1) The author is arguing that slavery occurred because the white males forced blacks to be slaves. He also argues that even though after the Civil War the slaves were emancipated, they could not succeed because they had to live their lives based on the white males.
2) Zinn starts out by talking about how slavery was occurring in the south. He also mentioned how slaves tried to escape, and talked about some of the greater and larger escapes. Zinn talks about Harriet Tubman and her work with the Underground Railroad. Zinn wrote “she made 19 dangerous trips back and forth, often disguise, and escorting more than three hundred slaves to freedom.” Zinn then begins to talk about conditions in the North for blacks. Zinn talks about Abraham Lincoln and the civil war. Zinn stated “He [Lincoln] opposed slavery, but could not see blacks as equals, so a constant theme in his approach was to free the slaves and to send them back to Africa.” The Emancipation Proclamation was created by Lincoln, and spurred antislavery forcers, which ended up leading to the creation of the thirteenth amendment. Zinn then begins to argue how blacks could fight in the Union Army because of this amendment, which led to the Union Army growing. Zinn mentions “Two hundred thousand blacks joined the army and navy, and thirty-eight thousand were killed…. Without their help, the North could not have won the war as soon as it did, and perhaps it could not have won at all.” This helps to show how the blacks helped the Union to win so that they could end slavery for all. Even though there were many blacks in the army they were used for the worst jobs, instead of doing more of the fighting. Zinn then mentions how even after the war was over “The Negro remained dependent on privileged whites for work, for the necessities of life, his vote could be bought or taken away by threat to force. Even though blacks were free, they did not have the same rights as their white counterparts. People were violent against the blacks. He also talks about how “The New South” was like the old south, but the blacks were treated better, even though their jobs were like the ones they had as slaves. This happened because many blacks could not afford land and they were not given land.
3) Was the government looking out for itself when it created the Emancipation Proclamation, or was the government actually doing something for its people?
Why did the government not do more to help the ex-slaves? Like why did the government not give the blacks land, or create price breaks on the lands so that they could afford it?
4) Zinn makes an excellent point about how even though the Africans were free from slavery; they were not actually free because they could not afford to do anything with their lives. Even with their freedom they were still viewed to be less than the whites and were still put down and if they were below the whites. They still had the worst jobs, and did the hardest work for less than what the white males did. Their freedom did not come with the end of the war, if anything it gave them the realization that they could not be free from the white mans oppression because the whites still knew how to control the blacks. The whites knew how to control them through jobs and money.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Brodkin Chapter 4 "How Jew Became White Folks"
1) Karen Brodkin is showing the reader how the post world war II society bridged the gap between the different Euro-groups, but did not bridge the gap between the whites and blacks.
2) Brodkin begins her argument by stating the difference between the four major European races, and how the Jews were at the bottom. She shows how the American society favored the Noridics because most teachers had to be able to "speak 'standard,' i.e., nonimmigrant, nonaccented English." and "that most believed that the speech test was designed to keep all ethnics, not just Jews, out of teaching" (pg 41). This shows how before the war society tried to separate everyone from each other including all whites. As time went on the differences between the four groups of Euro Races slowly disappeared because members of the Jewish community worked hard to become part of the middle class and no longer be in the working class. Brodkin states, "Some of the changes set in motion during the war against fascism led to a more inclusive version of whiteness. Anti-Semitism and anti-European racism lost respectability" (pg 45). This shows how during the war to gap between the four Euro races grew shut. This gap grew smaller with the help of the GI Bill of Rights. This bill helped people find jobs after the war, small loans for starting up businesses, and educational benefits, which helped people, go to college after the war. The author then begins to talk about how the benefits caused a "postwar boom that transformed America's class structure-or at least its status structure - so that the middle class expanded to encompass most of the population." Even though the middle class expanded it did not include the African Americans. The bill did not help the African Americans as much as it did the Euro Americans. Along with this, as cities were urbanized the white people were better able to get housing compared to the African Americans, because "developers refused to sell to African Americans" (pg 47). This caused the gap between the African Americans and the Euro Americans to grow.
3) Since the money sent to GIs from the GI Bill of Rights gave people loans to open up businesses, why didn't any of the African Americans open up an architecture firm and build houses for the other African Americans?
Why were more colleges for African Americans opened after the war, when the demand for education increased?
4) I agree with the Brodkin about how even though anti-semitism declined after the war, it was still hard for society to adjust fully and become one united society. I believe that it is good though that the gaps between the four Euro races was able to decline because the middle-class grew. This shows that there is a possibility for different races to still be able to come together and be one society instead of different races. Even though this bridged gap occurred because of a war, it showed that congress was willing to do something to help out the other men, who they possibly viewed as being different. With society more advanced today, we could come together, with the help of congress. However I feel that that time was the time to bridge all gaps between all races. That time period was time of great growth in the country, whereas in today's society many people are advanced, and only a few are viewed to be not advanced. The gap between races may now be too big to overcome even if we follow the footsteps of the post WWII generation.
2) Brodkin begins her argument by stating the difference between the four major European races, and how the Jews were at the bottom. She shows how the American society favored the Noridics because most teachers had to be able to "speak 'standard,' i.e., nonimmigrant, nonaccented English." and "that most believed that the speech test was designed to keep all ethnics, not just Jews, out of teaching" (pg 41). This shows how before the war society tried to separate everyone from each other including all whites. As time went on the differences between the four groups of Euro Races slowly disappeared because members of the Jewish community worked hard to become part of the middle class and no longer be in the working class. Brodkin states, "Some of the changes set in motion during the war against fascism led to a more inclusive version of whiteness. Anti-Semitism and anti-European racism lost respectability" (pg 45). This shows how during the war to gap between the four Euro races grew shut. This gap grew smaller with the help of the GI Bill of Rights. This bill helped people find jobs after the war, small loans for starting up businesses, and educational benefits, which helped people, go to college after the war. The author then begins to talk about how the benefits caused a "postwar boom that transformed America's class structure-or at least its status structure - so that the middle class expanded to encompass most of the population." Even though the middle class expanded it did not include the African Americans. The bill did not help the African Americans as much as it did the Euro Americans. Along with this, as cities were urbanized the white people were better able to get housing compared to the African Americans, because "developers refused to sell to African Americans" (pg 47). This caused the gap between the African Americans and the Euro Americans to grow.
3) Since the money sent to GIs from the GI Bill of Rights gave people loans to open up businesses, why didn't any of the African Americans open up an architecture firm and build houses for the other African Americans?
Why were more colleges for African Americans opened after the war, when the demand for education increased?
4) I agree with the Brodkin about how even though anti-semitism declined after the war, it was still hard for society to adjust fully and become one united society. I believe that it is good though that the gaps between the four Euro races was able to decline because the middle-class grew. This shows that there is a possibility for different races to still be able to come together and be one society instead of different races. Even though this bridged gap occurred because of a war, it showed that congress was willing to do something to help out the other men, who they possibly viewed as being different. With society more advanced today, we could come together, with the help of congress. However I feel that that time was the time to bridge all gaps between all races. That time period was time of great growth in the country, whereas in today's society many people are advanced, and only a few are viewed to be not advanced. The gap between races may now be too big to overcome even if we follow the footsteps of the post WWII generation.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Analysis Paper exercise 2
1) I am writing about how people act differently in different situations. I believe that it is true that the situation a person is in can effect how they will act. The situation can include who a person is around, what is going on around the person, and where a person is. I am agreeing with Johnson, and what he wrote in chapter 6 “What It All Has To Do With Us”. I agree that people act differently based upon the situation that they are in.
I plan on using Johnson Chapter 6 “What It All Has To Do With Us”. Also I’m planning on using Takaki Chapter 3 “The Giddy Multitude”.
2) I will be using Johnson Chapter 6 “What It All Has To Do With Us”. From this article I will use how people follow the path of least resistance because of society. I will also use the example of the four African American students in Greensboro, North Carolina. I will use this example to show how because of them other African American students were willing to follow them, whereas if those four original students were not there the other students would not have done that. I can also use the example of how people act while playing the game Monopoly and how people act differently while playing the game compared to how they act in real life. Then I will talk about how this shows that people really do act differently depending on the situation.
I will also use Takaki Chapter 3 “The Giddy Multitude”. From this article I will use how Jefferson talked about how he felt bad for having slaves, yet did not try to let them free, and kept them while he was alive. I can relate this to how during that time period it was common for people to have slaves, so since many people in Virginia owned slaves, it was okay for people to keep slaves. It was viewed to be okay because that is the situation society made.
I plan on using Johnson Chapter 6 “What It All Has To Do With Us”. Also I’m planning on using Takaki Chapter 3 “The Giddy Multitude”.
2) I will be using Johnson Chapter 6 “What It All Has To Do With Us”. From this article I will use how people follow the path of least resistance because of society. I will also use the example of the four African American students in Greensboro, North Carolina. I will use this example to show how because of them other African American students were willing to follow them, whereas if those four original students were not there the other students would not have done that. I can also use the example of how people act while playing the game Monopoly and how people act differently while playing the game compared to how they act in real life. Then I will talk about how this shows that people really do act differently depending on the situation.
I will also use Takaki Chapter 3 “The Giddy Multitude”. From this article I will use how Jefferson talked about how he felt bad for having slaves, yet did not try to let them free, and kept them while he was alive. I can relate this to how during that time period it was common for people to have slaves, so since many people in Virginia owned slaves, it was okay for people to keep slaves. It was viewed to be okay because that is the situation society made.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Analysis Paper #1
I am planning on writing about how people act based on the situations that they are in. I am writing this based on Johnson chapter 6 "What It All Has To Do With Us."
I am going to start by talking about how people choose to not stand up for something that they believe in because they know that they will be viewed negatively by the rest of society. I will talk about how based on the situation people act differently than how they usually act. I can talk about society is quick to judge each other based on their actions and how they look. I'll talk about how I agree that people do choose to follow the path of least resistance because of society's judgemental ways.
I am going to start by talking about how people choose to not stand up for something that they believe in because they know that they will be viewed negatively by the rest of society. I will talk about how based on the situation people act differently than how they usually act. I can talk about society is quick to judge each other based on their actions and how they look. I'll talk about how I agree that people do choose to follow the path of least resistance because of society's judgemental ways.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Quiz 3
1) Sarah Barnes is arguing that people have taken their freedom too far by constantly complaining about how equal rights do not exist between the different races, and social groups. She says, “All this country seems to be concerned about is making every person feel equal, but no one is treated that way.” She also argues about how quickly people get upset by saying, “People are so upset at any little comment or any little slip that any person with authority makes.”
2) Sick and Tired, discussed in Johnson chapter 8, talks about how people, talk about how they are sick and tired of listening to people constantly complain about how they are treated unfairly. Johnson talks about how people who do not feel someone else’s pain are tired of hearing those people complain about their pain. Johnson mentions, “Another reason for the ‘sick and tired’ complaint is that life is hard for everyone. Barnes’ statement, “Just don’t go around complaining that you got dealt a bad hand in life, when it is the individual that can make or break their own situations.” These statements connect to each other because Johnson is talking about how life is hard for everyone because of their situation. Whereas, Barnes is talking about how an individual can change their situation to make their life better, instead of complaining about how unfair and hard their life is. People cannot compare their lives to each other’s lives because each person suffers from a hard life, but mainly because they chose not to change their life.
Along with those quotes from both articles, Barnes sounds like she too is sick and tired of hearing people complain about the inequality of races. She complains about how some people who are not straight feel the need to announce it to everyone. She asks the question, “how necessary is it to single yourself out and have to announce each day that you are gay?” This makes it seem like she it tired of hearing people say that they are gay so that they will be treated the same as everyone else.
2) Sick and Tired, discussed in Johnson chapter 8, talks about how people, talk about how they are sick and tired of listening to people constantly complain about how they are treated unfairly. Johnson talks about how people who do not feel someone else’s pain are tired of hearing those people complain about their pain. Johnson mentions, “Another reason for the ‘sick and tired’ complaint is that life is hard for everyone. Barnes’ statement, “Just don’t go around complaining that you got dealt a bad hand in life, when it is the individual that can make or break their own situations.” These statements connect to each other because Johnson is talking about how life is hard for everyone because of their situation. Whereas, Barnes is talking about how an individual can change their situation to make their life better, instead of complaining about how unfair and hard their life is. People cannot compare their lives to each other’s lives because each person suffers from a hard life, but mainly because they chose not to change their life.
Along with those quotes from both articles, Barnes sounds like she too is sick and tired of hearing people complain about the inequality of races. She complains about how some people who are not straight feel the need to announce it to everyone. She asks the question, “how necessary is it to single yourself out and have to announce each day that you are gay?” This makes it seem like she it tired of hearing people say that they are gay so that they will be treated the same as everyone else.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Johnson Ch6 "What It All Has to Do with Us"
1) Johnson's main argument in this chapter is that people act differently depending upon the situation that they are in.
2) The author illustrates this by giving an example of playing the game Monopoly. He talked about how while playing the game the players act greedy by taking each other's money in order to win. He then continues to talk about how when people are not playing Monopoly that they do not act like, because the situation is different and they do not need to act greedy. He talks about how people are individuals, yet they are not because they act in the ways of others, and follow the "path of least resistance". Johnson talks about "the path of least resistance" is usually always chosen because it is easier for people to choose that path because they are then accepted by society. He mentions how hard it is to change the paths, but it has happened. Johnson talks about four African American students in Greensboro, North Carolina. This group went into a lunch counter were they were not welcomed, and stayed there in hopes to change the future. They stayed there, on a different path, and eventually helped to change the future.
3) Why has society made a path of least resistance?
How can different situations affect a person's actions, or a group's actions?
4) I believe that there is a path of least resistance because our society has formed those paths based on what it knows, and has accepted life to be. I believe that it is hard for a person to stand up for something that they believe in if their belief is something that will not be accepted by the majority. There are times in everyone's life were they want to not follow that path of least resistance, but they cannot help to because it is easier. They go along with the flow because if they do not they are viewed to be different and are then rejected and questioned by society. People are afraid to stand up because they do not know what will happen. Either the future will change, or they will be ridiculed by society. The fear of being ridiculed can easily convince a person to not speak up for what they believe in or what they believe against. People refuse to stand up against they do not agree with because it is easier to keep quiet and because they will not be viewed as being stuck up for disagreeing.
2) The author illustrates this by giving an example of playing the game Monopoly. He talked about how while playing the game the players act greedy by taking each other's money in order to win. He then continues to talk about how when people are not playing Monopoly that they do not act like, because the situation is different and they do not need to act greedy. He talks about how people are individuals, yet they are not because they act in the ways of others, and follow the "path of least resistance". Johnson talks about "the path of least resistance" is usually always chosen because it is easier for people to choose that path because they are then accepted by society. He mentions how hard it is to change the paths, but it has happened. Johnson talks about four African American students in Greensboro, North Carolina. This group went into a lunch counter were they were not welcomed, and stayed there in hopes to change the future. They stayed there, on a different path, and eventually helped to change the future.
3) Why has society made a path of least resistance?
How can different situations affect a person's actions, or a group's actions?
4) I believe that there is a path of least resistance because our society has formed those paths based on what it knows, and has accepted life to be. I believe that it is hard for a person to stand up for something that they believe in if their belief is something that will not be accepted by the majority. There are times in everyone's life were they want to not follow that path of least resistance, but they cannot help to because it is easier. They go along with the flow because if they do not they are viewed to be different and are then rejected and questioned by society. People are afraid to stand up because they do not know what will happen. Either the future will change, or they will be ridiculed by society. The fear of being ridiculed can easily convince a person to not speak up for what they believe in or what they believe against. People refuse to stand up against they do not agree with because it is easier to keep quiet and because they will not be viewed as being stuck up for disagreeing.
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