Dear Mr. Obama,
Change. A word that frightens many individuals when said—change, has the ability to alter and create new worlds, better societies. Attached to the term, however is the negative connotation of destruction due to the possibility of failure that comes along with the concept. In today’s society a change is necessary for our development. According to the Teaching Tolerance* organization, at least eight African Americans, three whites, and one Latino becomes victims of a hate crime today in America. This idea demonstrates the lack of unity in today’s society as people, like those years ago, separate themselves according to racial backgrounds. This division has the effect of delaying us as a people. Another problem that arises in today’s society in the steady decline in African Americans advancing in educational pursuits. It is said that one black student drops out of high school every 26 seconds. Due to these things, the idea of change is developed. This immense risk raises the bar to find someone who will carefully roll the dice for change. A change that would bridge the achievement gap between African Americans and other races, along with unifies all races together. I call on you, Mr. Barack Obama to make this necessary transition occur.
African Americans have, as many are aware, gone through a tremendous amount of trials and tribulations in order to be granted the right to be considered equal to white individuals. The strive for equality began after the journey to become “free” from the bondage of slavery, entering into a time known as Reconstruction. Due to this transition from slaves to free men, white Americans were unsure about how to take on this sudden change. Jim Crow laws (1619) were then placed into effect, establishing the idea of superiority of white men. Due to the inferior qualities affiliated with African Americans they were treated poorly. Blacks, under Jim Crow law were made to use color-designated water fountains, bathrooms, and dining stores. Black men were beaten and taunted by white individuals for any ideas noted as disrespectful. The story of Emmett Till helps us to understanding the gruel unmoral acts that occurred during this time period. Till, a fourteen year old black male who lived in Chicago, was sent on a trip to Mississippi by his mother. He returned dead and disfigured, after whistling at a white woman in an alternate world of his own where looking at a white woman can cause death. It is through Till that the idea of hate is changed into something understandable. Many were lynched on account of these actions seen as offensive to white people. The inhumanity shown through various acts that occurred during these times of Jim Crow laws would seem absurd; however before you question its absurdity consider looking out your window as the realities of these problems can be seen right outside of your bedroom window.
I want to walk golden streets, with white lilies scattered about. Walk past golden gates and into my own home. I want to peer out at glittering blue seas each morning outside of my bedroom window. When I do look of my window, I will never get the opportunity to see this. These ideas are merely fictions of the imagination. The grass will not always be green and this is a reality that we as a people must accept. However changes to get us closer to this fantasy can be made. After the end of the Jim Crow era people of all races have become equal under the law. Although “separate, but equal” is no longer printed, that is not the actuality in our society. Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians live in their own separate communities. It is through this division that one understands that we have once again continued the division we’ve so determinedly tried to bring an end to.
In my own life there have been many situations that reminds me every day that the partition from the past still remain. “Its cuz’ I’m black”, I said after my friend made a judgmental remark to me about my “weaker than weak” basketball skills. He and I were in the park after classes due to a bet I had lost. If I did not eat all of my food on that given day I had to go to the basketball court and play with him. The outcome—as you know, went against me and there we were on the court. Sweat shorts on and ready to play one of my favorite games, I was excited. Friends for over five years, we took the court like giants ready for battle. As wind rushed by us, David checked the ball to me. I stood there feet planted ready, firm. Waiting. The game had begun. I looked up toward the basket as he followed behind me, ready to “block any shot attempts”. At 6 foot 2 he toward over my small frame and as I stepped up to take the shot I became fully aware of this as his lanky body came into the angle of my shot. The shot went off however but he was not the problem. My shot had not touched the rim at all. “Air ball” he cried continuously. “Air Ball, Air Ball, Air Ball”. Then he said that he could not believe it. That he could not believe a black person made air balls. I watched him. Watched my friend of a different race stereotype me and laugh about it. I laughed too however, then I continued my own taunting by stating that he was discriminating against me cuz’ I’m black, a statement made amongst black teenagers that transforms into a joke. I was embarrassed. Embarrassed that he would even think of saying something like that although we are close. Our relationship had never leaked into that ocean. We have always remained contained in our own area, forgetting about the dramas that were suppose to separate us. Racism ended it all—ended us. It is because of this strong hold it has on society, that I hope you will be able to bring a calm to the situation of racism.
Unity means the gathering of people together. These gatherings however not only bring people closer together physically, but on a deeper, emotional level. This emotional level, allows us to reflect on ourselves as well as on one another. All too often in our own world however we find such togetherness in groups consisting of people who look like us, dress like us, and are from the same place we come from. Many wish not to know those outside of the circle. A large circle, with few people within it. Before you question of the importance of approaching this growing problem, please do keep in mind that every day someone commits a hate crime. It is due to this lack of unity there has been an increase of violence against people of different ethnic background. On April 14th, 2008 at 6pm an African American male was walking down the street of Crown Heights when he was ambushed by Jewish boys with pepper sprays, who attacked him with it. Racial attacks, such as this occur frequently in the Crown Heights neighborhood, on both ends of the playing field. If there was more understanding of the differences people have among one another, it is my belief that these violent actions would not occur. This incident, though much more dramatic than my own, occurs on a day to day basis, causing an abundant amount of pain.
In order to combat these malevolent acts various workshops in the communitiesexperiencing the most hardships should be established. These workshops would revolve around the idea of tolerance. This outreach to the various communities on their own turf, in their own surroundings, would address the problem in a calm manner. It is in this way that allows not to point fingers at one another on the basis of who causes the problems. It is in these workshops that trained volunteers will educate those in the community about ways to tolerate others and the methods to avoid confrontations. These workshops should present information, but also include active learning allowing people to participate in a way that would help them to understand the importance of acceptance. The next stage of this process should then be to develop different videos demonstrating the backgrounds behind those of different values. After this process occurs a phase of interaction between the different kinds of people should occur, and if people still feel uncomfortable with those they dislike, further actions of one on one time with staff members should occur. This one on one process, along with advertisement of the issue and the workshop would cost the government a few thousand dollars, however the price of having to find space for dead bodies and employing more police officers is far more for the state to handle.
Education is an important part of the life of many individuals. It is the gateway to success. Too many African American children are not seeing this however, causing them to be left back in the race toward success. Statistics gathered from the R.A.A.M.P (2006) organization displays such a struggle within the race as 60% of African American males do not graduate with their cohorts, 85% percent of African American males are placed in Special Education, 42% of African American males graduate nationwide, and more African American males receive their GED in prison compared to receiving their diploma in high school. These poor numbers display the struggle within the development of African Americans. I, myself have witnessed this same struggle in my own community, making the numbers genuine to me. Also it should be noted that our society also relates to that of those living through the era of Jim Crow, which can be seen through "The Ethics of Living Jim Crow" through a different learning.
"This is why black people can't go anywhere. Can't do anything" My friend stated as we made our way home. What was I going to say? What was there to say? Were the statistics right? My mouth opened, but I said nothing. I continued to walk. Running away from my thoughts. Running away from my friend's accusations. These statements continued on throughout most of my life thereafter. Or it had become far more present in my life. A couple of days later another friend asked me if she was "college material", if they accept "people like her" into “those” schools. "Yes" I said without really knowing, confused about my place as being of minority status and sure she was too. We watched each other trying to put the pieces together. We had finally admitted within ourselves that we are at a disadvantage in life. We heard it many times, and questioned it within ourselves. In our lives we see no disadvantages, because we cannot see the other side. In "The Ethics of Living Jim Crow" by Richard Wright, Richard too searches for understanding as well. He seeks to comprehend the way in which he is suppose to act with white people. He seeks out the black community in order to do so, along with making his own observations. The lessons he learns are tremendous and help him to cope with the intolerance he faces. We seek to gain the understanding he has gained. His gaining of this information presented the line between life and death. In order to continue onward in life he must gather this information. In my own life this is the case. The understanding of the present disadvantage that we are in makes all the difference in how to approach the situation and bring an end to it. This knowledge would need not only to impact us, as it did in Richard Wright's story, but also our community as a whole. This shortcoming sets up an uneven playing field slides African Americans at the bottom of the sea-saw causing many to say that black people can't do anything, as my friend stated. This understanding, as in Richard's situation would create an idea of survival. One survives in our society by having a high paying job, which would be able to supply us the means of living, unlike in Richard's society one works upward for advancement. What makes the difference between our current day situation and Richard's is the fact that we have the resources in order to make a change and educate ourselves. Guiding him were individuals, who too were just as confused as he on the circumstances he lived in. Blacks must make the conscious decision to open their eyes and see the world for what it truly is. Back then, during these times of discrimination, which was legal, there was no choice but to learn how to survive. As people of color this conscious decision must be made. It is a choice, that truly isn’t a choice (due to laws), but if one wished to provide for their families this decision must be made. Like myself, my friend, and Richard, people will have to start seeing the truth to the situation, but unlike Richard, viable support and guidance can be provided.
In order to fix this ongoing problem dealing with education, or lack of, in terms of African Americans more government funding should be provided. As a public school student I understand the ins and the outs, for the most part, of school funding. Schools provide school lunch and through this they are given money from the government, after parents fill out various forms. As school begins in September faculty hands out these forms and inform us of its importance from the time we are given it. Many students however, who do not eat school lunch do not bother to fill out the forms. This leads to the forging of forms by the school itself, who knows the government does not provide them with enough money and depends on the money gathered from the filled forms. The government does not seem to know how much text books costs for a total of 1,541 students. Additional funding must also be made, for advance placement courses, and honors classes. In my school a class of 30 is perfect, a class filled with 20 students however is far worst, because the school believes that they will not get enough funding to maintain a class of only 20 students or less. With more funding there would be less students in a class, which creates more one on one time for the students and helps them to learn the material. There should also be more free government funded after school programs, which would provide students a place to do their home work along with develop skills they learned in school.
As you can see Mr. President, you’ll be taking a seat in the oval office; however you will be asked to rise up to the many challenges revolving around racial issues. I hope that you will rise to the challenge, although these issues have been going on for a long time, I believe that you have the ability to bring about a change to these current situations reflected in the past.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Final Letter
Dear President of the United States,
Throughout history there have been many economic and racial problems in the United States, and I believe that some actions need to be made immediately to try to solve these problems. As President you should be aware that immigration is a serious dilemma in the United States. Immigration has been here since Christopher Columbus. When Christopher Columbus arrived he didn’t even care about the Native Americans. The Europeans stole their lands because Native Americans were perceived as inferior and weak. This land is the only place where immigrants found freedom to escape economic conflicts and religious persecution. America is supposed to be the land of the free, but throughout history immigrants haven’t been treated equally. Many Americans and immigrants have experienced racist attitudes from other people. For example, slaves brought from Africa during the colonial period were mistreated and enslaved because they were unlike everyone else. During the Civil War, white people weren’t thinking straight and they decided to make themselves superior. In addition, during World War II Japanese Americans were forced into Japanese internment camps because people thought they were dangerous due to their physical appearance. Many Americans believed that the Japanese Americans were plotting with Japan. I believe that putting Japanese Americans into camps was absurd because they were citizens and they had rights too. The old world discriminated against colored people, but the immigrants living in America today want to make changes and want to prevent problems such as racial and social discrimination.
I came to the United States when I was two years old and I was practically raised in America. At a very young age I understood that I was different from other people in this country. My parents didn’t want me to grow up in Mexico because they thought that by migrating to the United States I would have a better education and we would have a better life. My father a very hardworking man came here a year before my mother and I. He wanted to bring us here because there was a better chance of having a good life even if it meant working long hours and earning minimum wage. To them it was worth it because we wouldn’t suffer here. America was the land that supposedly granted peace and liberty. I was raised on a low income and my parents tried to do what was best for me.
When I first went to school I remember my mom telling me to read books and to do my homework before playing with my toys. As a small child she invested in me a sense of self development. She wanted me to learn everything on my own. My mother would occasionally help me but most of the time I would have to complete my assignments alone with no help because she didn’t speak English. There was no one to help me so I did everything on my own.
Being an immigrant is not easy because there are a lot of people that believe immigrants steal American jobs. This is false because the only reason Mexicans come here is to help out their families and provide money. If it wasn’t for immigrants then who would do the dirty jobs? Not rich Americans. Immigration is a source for discrimination because so many people from diverse countries migrate to the United States. There is no reason for Americans to discriminate against immigrants because they only want to escape their economic problems at home or want to give their families better lives. I wasn't fully aware about the immigrant situation and how they were treated until my freshman year of high school. That’s when I started to boil up at racist comments and stereotypes. I remember someone at school telling a mean joke: Why are Mexicans so short? They all live in basement apartments. I know that sometimes people tell racist jokes and think it’s funny because we supposedly live in a post racial society. I find it very offending especially that joke. First of all not all Mexicans are short. I know plenty of tall Mexicans and second, they do not live in basements! I know I don’t and the rest of my family doesn’t either! These types of stereotypical comments linger in my head and I start to wonder if the feelings for my culture come from my heart or if my feelings are made up by my mind.
In the story, Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O’Connor, the quote I could relate to was "True culture is in the mind, the mind," he said, and tapped his head, "the mind." "It's in the heart," she said, and in how you do things and how you do things is because of who you are." Julian believes that true culture comes from the mind. He believes this because at a young age his mother had made mistakes while raising him and she had to sacrifice herself to give him what he needed. By watching his mother struggle to keep up with life he learned to make his own assumptions of culture and race. He disagrees with his mother about African Americans and Whites being together, therefore, he did a lot of reflecting about culture today. His “mental bubble” was the only place he felt safe. His thoughts blocked the racist reality of the world. At the beginning of the story his mother was being racist because she was taught African Americans were inferior and today she believes that they were better off as slaves. Since she was raised with this way of thinking her heart automatically tells her that her race is still superior.
Similarly, I observed that my parents believe their culture comes from their heart because they have been raised in their own country and lived there for so long and just like Julian’s mother they had to sacrifice themselves to give me a better future in America. After a few years living in the United States I believe they started to think more about the American culture. So it was a mixture of both. This is where the mind comes in and they start thinking that they can also be Americans because they became integrated in a new culture.
Although my experience is not entirely about skin color I can still relate this quote to my culture and who I am. I believe that true culture is in both the mind and heart. Your culture tells you who you are, not your appearance. When I was little I was taught to keep following my traditions and it's something that was put in my head. My parents taught me everything I needed to know even though I was also being taught to value the American culture. When I was able to tell the differences between economic status and race I entered my own "mental bubble." I started to think that I was inferior because I was an immigrant and then my "mental bubble" helped me block out all the racist things other people had to say. In my mind I am both Mexican and American. My culture comes from the heart because I am very proud of my heritage. Others try to put us down and make us inferior by using stereotypes and I don't care what other people say because in my heart I find my true feelings for my traditions. My heart tells me I'm Mexican because that's who I truly am. I was born in Mexico and if it wasn't for economic problems and my parents wanting to give me a better life in America I wouldn't be here today. In addition, unlike Julian's mother, my parents don't mind the integration of different cultures. Mixing cultures brings us together and helps us understand each other.
Therefore, I challenge you Mr. President, to prevent the mistreatment of immigrants living in this country. As an immigrant I know that many immigrants are thought to be at the bottom of social class and many Americans say they are stealing other citizen’s jobs. The future President of the United Sates shouldn’t agree to build a wall at the Mexican border because it would only be unfair. If they are going to close the Mexican border to prevent an influx of immigrants from the south, then they might as well block the Canadian border and the East and West coasts. Also, they shouldn’t be deported to their countries because most of the immigrant parents have American children. Mr. president I believe that you should come up with some kind of plan to let immigrants who have been here for more than five years to reside in the United States. Why should they be discriminated against? Just because they look different and have a different culture? Just because they don’t have money and aren’t American? You have the power to stop this injustice. Immigrants come here to raise money to send to their families. They come here to have a better life and to give their children an education but as they try to improve their living they also face racial discrimination. This is a problem because they start to question their identity.
After arriving in America a lot of people become puzzled about their identity and what culture they belong to. Flannery O’Connor addresses this issue in her story, "If you'll never learn where you are," he said, "you can at least learn where I am." If other people can't learn about themselves then they can try asking another person. They should be careful and not infer about where they come from because it can be insulting to people. From my experience, when a person first meets me they think I’m American. Yes, I have light skin and light eyes but that doesn't mean I am from here. I found it offending at first but now I understand that it’s my physical appearance that conveys that thought. People should know not to judge a book by its cover. I know where I stand and where I belong. If a person wants to know about my origin, then they should ask me because I get frustrated when people say I'm white. I am of light complexion but that doesn't mean you automatically know I'm American or Italian or from somewhere else. I believe people should be mindful of what they say and think. A person should get to know another individual before making comments about their race or culture.
Mr. President, I believe that racism can never be nonexistent because we don’t live in a post racial society. Racism will always be present because we live in a country with different cultures. It might not be eliminated because certain people are ignorant and don't understand cultural differences but tension between cultures can be reduced. Everyone looks different but we are all human so no one should be suppressed just because of their traditions or complexion. When a person first looks at me, they would probably think I’m Caucasian because of my appearance. Then they would think I was Hispanic, but they wouldn’t classify me as Mexican. It’s okay to be wrong but you shouldn’t judge a person because he or she is different. Therefore, Mr. President, you must create one or many organizations that would try and bring people of diverse cultures together. These new programs would unite the American citizens just like the United Nations bonds with countries internationally. The key to achieving unity is peace, and it is imperative to bring the country together to prevent an uproar between Americans.
Sincerely,
Leslie Pelaez
Throughout history there have been many economic and racial problems in the United States, and I believe that some actions need to be made immediately to try to solve these problems. As President you should be aware that immigration is a serious dilemma in the United States. Immigration has been here since Christopher Columbus. When Christopher Columbus arrived he didn’t even care about the Native Americans. The Europeans stole their lands because Native Americans were perceived as inferior and weak. This land is the only place where immigrants found freedom to escape economic conflicts and religious persecution. America is supposed to be the land of the free, but throughout history immigrants haven’t been treated equally. Many Americans and immigrants have experienced racist attitudes from other people. For example, slaves brought from Africa during the colonial period were mistreated and enslaved because they were unlike everyone else. During the Civil War, white people weren’t thinking straight and they decided to make themselves superior. In addition, during World War II Japanese Americans were forced into Japanese internment camps because people thought they were dangerous due to their physical appearance. Many Americans believed that the Japanese Americans were plotting with Japan. I believe that putting Japanese Americans into camps was absurd because they were citizens and they had rights too. The old world discriminated against colored people, but the immigrants living in America today want to make changes and want to prevent problems such as racial and social discrimination.
I came to the United States when I was two years old and I was practically raised in America. At a very young age I understood that I was different from other people in this country. My parents didn’t want me to grow up in Mexico because they thought that by migrating to the United States I would have a better education and we would have a better life. My father a very hardworking man came here a year before my mother and I. He wanted to bring us here because there was a better chance of having a good life even if it meant working long hours and earning minimum wage. To them it was worth it because we wouldn’t suffer here. America was the land that supposedly granted peace and liberty. I was raised on a low income and my parents tried to do what was best for me.
When I first went to school I remember my mom telling me to read books and to do my homework before playing with my toys. As a small child she invested in me a sense of self development. She wanted me to learn everything on my own. My mother would occasionally help me but most of the time I would have to complete my assignments alone with no help because she didn’t speak English. There was no one to help me so I did everything on my own.
Being an immigrant is not easy because there are a lot of people that believe immigrants steal American jobs. This is false because the only reason Mexicans come here is to help out their families and provide money. If it wasn’t for immigrants then who would do the dirty jobs? Not rich Americans. Immigration is a source for discrimination because so many people from diverse countries migrate to the United States. There is no reason for Americans to discriminate against immigrants because they only want to escape their economic problems at home or want to give their families better lives. I wasn't fully aware about the immigrant situation and how they were treated until my freshman year of high school. That’s when I started to boil up at racist comments and stereotypes. I remember someone at school telling a mean joke: Why are Mexicans so short? They all live in basement apartments. I know that sometimes people tell racist jokes and think it’s funny because we supposedly live in a post racial society. I find it very offending especially that joke. First of all not all Mexicans are short. I know plenty of tall Mexicans and second, they do not live in basements! I know I don’t and the rest of my family doesn’t either! These types of stereotypical comments linger in my head and I start to wonder if the feelings for my culture come from my heart or if my feelings are made up by my mind.
In the story, Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O’Connor, the quote I could relate to was "True culture is in the mind, the mind," he said, and tapped his head, "the mind." "It's in the heart," she said, and in how you do things and how you do things is because of who you are." Julian believes that true culture comes from the mind. He believes this because at a young age his mother had made mistakes while raising him and she had to sacrifice herself to give him what he needed. By watching his mother struggle to keep up with life he learned to make his own assumptions of culture and race. He disagrees with his mother about African Americans and Whites being together, therefore, he did a lot of reflecting about culture today. His “mental bubble” was the only place he felt safe. His thoughts blocked the racist reality of the world. At the beginning of the story his mother was being racist because she was taught African Americans were inferior and today she believes that they were better off as slaves. Since she was raised with this way of thinking her heart automatically tells her that her race is still superior.
Similarly, I observed that my parents believe their culture comes from their heart because they have been raised in their own country and lived there for so long and just like Julian’s mother they had to sacrifice themselves to give me a better future in America. After a few years living in the United States I believe they started to think more about the American culture. So it was a mixture of both. This is where the mind comes in and they start thinking that they can also be Americans because they became integrated in a new culture.
Although my experience is not entirely about skin color I can still relate this quote to my culture and who I am. I believe that true culture is in both the mind and heart. Your culture tells you who you are, not your appearance. When I was little I was taught to keep following my traditions and it's something that was put in my head. My parents taught me everything I needed to know even though I was also being taught to value the American culture. When I was able to tell the differences between economic status and race I entered my own "mental bubble." I started to think that I was inferior because I was an immigrant and then my "mental bubble" helped me block out all the racist things other people had to say. In my mind I am both Mexican and American. My culture comes from the heart because I am very proud of my heritage. Others try to put us down and make us inferior by using stereotypes and I don't care what other people say because in my heart I find my true feelings for my traditions. My heart tells me I'm Mexican because that's who I truly am. I was born in Mexico and if it wasn't for economic problems and my parents wanting to give me a better life in America I wouldn't be here today. In addition, unlike Julian's mother, my parents don't mind the integration of different cultures. Mixing cultures brings us together and helps us understand each other.
Therefore, I challenge you Mr. President, to prevent the mistreatment of immigrants living in this country. As an immigrant I know that many immigrants are thought to be at the bottom of social class and many Americans say they are stealing other citizen’s jobs. The future President of the United Sates shouldn’t agree to build a wall at the Mexican border because it would only be unfair. If they are going to close the Mexican border to prevent an influx of immigrants from the south, then they might as well block the Canadian border and the East and West coasts. Also, they shouldn’t be deported to their countries because most of the immigrant parents have American children. Mr. president I believe that you should come up with some kind of plan to let immigrants who have been here for more than five years to reside in the United States. Why should they be discriminated against? Just because they look different and have a different culture? Just because they don’t have money and aren’t American? You have the power to stop this injustice. Immigrants come here to raise money to send to their families. They come here to have a better life and to give their children an education but as they try to improve their living they also face racial discrimination. This is a problem because they start to question their identity.
After arriving in America a lot of people become puzzled about their identity and what culture they belong to. Flannery O’Connor addresses this issue in her story, "If you'll never learn where you are," he said, "you can at least learn where I am." If other people can't learn about themselves then they can try asking another person. They should be careful and not infer about where they come from because it can be insulting to people. From my experience, when a person first meets me they think I’m American. Yes, I have light skin and light eyes but that doesn't mean I am from here. I found it offending at first but now I understand that it’s my physical appearance that conveys that thought. People should know not to judge a book by its cover. I know where I stand and where I belong. If a person wants to know about my origin, then they should ask me because I get frustrated when people say I'm white. I am of light complexion but that doesn't mean you automatically know I'm American or Italian or from somewhere else. I believe people should be mindful of what they say and think. A person should get to know another individual before making comments about their race or culture.
Mr. President, I believe that racism can never be nonexistent because we don’t live in a post racial society. Racism will always be present because we live in a country with different cultures. It might not be eliminated because certain people are ignorant and don't understand cultural differences but tension between cultures can be reduced. Everyone looks different but we are all human so no one should be suppressed just because of their traditions or complexion. When a person first looks at me, they would probably think I’m Caucasian because of my appearance. Then they would think I was Hispanic, but they wouldn’t classify me as Mexican. It’s okay to be wrong but you shouldn’t judge a person because he or she is different. Therefore, Mr. President, you must create one or many organizations that would try and bring people of diverse cultures together. These new programs would unite the American citizens just like the United Nations bonds with countries internationally. The key to achieving unity is peace, and it is imperative to bring the country together to prevent an uproar between Americans.
Sincerely,
Leslie Pelaez
Gives us rights or gives us death!
Manuel Paredes
Dear Mr. President
There have been many differences throughout history that have affected the great people of America. These differences have destroyed the fibers that hold society together. By destroying these fundamental fibers we as a society have drifted apart. Only you can stop the demoralization of our great country. By our people being prejudice to each other we have influenced the next generation of our children. They too have absorbed our evil ways. Influencing the teens we are now ruining their futures, corrupting them to an extent that cannot be fixed. Students from my junior high school persecuted us because of the way the school was international and so they thought we were all immigrants. You should stand up for immigrants because just like in the Constitution all men were created equal. Although we have gone through radical changes such as the Civil Rights Movement people still hold grudges against people who have differences. We are in the 21st century for God sakes there should be some changes and fast.
Before the Civil War people from Africa were taken hostage and brought to this country and for what? They were made into slaves with no rights to protect them. Working for their masters they were tortured with grueling manual work that could break anyone’s endurance. Finally few years later they were made free from their horrible masters because of the Civil War. This freedom came with great restrictions, restrictions such as the Jim Crow Law. This is where the differences began to appear. As written on “The Ethics of Living Jim Crow” it showed how African Americans were freed but still had to face the effects of the Jim Crow laws, “Here my Jim Crow education assumed quite a different form. It was no longer brutally cruel, but subtly cruel.” (Wright, 27). Years later after lynching over unworthy causes African Americans gained more rights but also with a cause. Separate but equal was the motive. Now African Americans no longer faced the brutality of the Jim Crow laws but the prejudice that racists had for them. With segregation of cultures powerful figures began to rise from the darkness of the past. Figures such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr began making movements. These movements made a great change for many people of different races. It changed the American history forever. African Americans finally had rights that they deserved. There was no more segregation but more rights were applied to them.
Although it might not be known there is still some kind of cultural conflicts with immigrants. This is still affecting America, prejudice towards immigrants. You might think that this is absurd but it’s not. Just like the people that faced the hardship of segregation this also applies to immigrants. During the Movements of Martin Luther King J.r. and Rosa Parks they were fighting for a cause, a change if you will. A change so that African Americans could have rights. This does not apply towards immigrants now. Right now immigrants are considered as a burden to this country. You know well enough that this is not true but to a lot of people they don’t think the same way as you do. This is why people who care for the rights of immigrants are defending the rights of immigrants. They too are trying to make movements. Movements that can help many immigrants escape that prejudice that they always face. Although the immigrants are being defended there have been no great movements because of intimidation of being persecuted. All they need is support from you and there could be a great difference.
I have witnessed a lot of racism during my life but not personally until I was in middle school. During middle school I went to Ditmas IS62 in Brooklyn. The school was broken up into four different institutes, IMS, LCS, SES and APVA. IMS represented International Middle School, SES represented Studies for Environmental Science, LCS represented the school of Law and Community Service, and APVA represented the school of Academic Performance and Visual Arts. Nobody messed with APVA because of their “talents.” They were considered immaculate. LCS was highly respectable because of their studies of Law. SES was considered as the outlaws of the school because whenever trouble appeared so did the students from SES. IMS was considered as the “goodie two shoes.” There was an only problem. The problem was that IMS was a school just for students who arrived from another country. SES was fast to assume and began to call us immigrants. This is where problems started to arise. The students from IMS were not all immigrants some got offended. This was the start off for the many brawls but what really got to me was that it was cultural differences that separated us.
Just like the times from the Jim Crow era we too were persecuted. During the time I was in IMS we had to use uniform and this is how the students from SES could identify us. In “The Ethics of Living Jim Crow” the kid had to get back to his house because of the attacks that the white kids made on him “Having no fortifications we retreated to the brick pillars of our homes. During the retreat a broken milk bottle caught me behind the ear, opening deep gash which bled profusely.” (10) The same way he was chased we too were chased by the SES students. Just because they thought that we were immigrants they attacked us. As you can see society has been too corrupted up to a level that they hold hate and racism towards immigrants.
As you can see under some people eyes people were not created equal. Just because people come from different countries doesn’t make them any lesser than anyone else. It actually makes them a person of valor because the way they had to leave their culture behind and had to pick up a new one. They should be given equal rights that would protect them from ICE. Green cards should be given to all immigrants this will give them a right to live in this country legally and not be considered as “illegal aliens.” One last thing that you should do for them is give them support in anything they need. At times immigrants are considered as people who are considered as the unknown. I am appalled at this. After taking jobs that no other person might take this country still treats them as garbage. By giving them more rights you are opening their doors, doors that they seek. Although people think that immigrants do not contribute to their society they do. They pay taxes, respect the law, and most of all they break their backs under the searing sun, doing manual labor with a low wage. Nobody, nobody should be discriminated like this. Just imagine all of us living in harmony. This would stop the persecution, this would stop any hate crimes, and most importantly this would bring peace. Mr. President violent deaths have occurred from the hate crimes that people have done on immigrants. We’re not living during those times that racist people killed others just by the way they looked but it sure feels like it. Immigrants actually fear walking on some parts of a town or city because of that feeling of being persecuted. Why should immigrants walk with fear if we are the country of liberty and freedom? It all lies on your hands Mr. President.
Dear Mr. President
There have been many differences throughout history that have affected the great people of America. These differences have destroyed the fibers that hold society together. By destroying these fundamental fibers we as a society have drifted apart. Only you can stop the demoralization of our great country. By our people being prejudice to each other we have influenced the next generation of our children. They too have absorbed our evil ways. Influencing the teens we are now ruining their futures, corrupting them to an extent that cannot be fixed. Students from my junior high school persecuted us because of the way the school was international and so they thought we were all immigrants. You should stand up for immigrants because just like in the Constitution all men were created equal. Although we have gone through radical changes such as the Civil Rights Movement people still hold grudges against people who have differences. We are in the 21st century for God sakes there should be some changes and fast.
Before the Civil War people from Africa were taken hostage and brought to this country and for what? They were made into slaves with no rights to protect them. Working for their masters they were tortured with grueling manual work that could break anyone’s endurance. Finally few years later they were made free from their horrible masters because of the Civil War. This freedom came with great restrictions, restrictions such as the Jim Crow Law. This is where the differences began to appear. As written on “The Ethics of Living Jim Crow” it showed how African Americans were freed but still had to face the effects of the Jim Crow laws, “Here my Jim Crow education assumed quite a different form. It was no longer brutally cruel, but subtly cruel.” (Wright, 27). Years later after lynching over unworthy causes African Americans gained more rights but also with a cause. Separate but equal was the motive. Now African Americans no longer faced the brutality of the Jim Crow laws but the prejudice that racists had for them. With segregation of cultures powerful figures began to rise from the darkness of the past. Figures such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr began making movements. These movements made a great change for many people of different races. It changed the American history forever. African Americans finally had rights that they deserved. There was no more segregation but more rights were applied to them.
Although it might not be known there is still some kind of cultural conflicts with immigrants. This is still affecting America, prejudice towards immigrants. You might think that this is absurd but it’s not. Just like the people that faced the hardship of segregation this also applies to immigrants. During the Movements of Martin Luther King J.r. and Rosa Parks they were fighting for a cause, a change if you will. A change so that African Americans could have rights. This does not apply towards immigrants now. Right now immigrants are considered as a burden to this country. You know well enough that this is not true but to a lot of people they don’t think the same way as you do. This is why people who care for the rights of immigrants are defending the rights of immigrants. They too are trying to make movements. Movements that can help many immigrants escape that prejudice that they always face. Although the immigrants are being defended there have been no great movements because of intimidation of being persecuted. All they need is support from you and there could be a great difference.
I have witnessed a lot of racism during my life but not personally until I was in middle school. During middle school I went to Ditmas IS62 in Brooklyn. The school was broken up into four different institutes, IMS, LCS, SES and APVA. IMS represented International Middle School, SES represented Studies for Environmental Science, LCS represented the school of Law and Community Service, and APVA represented the school of Academic Performance and Visual Arts. Nobody messed with APVA because of their “talents.” They were considered immaculate. LCS was highly respectable because of their studies of Law. SES was considered as the outlaws of the school because whenever trouble appeared so did the students from SES. IMS was considered as the “goodie two shoes.” There was an only problem. The problem was that IMS was a school just for students who arrived from another country. SES was fast to assume and began to call us immigrants. This is where problems started to arise. The students from IMS were not all immigrants some got offended. This was the start off for the many brawls but what really got to me was that it was cultural differences that separated us.
Just like the times from the Jim Crow era we too were persecuted. During the time I was in IMS we had to use uniform and this is how the students from SES could identify us. In “The Ethics of Living Jim Crow” the kid had to get back to his house because of the attacks that the white kids made on him “Having no fortifications we retreated to the brick pillars of our homes. During the retreat a broken milk bottle caught me behind the ear, opening deep gash which bled profusely.” (10) The same way he was chased we too were chased by the SES students. Just because they thought that we were immigrants they attacked us. As you can see society has been too corrupted up to a level that they hold hate and racism towards immigrants.
As you can see under some people eyes people were not created equal. Just because people come from different countries doesn’t make them any lesser than anyone else. It actually makes them a person of valor because the way they had to leave their culture behind and had to pick up a new one. They should be given equal rights that would protect them from ICE. Green cards should be given to all immigrants this will give them a right to live in this country legally and not be considered as “illegal aliens.” One last thing that you should do for them is give them support in anything they need. At times immigrants are considered as people who are considered as the unknown. I am appalled at this. After taking jobs that no other person might take this country still treats them as garbage. By giving them more rights you are opening their doors, doors that they seek. Although people think that immigrants do not contribute to their society they do. They pay taxes, respect the law, and most of all they break their backs under the searing sun, doing manual labor with a low wage. Nobody, nobody should be discriminated like this. Just imagine all of us living in harmony. This would stop the persecution, this would stop any hate crimes, and most importantly this would bring peace. Mr. President violent deaths have occurred from the hate crimes that people have done on immigrants. We’re not living during those times that racist people killed others just by the way they looked but it sure feels like it. Immigrants actually fear walking on some parts of a town or city because of that feeling of being persecuted. Why should immigrants walk with fear if we are the country of liberty and freedom? It all lies on your hands Mr. President.
Love Hate or Maybe Just War (Final)
Ray Rodriguez
Blog: Love Hate or maybe just war
Dear Mr. Barrack Obama
Mr. President Obama I was aware of the problem in my neighborhood when I saw a group of kids run from one side to the other and I was stuck in the middle trying to cross the street. I ran behind a door from a restaurant worried I was going to get clobbered by the enraged kids coming out from school.
Oh no, not another gang fight! I say in a mumble.
As I moved back, a bottle whizzed over my head, I quickly ducked as it hit the floor, but then another was thrown hitting the side of the building next to the restaurant. I was considered one of them; a cold heated platano even though I wasn’t a part of their problem or gangs. The Dominican gang Trinitarios was next to the bridge on South fourth and Havemeyer Street a block away from my house, my only destination after school. Yells of “Patria” was all I heard the gang slur of the Trini’s and on the other side of the bridge was the infamous P.B.G. (Pretty Boy Goons) which is mostly consisted of Puerto Ricans. The hate started all because of territory and pride of my beloved Southside in Williamsburg Brooklyn, New York. Cars passing by are getting empty Snapple bottles found in trash cans crushed on the side of the cars glass all over the floor. They eventually get closer as they start to hit each other with bats and other weapons. A siren is heard approaching and the children scurry like roaches caught in the light. As they leave to their sides of the bridge, I can safely cross the street and run home before they come back for more. I felt relief when I got home but my mom was worried
Are you okay? She says.
Yes I quickly say.
As the good student I am, I quickly started my homework. This is how I experienced the troubles of this gang violence in my community by watching it just so I can pass through in order to get home.
I ask you to please visit my neighborhood. Mr. President, the children in my neighborhood drain the amount of respect it gets every day. Why, because gangs are starting to appear recently as well as white people in the Northside of Williamsburg Brooklyn. The whites are showing fear and animosity towards the people they just view as Latinos. The incoming whites, who are moving into this community, have never been around many feral children who fight almost every day due to gang violence. Dominicans and Puerto Ricans fight over differences which develop into bigger dichotomies of race and ethnicities. Stated in The Ethics of Living Jim Crow, “I never fully realized the ... environment till one day the gang to which I belonged found itself engaged in a war with the white boys who lived beyond the tracks” (Wright X), shows the relationship in my neighborhood but there are no tracks instead there is a bridge. Also “they replied with a steady bombardment of broken bottles” (Wright X) as they did in my neighborhood. The Sky is Grey by Ernest J. Gaines “We should question and question and question—question everything” (The college student 95). They eventually do question why do they hate each other but the pain does not help and makes them seek revenge toward one another.
By visiting my neighborhood, children will be aware they are affecting their own neighborhood, endangering the lives of many, and limiting the amount of recourses they receive in schools. Many actions like fighting cause consequences to many. Recently the life of a Dominican male Lil Rich was cut short at the age of 21 or 22 and injuries have increased creating an increase of the white man’s fear, murders, and the limiting of resources they will receive for their much needed education. In the Brown v. Board of Education, the schools for Black students were not receiving the fair amount of recourses like the children in my community, while the whites get the better and myriad amount of resources in their schools. The fact we are not being noticed as a community in need of knowledge and resources the amount of recourses given is not enough to aid the enduring stay of children in school causing drop-out rates to increase every year because the school cannot afford to pay for programs and items to help children learn. So please visit my neighborhood, the example you set does have an effect in the inspirations of the children’s lives. You are our image of example and as an image you wouldn’t want to set a bad example but embody and give a good memory to the students of my community. Help us regain respect and dignity in order to be competitors as a good well-rounded community. Struggles are constant and they will cause confusions and need for retaliation that is why children look for the only way out which is not school but gangs and the life of a thug or a criminal in order to become someone in their eyes. Let’s defeat the dichotomy of Dominicans and Puerto Ricans in order to create a better Southside in Brooklyn, New York.
Thank you for your time and I hope you do think of accepting the plead I offer. The future and success of this neighborhood depends on your visit and your words to improve the lives and thoughts of many kids who are sick of mind and need knowledge.
Sincerely,
Ray Rodriguez
Blog: Love Hate or maybe just war
Dear Mr. Barrack Obama
Mr. President Obama I was aware of the problem in my neighborhood when I saw a group of kids run from one side to the other and I was stuck in the middle trying to cross the street. I ran behind a door from a restaurant worried I was going to get clobbered by the enraged kids coming out from school.
Oh no, not another gang fight! I say in a mumble.
As I moved back, a bottle whizzed over my head, I quickly ducked as it hit the floor, but then another was thrown hitting the side of the building next to the restaurant. I was considered one of them; a cold heated platano even though I wasn’t a part of their problem or gangs. The Dominican gang Trinitarios was next to the bridge on South fourth and Havemeyer Street a block away from my house, my only destination after school. Yells of “Patria” was all I heard the gang slur of the Trini’s and on the other side of the bridge was the infamous P.B.G. (Pretty Boy Goons) which is mostly consisted of Puerto Ricans. The hate started all because of territory and pride of my beloved Southside in Williamsburg Brooklyn, New York. Cars passing by are getting empty Snapple bottles found in trash cans crushed on the side of the cars glass all over the floor. They eventually get closer as they start to hit each other with bats and other weapons. A siren is heard approaching and the children scurry like roaches caught in the light. As they leave to their sides of the bridge, I can safely cross the street and run home before they come back for more. I felt relief when I got home but my mom was worried
Are you okay? She says.
Yes I quickly say.
As the good student I am, I quickly started my homework. This is how I experienced the troubles of this gang violence in my community by watching it just so I can pass through in order to get home.
I ask you to please visit my neighborhood. Mr. President, the children in my neighborhood drain the amount of respect it gets every day. Why, because gangs are starting to appear recently as well as white people in the Northside of Williamsburg Brooklyn. The whites are showing fear and animosity towards the people they just view as Latinos. The incoming whites, who are moving into this community, have never been around many feral children who fight almost every day due to gang violence. Dominicans and Puerto Ricans fight over differences which develop into bigger dichotomies of race and ethnicities. Stated in The Ethics of Living Jim Crow, “I never fully realized the ... environment till one day the gang to which I belonged found itself engaged in a war with the white boys who lived beyond the tracks” (Wright X), shows the relationship in my neighborhood but there are no tracks instead there is a bridge. Also “they replied with a steady bombardment of broken bottles” (Wright X) as they did in my neighborhood. The Sky is Grey by Ernest J. Gaines “We should question and question and question—question everything” (The college student 95). They eventually do question why do they hate each other but the pain does not help and makes them seek revenge toward one another.
By visiting my neighborhood, children will be aware they are affecting their own neighborhood, endangering the lives of many, and limiting the amount of recourses they receive in schools. Many actions like fighting cause consequences to many. Recently the life of a Dominican male Lil Rich was cut short at the age of 21 or 22 and injuries have increased creating an increase of the white man’s fear, murders, and the limiting of resources they will receive for their much needed education. In the Brown v. Board of Education, the schools for Black students were not receiving the fair amount of recourses like the children in my community, while the whites get the better and myriad amount of resources in their schools. The fact we are not being noticed as a community in need of knowledge and resources the amount of recourses given is not enough to aid the enduring stay of children in school causing drop-out rates to increase every year because the school cannot afford to pay for programs and items to help children learn. So please visit my neighborhood, the example you set does have an effect in the inspirations of the children’s lives. You are our image of example and as an image you wouldn’t want to set a bad example but embody and give a good memory to the students of my community. Help us regain respect and dignity in order to be competitors as a good well-rounded community. Struggles are constant and they will cause confusions and need for retaliation that is why children look for the only way out which is not school but gangs and the life of a thug or a criminal in order to become someone in their eyes. Let’s defeat the dichotomy of Dominicans and Puerto Ricans in order to create a better Southside in Brooklyn, New York.
Thank you for your time and I hope you do think of accepting the plead I offer. The future and success of this neighborhood depends on your visit and your words to improve the lives and thoughts of many kids who are sick of mind and need knowledge.
Sincerely,
Ray Rodriguez
final dear president
Dear Mr. President,
There are things that I feel you should know and take actions toward while you’re in office. The arts are a major part of our country and what America stands for. New York City is a very well known place that is involved with the arts. Even though we have come a long way since our days of segregation, not till a little while ago did the tension ease. There is a need for the inclusion of different cultural stories on Broadway. I’ll give you examples of my own life to help you see the grown we have made as a nation and the things you still should work on or help society work on so we can get closer to the utopian society we wish to live in.
Growing up I was always a fan of musicals. I had never seen one live but I had heard most of the soundtracks and I had seen musicals that were portrayed as movies. As a young Latina girl many of the people in my culture did not understand why I enjoyed listening to English “White folk music” than Spanish music like them. They would tell me “You have never even seen these shows; they are to high class for your kind. You can’t afford those shows for a reason.” I never saw myself more any different than the theater goers, I knew that it was not affordable for me but I still loved it and could not wait to break out in it. I did not see the need for people to go to the shows all dressed up; after all you were to be there to be entertained not a distraction. I hated how all those around me thought that Broadway shows were for only the white and the rich. I did not believe it was for whites or the rich, I thought that it was possible if you saved for it. What I hated the most was that they wanted to push this idea on me that would not stick. I also wanted to change how Hispanic roles were played by Italians and not Hispanic talent. Our present time has come a long way from when I was younger. Broadway is no longer considered for the rich, it is open to a very large audience. The shows are still pricy but many people are able to afford it. Many people do not dress up; many go in regular clothing, like jeans. I personally have been able to watch many shows. Hispanics seem to be very welcome on Broadway since the musical “In the Heights” opened and is based of Hispanics and has many Hispanic performers on it. This progress is very beneficial to me, because I can now prove to all the people who said that Broadway was the impossible that it is truly not. I see a clearer path for myself to enter that realm.
I have had peers around me not understand why I was into Broadway shows because they believe it was not in my culture. In “The Eyes on the prize, Civil Rights Reader” young girls were examined on their opinions of what dolls represent. Many of the girls preferred to play with the white dolls because they had a presumption of white people being nicer than dark dolls. The girls were not comfortable with their culture being perceived as the good one because all around them white was what was good. In my story there were people who did not agree with me being into Broadway shows. They believed it was not part of my culture. The stories tie in because both groups of people had not assimilated to the thought that their culture can be just as great and can fit in at the same ranking as other cultures. I believe they thought this because they had not seen or heard of a Hispanic succeeding in the field. They were scared of the reaction it would have in our society. In “The sky is Gray” a young boy is threatened in his workplace and is told to remain in his place. In his time period African Americans were not to progress. Progression meant that they wanted to gain knowledge and this was a threat to many White people, something they refused to permit. In my story even though it is a different and more accepting time period , my peers did not want me to deal with a world that was not used to Hispanics in it. They wanted me to progress but did not see why I would even attempt. I am grateful of the time period I am living in because I am allowed to progress. I can break barriers and not be afraid of what others think of me because I am able to break all the barriers I need to and can leave my trails for others to learn from. Back then Hispanics were not welcomed on Broadway. Hispanic roles would be played by other Caucasian actors and they would feed off energy through stereotypes. Nowadays Hispanics are welcomed and they can take the character to the place or position where it should be because they are of the background. We are now able to do what we want. The groups that were once considered minorities are now allowed to shine on their own. The time periods has definitely affected Broadway which has affected me. Things will always be changing and Broadway will assimilate. If we want things to assimilate to our needs we must be the ones making the change in our time period.
I truly believe that it is the people of the country that set the trends and cause things to occur. Mr. President I see you as one of those influential people among our society. If the leader of our country encourages diversity in anything, people are most likely to assimilate and put it into practice. Mr. President you have the power of the voice. You can maybe request for diverse shows and be involved with the entertainment. Imagine what impression it would have on people for a president to attend and recommend a diverse show. Our present time is evolving. Broadway is slowly accepting all the diverse talent. Because unlike what people of my culture believed people are as talented as the white and high class. In this present time I would like you to help change the perspective of the majority of people that live in our society, all races that are not white. A few only see the beauty of Broadway because only a few believe in it. The only way we can be represented on Broadway is if we are involved in it and make a mark for ourselves. By influencing those among us that are non-believers you can be helping establish the future and where minorities stand in the entertainment of Broadway. People like me would thank you so much Mr. President because it can change people’s perspectives on whether minorities like Latinos are the ones taking over direction or are the leads on Broadway. Today there is only one Hispanic concentrated Broadway show written by a Hispanic, “In the Heights" by Lin-Manuel Miranda. He has inspired many Hispanics like me to pursue their dream on Broadway whether it’s performing, directing or backstage. I know that with your position, in our tomorrow we can have many minorities besides Hispanics taking charge on Broadway. You can help transform one of America’s biggest entertainment into a multiracial movement and entertainment for all since its entertainment for all and no longer whites. Whites are no longer superior in population; minorities can be as successful as them. I believe we have come a long way but the road continues and there are still glasses needed to be broken. By changing Broadway and people’s perspectives, our society can unite and all enjoy entertainment in peace.
Sincerely,
Nikaury Roman
There are things that I feel you should know and take actions toward while you’re in office. The arts are a major part of our country and what America stands for. New York City is a very well known place that is involved with the arts. Even though we have come a long way since our days of segregation, not till a little while ago did the tension ease. There is a need for the inclusion of different cultural stories on Broadway. I’ll give you examples of my own life to help you see the grown we have made as a nation and the things you still should work on or help society work on so we can get closer to the utopian society we wish to live in.
Growing up I was always a fan of musicals. I had never seen one live but I had heard most of the soundtracks and I had seen musicals that were portrayed as movies. As a young Latina girl many of the people in my culture did not understand why I enjoyed listening to English “White folk music” than Spanish music like them. They would tell me “You have never even seen these shows; they are to high class for your kind. You can’t afford those shows for a reason.” I never saw myself more any different than the theater goers, I knew that it was not affordable for me but I still loved it and could not wait to break out in it. I did not see the need for people to go to the shows all dressed up; after all you were to be there to be entertained not a distraction. I hated how all those around me thought that Broadway shows were for only the white and the rich. I did not believe it was for whites or the rich, I thought that it was possible if you saved for it. What I hated the most was that they wanted to push this idea on me that would not stick. I also wanted to change how Hispanic roles were played by Italians and not Hispanic talent. Our present time has come a long way from when I was younger. Broadway is no longer considered for the rich, it is open to a very large audience. The shows are still pricy but many people are able to afford it. Many people do not dress up; many go in regular clothing, like jeans. I personally have been able to watch many shows. Hispanics seem to be very welcome on Broadway since the musical “In the Heights” opened and is based of Hispanics and has many Hispanic performers on it. This progress is very beneficial to me, because I can now prove to all the people who said that Broadway was the impossible that it is truly not. I see a clearer path for myself to enter that realm.
I have had peers around me not understand why I was into Broadway shows because they believe it was not in my culture. In “The Eyes on the prize, Civil Rights Reader” young girls were examined on their opinions of what dolls represent. Many of the girls preferred to play with the white dolls because they had a presumption of white people being nicer than dark dolls. The girls were not comfortable with their culture being perceived as the good one because all around them white was what was good. In my story there were people who did not agree with me being into Broadway shows. They believed it was not part of my culture. The stories tie in because both groups of people had not assimilated to the thought that their culture can be just as great and can fit in at the same ranking as other cultures. I believe they thought this because they had not seen or heard of a Hispanic succeeding in the field. They were scared of the reaction it would have in our society. In “The sky is Gray” a young boy is threatened in his workplace and is told to remain in his place. In his time period African Americans were not to progress. Progression meant that they wanted to gain knowledge and this was a threat to many White people, something they refused to permit. In my story even though it is a different and more accepting time period , my peers did not want me to deal with a world that was not used to Hispanics in it. They wanted me to progress but did not see why I would even attempt. I am grateful of the time period I am living in because I am allowed to progress. I can break barriers and not be afraid of what others think of me because I am able to break all the barriers I need to and can leave my trails for others to learn from. Back then Hispanics were not welcomed on Broadway. Hispanic roles would be played by other Caucasian actors and they would feed off energy through stereotypes. Nowadays Hispanics are welcomed and they can take the character to the place or position where it should be because they are of the background. We are now able to do what we want. The groups that were once considered minorities are now allowed to shine on their own. The time periods has definitely affected Broadway which has affected me. Things will always be changing and Broadway will assimilate. If we want things to assimilate to our needs we must be the ones making the change in our time period.
I truly believe that it is the people of the country that set the trends and cause things to occur. Mr. President I see you as one of those influential people among our society. If the leader of our country encourages diversity in anything, people are most likely to assimilate and put it into practice. Mr. President you have the power of the voice. You can maybe request for diverse shows and be involved with the entertainment. Imagine what impression it would have on people for a president to attend and recommend a diverse show. Our present time is evolving. Broadway is slowly accepting all the diverse talent. Because unlike what people of my culture believed people are as talented as the white and high class. In this present time I would like you to help change the perspective of the majority of people that live in our society, all races that are not white. A few only see the beauty of Broadway because only a few believe in it. The only way we can be represented on Broadway is if we are involved in it and make a mark for ourselves. By influencing those among us that are non-believers you can be helping establish the future and where minorities stand in the entertainment of Broadway. People like me would thank you so much Mr. President because it can change people’s perspectives on whether minorities like Latinos are the ones taking over direction or are the leads on Broadway. Today there is only one Hispanic concentrated Broadway show written by a Hispanic, “In the Heights" by Lin-Manuel Miranda. He has inspired many Hispanics like me to pursue their dream on Broadway whether it’s performing, directing or backstage. I know that with your position, in our tomorrow we can have many minorities besides Hispanics taking charge on Broadway. You can help transform one of America’s biggest entertainment into a multiracial movement and entertainment for all since its entertainment for all and no longer whites. Whites are no longer superior in population; minorities can be as successful as them. I believe we have come a long way but the road continues and there are still glasses needed to be broken. By changing Broadway and people’s perspectives, our society can unite and all enjoy entertainment in peace.
Sincerely,
Nikaury Roman
Animosity is around us (final)
Dear Mr.President,
I come as a voter, a citizen, and as a friend to congratulate you upon your success. Presidency is not an easy job or position to handle, but it sure does bring satisfaction. Seeing a large crowd appreciate your works is its own reward. The Mr. President I have also sent you this letter to advise you that there is great work to be done. Of course you already know this. Among the most obvious problems that this Nation faces is---animosity or for a better term hatred between other people.
One might say that society today is at its zenith. I tell you otherwise, because it can be different and better and thus more comfortable to its people. The states of the United States are not as they seem to be; they are not as they should be because animosity has not been extinguished since it first started, perhaps when the first Europeans arrived here. Animosity may not be expressed physically, but a few words can hit one harder than a bullet hits its target. For this reason change is needed. Countless times I have heard the words: Mexican, black, nigger, cocolo, and many other slang words that are used to define one by simply race, color and not as an individual person. Animosity is the big issue that also prevents equality in some sense. One that demonstrates animosity and hate for one race might not show it for another, thus violating equality. Furthermore, the lack of equality will prevent or stop any community in the process of becoming a true community. A true community is a community in which neighborly love exist. What is neighborly love? It is the essence that joins two or more races or types of people together.
Animosity does not stop there. In its most powerful form it can consume a crowd and create mass protests, murder and other malevolent actions. In its weaker form it can disturb a whole town. Animosity can set a society apart and prevent them from being the true community that they should be. Hate by color, and race is not the way to go, because it causes inequality. This may also be the reason why prideful people often consider themselves better than the person next to them. This ultimately has been perhaps the biggest reason why groups like the Klu Klux Klan (KKK) ever existed. But it does not stop here. One out of five times that I look to my local park I see the new Klu Klux Klans spreading their terror. The new KKKs are known as the crips, the bloods, and the Latin kings as well as many other minor nationalistic groups. This type of unity is deleterious from my point of view. Never have I seen a group defined by one culture and one intention (terror and power) actually be helpful to uniting and creating inner peace in society. It is hard to believe that one walking through a neighborhood would be received with a malevolent gaze.
This has to be stopped Mr. President. It is hard to believe that one walking through a neighborhood would be received with a malevolent gaze. At night, walking home or another place must be done as quickly as possible and often it requires running. Why running you may ask? Because at sundown these gang members are no longer scared to reveal their faces. With them on the street it is hard to walk with courage around where I live, in Tinton Avenue, Bronx New York. In fact, not too long ago I was walking home with a few friends (thank God) and I was challenged by a group of teens dressed in all black. They called me a “white boy,” but I was not white so they mistakenly confused me because of my color. I apologized and advised them that my friends and I did not want any problems. Truly our lives that night were in their hands, and of course God’s hands. Those trouble makers, as I said, before confronted my friends and I only because I was light skinned. The message here is clear. By using the words “white boy” this gang was looking at me as a color and not as a person. Without a doubt I was not the only person that received this way of treatment from them.
If this continues, there will be more animosity dwelling around us citizens. Mr. President, with all due respect, I believe that to you, this may be totally obscure, for you are always in the presence of body guards. This type of hate will not stop its self and if it is not solved it will continue it’s proliferate routes. Where will it spread might you ask? Well to the same people that voted and might not have voted for you. It will also spread to many young children that are only exposed to the hate that is imminent in their neighborhoods, households, and even in school. Imagine a society where little kids are saying bad words to each other and are calling each other by names like “nigga.” Soon enough the connotation of all those inappropriate ways to call a person will not be considered inappropriate in all the states. Children, teens, and even adults will one day forget what these words truly symbolize. Unfortunately this is already happening as we speak. Though it might be long overdue this situation must be obliterated now.
Solving this may be the most difficult conundrum that man may ever face because not only does it require work, it also requires cooperation. One may argue that it may be late for this to be solved but it is never too late for good. I suggest that the main focus of efforts should be guided to the hearts of hate or in other words---its source. The sources in my opinion are schools and the neighborhood themselves. What should be done to the schools you may ask? The truth must be introduced. It should be declared that calling a person by a racist or racial name is a bad deed and hurts people. This truth must be given by specialized people like affiliate consultants such as Tanya Odom. People like Tanya Odom are really influential when it comes to solving community problems. Consultants like her are trained to listen, understand, and to provide comfort to all in need of it. Then community centers should be introduced, at least one per neighborhood. The consultants traveling to schools are meant to target growing children. The community centers are meant to target older people such as teens and even the elderly as well as adults.
I tell you again Mr. President, the job will be tough but it is possible. You should know considering the fact that you are the President, the leader of the United States. Only when the United States is liberated from the grasp of hatred will communities like yours and mine ever be harmonious and serene.
I come as a voter, a citizen, and as a friend to congratulate you upon your success. Presidency is not an easy job or position to handle, but it sure does bring satisfaction. Seeing a large crowd appreciate your works is its own reward. The Mr. President I have also sent you this letter to advise you that there is great work to be done. Of course you already know this. Among the most obvious problems that this Nation faces is---animosity or for a better term hatred between other people.
One might say that society today is at its zenith. I tell you otherwise, because it can be different and better and thus more comfortable to its people. The states of the United States are not as they seem to be; they are not as they should be because animosity has not been extinguished since it first started, perhaps when the first Europeans arrived here. Animosity may not be expressed physically, but a few words can hit one harder than a bullet hits its target. For this reason change is needed. Countless times I have heard the words: Mexican, black, nigger, cocolo, and many other slang words that are used to define one by simply race, color and not as an individual person. Animosity is the big issue that also prevents equality in some sense. One that demonstrates animosity and hate for one race might not show it for another, thus violating equality. Furthermore, the lack of equality will prevent or stop any community in the process of becoming a true community. A true community is a community in which neighborly love exist. What is neighborly love? It is the essence that joins two or more races or types of people together.
Animosity does not stop there. In its most powerful form it can consume a crowd and create mass protests, murder and other malevolent actions. In its weaker form it can disturb a whole town. Animosity can set a society apart and prevent them from being the true community that they should be. Hate by color, and race is not the way to go, because it causes inequality. This may also be the reason why prideful people often consider themselves better than the person next to them. This ultimately has been perhaps the biggest reason why groups like the Klu Klux Klan (KKK) ever existed. But it does not stop here. One out of five times that I look to my local park I see the new Klu Klux Klans spreading their terror. The new KKKs are known as the crips, the bloods, and the Latin kings as well as many other minor nationalistic groups. This type of unity is deleterious from my point of view. Never have I seen a group defined by one culture and one intention (terror and power) actually be helpful to uniting and creating inner peace in society. It is hard to believe that one walking through a neighborhood would be received with a malevolent gaze.
This has to be stopped Mr. President. It is hard to believe that one walking through a neighborhood would be received with a malevolent gaze. At night, walking home or another place must be done as quickly as possible and often it requires running. Why running you may ask? Because at sundown these gang members are no longer scared to reveal their faces. With them on the street it is hard to walk with courage around where I live, in Tinton Avenue, Bronx New York. In fact, not too long ago I was walking home with a few friends (thank God) and I was challenged by a group of teens dressed in all black. They called me a “white boy,” but I was not white so they mistakenly confused me because of my color. I apologized and advised them that my friends and I did not want any problems. Truly our lives that night were in their hands, and of course God’s hands. Those trouble makers, as I said, before confronted my friends and I only because I was light skinned. The message here is clear. By using the words “white boy” this gang was looking at me as a color and not as a person. Without a doubt I was not the only person that received this way of treatment from them.
If this continues, there will be more animosity dwelling around us citizens. Mr. President, with all due respect, I believe that to you, this may be totally obscure, for you are always in the presence of body guards. This type of hate will not stop its self and if it is not solved it will continue it’s proliferate routes. Where will it spread might you ask? Well to the same people that voted and might not have voted for you. It will also spread to many young children that are only exposed to the hate that is imminent in their neighborhoods, households, and even in school. Imagine a society where little kids are saying bad words to each other and are calling each other by names like “nigga.” Soon enough the connotation of all those inappropriate ways to call a person will not be considered inappropriate in all the states. Children, teens, and even adults will one day forget what these words truly symbolize. Unfortunately this is already happening as we speak. Though it might be long overdue this situation must be obliterated now.
Solving this may be the most difficult conundrum that man may ever face because not only does it require work, it also requires cooperation. One may argue that it may be late for this to be solved but it is never too late for good. I suggest that the main focus of efforts should be guided to the hearts of hate or in other words---its source. The sources in my opinion are schools and the neighborhood themselves. What should be done to the schools you may ask? The truth must be introduced. It should be declared that calling a person by a racist or racial name is a bad deed and hurts people. This truth must be given by specialized people like affiliate consultants such as Tanya Odom. People like Tanya Odom are really influential when it comes to solving community problems. Consultants like her are trained to listen, understand, and to provide comfort to all in need of it. Then community centers should be introduced, at least one per neighborhood. The consultants traveling to schools are meant to target growing children. The community centers are meant to target older people such as teens and even the elderly as well as adults.
I tell you again Mr. President, the job will be tough but it is possible. You should know considering the fact that you are the President, the leader of the United States. Only when the United States is liberated from the grasp of hatred will communities like yours and mine ever be harmonious and serene.
Letter to the future president of the United States
July 31, 2008
Dear Future President of the United States,
The word nigger has been used for centuries to classify black people. They never did anything about it though. If they even acted with hostility towards the white folks who used the word nigger, they would be lynched. They feared death, so they allowed themselves to be called that word. Black people were used as slaves before the Civil War, and after the Civil War, there was segregation between whites and blacks. It is easy to see that hostility comes into play and they hold it all in. Look at the murder of Emmett Till. He was lynched just for whistling at a white woman. Now there is a different story that comes from the murderers. They say that they were not going to kill him until he started boasting about how he had a white girl in Chicago. They said that they did not kill Emmett Till while they were at trial. So, why would we believe that they are telling the truth about Emmett boasting about having a white girl in Chicago? The death of Emmett Till had sparked the Civil Rights movement in throughout the country. Then there was the Brown vs. Education case in 1954. This desegregated schools all around the nation and caused more commotion. It seemed as if they were going to start going with violence with the ongoing tension. Then came Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Montgomery bus boycott brings forth the desegregation of buses. Then his speeches begin to break through the minds of everyone all over the nation. His “I Have a Dream” speech is what brought everyone together or almost everyone. He was killed on April 4th, 1968. These movements sparked the end of desegregation in the United States. The word nigger was used but it was used by people of color and for conflicts.
I don't remember when I really started to become conscious of race or class difference. I think that I really became conscious of race and class difference when my friends and I started calling each other nigger during class. One day, when we were outside on the street, one of my friends called this black person a nigger and let’s just say there were some big complications. The guy grabbed my friend and threw him to a wall. After that, he just started punching him and going on and throwing him on the floor and stomping him out. Let’s just say that we had to take my friend to the hospital and he got many stitches. We found out the meaning of the word and that was when I really became conscious about racial issues. There was a different fight because of race between a black person and a Puerto-Rican. I don't really know the full details about what provoked the fight. All I know was that that fight made me aware of racial differences and conflicts that happen all around the world. I believe that both fights were provoked by the use of racial terms. I try to stay away from racial problems with my friends. It seems that both fights really opened me up to how the world is when it comes to racial problems and so forth. I believe that racial problems from the past will come back to haunt us. Both of these issues involved negative connotation of the word nigger. Even if you try not to get involved, it will come back sooner or later and begin to harm you in either a physical or emotional way.
The situation my friend was in is similar to Richard Wright's ' "The Ethics of Living Jim Crow". My friend was jumped for saying the word nigger on the streets by a bunch of black people. In modern time, after centuries of the word being used, act with such hostility. There is no more segregation, so what is the whole point of acting hostile now? An example of where they didn't do anything when they heard the word would be: "Nigger, don't yuh like it?"(White 26) He couldn't do anything because he was scared he would die. But if you were to look down the streets, you would see them use the word themselves. Now, if they feel such hostility towards somebody using the word, why do they use the word themselves? My friend used the word and got jumped by them, but when they use the word themselves, they're giving each other pounds. So it's mystery of where the hostility comes from. I understand that in the past there was segregation of whites and blacks. In that time period it is very easy to see where the hostility came from and towards whom. The only reason that they could not do anything is because of fear. All this pent up anger keeps them going in and out of hostility problems. These problems are the effects of racism. The stereotypes are still going on and more are getting added to them. Maybe they should have just forgotten about what happened to them with slavery and all that so the stereotypes would have not begun. It seems that each possible road that they could have taken would have had different results. More than likely the stereotypes would have still came. But now it seems as if they have better results for now. The issue between my friend and the people who jumped him is different than what happened in the past. The white people were the ones who used nigger all the time. That is what makes this different; the issues involved two different groups. The issue of the past involved whites and blacks. The situation involving my friend was between blacks and Puerto-Ricans. This means that since the situation of the past since segregation ended, the blacks have been angered. I would have to say that it was the slur meaning of the word. When black people say the word to each other, it is used to determine friends. When the word however, was used by other races than that really angered them because of when white people used it. My friend was using the word as the same meaning that they use it towards their friends. When white people used it, they used it to put down the black people. If the racism was completely conquered and forgotten, then the use of nigger would finally stop.
There are things that we need to fix so we could avoid racial problems in the future. If we really tried, in the next 5-10 years racial problems could be removed. I believe that to end these problems we need to have people with open minds. Really, there has to be respect going all around the world. There shouldn’t be any use of the word or any type of racial word that can hurt someone emotionally or bring back some old scars from the past. There may be some people that may use racial terms even after all these problems. I believe that we should use punishment as a way to get people to stop using any racial terms. Punishment however, is not the only way that we can get people to stop the usage of the words. We can also use education to get people to start using the words. During the Civil Rights movement, there were teach-ins for people who weren’t conscious of the use of the politics. I believe that we can use the teach-ins to stop people from using the word. It should begin with the use of the generations of the past and present at the same time. There may be some people who won’t stop using the words, so that is when it is best to use punishment. It will eventually get rid of all racial digression and create peace for a long time. This will mean that racism will finally be eliminated from the United States. It all depends however on the president of the United States and to see if he/she can do anything to create this peace. I believe that these suggestions will work, but the future president of the United States is the one who is needed to try to get people to uphold these suggestions.
Sincerely,
Quilvio Abreu Jr.
Dear Future President of the United States,
The word nigger has been used for centuries to classify black people. They never did anything about it though. If they even acted with hostility towards the white folks who used the word nigger, they would be lynched. They feared death, so they allowed themselves to be called that word. Black people were used as slaves before the Civil War, and after the Civil War, there was segregation between whites and blacks. It is easy to see that hostility comes into play and they hold it all in. Look at the murder of Emmett Till. He was lynched just for whistling at a white woman. Now there is a different story that comes from the murderers. They say that they were not going to kill him until he started boasting about how he had a white girl in Chicago. They said that they did not kill Emmett Till while they were at trial. So, why would we believe that they are telling the truth about Emmett boasting about having a white girl in Chicago? The death of Emmett Till had sparked the Civil Rights movement in throughout the country. Then there was the Brown vs. Education case in 1954. This desegregated schools all around the nation and caused more commotion. It seemed as if they were going to start going with violence with the ongoing tension. Then came Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Montgomery bus boycott brings forth the desegregation of buses. Then his speeches begin to break through the minds of everyone all over the nation. His “I Have a Dream” speech is what brought everyone together or almost everyone. He was killed on April 4th, 1968. These movements sparked the end of desegregation in the United States. The word nigger was used but it was used by people of color and for conflicts.
I don't remember when I really started to become conscious of race or class difference. I think that I really became conscious of race and class difference when my friends and I started calling each other nigger during class. One day, when we were outside on the street, one of my friends called this black person a nigger and let’s just say there were some big complications. The guy grabbed my friend and threw him to a wall. After that, he just started punching him and going on and throwing him on the floor and stomping him out. Let’s just say that we had to take my friend to the hospital and he got many stitches. We found out the meaning of the word and that was when I really became conscious about racial issues. There was a different fight because of race between a black person and a Puerto-Rican. I don't really know the full details about what provoked the fight. All I know was that that fight made me aware of racial differences and conflicts that happen all around the world. I believe that both fights were provoked by the use of racial terms. I try to stay away from racial problems with my friends. It seems that both fights really opened me up to how the world is when it comes to racial problems and so forth. I believe that racial problems from the past will come back to haunt us. Both of these issues involved negative connotation of the word nigger. Even if you try not to get involved, it will come back sooner or later and begin to harm you in either a physical or emotional way.
The situation my friend was in is similar to Richard Wright's ' "The Ethics of Living Jim Crow". My friend was jumped for saying the word nigger on the streets by a bunch of black people. In modern time, after centuries of the word being used, act with such hostility. There is no more segregation, so what is the whole point of acting hostile now? An example of where they didn't do anything when they heard the word would be: "Nigger, don't yuh like it?"(White 26) He couldn't do anything because he was scared he would die. But if you were to look down the streets, you would see them use the word themselves. Now, if they feel such hostility towards somebody using the word, why do they use the word themselves? My friend used the word and got jumped by them, but when they use the word themselves, they're giving each other pounds. So it's mystery of where the hostility comes from. I understand that in the past there was segregation of whites and blacks. In that time period it is very easy to see where the hostility came from and towards whom. The only reason that they could not do anything is because of fear. All this pent up anger keeps them going in and out of hostility problems. These problems are the effects of racism. The stereotypes are still going on and more are getting added to them. Maybe they should have just forgotten about what happened to them with slavery and all that so the stereotypes would have not begun. It seems that each possible road that they could have taken would have had different results. More than likely the stereotypes would have still came. But now it seems as if they have better results for now. The issue between my friend and the people who jumped him is different than what happened in the past. The white people were the ones who used nigger all the time. That is what makes this different; the issues involved two different groups. The issue of the past involved whites and blacks. The situation involving my friend was between blacks and Puerto-Ricans. This means that since the situation of the past since segregation ended, the blacks have been angered. I would have to say that it was the slur meaning of the word. When black people say the word to each other, it is used to determine friends. When the word however, was used by other races than that really angered them because of when white people used it. My friend was using the word as the same meaning that they use it towards their friends. When white people used it, they used it to put down the black people. If the racism was completely conquered and forgotten, then the use of nigger would finally stop.
There are things that we need to fix so we could avoid racial problems in the future. If we really tried, in the next 5-10 years racial problems could be removed. I believe that to end these problems we need to have people with open minds. Really, there has to be respect going all around the world. There shouldn’t be any use of the word or any type of racial word that can hurt someone emotionally or bring back some old scars from the past. There may be some people that may use racial terms even after all these problems. I believe that we should use punishment as a way to get people to stop using any racial terms. Punishment however, is not the only way that we can get people to stop the usage of the words. We can also use education to get people to start using the words. During the Civil Rights movement, there were teach-ins for people who weren’t conscious of the use of the politics. I believe that we can use the teach-ins to stop people from using the word. It should begin with the use of the generations of the past and present at the same time. There may be some people who won’t stop using the words, so that is when it is best to use punishment. It will eventually get rid of all racial digression and create peace for a long time. This will mean that racism will finally be eliminated from the United States. It all depends however on the president of the United States and to see if he/she can do anything to create this peace. I believe that these suggestions will work, but the future president of the United States is the one who is needed to try to get people to uphold these suggestions.
Sincerely,
Quilvio Abreu Jr.
Mii essay(not finished)
Dear Mr. President,
Our country has been changing in a rate that may be slow for some and speedy for people in our country. There have been things that have defined our country’s policies for others and shown our country in the most grotesque manner. Yet that has not slowed us down for one second and our country has been growing day after day. You, Mr. President may be the light that minorities have been waiting for. This nation has gone through troubling times where our weaknesses have been exploited and shown to the rest of the world. Mr. President, I admire you for being able to have the power to change the U.S.A.’s problems with innovative ideas that have never been tried before. You are the type of person that we have needed for many years; this nation is in your hands and when you listen to these ideas you will most likely be able to solve problems that have plagued our country since the beginning of slavery.
The disturbing times that have been shown before the Civil Rights movement include the time period of the Jim Crow “laws.” Jim Crow “laws” were not really laws, but they were more like customs and taboos that the African Americans of the South had to follow or face consequences that may have been brutal considering to what rule they broke. The case of Emmet Till was a prime example of this and this was due to racial barriers in the South also known as segregation. I have had a water downed experience due to gangs in my neighborhood. The Latino gang and the gang residing in my building were fighting over a girl and I got caught with in the middle because of my skin color. They were screaming derogatory terms in Spanish about African Americans and they only attacked those of African descent who lived in my apartment building. There were a lot of innocent children beaten because of a girl that both gangs thought were pretty.
This experience of mine is also related to the book called Uncle Tom’s Children and the prologue called “The Ethics of The Living Jim Crow.” The story is related to my story concerning of the gang fights because in this story the Jim Crow laws were separating races and consequences were not proportional to the actions of the black person. This is represented in my past when I was attacked by a group of Latinos and the reason for this was my skin color. I was attacked for something that is beyond my power to change and I did not do anything to deserve the physical attack. The attack did not only stop at me, but was carried onto other black children, mainly young boys, the gang that dwelled in my building had never even try to retaliate
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Changes To Come
Dear Mr. President
I want to walk golden streets, with white lilies scattered about. Walk past golden gates and into my own home. I want to peer out at glittering blue seas each morning outside of my bedroom window. To live life without worries and to feel no pain would also be of great significance. I know however that these ideas are merely fantasies. All the pennies in the world could not create this ideal world. So, I bring to you a proposal that is doable. One that has the ability to get us, as a community, closer to a better world. I hope that you, Mr. President, who has taken on such a high commanding role in our society, can lead us closer to this imaginary idea of a utopia, doing so by promoting the acceptance of other religious groups, people of different hues and immigrants who migrate to this great land of freedom, America.
Unity means the gathering of people together. These gatherings however not only bring people closer together physically, but on a deeper, emotional level. This emotional level, allows us to reflect on ourselves as well as one other . All too often in our own world however we find such togetherness in groups consisting of people who look like us, dress like us, and are from the same place we come from. Many wish not to know those outside of the circle. A large circle, with few people within it. Before you question of the importance of approaching this growing problem, please do keep in mind that every day someone commits a hate crime. It is due to this lack of unity there has been an increase of violence against people of different ethnic backgrounds, religions, and those of immigration status. On April 14th, 2008 at 6pm an African American male was walking down the street of Crown Heights when he was ambushed by Jewish boys with pepper sprays, who attacked him with it. Racial attacks, such as this occur frequently in the Crown Heights neighborhood, on both ends of the playing field. If there was more understanding of the differences people have among one another, it is my belief that these violent actions would not occur.
In my own life I have experienced a vast amount of racism, which has brought me physiological pain. At the age of ten I was told by a black man that worked at my middle school that no matter how intelligent I am that because I am an African American woman I would never make anything of myself in the “white man’s world”. After this was said I sat glued to the seat across from his. “What?” I had said and he repeated himself. To be told such a thing at a young age is very detrimental to their state of mind in the future. I could have easily given up all hope of success. Maybe if I was another child who takes such things personally, I would not care about school. These comments are said on a day to today basis and many do take it into context and this hate causes pain.
In order to combat these malevolent acts various workshops in the communities experiencing the most hardships should be established. These workshops would revolve around the idea of tolerance. This outreach to the various communities on their own turf, in their own surroundings, would address the problem in a calm manner. It is in this way that allows us to not point fingers at one another on the basis of who causes the problems. It is in these workshops that trained volunteers will educate those in the community about ways to tolerate others and the methods to avoid confrontations. These workshops should present information, but also include active learning allowing people to participate in a way that would help them to understand the importance of acceptance. The next stage of this process should then be to develop different videos demonstrating the backgrounds behind those of different values. After this process occurs a phase of interaction between the different kinds of people should occur, and if people still feel uncomfortable with those they dislike, further actions of one on one time with staff members should occur. This one on one process, along with advertisement of the issue and the workshop would cost the government a few thousand dollars, however the price of having to find space for dead bodies and employing more police officers is far more for the state to handle.
So, Mr. President I implore you to make a change, to bring us together, which would better our society.
I want to walk golden streets, with white lilies scattered about. Walk past golden gates and into my own home. I want to peer out at glittering blue seas each morning outside of my bedroom window. To live life without worries and to feel no pain would also be of great significance. I know however that these ideas are merely fantasies. All the pennies in the world could not create this ideal world. So, I bring to you a proposal that is doable. One that has the ability to get us, as a community, closer to a better world. I hope that you, Mr. President, who has taken on such a high commanding role in our society, can lead us closer to this imaginary idea of a utopia, doing so by promoting the acceptance of other religious groups, people of different hues and immigrants who migrate to this great land of freedom, America.
Unity means the gathering of people together. These gatherings however not only bring people closer together physically, but on a deeper, emotional level. This emotional level, allows us to reflect on ourselves as well as one other . All too often in our own world however we find such togetherness in groups consisting of people who look like us, dress like us, and are from the same place we come from. Many wish not to know those outside of the circle. A large circle, with few people within it. Before you question of the importance of approaching this growing problem, please do keep in mind that every day someone commits a hate crime. It is due to this lack of unity there has been an increase of violence against people of different ethnic backgrounds, religions, and those of immigration status. On April 14th, 2008 at 6pm an African American male was walking down the street of Crown Heights when he was ambushed by Jewish boys with pepper sprays, who attacked him with it. Racial attacks, such as this occur frequently in the Crown Heights neighborhood, on both ends of the playing field. If there was more understanding of the differences people have among one another, it is my belief that these violent actions would not occur.
In my own life I have experienced a vast amount of racism, which has brought me physiological pain. At the age of ten I was told by a black man that worked at my middle school that no matter how intelligent I am that because I am an African American woman I would never make anything of myself in the “white man’s world”. After this was said I sat glued to the seat across from his. “What?” I had said and he repeated himself. To be told such a thing at a young age is very detrimental to their state of mind in the future. I could have easily given up all hope of success. Maybe if I was another child who takes such things personally, I would not care about school. These comments are said on a day to today basis and many do take it into context and this hate causes pain.
In order to combat these malevolent acts various workshops in the communities experiencing the most hardships should be established. These workshops would revolve around the idea of tolerance. This outreach to the various communities on their own turf, in their own surroundings, would address the problem in a calm manner. It is in this way that allows us to not point fingers at one another on the basis of who causes the problems. It is in these workshops that trained volunteers will educate those in the community about ways to tolerate others and the methods to avoid confrontations. These workshops should present information, but also include active learning allowing people to participate in a way that would help them to understand the importance of acceptance. The next stage of this process should then be to develop different videos demonstrating the backgrounds behind those of different values. After this process occurs a phase of interaction between the different kinds of people should occur, and if people still feel uncomfortable with those they dislike, further actions of one on one time with staff members should occur. This one on one process, along with advertisement of the issue and the workshop would cost the government a few thousand dollars, however the price of having to find space for dead bodies and employing more police officers is far more for the state to handle.
So, Mr. President I implore you to make a change, to bring us together, which would better our society.
You, me will fix things around here
Topic: animosity.
One might say that Society today is at its zenith. I tell you otherwise, because it can be different and more better and thus more comfortable to its people. The States of the United States are not as they seem to be; they are not as they should be because animosity has not been extinguished since it first started perhaps when the first Europeans arrived here. Animosity may not be expressed physically, but a few words can hit one harder than a bullet hits its target. For this reason change is needed. Countless times I have heard the words :Mexican, black, nigger,cocolo, and many other slang words that are used to define one by simply race, color and not as an individual person. Animosity the big issue also prevents equality in some sense. One that demonstrates animosity and hate for one race might not show it for another, and thus violating equality. Furthermore, the lack of equality will prevent or stop any community in the process of a true community. A true community is a community in which neighborly love exist. What is neighborly love? It is the essence that joins two or more races or types of people together.(fix)Animosity does not stop there in its most powerful form it can consume a crowd and create mass protests, murder and other malevolent actions. In its weaker form it can disturb a whole town. Animosity can set a society apart and prevent them from being the true community that they should be. Hate by color, and race is not the way to go, because it causes inequality. This may also be the reason why prideful people often consider themselves better than the person next to them. This ultimately has been perhaps the biggest reason why groups like the crips, bloods, and latin kings exist today. This type of unity is deleterious from my point of view. Never have I seen a group defined by one culture and one intention actually be helpful to uniting and creating inner peace in society. It is hard to believe that one walking through a neighborhood would be received with a malevolent gaze.
Solving this may be the most difficult conundrum that man may ever face because not only does it require work it also requires cooperation. One may argue that it may be late for this to be solved but it is never too late for good.
One might say that Society today is at its zenith. I tell you otherwise, because it can be different and more better and thus more comfortable to its people. The States of the United States are not as they seem to be; they are not as they should be because animosity has not been extinguished since it first started perhaps when the first Europeans arrived here. Animosity may not be expressed physically, but a few words can hit one harder than a bullet hits its target. For this reason change is needed. Countless times I have heard the words :Mexican, black, nigger,cocolo, and many other slang words that are used to define one by simply race, color and not as an individual person. Animosity the big issue also prevents equality in some sense. One that demonstrates animosity and hate for one race might not show it for another, and thus violating equality. Furthermore, the lack of equality will prevent or stop any community in the process of a true community. A true community is a community in which neighborly love exist. What is neighborly love? It is the essence that joins two or more races or types of people together.(fix)Animosity does not stop there in its most powerful form it can consume a crowd and create mass protests, murder and other malevolent actions. In its weaker form it can disturb a whole town. Animosity can set a society apart and prevent them from being the true community that they should be. Hate by color, and race is not the way to go, because it causes inequality. This may also be the reason why prideful people often consider themselves better than the person next to them. This ultimately has been perhaps the biggest reason why groups like the crips, bloods, and latin kings exist today. This type of unity is deleterious from my point of view. Never have I seen a group defined by one culture and one intention actually be helpful to uniting and creating inner peace in society. It is hard to believe that one walking through a neighborhood would be received with a malevolent gaze.
Solving this may be the most difficult conundrum that man may ever face because not only does it require work it also requires cooperation. One may argue that it may be late for this to be solved but it is never too late for good.
(draft) future
I grew up learning the eminent cliché, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” and I can say that on behalf of all the people I know. There is a reason why we have been told that over and over again in our lives. One may never know an individual’s background just by looking at them at a glance. Instead of believing that America is a post-racial society, we should make America a place where there are no more racial slurs present. I do understand that it is present in different areas such as the media, movies, and lyrics written by different artists. Racial slurs are sometimes used as jokes and not taken seriously yet they are a huge controversy due to the fact that they offend many individuals. Racial slurs allow for people to believe that it is okay to insult someone because of their race. I believe you, Mr. Future President, should take strong action into changing the way we view racist insults. This means we should change the way how racial slurs are integrated in movies, songs, television series, videos, stand-up comedies, etc. When one sees a person who is insulted in these areas of media as a joke, it makes people believe that it is funny and that makes people think it is okay to degrade someone’s race. The media plays a huge role in many people’s lives and it is ridiculous how so much is a part of each and every one of us. People begin to believe things once they are repeated over and over again...(schools,education..etc)
Dear Mr President THINGS HAVE TO CHANGE
“Today’s generations are tomorrow’s future leaders.”(Said by???)
In today’s society we have had many misconceptions of people. One of these misconceptions includes racism. It is hard to believe there are many racist people in the world. Even thought the civil war is over. Many people in today’s society live in the past and we need to change that in order to bring people forward and make a change in society. Many people live paranoid because they still live in the past. First, as the future president, I believe you could try to get the people together and have the “Voice of America” which are its citizens contribute ideas to the issues of this world. On your website you state “I’m asking you to believe”. So when Americans begin to believe then I believe we all as a community should start helping people by doing workshops in order to overcome racism and have it reduced. I think that people should inform their children of past events and that they should do more current events during school to upgrade their knowledge on how the world is changing and how people today still treat others inferior to them just because of color. Also people should begin not to judge the poor. Some people have money others don’t. There should be more help for the poor in order to stop these misinterpretations that people get. In addition to that many people should try and stop spreading the accusations on different ethnicities. For example, that Asians are all smart, that African Americans have a small percentage regarding education and that if you go into a certain neighborhood, one might get shot like in the past. Since it is stated that in the United States people have freedom then in cases where in the future are held unaccountable they should be taken out of jail and put on probation. Thus, decreasing the money that Bush put towards prisons and instead put it to schools that need funds. Since we are also equal under the constitution and the 14th amendment people shouldn’t have more rights than others. People should not be winning court cases just because one person has more money than another. In other situations the legal system should be revised because many people are getting hurt and arrested for idiotic reasons like in the past. Since America is all about justice then let there be more justice and allow people to have second trials. I believe that not all human lives should be determined on one case. Many people have innocent loved ones who are being hurt ant that is causing pain and misery. With this people will give you their support because you have helped their children and have made their community better. I believe that people at war should be brought back to their countries because too much money is going into war efforts instead of supporting the country’s future which are children. If they are educated then they can make the society we are in better and we can slowly assimilate people into a non racist world that has true freedom for people, and have the equality that everyone deserves. I am not trying to suggest that America turn communist but the people to have the equality that they have been promised for the past 400 years. Also, we need education to train the leaders of the future like they were trained in the past. I believe that we should also find the root of all the current racism that exists in the world because the majority that is being affected is students of color. In a reenactment of the doll study done originally by Kenneth Clark the children had preference to race. Many children tend to absorb the things that they see and believe that it is okay. To prevent any spread of this the media world should be more censored. The reason is because many of the commercials unintentionally show racist views. For example, Barbie commercials which have the “white Ken and Barbie” while they just recently introduced the color ones. Another suggestion is that schools should be more integrated. Their still exist some schools that still have all black or all white student bodies. Also when in a captive lunch room many people tend to segregate themselves into certain categories. People already have a classification on what is a supposable “nerd”. Students should have more interactions with international students in order to expand the horizons. Who knows someone might be able to use more percent of their brain or even their whole brain. I think that in order to unlock the human mind and repair society from all the consequences of the past we all need to put our heads together and change the world .I believe that the hope for society is to control the media, increase education and decrease the power that the power that the army has. Not everything in the world is resolved with fighting but it can be done with intelligence. One person can have a voice but it takes a crowd to take actions and do something about it.
Mr. President
Dear Mr. President,
“White America will never vote for a black president. It is impossible.” I suggest that the impossible becomes the possible. The United States of America has been inundated by racism since the Civil Rights Movement. Racism was palpable when white Americans legally tortured African- Americans. In modern America racism, lurks as a hidden danger. African–Americans are being degraded financially, psychologically, educationally and medically. Our previous heroes such as Martin Luther King and Malcolm X would be appalled to see this clandestine racism.
African-Americans include 13% of the population for the United States. They only have 1.2% of the nation’s wealth. The average net worth for white Americans is $88,651. The average net worth for African Americans is $5,881(NAACP Advocate). The wealth of the nation should be dispersed in a better manner. One solution to solving this problem is to provide higher wages. This would allow them to survive in a better environment. Another solution to this problem is providing better quality education to African Americans. This would help them understand their finances more effectively. Instead of meddling into the business of other nations we should solve our own problems. Providing higher financial aid towards those who cannot afford it can minimize this educational gap.
Being the daughter of immigrants, my parents knew nothing about college. The only thing they knew is that a college degree can provide me success. They think education is the radical tool for freedom. It is devastating that African Americans fought f0r education in 1954. The Brown versus board of Education case provided equal opportunities for African Americans to educate themselves. However, only 56% of African Americans graduate high school. This means that the remaining 46% do not go on to college to become successful. They follow the path of violence and destruction. According to a study that was done in the University of Texas family background, income and parental education are factors that determine a child’s educational success. If African-Americans were provided resources, such as better schooling at an earlier point of life, they could be successful in the future. Educating more African American family members can provide inspiration for their future generation to do better. It will allow African Americans to decrease the gap towards racism.
“A Girl Like Me” by Kiri Davis depicts how African Americans are being sold into “psychological slavery.” In this documentary, the author does an experiment that instructs several colored children to pick a white or black doll. Almost every single child preferred the white doll over the black one. They label the black doll as scary, dirty and not pretty. Children are innocent and they are usually influenced by their surroundings. The media is portraying African Americans as thugs or poor individuals. This psychologically causes African Americans to become inferior to the white race. Bill Cosby has stated that African Americans tend to reproduce babies but later abandon them. This affects them psychologically because they are deprived of parents. These parents cannot help them differentiate between right and wrong. The black culture usually incorporates physical torture when bringing up their children. This causes African American children to think lowly of themselves. According to the Come on People magazine African Americans tend to end up in foster care. Two thirds of the population becomes jailed or drug addicted. This psychologically enslaves them to the white race. This inferiority travels faintly in society. Governmental aid to underdeveloped communities can increase the positivity among this specific race.
Harvard professor, Roland Fryer, stated that the health of African Americans is slowly deteriorating because of their heritage. Diabetes is a devastating disease that kills approximately 1 million African-Americans every year. One of the major causes of diabetes is obesity. Due to the horrible communities most African-Americans have to live in, they eat more because they are stressed. If the government provided money to improve their community they would not eat as much. HIV Aids is a health crisis for African Americans nowadays. Approximately 49% of the African-American population is diagnosed with the HIV virus. More money should be spent to find the cure for this rising epidemic. Safer sex education should also be implemented to inform adolescents about this disease.
Although racism exists in all ethnicities, the feud between African- Americans and Caucasians is the most evident. Lack of resources has caused one race to dominate over the other economically, educationally, and socially. For instance certain applicants for jobs have been denied because of their race. This increases violence and hatred, which is the key ingredient to more racism. This also lowers the self esteem of many African Americans, which causes them to feel inferior to the white race. Until we end the racism in the United States, other countries will not respect us. If other countries do not respect us, the United States will plummet in every way.
Sincerely,
Mohona Reza
The Future
There are many economic and racial problems in the United States and I believe that some actions need to be made immediately to try to solve these conflicts. One serious conflict in the United States is immigration. Immigration has been here since Christopher Columbus. This land is the only place where people found freedom to escape economic conflicts and religious persecution. America is supposed to be the land of the free and throughout history immigrants haven’t been treated equally. Another conflict is racism. Many Americans and immigrants have experienced racist attitudes from other people. For example, during World War II Japanese Americans were forced into Japanese internment camps because people thought they were dangerous just because they were Japanese. Many Americans believed that they were plotting with their country and that they would be on their side. I believe that putting Japanese Americans into camps was absurd because they were citizens and they had rights too. This can relate to the slaves brought from Africa during the colonial period. It was wrong to enslave them into concentration camps just because they were different from everyone else. During the Civil War people weren’t thinking straight and they decided to make themselves superior because they thought they were better than other races. When Christopher Columbus came he didn’t even care about the Native Americans. The English people stole their lands because they were perceived as inferior. But that was the old world and today the new generation wants to make changes and we want to prevent conflicts between races and economic classes.
I challenge the future President of the Unites States to prevent the mistreatment of immigrants living in this country. As an immigrant I believe that not only Mexicans but all immigrants are thought to be at the bottom of social class and many Americans say they are stealing other citizen’s jobs. The future President of the United Sates shouldn’t agree to build a mural at the Mexican border because it would only be unfair. If they are going to close the Mexican border to prevent an influx of immigrants from the south, then they might as well block the Canadian border and the East and West coast. Also why should they be denied the right to live in this country when most of the immigrant parents have American children. I believe the President should come up with some kind of plan to let immigrants who have been here for more than five years to reside in the United States. Why should they be discriminated? Just because they look different and have a different culture? Just because they don’t have money and aren’t American? They come here to raise money to send to their families. I know my parents didn’t come here to steal jobs. They came here to have a better life and to give me an education. Remember, this is supposed to be the land of liberty.
Racism can never be nonexistent because we don’t live in a post racial society. Racism will always be present because we live in a country with different cultures. It might not be eliminated because certain people are ignorant and don't understand cultural differences but tension between cultures can be reduced. Everyone looks different but we are all human so no one should be suppressed just because of their traditions or complexion. When a person first looks at me they would probably think I’m Caucasian because of my appearance. Then they would think I was Hispanic but they wouldn’t classify me as Mexican. It’s okay to be wrong but you shouldn’t judge a person because he or she is different. Don’t Judge a book by its cover. People can get offended if they are perceived as another race. It is better if organizations were created to try and bring people of diverse cultures together. Unity is very important because it can help the country during hard times, such as war.
I challenge the future President of the Unites States to prevent the mistreatment of immigrants living in this country. As an immigrant I believe that not only Mexicans but all immigrants are thought to be at the bottom of social class and many Americans say they are stealing other citizen’s jobs. The future President of the United Sates shouldn’t agree to build a mural at the Mexican border because it would only be unfair. If they are going to close the Mexican border to prevent an influx of immigrants from the south, then they might as well block the Canadian border and the East and West coast. Also why should they be denied the right to live in this country when most of the immigrant parents have American children. I believe the President should come up with some kind of plan to let immigrants who have been here for more than five years to reside in the United States. Why should they be discriminated? Just because they look different and have a different culture? Just because they don’t have money and aren’t American? They come here to raise money to send to their families. I know my parents didn’t come here to steal jobs. They came here to have a better life and to give me an education. Remember, this is supposed to be the land of liberty.
Racism can never be nonexistent because we don’t live in a post racial society. Racism will always be present because we live in a country with different cultures. It might not be eliminated because certain people are ignorant and don't understand cultural differences but tension between cultures can be reduced. Everyone looks different but we are all human so no one should be suppressed just because of their traditions or complexion. When a person first looks at me they would probably think I’m Caucasian because of my appearance. Then they would think I was Hispanic but they wouldn’t classify me as Mexican. It’s okay to be wrong but you shouldn’t judge a person because he or she is different. Don’t Judge a book by its cover. People can get offended if they are perceived as another race. It is better if organizations were created to try and bring people of diverse cultures together. Unity is very important because it can help the country during hard times, such as war.
the essay
· IN the future I feel that there are some things that need to change.
· Education
The education system is failing to meet its requirements that it has been promised the NEW YORK CITY kids. Every 26 seconds there is a child dropping out of high school due to the lack of the of resources and interest in the work. The education that is being taught in New York City public school does not amount to the work of third world countries and that of private schools. As a student in the New York City public system I face the struggles of trying to be a head in my work and being advanced. While taking an advance placement class I felt that I was doing things that other kids didn’t want but when my friend came from Jamaica he told me that the work I was learning he did that a year ago. Being the top in technology is not the only thing that should be worried about it also should be about the kids because there the generations to come and with education at the way it is now there would be nobody to run the machinery because the wont have the skills that are required. In the schools kids have to share books or can’t do the lesson because the materials are not there. Kids struggle every day to make it and it not to succeed but just to get by because there is no motivation or help from society.
JOBS Discrimination
· Education
The education system is failing to meet its requirements that it has been promised the NEW YORK CITY kids. Every 26 seconds there is a child dropping out of high school due to the lack of the of resources and interest in the work. The education that is being taught in New York City public school does not amount to the work of third world countries and that of private schools. As a student in the New York City public system I face the struggles of trying to be a head in my work and being advanced. While taking an advance placement class I felt that I was doing things that other kids didn’t want but when my friend came from Jamaica he told me that the work I was learning he did that a year ago. Being the top in technology is not the only thing that should be worried about it also should be about the kids because there the generations to come and with education at the way it is now there would be nobody to run the machinery because the wont have the skills that are required. In the schools kids have to share books or can’t do the lesson because the materials are not there. Kids struggle every day to make it and it not to succeed but just to get by because there is no motivation or help from society.
JOBS Discrimination
Dear Mr. President_ From me to you!
Dear Mr. President,
There are things that I feel you should know and take actions toward while you’re in office. The arts are a major part of our country and what America stands for. New York City is a very well known place that is involved with the arts. Even though we have come a long way since our days of segregation, not till a little while ago did the tension ease. I’ll give you examples of my own life to help you see the grown we have made as a nation and the things you still should work on or help society work on so we can get closer to the Utopian society we wish to live in.
Growing up I was always a fan of musicals. I had never seen one live but I had heard most of the soundtracks and I had seen musicals that were portrayed as movies. As a young Latina girl many of the people in my culture did not understand why I enjoyed listening to English “White folk music” than Spanish music like them. They would tell me “You have never even seen these shows; they are to high class for your kind. You can’t afford those shows for a reason.” I never saw myself more any different than the theater goers, I knew that it was not affordable for me but I still loved it and could not wait to break out in it. I did not see the need for people to go to the shows all dressed up; after all you were to be there to be entertained not a distraction. I hated how all those around me thought that Broadway shows were for only the white and the rich. I did not believe it was for whites or the rich, I thought that it was possible if you saved for it. What I hated the most was that they wanted to push this idea on me that would not stick. I also wanted to change how Hispanic roles were played by Italians and not Hispanic talent. Our present time has come a long way from when I was younger. Broadway is no longer considered for the rich, it is open to a very large audience. The shows are still pr icy but many people are able to afford it. Many people do not dress up; many go in regular clothing, like jeans. I personally have been able to watch many shows. Hispanics seem to be very welcome on Broadway since the musical “In The Heights” opened and is based of Hispanics and has many Hispanic performers on it. This progress is very beneficial to me, because I can now prove to all the people who said that Broadway was the impossible that it is truly not. I see a clearer path for myself to enter that realm.
Growing up you tried to place me in your state of mind. You said that Broadway shows were for the rich high class white America. I told you that I disagreed. I believe that is public entertainment for all who wish to witness it. I believe you judged that area of entertainment because you were not exposed to it while growing up. Even though it is not part of the Hispanic culture, it can be. Many Hispanics are now on Broadway and many watch Broadway shows. I would suggest you to attend a Broadway show. I can guarantee that all the judgments you once had or have will go away. Regular people just like you and me attend Broadway shows. Hopefully when you attend you will expose your family members to start a new generation of Hispanic theater goers. Hopefully Broadway shows have an effect ion you just like it has done to me and you will believe what your heart believes when you are seating down watching the show. Believing is a beautiful thing, especially when it comes to believing a friend or family members dream.
I have had peers around me not understand why I was into Broadway shows because they believe it was not in my culture. I believe they thought this because they had not seen or heard of a Hispanic succeeding in the field. They were scared of the reaction it would have in our society. I am grateful of the time period I am living in because I am allowed to progress. I can break barriers and not be afraid of what others think of me because I am able to break all the barriers I need to and can leave my trails for others to learn from. Back then Hispanics were not welcomed on Broadway. Hispanic roles would be played by other Caucasian actors and they would feed off energy through stereotypes. Nowadays Hispanics are welcomed and they can take the character to the place or position where it should be because they are of the background. We are now able to do what we want. The groups that were once considered minorities are now allowed to shine on their own. The time periods has definitely affected Broadway which has affected me. Things will always be changing and Broadway will assimilate. If we want things to assimilate to our needs we must be the ones making the change in our time period.
I truly believe that it is the people of the country that set the trends and cause things to occur. Mr. President I see you as one of those influential people among our society. If the leader of our country encourages diversity in anything, people are most likely to assimilate and put it into practice. Mr. President you have the power of the voice. You can maybe request for diverse shows and be involved with the entertainment. Imagine what impression it would have on people for a president to attend and recommend a diverse show. Our present time is evolving. Broadway is slowly accepting all the diverse talent. Because unlike what people of my culture believed people are as talented as the white and high class. In this present time I would like you to help change the perspective of the majority of people that live in our society, all races that are not white. A few only see the beauty of Broadway because only a few believe in it. The only way we can be represented on Broadway is if we are involved in it and make a mark for ourselves. By influencing those among us that are non-believers you can be helping establish the future and where minorities stand in the entertainment of Broadway. People like me would thank you so much Mr. President because it can change people’s perspectives on whether minorities like Latinos are the ones taking over direction or are the leads on Broadway. Today there is only one Hispanic concentrated Broadway show written by a Hispanic, “In the Heights" by Lin-Manuel Miranda. He has inspired many Hispanics like me to pursue their dream on Broadway whether its performing, directing or backstage. I know that with your position, in our tomorrow we can have many minorities besides Hispanics taking charge on Broadway. You can help transform one of America’s biggest entertainment into a multiracial movement and entertainment for all since its entertainment for all and no longer whites. I believe we have come a long way but the road continues and there are still glasses needed to be broken. By changing Broadway and people’s perspectives, our society can unite and all enjoy entertainment in peace.
There are things that I feel you should know and take actions toward while you’re in office. The arts are a major part of our country and what America stands for. New York City is a very well known place that is involved with the arts. Even though we have come a long way since our days of segregation, not till a little while ago did the tension ease. I’ll give you examples of my own life to help you see the grown we have made as a nation and the things you still should work on or help society work on so we can get closer to the Utopian society we wish to live in.
Growing up I was always a fan of musicals. I had never seen one live but I had heard most of the soundtracks and I had seen musicals that were portrayed as movies. As a young Latina girl many of the people in my culture did not understand why I enjoyed listening to English “White folk music” than Spanish music like them. They would tell me “You have never even seen these shows; they are to high class for your kind. You can’t afford those shows for a reason.” I never saw myself more any different than the theater goers, I knew that it was not affordable for me but I still loved it and could not wait to break out in it. I did not see the need for people to go to the shows all dressed up; after all you were to be there to be entertained not a distraction. I hated how all those around me thought that Broadway shows were for only the white and the rich. I did not believe it was for whites or the rich, I thought that it was possible if you saved for it. What I hated the most was that they wanted to push this idea on me that would not stick. I also wanted to change how Hispanic roles were played by Italians and not Hispanic talent. Our present time has come a long way from when I was younger. Broadway is no longer considered for the rich, it is open to a very large audience. The shows are still pr icy but many people are able to afford it. Many people do not dress up; many go in regular clothing, like jeans. I personally have been able to watch many shows. Hispanics seem to be very welcome on Broadway since the musical “In The Heights” opened and is based of Hispanics and has many Hispanic performers on it. This progress is very beneficial to me, because I can now prove to all the people who said that Broadway was the impossible that it is truly not. I see a clearer path for myself to enter that realm.
Growing up you tried to place me in your state of mind. You said that Broadway shows were for the rich high class white America. I told you that I disagreed. I believe that is public entertainment for all who wish to witness it. I believe you judged that area of entertainment because you were not exposed to it while growing up. Even though it is not part of the Hispanic culture, it can be. Many Hispanics are now on Broadway and many watch Broadway shows. I would suggest you to attend a Broadway show. I can guarantee that all the judgments you once had or have will go away. Regular people just like you and me attend Broadway shows. Hopefully when you attend you will expose your family members to start a new generation of Hispanic theater goers. Hopefully Broadway shows have an effect ion you just like it has done to me and you will believe what your heart believes when you are seating down watching the show. Believing is a beautiful thing, especially when it comes to believing a friend or family members dream.
I have had peers around me not understand why I was into Broadway shows because they believe it was not in my culture. I believe they thought this because they had not seen or heard of a Hispanic succeeding in the field. They were scared of the reaction it would have in our society. I am grateful of the time period I am living in because I am allowed to progress. I can break barriers and not be afraid of what others think of me because I am able to break all the barriers I need to and can leave my trails for others to learn from. Back then Hispanics were not welcomed on Broadway. Hispanic roles would be played by other Caucasian actors and they would feed off energy through stereotypes. Nowadays Hispanics are welcomed and they can take the character to the place or position where it should be because they are of the background. We are now able to do what we want. The groups that were once considered minorities are now allowed to shine on their own. The time periods has definitely affected Broadway which has affected me. Things will always be changing and Broadway will assimilate. If we want things to assimilate to our needs we must be the ones making the change in our time period.
I truly believe that it is the people of the country that set the trends and cause things to occur. Mr. President I see you as one of those influential people among our society. If the leader of our country encourages diversity in anything, people are most likely to assimilate and put it into practice. Mr. President you have the power of the voice. You can maybe request for diverse shows and be involved with the entertainment. Imagine what impression it would have on people for a president to attend and recommend a diverse show. Our present time is evolving. Broadway is slowly accepting all the diverse talent. Because unlike what people of my culture believed people are as talented as the white and high class. In this present time I would like you to help change the perspective of the majority of people that live in our society, all races that are not white. A few only see the beauty of Broadway because only a few believe in it. The only way we can be represented on Broadway is if we are involved in it and make a mark for ourselves. By influencing those among us that are non-believers you can be helping establish the future and where minorities stand in the entertainment of Broadway. People like me would thank you so much Mr. President because it can change people’s perspectives on whether minorities like Latinos are the ones taking over direction or are the leads on Broadway. Today there is only one Hispanic concentrated Broadway show written by a Hispanic, “In the Heights" by Lin-Manuel Miranda. He has inspired many Hispanics like me to pursue their dream on Broadway whether its performing, directing or backstage. I know that with your position, in our tomorrow we can have many minorities besides Hispanics taking charge on Broadway. You can help transform one of America’s biggest entertainment into a multiracial movement and entertainment for all since its entertainment for all and no longer whites. I believe we have come a long way but the road continues and there are still glasses needed to be broken. By changing Broadway and people’s perspectives, our society can unite and all enjoy entertainment in peace.
"Dear Mr. President"
Dear Mr. President"
(feat. Indigo Girls)
Dear Mr. President,
Come take a walk with me.
Let's pretend we're just two people and
You're not better than me.
I'd like to ask you some questions if we can speak honestly.
What do you feel when you see all the homeless on the street?
Who do you pray for at night before you go to sleep?
What do you feel when you look in the mirror?
Are you proud?
How do you sleep while the rest of us cry?
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye?
How do you walk with your head held high?
Can you even look me in the eye
And tell me why?
Dear Mr. President,
Were you a lonely boy?
Are you a lonely boy?
Are you a lonely boy?
How can you say
No child is left behind?
We're not dumb and we're not blind.
They're all sitting in your cells
While you pave the road to hell.
What kind of father would take his own daughter's rights away?
And what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gay?
I can only imagine what the first lady has to say
You've come a long way from whiskey and cocaine.
How do you sleep while the rest of us cry?
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye?
How do you walk with your head held high?
Can you even look me in the eye?
Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Minimum wage with a baby on the way
Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Rebuilding your house after the bombs took them away
Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Building a bed out of a cardboard box
Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
You don't know nothing 'bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
Oh
How do you sleep at night?
How do you walk with your head held high?
Dear Mr. President,
You'd never take a walk with me.
Would you?
(feat. Indigo Girls)
Dear Mr. President,
Come take a walk with me.
Let's pretend we're just two people and
You're not better than me.
I'd like to ask you some questions if we can speak honestly.
What do you feel when you see all the homeless on the street?
Who do you pray for at night before you go to sleep?
What do you feel when you look in the mirror?
Are you proud?
How do you sleep while the rest of us cry?
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye?
How do you walk with your head held high?
Can you even look me in the eye
And tell me why?
Dear Mr. President,
Were you a lonely boy?
Are you a lonely boy?
Are you a lonely boy?
How can you say
No child is left behind?
We're not dumb and we're not blind.
They're all sitting in your cells
While you pave the road to hell.
What kind of father would take his own daughter's rights away?
And what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gay?
I can only imagine what the first lady has to say
You've come a long way from whiskey and cocaine.
How do you sleep while the rest of us cry?
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye?
How do you walk with your head held high?
Can you even look me in the eye?
Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Minimum wage with a baby on the way
Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Rebuilding your house after the bombs took them away
Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Building a bed out of a cardboard box
Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
You don't know nothing 'bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
Oh
How do you sleep at night?
How do you walk with your head held high?
Dear Mr. President,
You'd never take a walk with me.
Would you?
Future
To tell you the truth, there are things that we need to fix so we could avoid racial problems in the future. If we tried, in the next 5-10 years racial problems could be removed. TO find the answer to these problems however, we need to look into the past and modern time. In the past, black people used to be slaves until the Civil War. Then after the Civil War, they treated wrongly and have been called nigger more than often. They were lynched if they conversed with white women. Look at Emmet Till. He was murdered just for whistling at a white woman. Even though his death sparked the civil rights movement, he didn’t deserve to die just for whistling at a white woman. Now in modern time, we have to be careful when we use the word nigger. After the Civil Rights movement, they haven’t been scared to attack the person that uses the word nigger. When actually think about it, they use the word themselves. My friend was jumped just because he used the word around a whole group of black people. I believe that to end these problems we need to have people with open minds. Really, there has to be respect going all around the world. There shouldn’t be any use of the word or any type of racial word that can hurt someone emotionally or bring back some old scars from the past. There may different uses of this, such as using punishment. It will eventually get rid of all racial digression and create a bit of peace for a long time. It all depends however on the president of the United States and to see if he/she can do anything to create this peace. I have given my suggestions, but now it is in the president's hand.
If people dont act change can not occur
If people don’t act change cannot occur Change needs to happen in the educational system where the mind is developed and perspectives are made. I propose that if the schools change they can alter the minds of our youths. However, this is not that simple to accomplish only fifty percent of African Americans graduate from high school in four years and it becomes even harder for those from impoverished families. It is more than obvious that African Americans need resources and they need a reason to want to change and excel in school. Most need a positive role model and an alternative besides jail and fast money. I believe that they either need motivation or to truly be enlightened to the point where they can understand the world and the end which is expected of them. Once they gain this motivation I feel that they will be more inclined to have a desire to work. This is why I believe that firstly change needs to occur within our educational system concerning the youth, for which they are the future.
Secondly change needs to occur in the media, simply because many people are influenced by the colors, luxuries and ideas that seem to hypnotize its viewers. If anything I believe that there need to be more advertisements and television shows that illustrate black people in a positive light. Where all people are created equal not cases in which commercials are flooded with white and a black child is placed to show that they care about the community. I believe that they should promote smaller things such as more black Barbie dolls or more African Americans in television shows portrayed doing the same role if not something much more than white people. The black community needs to believe that they do not need to be white in order to find their utopia or to feel superior they need to find self esteem within themselves.
Thirdly I believe that being black needs to be encouraged as opposed to being belittled. Shows illustrate that being pretty or beautiful in the black community means to become as white as possible. It seems as though especially illustrated by celebrities and toys that having long straight hair, or being close to the color of white makes or defines beauty. This again is psychological, and shapes the mind. These beliefs encourage people to believe that they need to conform in order to be seen as beautiful, however when this is not the case. In reality happiness should not come from conforming but from being an individual and accepting your race for everything that it is and is not.White America is still strong and well and besides the problems facing our society today there are still many more that need to be addressed. Pertaining to the work force, pay, and the ways that black men and women are treated. Oppression currently occurs more in the dark than in the light and I believe that it is worst then it was from during the civil rights movement.
Secondly change needs to occur in the media, simply because many people are influenced by the colors, luxuries and ideas that seem to hypnotize its viewers. If anything I believe that there need to be more advertisements and television shows that illustrate black people in a positive light. Where all people are created equal not cases in which commercials are flooded with white and a black child is placed to show that they care about the community. I believe that they should promote smaller things such as more black Barbie dolls or more African Americans in television shows portrayed doing the same role if not something much more than white people. The black community needs to believe that they do not need to be white in order to find their utopia or to feel superior they need to find self esteem within themselves.
Thirdly I believe that being black needs to be encouraged as opposed to being belittled. Shows illustrate that being pretty or beautiful in the black community means to become as white as possible. It seems as though especially illustrated by celebrities and toys that having long straight hair, or being close to the color of white makes or defines beauty. This again is psychological, and shapes the mind. These beliefs encourage people to believe that they need to conform in order to be seen as beautiful, however when this is not the case. In reality happiness should not come from conforming but from being an individual and accepting your race for everything that it is and is not.White America is still strong and well and besides the problems facing our society today there are still many more that need to be addressed. Pertaining to the work force, pay, and the ways that black men and women are treated. Oppression currently occurs more in the dark than in the light and I believe that it is worst then it was from during the civil rights movement.
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