Brett Wittenberg American Studies April 16, 2009 Final Paper
Final Paper
Martin Scorsese's 1990 crime biopic "Goodfellas," based on a true story, revolves around three gangsters as they descend into the depths of crime, from petty burglars to big-time thieves to murderers. This insider's look at the rules and traditions of organized crime gives us a lens through which to view several themes of inclusion and exclusion in America in the 1950s through the 1970s. American culture is a mirror that reflects the interests and beliefs of society. Culture is a complicated construct in all societies; in a melting pot of different cultures such as America, cultural artifacts and ideas can carry meaning to wide audiences through books and films. Some of these extend far beyond their intended initial audiences. Years after the creation of a popular culture film or book, the ideas and social constructs within the works can be analyzed to shed light on the culture with the hindsight of ensuing events and history. Since the creation of the film industry in America in the late 1920s and early 1930s, the movies produced in America have provided a distinctly American look at our society and its progression and development over the years. Throughout its history, different cultural ideals have swept through Hollywood dominating the art produced. War-themed films being used as social satire following World War II are an example of the film industry embracing a social issue. Historians can look back at the cinematography of America and have a relatively clear view of how the most important social issues were viewed at the time. There has always been a parallel between social events and artistic coverage of these events. Whether art imitates life, or vice versa, we can never truly understand a social phenomenon without first examining a historical time periods own take on the event. This perspective exists in the art and culture produced at that time. To successfully examine society in the later part of the 20th century it is important to be aware of the major social themes of time. In 1990, Martin Scorsese directed the period piece Goodfellas, an examination of organized crime in America over three generations starting in the 1950s. Goodfellas is an important cultural artifact in that it provides a 1990s look at 1950s society. This perhaps unique perspective allows a contemporary audience to make interpretations of 1950s America while at the same time applying social constructs of a later historical time period. "Goodfellas" is the story of Henry Hill, a local boy turned small-time gangster in the blue-collar, predominantly Italian neighborhood of East New York, Brooklyn, in 1955. In the movie, life inside the mob is viewed through the lives of three pivotal figures in 1950s-1970s New York. In 1850, there were fewer than 4,000 Italians in the U.S. However in 1880, the population jumped to 44,000, and by 1900, 484,027. From 1880 to 1900, southern Italian immigrants became the predominant Italian immigrant and stayed that way throughout the mass migration. Despite the increase in their numbers, the Italians were not the largest foreign-origin group in American cities. Outnumbered by groups migrating for decades before them, including the Irish, Italians only made-up 1.5% of the U.S. population at its peak. Italians worked mostly as unskilled laborers. In the late 19th and 20th centuries, Italians also became fishermen, shoemakers, waiters, fruit sellers, and tradesmen. These are blue-collar jobs with limited social upward mobility. The Mafia provided one way for ambitious Italians to break into a tier of American society that had previously been denied to them. In "Goodfellas," Hill idolizes the Lucchese crime family. As long as he can remember, he wanted to be included in this family. Henry quits school and goes to work for the mob. He becomes friends with Tommy Devito, a purebred gangster, and jack-of-all-trades Jimmy Conway, who also is involved in more serious crimes than Hill had bargained for. Hill agrees to take part in a robbery with his fellow gangsters. While Conway and DeVito kill off everyone else involved in the robbery, and slowly start to climb up through the hierarchy of the Mob, Henry starts to have second thoughts. His dilemma is whether to trade his hard-won inclusion into the family and lifestyle for becoming an outcast and a traitor, but potentially saving his life in the process. After a stint in prison, Henry must sneak behind the back of the local mob boss, Paulie Cicero, to live a life of luxury. Here, he is finally "included"--included in a family, included in the American dream of material success, included in an organization bigger than himself. SECTION HERE ON IMPLICATIONS OF INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION, COMPARING AND CONTRASTING DIFFERENT WAYS OF BEING INCLUDED, ETC By the end of the movie, Henry enrolls in the Witness Protection Program as a mole for the FBI to protect himself and his family. Finally abandoning his identity as a gangster, he now has to face the prospect of living in the world he has always tried to run away from. He says, "I'm an average nobody. I get to live the rest of my life like a schnook." To Henry, this is the ultimate exclusion, even though he escapes with his life. To draw a parallel to xxxx, being included at a terrible personal cost is better than being excluded and "safe."
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Coming of Age in Mississippi
Brett Wittenberg
American Studies
March 25, 2009
Paper #4
Rough Draft
Coming of Age in Mississippi
Perception about historical context is formed on many levels. Scholarly articles and academic accounts help to form a framework of a past time period. Historians’ accounts, however, are not enough to fully understand what culture was truly like on a personal, or even anecdotal level. Memoir has long been a way of filling in the contextual gaps of history. Through personal accounts and overarching themes a dichotomy of information can be created and a real understanding can be reached. Anne Moody provides this type of anecdotal story telling in her memoir Coming of Age in Mississippi. Although certain elements of the civil rights movement have been well publicized, the personal stories of the individual activists and their journey to the national mall remained untold. Moody provides a perspective of racism through an innocent child’s eyes, and in doing so, creates a picture of the unthinkable inequality that was day-to-day life in this country just a half century ago. Throughout her memoir Moody created the theme of a disorganized and persecuted race struggling to find a national identity in a country that viewed them as second-class citizens.
The lack of unity Moody saw between her fellow African Americans leading up to the civil rights movement creates a motif of conflict both within African American culture and American culture as a whole. The struggle to live and work in service to the culturally superior white Americans is expressed on a personal level as Moody recreates this oppressive time. Moody, through this memoir, is attempting to further the spread of equality and justice for all men with her poignant and telling analysis of the time period leading up to the civil rights movement. Tone and imagery are used throughout to show the extent of the racially motivated thought. Racism permeated every level of society as Moody was growing up, and yet she was able to imagine a world in which everyone was equal, a world that with her help would come to pass. Moody uses tone in her explanation of the thought processes concerning race divisions. The child Moody tries desperately to understand why she is seen as less of a person just for being black. She is even further perplexed by the way in which every African American role model she would have adhered to the social stigma. Moody remembers a time in which unorganized protest would have gotten you nowhere, a time when it was dangerous to think differently than the white masses.
The relatively short historical timeframe created a situation in which the generational gap was astounding. Parents and children saw the world very differently and in some cases violent clashes resulted. Anne Moody’s generation was the last to experience racial inequality to the extent that it was prevalent at that time. Generations after Moody were guaranteed their civil rights from birth because of the accomplishments of those who came before them. Due to the drastic cultural change this country went through during those turbulent times leading up to the civil rights movement, racial opinions of African Americans changed more in a few years than they had in the centuries before. Moody uses imagery in her story telling to illustrate the way it felt to not understand racial inequality when every else took it as a given. To feel as worthy as her white peers of respect, but to never receive any. Moody and her generation of black activists bridged the gap between the way the world was and the way they thought it should be. Moody even checked the genitalia of her white classmates to try to better understand the physical differences that made the whites so superior. Moody creates the image of true confusion and how it must have felt to see your parents so willingly succumb to the racism of an overbearing American society.
American Studies
March 25, 2009
Paper #4
Rough Draft
Coming of Age in Mississippi
Perception about historical context is formed on many levels. Scholarly articles and academic accounts help to form a framework of a past time period. Historians’ accounts, however, are not enough to fully understand what culture was truly like on a personal, or even anecdotal level. Memoir has long been a way of filling in the contextual gaps of history. Through personal accounts and overarching themes a dichotomy of information can be created and a real understanding can be reached. Anne Moody provides this type of anecdotal story telling in her memoir Coming of Age in Mississippi. Although certain elements of the civil rights movement have been well publicized, the personal stories of the individual activists and their journey to the national mall remained untold. Moody provides a perspective of racism through an innocent child’s eyes, and in doing so, creates a picture of the unthinkable inequality that was day-to-day life in this country just a half century ago. Throughout her memoir Moody created the theme of a disorganized and persecuted race struggling to find a national identity in a country that viewed them as second-class citizens.
The lack of unity Moody saw between her fellow African Americans leading up to the civil rights movement creates a motif of conflict both within African American culture and American culture as a whole. The struggle to live and work in service to the culturally superior white Americans is expressed on a personal level as Moody recreates this oppressive time. Moody, through this memoir, is attempting to further the spread of equality and justice for all men with her poignant and telling analysis of the time period leading up to the civil rights movement. Tone and imagery are used throughout to show the extent of the racially motivated thought. Racism permeated every level of society as Moody was growing up, and yet she was able to imagine a world in which everyone was equal, a world that with her help would come to pass. Moody uses tone in her explanation of the thought processes concerning race divisions. The child Moody tries desperately to understand why she is seen as less of a person just for being black. She is even further perplexed by the way in which every African American role model she would have adhered to the social stigma. Moody remembers a time in which unorganized protest would have gotten you nowhere, a time when it was dangerous to think differently than the white masses.
The relatively short historical timeframe created a situation in which the generational gap was astounding. Parents and children saw the world very differently and in some cases violent clashes resulted. Anne Moody’s generation was the last to experience racial inequality to the extent that it was prevalent at that time. Generations after Moody were guaranteed their civil rights from birth because of the accomplishments of those who came before them. Due to the drastic cultural change this country went through during those turbulent times leading up to the civil rights movement, racial opinions of African Americans changed more in a few years than they had in the centuries before. Moody uses imagery in her story telling to illustrate the way it felt to not understand racial inequality when every else took it as a given. To feel as worthy as her white peers of respect, but to never receive any. Moody and her generation of black activists bridged the gap between the way the world was and the way they thought it should be. Moody even checked the genitalia of her white classmates to try to better understand the physical differences that made the whites so superior. Moody creates the image of true confusion and how it must have felt to see your parents so willingly succumb to the racism of an overbearing American society.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
FDR's New Deal through Popular media
Brett Wittenberg
American Studies
February 25, 2009
Paper #3
Rough Draft
Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal
American culture was redefined in the 1930’s when popular media became a social force. For the first time in American history, the country was united over certain cultural attractions and a national connectivity began to manifest. The growth of popular media changed American lifestyle in many ways. Social commentary was presented in published paintings such as Norman Rockwell’s four freedoms that first appeared in the Saturday Evening Post, as well as Wilfred Mead’s poignant political photographs. With the spread of “American Culture”, the collective interest became more important than ever. Even the course of presidential politics was affected by this cultural wave of shared American culture. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was more effectively able to use the popular media as a conduit for his message than his political opponent Herbert Hoover. Although the circumstances of the great depression favored the political and social ideas being presented by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, it was his use of popular media that won him the 1932 election. The result was the passing of the New Deal and an irrevocable change to the way American politics is structured.
The great depression, brought on by the stock market crash of 1929, created a divide between those who fundamentally felt that the American people needed governmental assistance, and those who felt that the best course of political action was to let capitalism run its course. The argument over the role of government was not a new idea, however the magnitude of the economic crisis widened a political rift. "This campaign is more than a contest between two men. It is more than a contest between two parties. It is a contest between two philosophies of government....” (Hoover, This Challenge to Liberty) Democrats, like Franklin Delano Roosevelt, felt that it was the responsibility and purpose of the American government to aid the American people with the full extent of its resources and power.
Republicans, such as Herbert Hoover, believed that the way for America to rebound economically was to reduce the size of government and use less federal funds. Allowing for the free market to even itself out without governmental interference. The fundamental economic issues of the 1932 presidential election are the same as those discussed every four years in every presidential election since.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his Commonwealth Club Address said,
“The issue of government has always been whether individual men and women will have to serve some system of government or economics, or whether a system of government and economics exists to serve individual men and women. This question has persistently dominated the discussion of government for many generations. On questions relating to these things men have differed, and for time immemorial it is probable that honest men will continue to differ.” (Roosevelt, Commonwealth Club Address)
By this Roosevelt is calling to action the economic upper class. Roosevelt is suggesting that what is good for the majority is good for the elites. He is presenting the argument that it is through collective action and social unity that the country can redistribute wealth and stabilize a teetering economy. Roosevelt was well aware of who he was speaking to when he made his address on September 23, 1932. He knew full well that the Commonwealth Club housed some of the great fortunes of the country, and that it was only with their support that he could enact his great plan for change, the New Deal.
Herbert Hoover was of the opinion that the resilient American people could overcome the significant social problems of the early 1930’s simply by allowing capitalism and the free market to operate as normal.
“We hold the first essential is to improve constantly our machines and methods. That will create plenty and make it cheaper. That will enable the under quarter of our people to obtain more goods. Thereby we give increasing employment to everybody. We hold that this can be done only by private industry and not by government. We hold it can be done only by rewarding men for skill and merit. We hold it can be done only through the energizing force of competition.” (Hoover, This Challenge to Liberty)
Hoover campaigned for the rise of American technical infrastructure through the continuation of a capitalist society that rewarded hard work and skill in a trade. This message of American might and ability was received more positively during Hoover’s time in office during the roaring twenties than during the great depression of the 1930’s.
The societal response to the great depression was a great help for Roosevelt in presenting and passing his new wave of American politics, the New Deal. The American people were calling for a governmental response to the massive economic collapse of the late 1920’s. The government was already perceived with some malice over the inability of the treasury to ensure federal deposits in banks. This uproar and call for governmental programming was just the platform Roosevelt needed to sell his ideas for a new level of government involvement in day-to-day American life. In addition to his message itself, was the superior and diversified way he presented his message.
The popular media was an important factor in determining the public mindset during the 1930’s, as there was the burgeoning idea of American culture and a commitment to collective interests. An example of the social power of a photograph was clearly evident in Wilfred Mead’s photo “Work Project”. The photograph serves as a mark of confidence for the American people to feel secure in the politically funded expansion. The subject looks strong and good with his tool. He gives the impression that he is a skilled and motivated worker. The upward angle of the shot makes the mere mortal the same height as the trees behind him. This image and others like it served as a form of political propaganda, in this case taking the side of political funds for social projects. The messages within these works of popular media were heavily examined and analyzed by the voters of the 1932 election.
American Studies
February 25, 2009
Paper #3
Rough Draft
Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal
American culture was redefined in the 1930’s when popular media became a social force. For the first time in American history, the country was united over certain cultural attractions and a national connectivity began to manifest. The growth of popular media changed American lifestyle in many ways. Social commentary was presented in published paintings such as Norman Rockwell’s four freedoms that first appeared in the Saturday Evening Post, as well as Wilfred Mead’s poignant political photographs. With the spread of “American Culture”, the collective interest became more important than ever. Even the course of presidential politics was affected by this cultural wave of shared American culture. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was more effectively able to use the popular media as a conduit for his message than his political opponent Herbert Hoover. Although the circumstances of the great depression favored the political and social ideas being presented by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, it was his use of popular media that won him the 1932 election. The result was the passing of the New Deal and an irrevocable change to the way American politics is structured.
The great depression, brought on by the stock market crash of 1929, created a divide between those who fundamentally felt that the American people needed governmental assistance, and those who felt that the best course of political action was to let capitalism run its course. The argument over the role of government was not a new idea, however the magnitude of the economic crisis widened a political rift. "This campaign is more than a contest between two men. It is more than a contest between two parties. It is a contest between two philosophies of government....” (Hoover, This Challenge to Liberty) Democrats, like Franklin Delano Roosevelt, felt that it was the responsibility and purpose of the American government to aid the American people with the full extent of its resources and power.
Republicans, such as Herbert Hoover, believed that the way for America to rebound economically was to reduce the size of government and use less federal funds. Allowing for the free market to even itself out without governmental interference. The fundamental economic issues of the 1932 presidential election are the same as those discussed every four years in every presidential election since.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his Commonwealth Club Address said,
“The issue of government has always been whether individual men and women will have to serve some system of government or economics, or whether a system of government and economics exists to serve individual men and women. This question has persistently dominated the discussion of government for many generations. On questions relating to these things men have differed, and for time immemorial it is probable that honest men will continue to differ.” (Roosevelt, Commonwealth Club Address)
By this Roosevelt is calling to action the economic upper class. Roosevelt is suggesting that what is good for the majority is good for the elites. He is presenting the argument that it is through collective action and social unity that the country can redistribute wealth and stabilize a teetering economy. Roosevelt was well aware of who he was speaking to when he made his address on September 23, 1932. He knew full well that the Commonwealth Club housed some of the great fortunes of the country, and that it was only with their support that he could enact his great plan for change, the New Deal.
Herbert Hoover was of the opinion that the resilient American people could overcome the significant social problems of the early 1930’s simply by allowing capitalism and the free market to operate as normal.
“We hold the first essential is to improve constantly our machines and methods. That will create plenty and make it cheaper. That will enable the under quarter of our people to obtain more goods. Thereby we give increasing employment to everybody. We hold that this can be done only by private industry and not by government. We hold it can be done only by rewarding men for skill and merit. We hold it can be done only through the energizing force of competition.” (Hoover, This Challenge to Liberty)
Hoover campaigned for the rise of American technical infrastructure through the continuation of a capitalist society that rewarded hard work and skill in a trade. This message of American might and ability was received more positively during Hoover’s time in office during the roaring twenties than during the great depression of the 1930’s.
The societal response to the great depression was a great help for Roosevelt in presenting and passing his new wave of American politics, the New Deal. The American people were calling for a governmental response to the massive economic collapse of the late 1920’s. The government was already perceived with some malice over the inability of the treasury to ensure federal deposits in banks. This uproar and call for governmental programming was just the platform Roosevelt needed to sell his ideas for a new level of government involvement in day-to-day American life. In addition to his message itself, was the superior and diversified way he presented his message.
The popular media was an important factor in determining the public mindset during the 1930’s, as there was the burgeoning idea of American culture and a commitment to collective interests. An example of the social power of a photograph was clearly evident in Wilfred Mead’s photo “Work Project”. The photograph serves as a mark of confidence for the American people to feel secure in the politically funded expansion. The subject looks strong and good with his tool. He gives the impression that he is a skilled and motivated worker. The upward angle of the shot makes the mere mortal the same height as the trees behind him. This image and others like it served as a form of political propaganda, in this case taking the side of political funds for social projects. The messages within these works of popular media were heavily examined and analyzed by the voters of the 1932 election.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The African American struggle to equality
America has undergone many social changes since its inception, as the definition of “We the People” has expanded. When this country was founded only white, property owning, males were seen as full citizens. Then there was a social change as people started to follow manifest destiny and head to the west. It was at this point that Thomas Jefferson, and his ideals about frontier lifestyle began to truly flourish. As a result of his actions, all white men, even those without ownership of land came to be seen as full American citizens. The next group to try to rise up against their social limitations was African Americans. After the end of the civil war, the emancipation proclamation freed to slaves and gave them de jury rights as American citizens. However, at this point in history only African American men were legally supposed to have full citizenship, and there was a massive societal hangover from the previous social system of slavery. Black men were legally seen as citizens but they were still faced with violent opposition if they attempted to vote, or even to live equally in society.
In the 1920’s the woman’s rights movement arrived and was successful in getting woman the legal rights of men although there was much social consideration that inequalities still existed. In 1965 when the civil rights movement hit the country it inspired the American people to update their mindset to catch up to legislation. It was only at this point that African American men and women became de facto citizens of this country both legally and socially.
The most recent expansion of “We the People” was the lowering of the voting age to eighteen years old. With this final addition to an old idea now all adult men and women of this country could consider themselves to be legal and social equals with the same rights and restrictions as any other American citizen.
African Americans have received as much, or more social persecution in this country than any other cultural group. It took strong willed people of all races who disagreed with the way things were being done to change the legal and social makeup of a country. Public opinion is a difficult thing to change, especially when the opinion is one that had been reinforced by family members and even legislation for as long as you can remember. The stereotypes of African Americans were imbedded in the American people through the media and popular culture. It is no easy task to undo lifelong teachings, and change centuries of opinion.
In response to these many well-documented social injustices, some members of the African American community, along with others who shared their indignation at the system, decided it was time to take a stand no matter how small. Although when examined individually the acts of those like Rosa Parks can seem mundane or day to day, in the big scheme of things it was those little acts that began the process of changing social opinion regarding African Americans and what rights they deserved. The same can be said of the “Sit Ins”. It speaks volumes about how bad the segregation had become that the simple act of sitting at the counter in a restaurant could be seen at the time as open rebellion. The Jim Crow Laws were on the books from 1876 to 1965, and during that time it was the duty of police officers to enforce those laws just like any other. Therefore these early attempts to make a mockery of segregation were met by police brutality and an onslaught of the very social degradation that these freedom fighters set out to change.
To change the very infrastructure of a country it takes supreme efforts from those inside the system as well as those who fight against it. Although segregation was the law, there were many intellectuals and politicians who saw Jim Crow as a set of bad laws. Without the combination of strong people fighting from outside the system, and good people fighting within the system, the end of these legal forms of racism would have never been possible.
W.E.B. Du Bois and other African American intellectuals did more for their cause through their writing than they ever could have through public demonstration. Du Bois did not write to the white man asking for a new outlook on black people, but rather to his fellow African Americans, making the argument that they had to work for desegregation. Du Bois knew that radical changes needed to take place in every level of American infrastructure. Through his writing he told of how change was possible if the repressed worked within the system and tried to make wholesale changes to the very government of their country. If was these ideals of possibility that inspired a generation of African Americans to fight for all that they deserved. In 1965, Du Bois writings were still serving as an inspiration to those who finally had the opportunity to change the way America viewed African Americans. W.E.B Du Bois died in 1963. He saw a lifetime of work unfulfilled. It was only two years later that the Jim Crow laws that had so dearly hurt his people would be taken off the books forever. Du Bois never heard Martin Luther King Jr. on the steps of the Lincoln memorial talk to hundred of thousands of cheering supporters about his dream for a better future. Reverend King would have never had the opportunity, however, if Du Bois hadn’t been dreaming about the same thing almost a century before.
It is hard to say that one aspect of the civil rights movement was the cause of the end of segregation. Rather it was the collective efforts of a country to better itself that finally worked in unison to undo years of hate and stereotyping.
Today, as we move forward with the first African American president we are closer now than ever to a world in which a man can be judged on the strength of his character rather than the color of his skin. Barrack Obama is the most recent example of the things we are capable of if we can overcome our old prejudices, and work towards a more perfect country. There was a long time in this country when the idea of a black president would have seemed more than impossible, but there were those who believed it could happen. Racial oppression was the standard when this country was founded. Our founding fathers wrote that all men are created equal, but they were unable to live with the nobility with which they wrote.
In the 1920’s the woman’s rights movement arrived and was successful in getting woman the legal rights of men although there was much social consideration that inequalities still existed. In 1965 when the civil rights movement hit the country it inspired the American people to update their mindset to catch up to legislation. It was only at this point that African American men and women became de facto citizens of this country both legally and socially.
The most recent expansion of “We the People” was the lowering of the voting age to eighteen years old. With this final addition to an old idea now all adult men and women of this country could consider themselves to be legal and social equals with the same rights and restrictions as any other American citizen.
African Americans have received as much, or more social persecution in this country than any other cultural group. It took strong willed people of all races who disagreed with the way things were being done to change the legal and social makeup of a country. Public opinion is a difficult thing to change, especially when the opinion is one that had been reinforced by family members and even legislation for as long as you can remember. The stereotypes of African Americans were imbedded in the American people through the media and popular culture. It is no easy task to undo lifelong teachings, and change centuries of opinion.
In response to these many well-documented social injustices, some members of the African American community, along with others who shared their indignation at the system, decided it was time to take a stand no matter how small. Although when examined individually the acts of those like Rosa Parks can seem mundane or day to day, in the big scheme of things it was those little acts that began the process of changing social opinion regarding African Americans and what rights they deserved. The same can be said of the “Sit Ins”. It speaks volumes about how bad the segregation had become that the simple act of sitting at the counter in a restaurant could be seen at the time as open rebellion. The Jim Crow Laws were on the books from 1876 to 1965, and during that time it was the duty of police officers to enforce those laws just like any other. Therefore these early attempts to make a mockery of segregation were met by police brutality and an onslaught of the very social degradation that these freedom fighters set out to change.
To change the very infrastructure of a country it takes supreme efforts from those inside the system as well as those who fight against it. Although segregation was the law, there were many intellectuals and politicians who saw Jim Crow as a set of bad laws. Without the combination of strong people fighting from outside the system, and good people fighting within the system, the end of these legal forms of racism would have never been possible.
W.E.B. Du Bois and other African American intellectuals did more for their cause through their writing than they ever could have through public demonstration. Du Bois did not write to the white man asking for a new outlook on black people, but rather to his fellow African Americans, making the argument that they had to work for desegregation. Du Bois knew that radical changes needed to take place in every level of American infrastructure. Through his writing he told of how change was possible if the repressed worked within the system and tried to make wholesale changes to the very government of their country. If was these ideals of possibility that inspired a generation of African Americans to fight for all that they deserved. In 1965, Du Bois writings were still serving as an inspiration to those who finally had the opportunity to change the way America viewed African Americans. W.E.B Du Bois died in 1963. He saw a lifetime of work unfulfilled. It was only two years later that the Jim Crow laws that had so dearly hurt his people would be taken off the books forever. Du Bois never heard Martin Luther King Jr. on the steps of the Lincoln memorial talk to hundred of thousands of cheering supporters about his dream for a better future. Reverend King would have never had the opportunity, however, if Du Bois hadn’t been dreaming about the same thing almost a century before.
It is hard to say that one aspect of the civil rights movement was the cause of the end of segregation. Rather it was the collective efforts of a country to better itself that finally worked in unison to undo years of hate and stereotyping.
Today, as we move forward with the first African American president we are closer now than ever to a world in which a man can be judged on the strength of his character rather than the color of his skin. Barrack Obama is the most recent example of the things we are capable of if we can overcome our old prejudices, and work towards a more perfect country. There was a long time in this country when the idea of a black president would have seemed more than impossible, but there were those who believed it could happen. Racial oppression was the standard when this country was founded. Our founding fathers wrote that all men are created equal, but they were unable to live with the nobility with which they wrote.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Overall Proposal and Argument
Main Argument:
Barack Obama used both myth, and harsh reality, as the emotional back drop of his inauguration speech. Obama was realistic and grounded in his opinions about the future of the middle east, and the involvement of the United States in that future. In this way, Obama used far less myth and nation-imaging than did his predecessor in addressing that particular problem. However in his thoughts on the economic crisis we are currently enduring, I found him to be more spiritual and less direct in his plan for improvement. All in all Obama found a functioning mix of flash and substance to motivate a nation to do well; and to do good.
Barack Obama used both myth, and harsh reality, as the emotional back drop of his inauguration speech. Obama was realistic and grounded in his opinions about the future of the middle east, and the involvement of the United States in that future. In this way, Obama used far less myth and nation-imaging than did his predecessor in addressing that particular problem. However in his thoughts on the economic crisis we are currently enduring, I found him to be more spiritual and less direct in his plan for improvement. All in all Obama found a functioning mix of flash and substance to motivate a nation to do well; and to do good.
Raw, First Observations
A presidential inauguration is a fundamentally hypocritical expression of both achievable goals and unattainable dreams. President Obama's speech was no different. An inauguration is the meeting of campaign promises and political action, and rarely do the two lead seamlessly into one another. Obama found an interesting juxtaposition of grandiose musings on the state of our state as a whole, and specific indicators of what political actions would be taken in the coming months and years of his term.
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