicians before. Rap music with negative messages towards women, or anything negative, adds to stereotypes, puts an even bigger microscope over rap music and makes it more apt to criticism. Song and Dance Journal EssayWorks Cited Adams, Terri, and Douglas Fuller. The Words Have Changed but the Ideology Remains the Same: Misogynistic Lyrics in Rap Music. Journal of Black Studies. Sage Publications. Web. 18 Apr. 2011.  . Johnson, James D., Mike S. Adams, Leslie Ashburn, and William Reed. Differential Gender Effects of Exposure to Rap Music on African American Adolescents Acceptance of Teen Dating Violence. Sex Roles 33.7-8 (1995): 597-605. Print. Martinez, Theresa A. Popular Culture as Oppositional Culture: Rap as Resistance. Sociological Perspectives 40.2 (1997): 265-86. JSTOR. University of California Press. Web. 18 Apr. 2011.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

The Rave Subculture Essays - Neurochemistry, Drug Culture

The Rave Subculture I walked into the dark room after paying the ten-dollar cover charge. The music was what I noticed first. It was very loud and made a ring linger in my ears. The music was house music, also known as techno or electronic music. The next thing I noticed was the people. The majority of them were young adults, anywhere from their late teens to early 20's. It wasn't the people I noticed so much, but how they were behaving. Most of them were dancing, but not just your typical dancing that you would see in most dance clubs. People were very close together and there was a lot of physical, euphoric interaction between them. They were dancing to the beat, almost together as one. Also moving the groove of the music were many lights of all different colors. Most people were dancing with glowsticks as well as other various kinds of lights. It was clear to me right away that the majority of the people inside the room were not sober but were under some kind of influence. I had walked into the world of the rave. It was a Saturday night in Jacksonville, Florida. I was at a club in the Downtown area called 618. It opens at 10 p.m., a time when most other places are getting ready to close. The patrons there however, were just getting their night started. I walked around the club, observing as I walked. I saw people hugging a lot, giving each other massages or giving each other light shows. I asked a girl what the light show was for. Her name was Sara and she replied, ?The lights look really cool when you're rolling.? Rolling is term most ravers use when are on the popular club drug ecstasy. Sara was 19 and dressed like a lot of the ravers I saw there. Loose shirts and baggy pants. She had jewelry on that looked almost like children's jewelry. She said kids there who wore that kind of apparel were called ?candie ravers? or ?candie kids?. Ecstasy pills are made of a compound called methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA. It's an old drug: Germany issued the patent for it in 1914 to the German company, E. Merck. It's chemists thought it could be a promising intermediary substance that might be used to help develop more advanced therapeutic drugs. It was not successful however and disappeared until 1953. That's when the U.S. Army funded an animal study of eight drugs, including MDMA. They were trying to find a lethal drug for use on soldiers during the cold war. They did not find it to be as toxic as they had hoped however and MDMA was forgotten once again. It wasn't until 1985 that it was outlawed and made a Class I substance, in the same category as heroin or LSD. By then, college-age people in Europe and India were taking the drug to enhance rave parties, where thousands of people danced to loud techno music. As years went by, MDMA got more and more popular, especially among users in their late teens and early 20's. The drug sells for $20 to $30 today in the United States. People who have taken the drug say the experience is a several-hour intense journey. All five senses are heightened. It's not uncommon for people to massage, touch and hug one another while ?rolling? to increase the pleasure. Some say it makes them happy and energetic. Others say MDMA releases their ?true selves?. I asked Sara how long she had been rolling and why she did it. ?I dropped my first pill around the middle of 1998. That first time was so awesome. It was like a whole new world that I'd never seen. Everything around you is just a hundred times better than when you are sober. The air you breathe feels good, just to breathe it. Your skin is really sensitive to touch. And it feels so good just to hug people because you just feel like you have to. It's like everyone here is a family and we are unified.? Then Sara reached over to me, grabbed me and gave me a very embracing hug. It caught me off guard and surprised me.