Being Black Essay Example for Free

Being Black Essay For my second formal writing piece I am considering writing about Shelby Steeles essay ? On Being Black and Middle Class. I find this piece interesting because Steele starts his piece with a contradiction his friend makes, and then he continues to unfold his view on the matter and how he started to change his mind over periods of time during his life. ?If you were black, you were just black and that was that (p. 687). Although I am not black, I have discovered that all of us change our views as we grow older. I love the examples Steele uses to describe his change of mind. He comments that ? race never fully explained our situation in American society (p 687). Class also plays an important role on who you become in life. Steele explains that the middle-class blacks in the sixties were caught in a double-bind in life; the race which they belong to and also the class in which they were brought up in. I agree with him on this point. Class has a lot to do with who you become and where you go in life. Even now, race plays a major part as well. People still look at others differently because of the color of their skin. Steele describes that society wants blacks to see themselves as a ? minority and I agree with that. I have heard many people comment on how someone performs a job using the color skin as an excuse. As a society, I believe that we are still trying to separate races and classes. Just like certain whites are looked down upon because of their living standards, the same happens to many blacks. ?The black middle class has always defined its class identity by means of positive images gleaned from middle- and upper-class white society, and by means of negative images of lower-class blacks (p 690). I agree with this because many people today dont seem to think there is such a thing as the black middle-class. Blacks are mainly thought of as lower-class citizens and whites as upper- and middle-class citizens. The people caught up in this class must make themselves known. They are their own people, not a mixture from others. Steele describes one of his professors telling him that he wasnt really black because he wasnt disadvantaged (p 692). This professor was classifying all blacks as disadvantaged, and if a black person happened to make it into the world as an individual, they were supposed to drop all connections with their race and their background. Obviously this is unacceptable. You are never able to forget and ignore your past and the people you came from. They are a part of you for your entire life. Another professor describes a situation where he was unable to allow blacks to stay in his boarding house because the color of their skin might offend the other boarders. As Steele puts it, ? he could not recognize that he was asking me to betray my race in the name of my class (p 694). Everyone must be able to identify with themselves as a whole person. Your race, your class and the role you play in society. If Steels had known better, he would have realized that he was actually being insulted non-directly. He is unable to change the color of his skin, but both professors were degrading the race he was a part of. This race is embedded in him and he should never forget it. Time has past and he now has come to this realization, but people need to be aware of what is being said around them. Those comments were unacceptable. Today is a bit different because in the sixties people could get away saying those type of things. Its harder to say things like that now. Almost anything can be taken as an insult somehow nowadays. Those are the main parts of Steeles essay and I will be using more details in describing these matters more clearly. Race and class both play a major part in all of our lives, and we need to be aware of where we are in society.

War of 1812 Essay -- essays research papers

The War of 1812   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The war of 1812, supposedly fought over neutral trading rights, was a very peculiar conflict indeed. Britain's trade restrictions, one of the main causes, were removed two days before the war started; the New Englanders, for whom the war was supposedly fought, opposed it; the most decisive battle, at New Orleans, was fought after the war ended.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the Napoleonic wars, Britain and France had disrupted US shipping, confiscated American goods, taking US seamen into the British navy, and both sides had blockaded each other's ports. This caused great annoyance to American traders, and Britain's abduction of American sailors especially caused great uproar and indignation at home. Many called for war, although it is interesting to note that it was southerners and westerners, the so-called war hawks led by Clay and Calhoun, who supported war who were least affected by Britain's actions. Some historians attribute this to their desire to take British Canada and Spanish Florida in the process of war. The Republican administration, traditionally supportive of France, finally declared war on Britain in 1812, ironically two days after Britain had lifted their trade embargo.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Two and a half years of fighting commenced, and when the peace treaty was eventually signed in Ghent, there was no mention whatsoever of neutral rights. The treaty gave neither si...

Compare and Contrast of the The Shang-Zhou River Valley and Egypt

Egypt and the Shang-Zhou Dynasty were both powerful and influential civilization who faced similar ideas in their government, and defense strategies, but differed when it came to cultural rituals, and the use of natural resources.A solid form of government is essential to any civilization, and although Egypt and Shang-Zhou were both successful, they both used different and similar methods to conform to their religious and social standards.Egypt used a Pharaoh as their king, which they claim the pharaoh was sent from a god in order to maintain ma’at, the distinctive order of the universe. On the contrary, the Shang- Zhou Dynasty followed their own theory of the Mandate of Heaven. The Mandate of Heaven served as a foundation for the Chinese government for three thousand years, and was used when a ruler had neglected his duties such as dishonoring gods, expressing tyranny, or ignoring warning signs of disasters; heaven could remover this â€Å"mandate† and put it in the po ssession of a more worthy ruler or family.After a ruler has fulfilled their duties and depart the physical world, both Egypt and the Shang-Zhou dynasty honor them in every way possible, however both have separate rituals and beliefs in how they should be honored. In Egypt, the Pharaoh is built a remarkable pyramid in which their body is mummified, and buried deep down in the structure. During the Shang-Zhou Dynasty, the royal family and the elite families were not buried in a pyramid, but rather in tombs with many of possessions they might need in the afterlife.To run a successful government, there has to be order and record keeping to keep from conflict and having all property, belongings, etc. needs to be officially stated. The Egyptians developed their own writing, known as hieroglyphics, on papyrus to records all their statements. Instead of hieroglyphics and papyrus, the Shang-Zhou also developed their own writing of symbols which they wrote on oracle bones to keep order in the ir society. A significant connection between the two is that both civilizations were a theocracy because they both believed that their leader was divine and the closest to God. Both Egypt and the Shang-Zhou Dynasty shared the idea of charging taxes in exchange for landowning and service in the military.Charging taxes influenced many civilizations because in order to be a resident, some sort of service or duty had to be given in exchange. In retrospect, Egypt and the Shang-Zhou dynasty both shared similarities in their government which helped them grow as a large, powerful society, but also varied in some methods mostly because of religion beliefs.Environment plays an intense role in any region of the world because it determines the lifestyle for how that civilization will prosper over time. Being located in Africa, near the equator, Egypt has the consistent face of a hot, dry, and sunny climate. The Shang-Zhou dynasty territory is located  east of Africa and slightly towards the n orth. Therefore, Southern China gets heavy rainfall due to the monsoons in India and surrounding areas, and the northern part of China gets rainfall as well, but is inconsistent. Being that China gets a fair amount of rain, most of their agriculture is dependent on that rainfall. Instead of depending on rainfall, Egypt is primarily dependent on the Nile River which is the longest river and provides the best source of irrigation.A benefit to both the Shang-Zhou Dynasty and Egypt is that they both are in some way surrounded by natural barriers which serve as a mechanism for defense. Egypt has the Nile River which makes it difficult for invaders to get across to attack. The Shang-Zhou area has the Himalaya mountain range to the southwest, the Pamir and Tian Mountains and the Takla Makan Desert to the west, as well as the major rivers, the Yellow and the Yangtze, to also help to protect their society. Natural barriers are a huge advantage and blessing because they can distinctively mark territories as well as serve each civilization in a way as to help them advanced and develop while lowering the likelihood of getting attacked and weakening a civilization.The natural elements are what make a society capable of flourishing and both Egypt and the Shang-Zhou Dynasty used all of their resources to their advantage to prosgress into a sophisticated and highly respected culture and society.

Helpful Discussion Questions for The Necklace

​The Necklace is a favorite French short story by  Guy de Maupassant. A tragic piece about vanity, materiality, and pride, its definitely a humbling story that will get rid of any little girl or boys princess complex. Although short, Maupassant packs many themes, symbols, and even a surprise ending into The Necklace. Here are some discussion questions helpful for teachers or anyone looking to talk about the story.   Lets start from the very beginning with the title. By titling his work, The Necklace, Maupassant is immediately notifying readers to pay special attention to this object. What does the necklace symbolize? What theme does the necklace convey?  What other themes exist in the story?   Turning towards the setting, this story takes place in Paris.  Why did Maupassant decide to set this story in Paris? What was the social context of life in Paris at the time, and does it relate to The Necklace? Although Mathilde is at the center of the story, lets consider the other characters as well: Monsier Loisel and Madame Forestier. How do they advance Maupassants ideas? What role do they play in this story? Speaking of characters, do you find the characters likable, or detestable? Does your opinion of the characters change throughout the story? Finally, lets talk about the end. Maupassant is known for springing twist-endings on his readers. Did you think the ending to The Necklace was unexpected? If so, why?   Lets take this discussion beyond just analyzing the story; did you like The Necklace? Would you recommend it to your friends?