Reading a Work in its Materialist Essays - Afro-Caribbean History

Reading a Work in its Materialist Reading a Work in its Materiality: C. L. R. James' Toussaint L'Ouverture / The Black Jacobins This seminar paperas part of a broader project of theorizing the materiality of language, literature, reading,...is a consideration of a particular literary work in its materiality. Specifically, the paper reads C. L. R. James' play The Black Jacobins, an earlier version of which was staged in 1938 as an intervention in the debates around the Ethiopian crisis. That first version of the play, under the title Toussaint L'Ouverture, was performed in London in 1938 with Paul Robeson in the title role. The revised and re-titled version is included in The C. L. R. James Reader, published in 1992. I am interested in explaining the play's materiality. I believe that this is neither merely a matter of the experiential impact of that particular run of performances by a Black actor legendary for his stage presence and powerful voice, nor a matter of the use of the various theatrical devices to achieve particular effects. These matters will be discussed, but as I regard materiality to be a matte r of the material relations, this paper's reading of the play will emphasize the social relations of labor, both those depicted in the play and those which conditioned its very production as a cultural work. My two-fold aim in this paper, then, in reading the play in its context, is to critically discuss what it means to read a work (that is, a text, a play, a performance, a discursive intervention, a cultural production,...) and its context materially, and thus to begin to develop an effective theory of materiality and reading. The paper begins with a definition of the context of the play, taking into account that to define "context" is already to read. This is true of all reading, of course, but as I try to show, such context-reading is necessary for developing a coherent and reliable understanding both of the text which is read and of the context in which reading has emerged as a social possibility. The question of the emergence of the historical context of reading (that is, of education, literacy, printing,...) is important to consider in postcolonial studies, as it has always been a field for reading and theorizing the relationships among various forms of discourse. For example, the difference(s) between orality and literacy, or speech and writing, are familiar and important points of discussion and debate in postcolonial studies specifically and in cultural and literary studies generally. After providing historical context and reading the play in some of its detail, I will address these points of discu ssion as a means for clarifying further what reading materially means and why it is important. Anna Grimshaw, editor of The C. L. R. James Reader, a project on which she consulted with James, writes that Toussaint L'Ouverture was staged at London's Westminster Theatre as "an intervention in the debates surrounding the Ethiopian crisis" (5). What was the nature of this crisis? The crisis had to do with the Italian annexation of Ethiopia (or Abyssinia) in 1936. W. E. B. DuBois characterizes the relevant events in his historical work The World and Africa: When the British seized Egypt [in 1874] to secure the Suez Canal they occupied the Sudan [...]; they had designs on Ethiopia, but hesitated to follow up their victory over the Emperor Theodore. When the Sudan revolted, the British egged on Italy to annex the highlands of Ethiopia. Italy tried this but was soundly beaten by Menelek at Adowa on March 2, 1906 [...]. The allies promised Italy to give her Ethiopia after the First World War, but failed to do so. Italy, affronted, attacked Ethiopia in 1935. The League of Nations failed to restrain her and Britain and France refused Ethiopia arms. Italy annexed Ethiopia, with Churchill's approval. The Emperor, Haile Selassie, took refuge in England. (268-269) The crisis, which like all crises is a manifestation of contradiction, is succinctly expressed by DuBois in these last two sentences, which portray England as both the supporter of the Italian annexation of Ethiopia and the refuge of its emperor-in-exile. How can one country, England, or indeed the League of Nations to which all nations involved

Discrimination Against Women essays

Discrimination Against Women essays The perception of certain work as feminine has had a significant impact on women, both at home and in the workplace. Often feminine jobs regulate women to positions where they earn less money and are less likely to become management than their male counterparts. In addition, at home women are still chiefly responsible for managing the household and child rearing. These mundane and repetitive duties are not considered masculine, like vehicle maintenance and yard work, and therefore fall on the shoulders of women. Working women constantly battle against horizontal segregation, the separation of women and men into gender specific jobs. These feminine positions, also known as pink collar jobs, mainly involve working with people, domestic duties, and administrative work. Men mostly hold both blue collar jobs, factory and mechanical work, and white collar jobs, professional work. These positions are considered more valuable which translates into higher wages. Additionally, blue collar jobs are often unionized resulting in both higher wages and better benefits. Another phenomenon that affects working women is vertical segregation, gender separation within the same job classification. For example, female physicians on the average make only 77 percent of what male physicians make. Likewise, female lawyers are less likely to practice criminal law and are more likely to practice family law. In turn, they earn around 70 percent of male lawyers salaries.1 Similarly, female college professors typically teach in the humanities and social science disciplines, while male professors are more visible in the physical sciences. The masculine positions are viewed by society to be more important and valuable; therefore, they pay more and command higher respect. Many women have been denied top-level positions in their professions simply because they are females. Although they have earned the degrees and put in the necessary yea...

What To Do If Youre Not Passionate About Anything

What To Do If Youre Not Passionate About Anything You hear a bunch of people all around you talking about their passion and â€Å"following their bliss,† but all you hear is panic. What is your bliss? What if you don’t have one? Do you feel that everything you do is grey and lusterless? Do you find work boring? Is everything just kind of blah? Maybe you feel that you can’t be good at anything or passionate because you aren’t super talented or great at anything. Well that’s just not the case. It’s never too late to figure out what matters most to you, and to live a life of passion.Here are a few strategies to combat the â€Å"meh† feelings that currently fill your life.1. Shift your view.A little perspective goes a long way. Release yourself from all the negative voices in your head holding you back and keeping you stuck.2. Think strategically.Figure out what’s causing you the most frustration and dissatisfaction. Isolate that thing and start working towards bringing it down. Al l the while, start keeping a notebook of things that give you joy. And while you’re at it, start asking yourself what you wanted to be when you grew up. Why can’t you be that now? Start dreaming again.3. Get healthy.Your health is a major source of your wellbeing. Make sure you’re doing everything you can to be in your prime. Eat right, exercise, stay active. Make sure you sleep and make time for self-care. Get rid of toxic patterns and relationships.4. Stay curious.A great way to figure out what you want to devote your life to is to figure out what interests you most. If you haven’t hit upon it yet, that might be because you haven’t seen it yet. Start reading and being more open to new things. You never know where your passion might turn up.5. Think for yourself.Don’t just follow what the herd decides is â€Å"cool.† Figure out what you actually like. Dabble in all sorts of things. Push your comfort zone. Try new things more than onc e. If you like them, keep doing what you’re doing until you start to make some forward progress. If you don’t, cut your losses and move on. You might even find you meet new and deeply important friends when you start committing your time to things you truly enjoy.6. Be brutally honest.Ask yourself the tough questions about your unhappiness. The challenging soul searching and emotional work required will pay enormous dividends in the long run.7. Be confident.Believe that you’re doing the right thing when you find it. You’ll know what that is if you only start listening to yourself. Push past your fear and find the fun in life. Take time to check in, smell the roses, and keep yourself honest. Your future self with thank you, and you’ll be living a life that’s true to yourself. What could be better?

Increasing numbers of criminal defendants who are involved with Essay

Increasing numbers of criminal defendants who are involved with illegal narcotics or have mental-health issues or both - Essay Example 178-190). Forced trading of illegal drugs among kids from poor backgrounds in the long-run psychologically affects them. The negative pressure exerted on the young boys in the poor communities force them to grow up stressed. In the long-run, they get into a state of depression or even end up psychologically disturbed. The topic of drugs is delicate but also unmentioned. As a result, there are more young people getting lured into the drugs trade. When more individuals get into the trade, its distribution gets broader (Petrila 5-11). Drug abuse with time has become a menace that needs close attention. The main users being innocent teenagers who got lured by peers suffer the consequences of engaging with the wrong peers. The law enforcement agencies in the past have punished these young criminals carelessly. Hence, the resulting outcome becomes recurrent crime and drug abuse. The young boys, mainly have had to engage in further criminal activities because their reputation has become questionable, and no one is willing to employ them. The drug cartels operating in poor neighborhoods have taken the advantage of the confused youths to lure them further into illegal forms of trade. In the past decades, the biggest percentage of the criminals engaging in illegal trade of drugs were male, but in recent years the percentage of girls or females have kept increasing (Stojkovic 163-179). Drug abuse among teenage girls has increased considerably. It has become the case because more girls have started consuming drugs. Most of the girls who consume narcotics come from poor backgrounds, and they also engage in prostitution. The consumption of narcotics also has caused an increase in crime. When an individual gets to consume narcotics, he or she becomes uncontrollable and may end up committing a crime unaware. Most of the time, the drugs mess up the mental status of an individual causing them to act abnormally in their

The spread of English and the rise of new Englishes Essay

The spread of English and the rise of new Englishes - Essay Example While on the study of English, introspection on how English came into being can be elucidated here. The following figure throws light on the various cultures and sects that contributed to the development of English as we see today. The history of English is divided into three periods since its existence way back some 1000 BCE. Though it is difficult to establish the correct year, researchers have unanimously concluded that the three periods are referred to as Old English (or Anglo-Saxon), Middle English, and Modern English. The graph above shows that the earliest period is marked with the migration of certain Germanic tribes from the continent to Britain in the fifth century A.D., though no records of their language survive from before the seventh century, and continued till the end of the eleventh century or a bit later. Before the end of the eleventh century, Britain was also being influenced by Latin. Old Norse (the language of the Viking invaders), and Anglo-Norman French of the dominant class after the Norman Conquest in 1066, had a substantial impact on the lexicon, and the well-developed inflectional system that typified that the grammar of Old English had begun to break down (Merriam-Webster, 2007)2. We have see 2.0 Executive Summary We have seen that English is now a popular language spoken by natives of almost all nations around the globe. But, does English actually qualify to be the global language A headline in 'Globe and Mail' published in Toronto in 1997 read, "English is the global language". Though not much of ado, headlines of similar nature have appeared in thousands of newspapers and magazines across the globe in recent years. 'English Rules', a headline with a difference, showcases the popularity and strength of English in a world of uncanny universality of the language's spread and continuation. So what does it mean to say that a language is a global language Or why is English the language, usually cited in this connection If English did become the global language, will it remain omnipresent These and more questions lead researchers to question the theory, whether; English is in fact the first language of the world If English is one's mother tongue, one may have mixed feelings about the way English is spreading around the world. On the one hand, there is cause for pride, that English language has become ever so successful, but on the other, there could be consternation that the same language that was inherent as English, is being influenced by others, who borrow words from languages other than English to suit themselves (David Crystal, 2003, English as a Global Language)3. A lot of countries have their own native language or 'mother tongue', as it is popularly referred to as. If this is the case, which is true, how does English qualify to be declared the official global language There are two possibilities; one, English

Best source of funding for research organization Essay Example for Free

Best source of funding for research organization Essay There are a number of ways of funding research programs to help medical clinics; we may have an aspect where the government lends a hand or seeking the indulgence of the pharmaceutical companies. (NCSL, 2014) The above stated are two of those ways. Acceptance of offers to carry out research depends on the wishes of beneficiaries; they get to choose whom they perceive to be their best options. (U.S. Congress, 2006) Grants by the federal government may be defined as the assistance in monetary terms offered by the American government. (NIST, 2014)The government assistance has to conform to the laws and regulations set about by the federal agencies. (USA Government, n.d.)Grants offered by the pharmaceutical companies; to conduct clinical research is one of the common ways of sourcing for money to carry out research activities for clinics. (Canadian Business Network, n.d) Pharmaceutical companies are private entities which may not be put under tight regulations as compared to public institutions. (Federal Grants, n.d)The financing pharmaceutical company may fund a research project they deem to be in line with what they find necessary for them. (D.o.J., 1998) Advantages of using government grants to fund research projects Government or federal grants are a good way of sourcing for funds; even though the central government may impose very strict measures to go about using the cash. (Cornell University, n.d.) Once a government agency has given the nod for one to conduct the research alongside the funds allocation; a research organization is left to conduct its affairs in the required time they find ample. (UCONN, n.d.) Pharmaceutical companies may impose timelines so that they launch their products for commercial gains. (The Arc, n.d.)Pharmaceutical companies may continue funding a project based on interests to be fulfilled; some may be under pressure to churn out products that cause a buzz within markets. (Grant Space, n.d.)Another risk involved with pharmaceuticals funding projects would be purely to spite their competitors and caress enormous egos of company executives and owners. (TGCI, n.d.) Government does not engage in competition; but their mandate is to look out for the welfare of their citizen s. (The White House, n.d.)It’s with the above stated reasons that governmental funding looks more appealing as compared to funding from private entities. (Homeland Security, n.d.)There would not be conflicts or interests as well as undue pressure. (FELDESMAN+TUCKER+LEIFER+FIDELL, n.d.) References NCSL. (2014). NCSL. Retrieved from http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/american-health-benefit-exchanges.aspxU.S. Congress. (2006, October). Research and Development in the Pharmaceutical Industry. Retrieved from https://cbo.gov/sites//10-02-drugr-d.pdfCanadian Business Network. (n.d.). Canadian Business Network. Retrieved from http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/page/2740/National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), United States Department of Commerce (DoC). (2014, February 25). ANNOUNCEMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (FFO) Measurement Science and Engineering (MSE) Research Grant Programs. Retrieved from www.nist.gov//grants/USA Government. (n.d.). Benefits, Grants, and Loans. Retrieved from http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Benefits.shtmlFederal Grants. (n.d.). Federal Grants. Retrieved from http://www.federalgrants.com/D.o.J. (1998, September). The United States Department of Justice. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gov/crt/grants_statutes/legalman.phpCornell Univers ity. (n.d.). Cornell University. Retrieved from http://www.irb.cornell.edu/faq/UCONN. (n.d.). University of Connecticut. Retrieved from http://research.uconn.edu/The Arc. (n.d.). Public Policy. Retrieved from http://www.thearc.org/what-we-do/public-policy/know-your-rights/federal-lawsGrant Space. (n.d.). Knowledge Base. Retrieved from http://grantspace.org/tools/knowledge-base/Funding-Resources/Government-Funders/government-grantsTGCI. (n.d.). Thw Grantsmanship Center. Retrieved from http://www.tgci.com/training/competing-federal-grants-5-dayThe White House. (n.d.). Office of Mnagement and Budget. Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_defaultHomeland Security. (n.d.). Title VI Overview for Recipients of DHS Financial Assistance. Retrieved from http://www.dhs.gov/title-vi-overview-recipients-dhs-financial-assistanceFELDESMAN+TUCKER+LEIFER+FIDELL. (n.d.). Federal Grants. Retrieved from http://www.feldesmantucker.com/federal-grants/ Source document

Poetry Throughout the Ages :: essays research papers

This anthology is a published collection of poetry throughout the five major periods including- the Pre Elizabethan period, Elizabethan Period, Metaphysical Period, Romantic Period and the Victorian Period. The Pre Elizabethan Period was first in Old English and then in Middle English. Old English was used after the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th and 6th centuries. The invaders from Germany who settled in England were called the Angles, the Saxon, and the Jutes. The names of these tribes come from the term Anglo Saxon. The most famous poetry from this period is Beowulf. Beowulf was written around 1000AD and be called a saga. At the time poems were performed and sung to audiences than were written or read out. This poem is about strange people and creatures with special powers. It tells a story of a hero and his adventures, noblemen and kings. The Elizabethan Period began when Queen Elizabeth I became Queen of England. She had the throne for 45-years, which ended with her death in 1603. The Queen's tastes in fashion were high classed. Her love of music, drama, and poetry gave motivation and financial support to the England's greatest writers. When his father died when he was 18, and being the youngest son this left him penniless. He turned to the law and at 23 he was already in the House of Commons. Bacon saw himself as the inventor of a method which would encourage a light in nature. The Metaphysical period began after James I took the throne. This period found many new developments in science including- optics, astronomy, sailing and navigation. Notable scientists like Newton and Galileo finding most of these scientific discoveries. Poets from this time used their knowledge of science to explain things they experience. One of the major poets is John Donne. He was born in London to a wealthy family. He was against the Catholic Church but allied with James I and his son Charles I with the Anglicans. He entered the priesthood life later and from then his poetry became more religious in nature. The Metaphysical period refers to things that are abstract like God, hatred, love, death. Poets from this time tried to explain the unexplainable by using scientific metaphors known as conceits. Donne is interesting because his poetry was first to do with love and then became about God as he got older. Romantic poetry used simple language which described their everyday aspects of life and nature.

Unit 11 Child Care Nvq Level 3

Unit 11 Out come 1 †¢Describe what is meant by a positive environment Environment is the surrounding of a central point; it can be split in to three basic categories biological, physical and social. The environment of my care setting for example is made up biological aspects i. e. my self, my children, my husband, our pet hamsters and the out door plants and trees in the garden, also the children that attend my care setting. The physical aspects are the toys, furniture door wall, large garden equipment, buggies safety gates etc. he social environment in my setting is all about the culture, and customs of my setting and the activities and experiences we are involved in and interact with. a positive environment is warm and welcoming, consistent and stable ,safe clean and tidy, where individuals are treated with respect and dignity, they feel welcome and valued, they are able to reach there potential with out fear of harm or mistreatment. †¢Identify regulatory requirements tha t underpin a positive environment for children and young people. National standards for under 8s day care Early year’s foundation stage The Early Years Register The Childcare Register Out come 3 †¢Explain how to effectively care for children and young people’s skin, hair and teath. Skin care : if a child is required to wash in a child care environment it is important that each child has their own individual towel and face cloth. This will prevent the spread of any potential infection. It is also important to discuss with parent the care need to ensure that the care provided meets with any cultural /medical needs. Skin should only be used with the consent of the parent or care . childrens skin is sensitive when compaired with adults it is aslo thiner, it is important to ensure that after washing it is dryed well with patting not rubbing as this will avoid agervating any sore areas such as eczema. Hand washing is a very effective way to reduce and prevent illness and infection, hands need to be washed with warm soppy water and dryed properly. Hands should be washed before eathing, after using the toilet , after handling animals and after playing out doors and contct with open wounds. Its importat to introduce children to good hand washing habbits as young as possible and to make it an enjoyable activity, as this will help build good habbits in adult hood as children get older they can often skip the hand washing stage and my need to be remindered to do so and why its important to wash hands. Hair care it is importat to discuss with parents/ cares how often they would likew there childs haor to be washed and how they wish it to be styles. This can depen on my factiour ie type off hair, culture religious beliefs. The main concers as a care provider is to ensure a watch is kept for head lice these are very small parasites that live on the hair, signs that a child has head lice include itching, small red marks on the scalp where the child has been bitten and white eggs cases on the hair they do not come out with regual brushing. Parents should be inforned asap and the child reasured that they are not dirty. Child need to be treated as soon as posible from discoverty to prevent them from infecting others in the setting. Teeth care: Dentists say that the most important part of tooth care happens at home. Brushing and flossing properly, along with regular dental checkups, can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. To prevent cavities, you need to remove plaque, the transparent layer of bacteria that coats the teeth. The best way to do this is by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once a day. Brushing also stimulates the gums, which helps to keep them healthy and prevent gum disease. Brushing and flossing are the most important things that you can do to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Toothpastes contain abrasives, detergents, and foaming agents. Fluoride, the most common active ingredient in toothpaste, is what prevents cavities. So you should always be sure your toothpaste contains fluoride. †¢Explain how a positive environment and rouitine meet the emotional needs of children and their families. A positive environment and routien is essental to meeting the emotional needs of the children that attend the child care setting, when a chid feels safe and happy in their enviournment they develop confidence to explore what is a round them, through a positive enfivroment and routine children also learn many important social skills such as sharing with others, patience and understand of those differet from them self. the enviornment will stimulate the child to try need thing while keep them safe from harm. They can develop at their own pace and meet the mile stone of child hood. Through a possitive environment and routine tailored to the individual needs of the family the emotial needs of the family can be met in that they know there child is well care for and treated with respect and valued as an individual this is very importat especially when a child beguins to attend a new car setting as the parents and cares can get on with their work happy that their child is in good hands. †¢Describe the importance for physical and mental well being of balancing periods of physical activity with rest and quiet time. Out come 4 †¢define the Basic nurtritional requirements of children and young people to ensure a balanced diet and meet government guidence children only have small tummies and so need plenty of calories and nutrients in a small amount of food to ensure they grow properly. They can easily get a balanced diet by eating a variety of foods from four main food groups breads, other cereals and potatoes: these starchy foods include pasta and rice, provide energy, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Fruits and vegetables : these provide fibre, vitamins and are a source of antioxidants. Milk and dairy foods: these provide calcium for healthy bones and teeth, protein for growth, plus vitamins and minerals. Meat, fish and alternatives: these foods include eggs and pulses, provide protein and vitamins and minerals, especially iron. pulses, provide protein and vitamins and minerals, especially iron. Pulses also contain fibre This chart gives a rough guideline to the daily calorie needs of boys and girls at different ages. Kids who are really active may need more; those who are inactive may need less. AgeCalories per day BoysGirls 1–31,2301,165 4–61,7151,545 7–101,9701,740 11–142,2201,845 15–182,7552,110 Adults2,5501,940 †¢Explain how to establish the different diertary requirements of chilren ands young people. due to the diverse nature of the society we live in to day it is important to establish a good working realtionship with parents/ carers of the children you are goin to be careing for. This is where you will find reams and reams of invaluable information about the children you are looking after for example there like and dislikes, medical conditions etc. This is also where you will be able to find out what kinds of food the children eat at home and are expected to eat in your care setting ie vegitables!!! It is also important to discuss with parents food witch my not be aloud for reasion such as cultural belifes religious practaces, tolerances, allergies and persional chioces. It is important to ensure your awere of the foods each child in your care my and my not eat and to ensure that your meals are made with these in mind. This imformatiuon can be proccessed into an easy to read chart that can be placed in the food preperation are and used for reference when looking for new recipies. This will also ensure that everone invloved with the food preparation for the children in your care setting are kept informed of the approprate diarty requirments for each child in the setting. Describe basic food saftey when providing food and drink to children and young people. -cooking, eating utensils and work surfaces spotlessly clean before use -wash hands before touching food -check use by dates -keep perishables in the fridge -keep fridge between0-5degrees Celsius -keep freezer below 18degrees celeries -avoid contact between raw and cooked foods -clean and disinfect food preparation areas regularly Store uncooked meat at bottom of fridge -cover all food when out or d efrosting -ensure food is cooked thoroughly and evenly -do not reheat food

Memorable event in my life Essay

Very often people don’t remember their day-by-day routine, but if something unusual or extra ordinary happens. It can be memorable and remarkablefor the rest of their lives. For me, such remarkable event was the light show of dancing fountains. I saw this show for the first time when I was 10 years old. Since that time I saw shows like that several times, but the feelings of the very first time are still in my haert and they are unforgettable. The show had to start during sunset, and since it was arranged on the bank of the rive on a hot summer day everything around bacame pink. Trees, river, air, people around -everything was paintad with a tender pink colour. That day was extremely hot but in the evening the air turned to be fresh and clean. The blowing breeze was very pleasent. The show was delayed. At first we were nervous about that, but now I understand that it was planned ahead and we were really lucky to see the sunset. Very soon it became darker and at last the show started. The show was accompanied by modern music and the fountains really danced and people danced too. Everybody was so excited! I convinced my freind to go with me, which was not easy because she didn’t want to join that â€Å"crowd†( as she called all the people at the show). But thanks to that evening we becam e much closer and that was an event we remember and recall very often. I would recimmend to those who didn’t see dancing fountains to have a chance and see them! It was an unforgettable, remarkable event.

Comprehensive Personal Connections to African American Literature Essa

Comprehensive Personal Connections to African American Literature Essa Comprehensive Personal Connections to African American Literature 08/03/2015 ENG/496 University of Phoenix Comprehensive Personal Connections to African American Literature During slavery many people feared their owners and the people that worked for them. Many slaves struggled to just keep hope, but I believe in that African American slaves created a way for themselves to keep hope. One way was by song. One of those The Negro spiritual songs was called "Swing Down, Chariot. This was a song that I grew great interest to know and focus on why slaves at the time wanted to go to heaven so badly. Besides the basic understanding of slavery it made me wonder why there spirit was as crushed when they had other slaves around. I would assume that would help. As a black man I contemplate how they managed to come up with a song of that nature. When reading on the topic I found that there were alternate meanings to the lyrics of the music. Swing low, sweet chariot, (wagons of the Underground Railroad). This meant that when they would escape it would include wagons on a trail. Coming for to carry me home, (free country). This meant that they will try and go north wh ich is where the free country was. Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home. I looked over Jordan (Ohio River), which was an alternate name for the river at the time because the plantation on which this song was initially made for was in the south and they wanted to go north towards the Ohio River. Coming for to carry me home, a band of angels coming after me, coming for to carry me home. The piece focuses on the fact that people just wanted to get away from the pain and struggle they were going through. From seventeen hour working days, to bloody feet from little to no footwear. Children being separated from their families at birth and being sold to become slaves to other master. It was an unfortunate time and overall I believe that in the end the song was not just a way to know an escape route, but also a way to come together and vent without getting killed by the slave owners and the overseers. Although it was a powerful song for slaves to have made that encompassed multiple meanings outside of hope, there was great literature as well. A Decade of Reconstruction is one of my favorite pieces in the Literature of Reconstruction to the New Negro Renaissance chapter. With life as many African Americans knew if there life had changed for the better, but it was sad to read that many stayed and worked for the same people that owned them. After great study I found that in that time there were still people who believe that slaves should still remain that. Programs were not put in place for the Former African American slave to succeed. Under new institutions such as sharecropping and the convict-lease system, most African Americans, especially those living in the states of the former confederacy, continued to work on farms, often in service to the same people who had once owned them (The Norton Anthology of African American literature Volume 1, pg.509) The positives is that the thirteenth, fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendments were subsequently created to help improve the conditions of the African American community in Americ a. The Thirteenth Amendment (1865) outlawed slavery the Fourteenth Amendment (1868) provided equal protection to African Americans under the law, and the Fifteenth Amendment (1870) granted suffrage to black men. (The Norton Anthology of African American literature Volume 1, pg.509) With the 13th amendment outlawing slavery I feel as if there should have been more thought into actually helping the slaves. Even though I believe that Abraham Lincoln did his best to do as much as he could with the little support he had, simply saying ok now you guys are free, figure it out is not enough. A Decade of Reconstruction was a great read throughout, but it was more literature that caught my mind. The Fourteenth Amendment was passed by Congress in June 1866 and ratified by the states in 1868. The Radical Republicans had been battling with Andrew Johnson for

Animal Farm By George Orwell

Animal Farm By George Orwell Essay Animal Farm by George OrwellCharacters, items, and events found in George Orwells book, Animal Farm, can be compared to similar characters, items, and events found in Marxism and the 1917 Russian Revolution. This comparison will be shown by using the symbolism that is in the book with similarities found in the Russian Revolution. Old Major was a prized-boar that belonged to Farmer Jones. The fact that Old Major is himself a boar was to signify that radical change and revolution are, themselves, boring in the eyes of the proletariat (represented by the other barnyard animals), who are more prone to worrying about work and survival in their everyday life. Old Major gave many speeches to the farm animals about hope and the future. He is the main animal who got the rebellion started even though he died before it actually began. Old Majors role compares to Lenin and Marx whose ideas were to lead to the communist revolution. Animal Farm is a criticism of Karl Marx, as well as a novel perpe tuating his convictions of democratic Socialism. (Zwerdling, 20). Lenin became leader and teacher of the working class in Russia, and their determination to struggle against capitalism. Like Old Major, Lenin and Marx wrote essays and gave speeches to the working class poor. The working class in Russia, as compared with the barnyard animals in Animal Farm, were a laboring class of people that received low wages for their work. Like the animals in the farm yard, the people is Russia thought there would be no oppression in a new society because the working class people (or animals) would own all the riches and hold all the power. (Golubeva and Gellerstein 168). Another character represented in the book is Farmer Jones. He represents the symbol of the Czar Nicholas in Russia who treated his people like Farmer Jones treated his animals. The animal rebellion on the farm was started because Farmer Jones was a drunk who never took care of the animals and who came home one night, left the ga te open and the animals rebelled. Czar Nicholas was a very weak man who treated his people similar to how Farmer Jones treated his animals. The Czar made his working class people very mad with the way he wielded his authority and preached all the time, and the people suffered and finally demanded reform by rebelling. The Czar said ?The law will henceforward be respected and obeyed not only by the nation but also the authority that rules it and that the law would stand above the changing views of the individual instruments of the supreme power.? (Pares 420). The animal Napoleon can be compared as a character representing Stalin in Russia. Both were very mean looking, didnt talk very much but always got what they wanted through force. In one part of the book Napoleon charged the dogs on Snowball, another animal. Stalin became the Soviet Leader after the death of Lenin. He was underestimated by his opponents who always became his victims, and he had one of the most ruthless, regimes i n history. In was not till very many years later that the world found out about the many deaths that Stalin created in Russia during the Revolution. For almost 50 years the world thought that the Nazis had done the killing in Russia, when in fact it was Stalin. (Imse 2). The last characters that are symbolic of each other are the animal Snowball with the Russian leader Trotsky. Snowball was very enthusiastic and was a leader who organized the defense of the farm. He gave speeches and instructions but was not very beneficial. All the other animals liked him, but he was outsmarted by Napoleon. Trotsky and Stalins relationship was very much like Snowballs and Napoleons. Trotsky organized the Red Army and gave speeches and everyone in Russia thought he would win power over Stalin. After Lenins death Trotsky lost all his power to Stalin and was expelled from the communist party. He was at one time considered the second most powerful man in Russia. (Trotsky? Comptons 290). Besides charact ers there are many items that can be compared as symbols in the book and in Russia. The whip that Napoleon used in the farmyard to wield power can be compared to the power that Stalin used on the Russians. Napoleon carried a whip in his trotter. Stalin used his power to starve the Russian people and to have Lenin arrested. Stalins main goal was to maximize his personal power. (?Stalin,? Britannia 576). Stalin ?whipped? his people into shape by collectivizing agriculture, by police terror, and by destroying remnants of individual prosperity. He also led the Soviet Union into the nuclear age (Clarkson 442). Propaganda is another item that was used in the Russian revolution. It can be compared to Squealer in Animal Farm. Squealer brainwashed (a form of propaganda) the barnyard animals into believing that they did not like apples and milk, while he and Napoleon were stealing the food for themselves. In Russia, the Bolsheviks carried out propaganda on the people by passing out leaflets a nd putting stories in the newspapers that were not true. They told workers, soldiers, and peasants to not trust their own hands and to take away land from the landowners. (Golubeva and Gellerstein 80). Another item that is similar in both Animal Farm and Russia are the dogs and the secret police. Napoleon trained his dogs when they were puppies to guard him and to obey his every command. They chased Snowball away. Stalin trained his secret police to do his bidding whenever he issued an order. Stalin had his secret police kill between 60,000 to 70,000 people. These police were called the Checka and the graves filled with bodies stacked upon each other with bullets in each skull were found many years later. (Imse, C2). Another symbolism that exists in the book and in Russia is a similarity to events that took place. The windmill that is present in Animal Farm can be compared with the growth of industry in Russia or the Industrial Revolution. Snowball first introduced the windmill conc ept to the farm but Napoleon disagreed with him and had the dogs chase him away. Napoleon then presented the windmill as a good idea and the animals were presented with hope that things would get better on the farm. When it blew down, Napoleon blamed it on Snowball. Napoleon thought that if he could keep the barnyard animals busy all the time replacing the windmill that they would not realize how bad their living conditions were, and he could blame the destruction all the time on Snowball. The windmill is the only thing that was holding the animals together as a unit. In Russia the growth of factory and industry was very depressing but depended on the obligatory labor of serfs. Russia hoped that by keeping the serfs working all the time and promising them a better world that they would not realize how bad their living conditions were. The Industrialists were pressing their own constitutional demands. (Clarkson 352). None of the social classes were fighting each other because there w ere no classes left. What Russia got working was to make the people think that the prospect of loss of potential improvements in conditions of life of the here and now, could only be attained by stimulating labor to unprecedented efforts. The last event that was similar in the book and in Russia was the animal rebellion on the farm and the Russian Revolution of 1917. Farmer Jones was drunk a lot and would forget to feed the animals on the farm. The withholding of this food is what finally forced the animals on the farm to rebel against Farmer Jones. In Russia, there were many food shortages which caused the people to demonstrate and then the Russian soldiers refused to suppress them and the leaders demanded that Nicholas transfer his power to parliamentary government because everything was getting out of control. Soviet workers and soldiers formed a special committee and established a government. The same day the emperor abdicated. (?Russian Revolution,? Grolier npa). This actually backfired in Russia and the war continued and the people still starved. Many lessons can be learned by reading Animal Farm that can help countries and governments around the world from making mistakes in wielding their power against their people. If a population is suppressed and not allowed to accumulate things for themselves then an overthrow of the government that is suppressing them will be the result. WORKS CITEDClarkson, Jesse. A History of Russia. New York: Random House, 1969. Golubeva, T. and L. Gellerstein. Early Russia The Russie. Moscos, Press Agency Publishing House, 1976. Imse, Ann. Mass Grave Seen as Evidence of Massecure by Stalins Police. ?Hunstsville Times, 13, August. 1990. Orwell, George. Animal Farm. Signet 50th Anniversary Edition, Harcourt Brace Company, 1996. Pares, Sir Bernard. The Fall of the Russian Monarchy. New York: A division of Random House, 1939. ?Russian Revolution of 1917.? Grolier Electronic Publishing, Inc. 1992 ed. ?Stalin, Joseph.? Encyclopedi a Britannica. 1917 ed. READ: Mahatma gandhi Essay

Business Ethics and Leadership- Whistle-Blowing Essay

Business Ethics and Leadership- Whistle-Blowing - Essay Example To do this effectively, one also has to have a strong sense of leadership, vision and determination to continue moving forward with the ethical values which one believes are correct. Examining the several perspectives of whistle - blowing in an organization can also determine the ethical legitimacy that is a part of this as well as how it takes a specific sense of leadership to follow through with the situation. The Institution of Ethical Decision Making The current concept of ethics within businesses is now recognized as an institution. This is designed because corporations are expected to follow through with a code of conduct that assists with doing what is right and fair for employees and the general public. The institution began with the ethics that were associated with Enron and the complexities which came from the financial situation and deceptions which occurred. This was followed by several believing that a framework needed to be followed within corporations, specifically whi ch would create programs, guidelines and practices that would hold various companies liable for the actions which they were supposed to follow. The defined elements of this institution are based on the cultural and social expectations, relationship to politics and looking at withholding standards in real life situations which occur. By examining and contributing to these various expectations in the right manner, there is the ability to withhold the expectations through the performance of the company and the results which the public is able to look into (Ferrell, Fraedrich, p. 15). The framework which has been built with the institution of ethics is followed with the understanding of moral problems and how this creates specific responses from employees and to the public. The main response through the institution is based on ethical management, meaning that a company has to make specific promises to the community and follow through with these. More important, practices that would caus e harm to employees or the public are supposed to be prevented and hold to specific standards. While there are certain issues which don’t carry a difference between right and wrong, others are determined by the harm which it may cause, which becomes the basis for the standard business practices which are to be followed. While each business is able to withhold the standards and practices, there is also a direct association with others holding corporations accountable for actions which may become public at any time (Geva, p. 133). Ethics and Whistle - Blowing The concept of whistle - blowing is able to move up into an organization because of ethical standards which have been violated. These ethics are based on the institutional standards that are withheld by an organization and which are expected by the public. If there are violations of the employees, organization or to the public, then an individual has the right to point fingers at those responsible. Whistle blowing takes pl ace when an individual decides to point out the faults of a company, specifically with a focus on illegal, immoral or illegitimate practices that are taking place over the organization. It is expected that the response to the whistle blowing will be a large amount of publicity as well as mediation which takes place to resolve the issue. It is further expected that there will be sets of questions which are asked pertaining to