Jena and Little Rock Insidents

          To make this clear, I don't condone beating up anyone no matter what race he or she is. Whether those students actually beat the white students or not, they should not be charged with attempted murder when no one knows their motives for hurting the other student. It's all about discrimination and it shouldn't be accepted that way. I believe it is morally wrong to discriminate. Most schools wouldn't take something a simple as a school fight and blow it out of proportion to make it into an attempted murder.There might have been some hidden motives for the prosecutor that changed the Jena Six. I imagine that the prosecutor was white, may have been racist,  and wanted to see these boys go to jail. This reminds me a lot of the Little Rock Nine incident during the Civil Rights Movement. In Little Rock, the nine students that were to attend Central High School to segregate the school were taunted and harassed by whites in the school and community. They were always harassed by mobs, in order to make them angry. In Jena, the same thing had happened. Some people mostly in the white community were looking for an easy scapegoat to put the blame on. Though this time, the accused have a large group backing them up, unlike what happened with the Little Rock Nine. It is great to see that a new generation is taking a stand for what is morally and lawfully right.

MLK vs. Malcolm X

           Two names immanently jump out when talking about Civil Rights Movement: Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. The two men drove the Civil Rights push in the 1960's, however, they did so in two drastically different means. I think that the methodologies of martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were very different from each other. MLK had a different strategy to deal with the Civil Rights Movement. He used more civil, peaceful words and presented the Civil Rights Movement as a problem that is unfair and that affects the fellow man. MLK believed in being more of a nonviolent protester, all about civil disobedience, and Sit-Ins. Perhaps to many people he is recognized as one, if not the greatest orators in the 20th Century. He is also an outstanding Civil Rights leader. However, Malcolm X method was very different from MLK, it was the contrary to MLK's methods. He believed that their goal should be accomplished by "any means necessary." Reflecting and comparing the documents and with what we talked  about in class, I feel like Malcolm X is more straight-forward and has an angrier tone.  In my opinion X was very drastic with his approach he intended his statements to be aimed to the entire race. MLK's way of approaching equality involved all different races not just one; meanwhile Malcolm X was very negative about most races and blamed them for inequality. So, therefore I think MLK had a bigger and stronger effect in the United States and the world as his ideas are still viewed and remembered nowadays, and even still followed at times of conflict. MLKs methodology was more effective in many different ways. 

Topic.11 Study Concepts

MLK and Civil Disobedience
-Freedom Rides aimed at desegregating public transportation in the south.
-Montgomery Bus Boycott
-Martin Luther King Jr., a civil rights leader, also developed into one of the greatest orators in the 20th Century.
-Civil Disobedience a dominant social force.
-Lunch Counter Sit-Ins start in Greensboro, North Carolina.
-MLK was a fearless dedicated speaker.
-Lead to the Civil Rights Act (1964), Voting Rights Act (1965), and Fair Housing Act (FHA, 1968).

Power of the "Mob"
-Sit-Ins
-Protest
-Being confident enough to sit in a place for a long period of time, with caring about consequences.
-Sort of like having the power of a situation.
-Leads into situation with M.L.K.
-He told the African-Americans, i someone punches them in the face, then hug them.
-Kill them with kindness.

Plessy v. Ferguson vs. Brown v. Board of Education
-Supreme Court Law stated "separate, but equal".
-African-American and Whites become concerned.
-Brown:Unconstitutional by 1954.
-It struck down Plessy v. Ferguson because separate wasn't equal anymore.
-It basically stated that all men are equal regardless what there race is.

Civil Rights Goals
-Freedom Rides: where African-Americans would drive to the deep south and violate Jim Crow Laws.
-Buses were often bombed. White college students would join them.
-People began to be concerned.
-Malcolm X a great civil rights leader.

Eisenhower's Role in Little Rock
-In Little Rock, Arkansas, there was a school that was racially segregated and did not allow black students to integrate into the school.
-School creates a blockade for the 9 students.
-"Little Rock 9"
-Eisenhower send in the 101st Airborne to uphold the Supreme Court decision.

Rights of the Accused
-Gideon v. Wainwright: 6th Amendment-accused criminal has a right to a lawyer.
-Escobedo v. Illinois: Criminal suspects have the right to counsel during police interrogations.
-Miranda v. Arizona: Criminal suspects must be informed of their right to consult with counsel prior to interrogation.

Brown v. Board of Education 
-Color ignites the Civil Rights Movement.
-Oliver Brown sues school board, on behalf of his 8 year old daughter because she shouldn't be going to a school only for African American, they should be equal.
-It basically stated that black and whites can go to school and not be denied, because of their race.

Chavez and the United Farm Workers 
-Cesar Chavez, became a cultural icon for Chicanos.
-Founded the United Farm Workers (UFW).
-Helped to organize strikes and organize civil disobedience for migrant workers.
-Organized Delano Grape Strike.
-Participated in several fasts to support different social issues.
-Anti-Immigration while at UFW.

FHA and ADA
-Fair Housing Act- Part of the 1964 CRA
-Outlawed refusal to sell or rent a dwelling to any person because of race, color, religion, handicap, or national origin.
-Improved housing standards and conditions.
-Americans with Disabilities Act, a wide ranging civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability.
-Title IX

Purpose of Filibusters
-Used to stop the other side from speaking, so that the Civil Rights Law was not passed.
-Pushing a legislation or to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Sit-Ins and Other Protests
-Lunch Counter Sit-Ins, where the African-American would sit in a place that served only white people.
- They would sit there until they got arrested.
-Sort of like using a Power of the "Mob" tactic.
-La Raza
-In the Southwest, Chicanos (Mexican-Americans) were fighting for equality.

Meritocracy

           Meritocracy does exist in our society today. I believe it is true that people who are taught from the start that they are from a successful, educated, and high class family ("superior" kids in the video) are more likely to be motivated than those who are from a lower class, uneducated family ("inferior" kids). I also believe that if someone works hard, they could achieve the American Dream. The video supports meritocracy, because the group of kids that were considered superior did perform the tasks that they were given better than the ones that were considered inferior. I think that the kids who were superior expected better of themselves which made them live up to the image that they were given. Being in a lower class family, however, makes it more challenging to get into better schools. The kids who are inferior think that they are considered low. I believe that inferior kids and people in general should try harder. Inferior kids should not give up just because they are being "named". despite the lack of resources available to a lower class individual, there is always a case where typical stereotypes are completely reversed.
            The case previously discussed ties into meritocracy. I have always believed that a lower class individual should work hard enough and they would succeed in life. Meritocracy is based off of skills and abilities rather than on a person's wealth. To conclude, if someone from a lower class possesses the necessary skills and abilities to succeed, they will. 

Television Impact

         The invention of the television is an important event in history. I believe that media does influence the action of teenagers in many ways. It is something that every child recognizes and a modern society cannot live without. Now a days, Television has changed how children and teenagers live. It also changed the source of entertainment. Really, the newspaper is no longer necessary because we can inform everybody with shows, news, or programs in the T.V. Overall, it has impacted this generation of teenagers a lot because they are conformed to act in a way which we all think is right. Looking at today, daily exercise is something that rarely happens. Due to the fact that teenagers rather watch a show or go to the movie theater for entertainment. It has become an on going issue that we face. America's teenagers is increasingly becoming more exposed to to explicit material. It eventually creates a more violent youth, which is now seen more.

Story Time- Norman Rockwell Painting

         It is Christmas time, the Jackson's are at home celebrating this great time of the year. The weather for the last few days has been a bit unstable. It is snowing already in the town and the Jackson's are extremely happy with the weather. Caroline and Mark are enjoying the day before Christmas by spending quality time with the family playing board games. After a few minutes they both hear something outside the house. Caroline runs up the stairs, in a hurry to see what all the noise is about. She reaches her room in a second. As she runs to the window, she trips over her brothers shoe. Eventually getting up, she is frustrated at her brother for leaving his shoe in the way. She gets up and tells herself to calm down and relax. She gets to the window and looks outside and finds her dad unpacking his suitcases from the car as it suddenly begins to snow. It looks like winter wonderland outside as she sees her day getting better, because her dad fulfilled her dream of coming for Christmas to spend time with them. She eagerly shouts and screams "Come, I have something to show you!" Her mom comes up with Mark and the dog Vinny. As they reach the window they look outside to find their dad. They smile and excite as they see the snow filing the road like a blanket of white sheets. They are extremely filled with joy to know that their Christmas is filled of happiness.  

Sexism

     In my opinion this ad is very sexist. Notice how the guy only worries about the beer, but does not worry if his wife is injured. This shows that men cared for beer. As well as, that men were led to whatever they saw. I guess that women in the 1950's would get offended by this ad. I would not appreciate somebody to only care for beer. I seriously believe that sexism is a serious problem in society today. It was not so different 60 years ago. Society in the 1950's was engulfed by the idea that a women's job was to cook and clean, and had no business in doing either. The ad shows that men would enjoy by drinking beer. Why would men care more for beer than for their wife's? Ads like this show the weakness of women in the 1950's. Hopefully, in the progressive society things will change. 

Topic.10 Study Concepts

McCarthyism Impact on Society
-House Committee on Un-American Activities
-Lead to paranoia among the people.
-McCarthy charges writers, directors, producers, and actors with communist propaganda in films.
-Anxiety over Communism intensified in the U.S.
-Goes after the "Hollywood Ten"

Communist "Witch Hunt" and impact on those accused
-Supported by anti-Communist committees and groups.
-Imprisoned hundreds of government employees (mainly those in entertainment industry).
-Thousands lost their jobs.
-Many were arrested.
-Invaded lives of many citizens.

Space Race impact on government policies
-Soviet Union beat the U.S. to space with Sputnik
-As a result, USA responds by pouring more money into the education system.
-Begins the Cold War competition.
-U.S. government started to create more space programs.

Cold War mind set for the United States Government and public
-Caused great fear in the public and government.
-Soviet Union beat us to space in the technology race.
-Today's Competition: Soviet Union vs. USA in technology.
-USA afraid of Communism.
-Houses in the U.S. had bomb shelters in case we were attacked in the race to build atomic bombs.

Relationships of suburbs, automobiles, and roads 
-In 1950's more families moved to the suburbs.
-As a result a norm was established that meant thatt a family could own more than one automobile.
-More reliance on cars.
-So in effect more roads were need to compensate the extra drivers on the road.
-1956: Interstate Highway Act
-America was on the move.

Baby Boom
-In 1955: One baby was born every 7 seconds.
-Men came home from war to their wives, had children.
-1946-1960
-Causes: 20 years of "tough times"-->(World War II and Great Depression),
                 Removal of social and economical restraints that kept people from having families.
-Also caused consumer boom.
-Causing the current Social Security issues.

Urban-Suburban Pattern
-Business District
-Inner City- Low Income Families
-Suburbs- Middle Income Families
-Suburbs- High Income Families

GI Bill
-Bill that provides WWII veterans college or vocational education.
-Provides loans to start businesses/homes.
-One year of unemployment compensation.
-Supported those who served.

Expansion of the Middle Class (why were things"affordable")
-Low prices on consumer goods.
-Suburbs= Less expensive homes (Levittown)
-Invention of the Credit Card.
-The number of credit cards rapidly increased from 1945-1960.
-More consumers due to the baby boom and economic boom.