Essays on Black Power

1. The book begins with a historical portrait of Ruth McBride Jordan. The author reveals that Ruth has had some name changes. Explain each name change and its significance. The change of Ruth’s name indicates the changes that she has undergone since her birth. She was born in Poland as Rachel Dwanra Zylska and as the name indicates she was born into an orthodox Jewish family. The first name change happens in her second year when her family immigrates to America. It is here that she gets her second name Rachel Deborah Zylska, which was ‘an American version ...

No two black leaders stand out during the civil rights movement of the 1960s as much as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. Whereas the two men were polar opposites in achieving their respective ends – equality for African Americans – they both died much too young as the result of an assassin’s bullet. Malcolm X, best known for his separatist ideology, wanted “black power”, and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s integrationist ideology preached peace, and the brotherhood of all men, regardless of color – conflicting philosophies that yielded both desirable and undesirable results. Certainly, these two civil rights leaders’ ...

The history of African Americans is an essential part of the whole history of the United States. Starting from the sixteenth century and the beginnings of slavery, Blacks had experienced a lot of struggles and had traveled the long path in order to achieve the social and political equality with western people. During their presence in the United States, they underwent a lot of events that contributed to their rise, supported their pride, and highlighted their racial identity. This paper aims to discuss four of such events and to analyze their mutual influence and significance for the establishment of ...

Research Paper

The Civil Rights Act and All the Way The Civil Rights Movement was one of the most arduous and hard-fought social progress movements in American history. Capitalizing on the confluence of aggressive resistance to Jim Crow laws and increased pressure from the American public to foster racial equality, President Lyndon B. Johnson had an extremely difficult time reconciling the deep divisions that existed between progressive whites and blacks and Southern whites who wanted to maintain social restrictions on black people. This conflict is depicted in Robert Schenkkan’s play All the Way in an accurate, dramatic manner, showcasing the ...

Black power emerged as a result of the efforts made by African Americans in the 1950s and 1960s in the clamor for equal representation and opportunities in all the spheres of the public American life. The concept led to the rise of the black power movements across the United States of America. Chief among the black power movements is the civil rights movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King. King focused on accomplishing the mission of achieving equal rights for African American so that they could participate in the social, economic and political affairs without discrimination (Joseph 90). With ...

How the conflict played out

Foundations of the civil rights movement were defined by the fight and struggle of the African Americans for equal and full rights as full citizens (like the white Americans) of the United States of America in the 1950's. Africans were subjectively discriminated and denied fundamental rights such as education, health, democratic voting, and even recreational facilities such as restaurants. This inequality and discrimination founded on racial differences compelled the victims of the vice to initiate various mechanisms in a bid to quash it out of their land. They involved themselves in demonstrations and negotiations to counter the problems. The ...

Introduction

Hanna Arendt is a one of the philosophers whose viewpoints have been given greater accords and consideration. In fact, her contributions to the field of political philosophy are immense, and she made outstanding manifestation in delivering critical lessons and concepts about the worldviews about politics, power, and its associated influence. Therefore, it is essential to have sure understanding on the Arendt’s philosophical thoughts and perspectives before delving into the book, “Crisis of a Republic”. Arendt philosophy is anchored on the emphasis on maintaining a meaningful distinction among various concepts of “strength,” “power,” “authority”, and “violence,” besides the need ...

The 1960s were an important period in the American history, because there were many fundamental positive changes in the American society. The issue of racism was not completely resolved, but there was a significant shift in the public opinion that later provided the basis for the eradication of the racial discrimination in the USA. One of the most successful and influential organizations in the 1960s was the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. This organization was established in 1960 in order to promote a non-violent sit-in movement in the Deep South, but later its scope of activity was extended due to ...

Cornel West “Race Matters"

Written by Cornel West and then published in 1993, “Race Matters” addresses the issues that are still contentious, urgent, and exciting. At the present time “Race Matters” is a book which helps us establish a true multiracial democracy arising the problems of religion, sexuality, poverty of the middle and lower classes of African Americans, everlasting struggle of black people in order to find themselves in the society as individuals. Americans are prohibited to talk about black sexuality. It is a taboo subject mainly because it is a domination of black power that white people can`t manage. However, its ...

When a Ferguson grand jury declines to charge policeman Darren Wilson for murdering Michael Brown, Ta-Nehisi Coates watches as his son Samori walks into his bedroom and cries. Michael Brown is a young African American boy who was unarmed when he was shot by the police officer in Missouri. Ta-Nehisi Coates is a national correspondent for The Atlantic, a winner of the National Book Award and a recipient of the MacArthur “Genius Grant” 2015. Between the World and Me is a critical response he writes to his son that explains and details his experience of racism in the United ...

Introduction

In several instances, in the history of United States, African Americans have been referred to as African, Afro-American, Negros as well as blacks. The portion of the African American population which is of completely African ancestry is not known. This is mainly because, over the past 300 years, racial mixture has considerably taken place in the United States between persons of various descents such as Europeans and the Indians. It’s been, however, considered historically that any person with black African ancestry in the United States is African American. It is however, important to note that physical characteristics, as ...

The Civil Rights Movement

The Movements of the New Left, 1950-1975: A Brief History with Documents by Van Gosse Hannah Wilson In the 1960s, America underwent a monumental change, and everything changed in terms of its culture, status of specific population categories, domestic and foreign policies, and many other aspects under the large-scale, massive, and irreversible influence of the New Left movements. The 1960s were obviously a highly revolutionary period in the US history, mainly due to the rise of many fundamental social movements such as feminists, civil rights protectors, anti-Vietnam war pacifists, and voting rights. For example, Gosse (2005) noted that “ ...

INSTITUTIONAL AFFILITATION

Immigrants add a unique dimension to American life and politics. In this essay, I will give a brief explanation on the significance of the Statue of Liberty, provide an overview of the current demographics of the U.S. and the problems faced by minority groups in the 1970s and the identity politics that accompanied this tumultuous time in America’s history.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY

Between 1886-1924, almost 14 million immigrants entered the United States through the NY Harbor. While first and second class passengers weren't required to undergo inspection at Ellis Island, the majority of passengers in steerage class. The Statue of Liberty at Ellis ...

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The concept of ‘Power’ in Political Science Power, most simplistically defined is the ability of an individual to influence others or act in a given situation so as to influence or control or even manipulate the situation for a specific purpose. Power and its usage is something that has evolved as long as the human history itself. There is political power, power of position, power of an authority, all having different meanings and relevance to different situations. Power has been discussed and was a subject of literature right from the times of Socrates till now. ...

Over the course of American history, one particular group has had, arguably, the most unique and challenging struggle since the end of the Civil War – African-Americans. Having come to this country in the holds of slave ships, been asked for hundreds of years to work as property for white men, and only receiving emancipation from slavery as the result of a bloody civil war, African-Americans already had a long road ahead in terms of asserting their place in American society. All manner of significant events and developments have occurred since then to mark their unique struggles – the fallout of Reconstruction and ...

The term “Black Power” associates with Stokeley Carmichael. Stokeley was leader of civil rights in the 1960s. In fact, the term was famous before Stokeley used it in the period. Willie Ricks used it as a phrase to rally the masses against the discriminatory practices dominant against the black people. Stokeley used it in the March against Fear. The rally’s objective was to enable black people to stop living in fear of discrimination and prejudice in the society. In most cases, blacks were victims of racial segregation. The society treated them differently from the rest of the society ...

It is common knowledge that the United States of America is a country of immense opportunities and equal rights founded by a group of refugees from the British Empire who sought possibilities to enjoy civil rights; however it was not until the second half of the 20th century that African Americans were granted such a franchise. If there was one event that was so crucial as to determine the way the whole nation would be moving for years to come, it was Civil Rights and Black Power movement. It came to pass that racial inequality, apartheid or racial segregation got to the ...

Introduction:

Brief introduction of what the civil rights movement was about; Reasons why the black population of the America rose against the whites Three major issues that the discrimination was about; role played by martin Luther king jr. Native Americans Brief discussion of the sufferings the natives had to face; how they were inspired by martin king; kinds of discrimination against the natives. Some facts regarding the discrimination;

Vision of equality and non-violence in protests;

African Americans Since the period of reconstruction, the problems and issues; violence against the black; denied voting rights; poll taxes, and literacy tests to discriminate; south public ...

Communication 2513: Writing for the Discipline

Thesis Statement: How have African American Men progressed over the years in the Field of Education relative to their counterparts in other races?

Research Questions:

- What has been the progression of African American men in the Field of education over the years? - Compared to their counterparts in other races, have African American men improved or gotten worse as far as the field of education is concerned? - What is the duty of both the private and public sectors, and other stakeholders in improving the education of African American men? - Apart from crime, what else plays ...

Abramson, J. B. (1994). We, the Jury: The Jury System and the Ideal of Democracy: with a New Preface. Harvard University Press. Jury came up in 1994 at a period of fast growing cynicism concerning jury justice. There was exclusive concern allover concerning racism, which appeared as a critical impartiality obstacle. There were always concerns on white men being prosecuted of racially abusing African-Americans. However, there was misrepresentation of Africans in the jury since there were no Africans serving in the jury. This brought in extensive disagreements between whites and African-Americans who always viewed themselves as segregated in proper operations of ...

The Civil Rights Movement was a social movement which accelerated the pursuit of equal rights and fair treatment for African-Americans following World War II. With America established as a world superpower, and the economic recovery the war provided leaving the United States in a secure position as a nation, African-American leaders worked to undo Jim Crow laws, desegregate schools and other public institutions, and provide basic freedoms and rights in the wake of a deeply prejudiced nation. No longer content with what limited freedoms were given to African-Americans throughout the centuries, and fed up with the remaining discrimination, blacks demanded equal treatment and an ...

The social and political changes taken in the course of the Civil Rights Movement were accomplished through dramatic action and powerful organization, using grassroots initiatives and the participation of women in the leadership process (though only at an intermediate level). Women slowly became an increasingly important demographic in the leadership of the Civil Rights Movement. Women chiefly occupied an intermediate leadership role, providing moderate leadership in many local and regional cells of civil rights organizations. These intermediate layers of local leadership became vital to the Civil Rights Movement, as the inclusion of women in the groups also provided needed ...

Samuel Fosso is a contemporary Cameroonian photographer who uses himself as both the subject and the model for all of his photographs. A large portion of his photographs are self-portraits which represent various cultural clichés of either Americanism exported around the world, or parodies of popular culture and its accoutrements. Most of his photographs are black and white, which makes the few that have been produced in color all the more glaring in their commentary on their subject. His two most famous series, African Spirits and Autoportraits, represent political and cultural commentary on the modern world, particularly as portrayed ...

The Civil Rights Movement was a social movement which accelerated the pursuit of equal rights and fair treatment for African-Americans following World War II. With America established as a world superpower, and the economic recovery the war provided leaving the United States in a secure position as a nation, African-American leaders worked to undo Jim Crow laws, desegregate schools and other public institutions, and provide basic freedoms and rights in the wake of a deeply prejudiced nation. No longer content with what limited freedoms were given to African-Americans throughout the centuries, and fed up with the remaining discrimination, blacks demanded equal treatment and an ...

The Vietnam War was occurred between the year 1960 and 1975. It started as a determined effort by Communist insurgents, the so called Vietcong, in the South, supported by Communist North Vietnam, to remove the South Vietnam government from power. The struggle broadened into a war between North Vietnam and South Vietnam and eventually into a restricted international battle. The United States, as well as some 40 other nations, backed South Vietnam through providing munitions and troops while the People's Republic of China and the USSR supplied armses to the Vietcong and North Vietnam. In spite of the massive American help, the ...

For those with the eyes to look far past the Presidency, now in the hands of an African-American man, there is still an impending crisis within the U.S.; that is, an existing movement that continues to use Blaxploitation films as a means to accurately portray representative characterizations of African Americans. Although we are now well into the 21st century, this has been an on-going problem that was first put to society’s attention by Ossie Davis. "Cotton Comes to Harlem" is one such movie that achieved legendary status, when it was released in 1970. By some, it is even considered a ‘ ...

Black Nationalism and Black power Movement

The leader that stood out to me was Constance Baker who was determined to promote and achieve black power. He defined black power as a temporary strategy used by the black population in the struggle to achieve an integrated American society. She assumed a leading role in most of the major civil rights cases during the 20th century. She fought for equality in the education by providing legal assistance in cases where black were denied chances in colleges. Baker endured several hardships and even assaults in desegregation cases in the South. Before reading this textbook, I had a belief that only men ...

Jury Nullification

“You . . . police the Police. You police them by your verdict. You are the ones to send the message. Nobody else is going to do it in this society. You . . . are the ones in war; you are the ones on the front line” Johnnie Cochran, 1995 O.J. Simpson trial, on jury nullification Jury nullification refers to a jury’s decision to return a verdict of “not guilty” even when the jury believes that the defendant is guilty of the criminal charges. In essence, the jury “nullifies” a law that it does not want to apply to the defendant, either because the jury ...

Book Review: Black Power on Campus: The University of Illinois, 1965-75

In Joy Ann Williamson's Black Power on Campus: The University of Illinois, 1965-75, the author charts an interesting time in higher education, as the Civil Rights Movement and its aftermath began to be felt on college campuses, integrating black and white students. The Black student movement at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was a perfect example of that phenomenon, as black students doubled in enrollment during this decade. Mostly white universities experienced the most dramatic increase in enrollment, creating a new black presence in the student body reflective of the need of American schools to accept a more racially diverse world. ...

The civil rights movement was a political undertaking that occurred worldwide in pursuit for equality. This particular movement occurred between the year’s nineteen fifty and nineteen eighty (Gloria 63). During this period, civilians engaged in campaigns that were aimed at attaining change. The campaigns were mostly free of violence though in some circumstances viciousness was accompanied or some kind of civil strife together with armed revolt. These movements lasted for quite a long time though civilians did not attain their aims. Nevertheless, considerable improvements were made in the lawful rights of formerly oppressed societies. In the United States, civil right ...

Abstract

Different genres of music will have different themes and this will be in reference to the message that the singer intends to pass. The origin of funk music is the United States of America was mostly done by the African-Americans (Curtis, 2006). At some point the theme depicted by some of the singers showed the regeneration of the black race from slavery to fame. For this reason funk music has been listened to and greatly appreciated by members of the black community.

James Brown’s song Say it loud I am Black and I am proud, 1968, is a good ...

A Raisin in the Sun – Lorraine Hansberry Lorraine Hansberry’s play A Raisin in the Sun was first performed in 1959 and was an immediate critical and commercial success. It is justly celebrated for these reasons. Ray and Kundu (31) describe it as ...a milestone in women’s drama. It was the first play to be written by a black woman to be produced on Broadway, and the first play by a black woman to win the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. The play is based on Hansberry’s own experience as Adams (9) makes clear: “She ...

Introduction

Jury nullification is a highly researched and discussed concept, where a jury in America has the rights to give mercy in criminal trials where they find that a defendant is legally guilty but is morally upright. The nullification power is basically an integral part of the jury’s rights and therefore regardless of the evidences and law, nullification cannot be questioned in any case.[ CITATION Hor08 \l 1033 ] The above explanation is strong enough to raise certain questions based on the justification of this power, and there is a lot of consistent debate about the fact whether this power is used ethically or if ...

“Everyday Use” By Alice Walker

Introduction

On the book review of “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, different authors have expressed their views on the themes and symbolism expressed in the novel. I will discuss on the viewpoints of the different authors and compare to see whether there are any similarities and differences. The novel is written by an African American. It is set at a time in American history when the black community was trying to understand its identity.

Analysis of the Book Reviews

David White in 2001 published an article titled, “Everyday Use: Defining African-American Heritage” in the Purdue North Central Literary Journal where he discussed the theme of ...

Alice Walker is an influential writer who expressed her passion for tradition and heritage in the compelling short story, Everyday Use. This critically acclaimed tale is set in the rural South of the 1960s, a backdrop against which Mrs. Johnson and her daughters, Dee and Maggie, play out a parable about the struggle for cultural integrity and of remaining true to one’s nature. In Everyday Use, Walker would have us understand that keeping faith with oneself is the best way to maintain a link to the past.

Background

For Walker, that past can be traced to her native Georgia. One of eight ...