Pan-Africanism
A philosophy that is based on the belief that African people share common bonds and objectives and that advocates unity to achieve these objectives. In the views of different proponents throughout its history, Pan-Africanism has been conceived in varying ways. It has been applied to all black African people and people of black African descent; to all people on the African continent, including nonblack people; or to all states on the African continent.
Garvey explains the goal of the UNIA. The text of the quote is: “We of the Universal Negro Improvement Association are raising the cry of ‘Africa for the Africans’—those at home and those abroad. There are 400 million Africans in the world who have Negro blood coursing through their veins. And we believe that the time has come to unite these 400 million people for the one common purpose of bettering their condition.”
Modern resistance to colonialism, however, began with the development of a formal Pan-African movement at the dawn of the 20th century. In 1900 Henry Sylvester Williams, a lawyer from the Caribbean island of Trinidad, organized a Pan-African conference in London to give black people the opportunity to discuss issues facing blacks around the world. The conference attracted a small but significant representation of Africans and people of African descent from the Caribbean and the United States, as well as whites from Britain.
Independence
While racial pride and unity played important roles in Garvey's black nationalism, he touted capitalism as the tool that would establish African Americans as an independent group. His message has been called the evangel of black success, for he believed economic success was the quickest and most effective way to independence. Interestingly enough, it was white America that served as a prime example of what blacks could accomplish. "Until you produce what the white man has produced," he claimed, "you will not be his equal."
Nationalism
Marcus Garvey urged Africans "at home and abroad" to be proud of their race, practice a doctrine of "race first" and preached the importance of "African Redemption". To this end he founded the Negro World newspaper to disseminate the UNIA's program, the Black Star Line in 1919 to provide steamship transportation, and the Negro Factories Corporation to encourage black economic independence. Garvey attracted millions of supporters and claimed eleven million members for the UNIA. Garvey set the precedent for subsequent Black nationalist thought including that of Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Nation of Islam and Malcolm X.
Garveyism and the UNIA combined the various elements of black nationalism--religious, cultural, economic, and territorial--into a distinctive blend of philosophy and agenda. Fundamental to this viewpoint was the emotive power of blackness. Garvey was a zealot who advocated self-economic determination and African redemption. Garveyism proclaimed and promoted the coming revitalization of people of color around the world and exalted the power of the black race.
Colonialism
He combined the economic nationalist ideas of Booker T. Washington and Pan-Africanists with the political possibilities and urban style of men and women living outside of plantation and colonial societies. Garvey's ideas gestated amid the social upheavals, anticolonial movements, and revolutions of World War I, which demonstrated the power of popular mobilization to change entrenched structures of power.
In 1914 he started the Universal Negro Improvement Association and began speaking out publicly in favor of worldwide black unity and an end to colonialism.
Colonialism systematically degraded Africans, both slaves and residents of Europe’s African colonies. Slaves labored under cruel and dehumanizing conditions for no pay or extremely low wages. Furthermore, these slaves were scattered in far-flung European colonies, separated from their African homes and relatives.
Independence
While racial pride and unity played important roles in Garvey's black nationalism, he touted capitalism as the tool that would establish African Americans as an independent group. His message has been called the evangel of black success, for he believed economic success was the quickest and most effective way to independence. Interestingly enough, it was white America that served as a prime example of what blacks could accomplish. "Until you produce what the white man has produced," he claimed, "you will not be his equal."
Colonialism
He combined the economic nationalist ideas of Booker T. Washington and Pan-Africanists with the political possibilities and urban style of men and women living outside of plantation and colonial societies. Garvey's ideas gestated amid the social upheavals, anticolonial movements, and revolutions of World War I, which demonstrated the power of popular mobilization to change entrenched structures of power. In 1914 he started the Universal Negro Improvement Association and began speaking out publicly in favor of worldwide black unity and an end to colonialism.
“Now that the statesmen of the various nations are preparing to meet at the Peace Conference, to discuss the future government of the peoples of the world, we take it as our bounden duty to warn them to be very just to all those people who may happen to come under their legislative control. If they, representing the classes, as they once did, were alive to the real feeling of their respective masses four and one-half years ago, today Germany would have been intact, Austria-Hungary would have been intact, Russia would have been intact, the spirit of revolution never would have swept Europe, and mankind at large would have been satisfied. But through graft, greed and selfishness, the classes they represented then, as some of them represent now, were determined to rob and exploit the masses, thinking that the masses would have remained careless of their own condition for everlasting.
It is a truism that you "fool half of the people for half of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people for all of the time;" and now that the masses of the whole world have risen as one man to demand true equity and justice from the 'powers that be', then let the delegates at the Peace Conference realize, just now, that the Negro, who forms an integral part of the masses of the world, is determined to get no less than what other men are to get. The oppressed races of Europe are to get their freedom, which freedom will be guaranteed them. The Asiatic races are to get their rights and a larger modicum of self-government.
We trust that the delegates to the Peace Conference will not continue to believe that Negroes have no ambition, no aspiration. There are no more timid, cringing Negroes; let us say that those Negroes have now been relegated to the limbo of the past, to the region of forgetfulness, and that the new Negro is on the stage, and he is going to play his part good and well. He, like the other heretofore oppressed peoples of the world, is determined to get restored to him his ancestral rights.
When we look at the map of Africa today we see Great Britain with fully five million square miles of our territory, we see France with fully three million five hundred thousand square miles, we see that Belgium has under her control the Congo, Portugal has her sway over Southeast Africa, Italy has under her control Tripoli, Italian Somaliland on the Gulf of Aden and Erythria on the Red Sea. Germany had clamored for a place in the sun simply because she has only one million square miles, with which she was not satisfied, in that England had five millions and France three millions five hundred thousand. It can be easily seen that the war of 1914 was the outcome of African aggrandizement, that Africa, to which the while man has absolutely no claim, has been raped, has been left bleeding for hundreds of years, but within the last thirty years the European powers have concentrated more than ever on the cleaning up of the great continent so as to make it a white man's country. Among those whom they have killed are millions of our people, but the age of killing for naught is passed and the age of killing for something has come. If black men have to die in Africa or anywhere else, then they might as well die for the best of things, and that is liberty, true freedom and true democracy. If the delegates to the Peace Conference would like to see no more wars we would advise them to satisfy the yellow man's claims, the black man's claims and the white man's claims, and let all three be satisfied so that there can be indeed a brotherhood of men. But if one section of the human race is to arrogate to itself all that God gave for the benefit of mankind at large, then let us say human nature has in no way changed, and even at the Peace Conference where from the highest principles of humanity are supposed to emanate there will come no message of peace.
There will be no peace in the world until the white man confines himself politically to Europe, the yellow man to Asia and the black man to Africa. The original division of the earth among mankind must stand, and any one who dares to interfere with this division creates only trouble for himself. This division was made by the Almighty Power that rules, and therefore there can be no interference with the plans Divine.
Cowardice has disappeared from the world. Men have died in this world war so quickly and so easily that those who desire liberty today do not stop to think of death, for it is regarded as the price which people in all ages will have to pay to be free; that is the price the weaker people of Europe have paid; that is the price the Negro must pay some day.
Let the Peace Conference, we suggest, be just in its deliberations and in its findings, so that there can be a true brotherhood in the future with not more wars.”
.
“Now that the statesmen of the various nations are preparing to meet at the Peace Conference, to discuss the future government of the peoples of the world, we take it as our bounden duty to warn them to be very just to all those people who may happen to come under their legislative control. If they, representing the classes, as they once did, were alive to the real feeling of their respective masses four and one-half years ago, today Germany would have been intact, Austria-Hungary would have been intact, Russia would have been intact, the spirit of revolution never would have swept Europe, and mankind at large would have been satisfied. But through graft, greed and selfishness, the classes they represented then, as some of them represent now, were determined to rob and exploit the masses, thinking that the masses would have remained careless of their own condition for everlasting.
It is a truism that you "fool half of the people for half of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people for all of the time;" and now that the masses of the whole world have risen as one man to demand true equity and justice from the 'powers that be', then let the delegates at the Peace Conference realize, just now, that the Negro, who forms an integral part of the masses of the world, is determined to get no less than what other men are to get. The oppressed races of Europe are to get their freedom, which freedom will be guaranteed them. The Asiatic races are to get their rights and a larger modicum of self-government.
We trust that the delegates to the Peace Conference will not continue to believe that Negroes have no ambition, no aspiration. There are no more timid, cringing Negroes; let us say that those Negroes have now been relegated to the limbo of the past, to the region of forgetfulness, and that the new Negro is on the stage, and he is going to play his part good and well. He, like the other heretofore oppressed peoples of the world, is determined to get restored to him his ancestral rights.
When we look at the map of Africa today we see Great Britain with fully five million square miles of our territory, we see France with fully three million five hundred thousand square miles, we see that Belgium has under her control the Congo, Portugal has her sway over Southeast Africa, Italy has under her control Tripoli, Italian Somaliland on the Gulf of Aden and Erythria on the Red Sea. Germany had clamored for a place in the sun simply because she has only one million square miles, with which she was not satisfied, in that England had five millions and France three millions five hundred thousand. It can be easily seen that the war of 1914 was the outcome of African aggrandizement, that Africa, to which the while man has absolutely no claim, has been raped, has been left bleeding for hundreds of years, but within the last thirty years the European powers have concentrated more than ever on the cleaning up of the great continent so as to make it a white man's country. Among those whom they have killed are millions of our people, but the age of killing for naught is passed and the age of killing for something has come. If black men have to die in Africa or anywhere else, then they might as well die for the best of things, and that is liberty, true freedom and true democracy. If the delegates to the Peace Conference would like to see no more wars we would advise them to satisfy the yellow man's claims, the black man's claims and the white man's claims, and let all three be satisfied so that there can be indeed a brotherhood of men. But if one section of the human race is to arrogate to itself all that God gave for the benefit of mankind at large, then let us say human nature has in no way changed, and even at the Peace Conference where from the highest principles of humanity are supposed to emanate there will come no message of peace.
There will be no peace in the world until the white man confines himself politically to Europe, the yellow man to Asia and the black man to Africa. The original division of the earth among mankind must stand, and any one who dares to interfere with this division creates only trouble for himself. This division was made by the Almighty Power that rules, and therefore there can be no interference with the plans Divine.
Cowardice has disappeared from the world. Men have died in this world war so quickly and so easily that those who desire liberty today do not stop to think of death, for it is regarded as the price which people in all ages will have to pay to be free; that is the price the weaker people of Europe have paid; that is the price the Negro must pay some day.
Let the Peace Conference, we suggest, be just in its deliberations and in its findings, so that there can be a true brotherhood in the future with not more wars.”
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Marcus Garvey
Homework
Garvey (a) theif (b) hero (c)visionary (d) madman. Garvey has been accused of all of the above. Using factual information, show why some people would have these ideas about Marcus Garvey. Make a conclusion on which one you think Garvey is.
Marcus Garvey was a National Hero of Jamaica, a Black Nationalist, orator and founder of many black organizations. He can be said to have attempted to reverse the slave trade, attempting to put things how they were in the beginning. He believed that all Blacks should go back to Africa and all Europeans should come out of it. The movement is officially called the Back-To-Africa Movement. Garvey also believed that uniting Blacks was the only method that could be used to better their condition internationally. He dedicated his life to bettering the black race.
The idea of Garvey being a thief came from the suspicions of his involvement in a suspected mail fraud.
He was convicted because many believed that he had sent letters to many people and requested funds for the UNIA which he then later used for himself. It was not fully proved, and Garvey’s modest lifestyle certainly did not portray any extravagant spending or large sums of money, but Garvey nonetheless was sent to prison. He served five years in the Atlanta Federal Prison in 1925.
Garvey was also accused of being a madman, in particular, he was charged with the allegation of being a paranoiac. This accusation was mainly held by a member of the NAACP Robert W. Bagnall. He wrote a whole essay entitled “The Madness of Marcus Garvey” in 1923. Among his other detractors were archrival W.E.B. Du Bois who deemed him “inordinately vain and very suspicious”. Delusional is another term used to describe him as he seemed to see himself as a “king” and others below him. He did seem to treat himself very royally with his armed guards and ample protection about him, he had, as Bagnall put it “delusional grandeur”. He was also delusional in the sense that he saw as little a number of people as three people and thought of it as a crowd. He was also mad in the sense that some of his ideas were clearly impractical and had no chance of working. An example of this was his dream that all Blacks would relocate back to Africa. He didn’t take time to analyze people and their behaviour, all he saw was his plans, not the reactions of the people involved and this was one of his downfalls. To sum it all up, an excerpt from Bagnalls’ essay clearly illustrates the thoughts of those who were against him : “If he is not insane, he is a demagogic charlatan, but the probability is that the man is insane. Certainly the movement is insane, whether Garvey is or not.”
Garvey however was not always put down by critics such as the ones mentioned. In fact, his praise outweighs the critiques almost tenfold. Garvey is seen as a visionary. He had an optimistic view on the current situation of Blacks. He looked past their current oppression and saw a free race, a powerful race and a proud race emerging in the future. Several things that Garvey envisioned came through or at least a door was opened for them to do so. An example of this is Garvey’s vision for black economic success and then the Negro Factories Corporation’s creation. Many people chastise Garvey for his open-minded thinking but ultimately it was men like him who brought a message of hope to doubtful people.
Garvey is seen as a hero lastly. He was a powerful figure and shaped the doubting minds of Blacks all around the world. Garvey was courageous in that he was the 1st black man to stand up and publicly denounce racism against Blacks. He was for the Negroes one hundred percent. Garvey defended his beliefs of Anti-colonialism, Black nationalism, racial pride and self reliance to death. Garvey did not stick to the status quo but decided to help the Black man and suffer rather than see the black man suffer. He put himself at risk of the same discrimination, but because he was a hero, stepped up to the plate. Garvey was committed to the cause of bettering the condition of Negros around the world and instilling a flame of pride in them. He made channels for them to become independent such as shipping routes, newspapers, institutions right down to laundry mats.
While some of Garvey’s ideas appeared ridiculous to certain people, the intention and underlying principles of them were always to better the condition of the Black race. I consider Garvey to be a hero especially to Africa and the West Indies, for by proposing the idea of Blacks coming together and realizing that “There is no future for a race that denies their race and past”. Garvey put in every black man, woman, and child, a bit of hope. His speeches and theories replenished the dignity lost by the black man in the slave trade. Helping us to realize the potential of our massive and powerful race was one of his main works. His quotes, such as “One God! One Aim! One Destiny!”, captivate his desire to unite Blacks and increase their underestimated worth. He dedicated his life to this cause of his dream and provided a plethora of unforgettable quotes as well. Garvey is a hero also in the sense that he emancipated the minds of Negroes, henceforth giving them respect. However, it is satisfying to know that Garvey, despite all trials in his life received the recognition he deserved and is recognized today as a National Hero.
Garvey (a) theif (b) hero (c)visionary (d) madman. Garvey has been accused of all of the above. Using factual information, show why some people would have these ideas about Marcus Garvey. Make a conclusion on which one you think Garvey is.
Marcus Garvey was a National Hero of Jamaica, a Black Nationalist, orator and founder of many black organizations. He can be said to have attempted to reverse the slave trade, attempting to put things how they were in the beginning. He believed that all Blacks should go back to Africa and all Europeans should come out of it. The movement is officially called the Back-To-Africa Movement. Garvey also believed that uniting Blacks was the only method that could be used to better their condition internationally. He dedicated his life to bettering the black race.
The idea of Garvey being a thief came from the suspicions of his involvement in a suspected mail fraud.
He was convicted because many believed that he had sent letters to many people and requested funds for the UNIA which he then later used for himself. It was not fully proved, and Garvey’s modest lifestyle certainly did not portray any extravagant spending or large sums of money, but Garvey nonetheless was sent to prison. He served five years in the Atlanta Federal Prison in 1925.
Garvey was also accused of being a madman, in particular, he was charged with the allegation of being a paranoiac. This accusation was mainly held by a member of the NAACP Robert W. Bagnall. He wrote a whole essay entitled “The Madness of Marcus Garvey” in 1923. Among his other detractors were archrival W.E.B. Du Bois who deemed him “inordinately vain and very suspicious”. Delusional is another term used to describe him as he seemed to see himself as a “king” and others below him. He did seem to treat himself very royally with his armed guards and ample protection about him, he had, as Bagnall put it “delusional grandeur”. He was also delusional in the sense that he saw as little a number of people as three people and thought of it as a crowd. He was also mad in the sense that some of his ideas were clearly impractical and had no chance of working. An example of this was his dream that all Blacks would relocate back to Africa. He didn’t take time to analyze people and their behaviour, all he saw was his plans, not the reactions of the people involved and this was one of his downfalls. To sum it all up, an excerpt from Bagnalls’ essay clearly illustrates the thoughts of those who were against him : “If he is not insane, he is a demagogic charlatan, but the probability is that the man is insane. Certainly the movement is insane, whether Garvey is or not.”
Garvey however was not always put down by critics such as the ones mentioned. In fact, his praise outweighs the critiques almost tenfold. Garvey is seen as a visionary. He had an optimistic view on the current situation of Blacks. He looked past their current oppression and saw a free race, a powerful race and a proud race emerging in the future. Several things that Garvey envisioned came through or at least a door was opened for them to do so. An example of this is Garvey’s vision for black economic success and then the Negro Factories Corporation’s creation. Many people chastise Garvey for his open-minded thinking but ultimately it was men like him who brought a message of hope to doubtful people.
Garvey is seen as a hero lastly. He was a powerful figure and shaped the doubting minds of Blacks all around the world. Garvey was courageous in that he was the 1st black man to stand up and publicly denounce racism against Blacks. He was for the Negroes one hundred percent. Garvey defended his beliefs of Anti-colonialism, Black nationalism, racial pride and self reliance to death. Garvey did not stick to the status quo but decided to help the Black man and suffer rather than see the black man suffer. He put himself at risk of the same discrimination, but because he was a hero, stepped up to the plate. Garvey was committed to the cause of bettering the condition of Negros around the world and instilling a flame of pride in them. He made channels for them to become independent such as shipping routes, newspapers, institutions right down to laundry mats.
While some of Garvey’s ideas appeared ridiculous to certain people, the intention and underlying principles of them were always to better the condition of the Black race. I consider Garvey to be a hero especially to Africa and the West Indies, for by proposing the idea of Blacks coming together and realizing that “There is no future for a race that denies their race and past”. Garvey put in every black man, woman, and child, a bit of hope. His speeches and theories replenished the dignity lost by the black man in the slave trade. Helping us to realize the potential of our massive and powerful race was one of his main works. His quotes, such as “One God! One Aim! One Destiny!”, captivate his desire to unite Blacks and increase their underestimated worth. He dedicated his life to this cause of his dream and provided a plethora of unforgettable quotes as well. Garvey is a hero also in the sense that he emancipated the minds of Negroes, henceforth giving them respect. However, it is satisfying to know that Garvey, despite all trials in his life received the recognition he deserved and is recognized today as a National Hero.
To Kill A Mockingbird Essay Questions
Essay Questions
1. Why does Atticus choose not to reveal to his children that Judge Taylor appointed him to Tom’s case? How does his decision affect Scout’s perception of her father?
2. Do you think that the adult Jean Louise telling the story through Scout’s eyes may have added any embellishments to the story? Think of an event from your own life that occurred at least five years ago. Do you see the event differently now? How does memory and education affect your perception of the event?
3. Read Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson. How are the stories alike? How are they different? Compare Atticus Finch and Tom Robinson with Nels Gudmundsson and Kabuo Miyamoto. Compare Scout’s and Hatsue’s understanding of their place in their communities.
4. If Scout and Jem’s mother were still alive, how might the following people be different: Atticus, Scout, Jem, Calpurnia, and Aunt Alexandra?
5. Would Heck Tate have filed charges against Tom Robinson so quickly if Tom were white? Why or why not? Would Sheriff Tate have been so unwilling to file charges against Boo Radley if Boo was black? Why or why not?
6. Read the play To Kill a Mockingbird, by Christopher Sergel. What elements in the story are different? What limitations does the book have that the stage doesn’t? What limitations does the stage have that the book doesn’t? Does Sergel tell the same story that Harper Lee does? What events does Sergel highlight as important? Why do you think he made those choices? Do you agree with his choices?
7. Compare and contrast the relationship between Jem and Scout with the relationship between Atticus and Aunt Alexandra. [Both jem and Aunt imposing values on younger sib]
8. Based on what you know about Scout, describe the adult Jean Louise Finch.
9. Suppose that Mayella had admitted that she was lying when she testified against Tom. What would have happened to her? What would’ve happened to Tom? How would Scout, Jem, and Dill perceive the situation differently? Would the town have been willing to accept Tom’s innocence? Why or why not?
10. What significance do the items that Boo leaves for the children have? What do they tell you about Boo? Why does his brother object so strongly to his leaving items for the children? [ they are peace offerings that show that he is kind; his brother doesn’t want him to be exposed to the harsh, prejudiced world.]
12. Harper Lee uses language and grammar that mirrors how the characters actually speak. Is this technique helpful in understanding the characters? Is it distracting? Could Lee have told the same story with the same impact if she’d used proper grammar throughout? [ the technique is helpful in understanding characters., not distractring, If lee has used proper grammar throughout it would have lacked a child’s touch and would captivate the reader like it does now.
14. Compare the way Miss Caroline treats Scout on her first day of school with the way the town treats Mayella Ewell. [ Mis caroline genuinely thinks that Scout is disobedient and is a trouble maker whereas the town…
15. What, if any, prejudices do African Americans face in today’s world? Have the issues that Lee discusses in To Kill a Mockingbird been resolved or are they ongoing? What forms of prejudice can you identify in your own community? Have you ever been the victim of prejudice? Did the situation end justly? Explain.
16.Why does Boo Radley stay inside all the time?[He chooses not to face the evils of the world and get involved in all the drama.
1. Why does Atticus choose not to reveal to his children that Judge Taylor appointed him to Tom’s case? How does his decision affect Scout’s perception of her father?
2. Do you think that the adult Jean Louise telling the story through Scout’s eyes may have added any embellishments to the story? Think of an event from your own life that occurred at least five years ago. Do you see the event differently now? How does memory and education affect your perception of the event?
3. Read Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson. How are the stories alike? How are they different? Compare Atticus Finch and Tom Robinson with Nels Gudmundsson and Kabuo Miyamoto. Compare Scout’s and Hatsue’s understanding of their place in their communities.
4. If Scout and Jem’s mother were still alive, how might the following people be different: Atticus, Scout, Jem, Calpurnia, and Aunt Alexandra?
5. Would Heck Tate have filed charges against Tom Robinson so quickly if Tom were white? Why or why not? Would Sheriff Tate have been so unwilling to file charges against Boo Radley if Boo was black? Why or why not?
6. Read the play To Kill a Mockingbird, by Christopher Sergel. What elements in the story are different? What limitations does the book have that the stage doesn’t? What limitations does the stage have that the book doesn’t? Does Sergel tell the same story that Harper Lee does? What events does Sergel highlight as important? Why do you think he made those choices? Do you agree with his choices?
7. Compare and contrast the relationship between Jem and Scout with the relationship between Atticus and Aunt Alexandra. [Both jem and Aunt imposing values on younger sib]
8. Based on what you know about Scout, describe the adult Jean Louise Finch.
9. Suppose that Mayella had admitted that she was lying when she testified against Tom. What would have happened to her? What would’ve happened to Tom? How would Scout, Jem, and Dill perceive the situation differently? Would the town have been willing to accept Tom’s innocence? Why or why not?
10. What significance do the items that Boo leaves for the children have? What do they tell you about Boo? Why does his brother object so strongly to his leaving items for the children? [ they are peace offerings that show that he is kind; his brother doesn’t want him to be exposed to the harsh, prejudiced world.]
12. Harper Lee uses language and grammar that mirrors how the characters actually speak. Is this technique helpful in understanding the characters? Is it distracting? Could Lee have told the same story with the same impact if she’d used proper grammar throughout? [ the technique is helpful in understanding characters., not distractring, If lee has used proper grammar throughout it would have lacked a child’s touch and would captivate the reader like it does now.
14. Compare the way Miss Caroline treats Scout on her first day of school with the way the town treats Mayella Ewell. [ Mis caroline genuinely thinks that Scout is disobedient and is a trouble maker whereas the town…
15. What, if any, prejudices do African Americans face in today’s world? Have the issues that Lee discusses in To Kill a Mockingbird been resolved or are they ongoing? What forms of prejudice can you identify in your own community? Have you ever been the victim of prejudice? Did the situation end justly? Explain.
16.Why does Boo Radley stay inside all the time?[He chooses not to face the evils of the world and get involved in all the drama.
To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mockingbird
Handout Homework Pt. 2 (#’s 7-8)
7. Points of evidence that Tom Robinson was not guilty, taken into consideration by the judge
1) No one called a doctor to the scene. If Mayella was really raped by Tom Robinson who she accused she’d have needed a doctor. Also, if Tom Robinson was the man who beat her up, she wouldn’t have hesitated to call a doctor, however, the family does not and this gives the impression that they are hiding something.
2) The left side of Mayella’s face was beaten up most severly and Mr. Bob Ewell was left handed. Tom Robinson was missing his left hand, and therefore he couldn’t have hurt her so severely in that position. This raises Bob Ewell as a suspect of battery.
3) Mr. Ewell is suspected of lying and has drinking habits which would cause him to abuse his children.
4) There is no medical evidence that shows Tom could have committed the crime, only the testimonies of two witnesses.
8. The two meanings of “this case is as simple as black and white”
1) The case is in reality very simple. The answer is obvious as too who did the crime and what happened. The evidence presented by Atticus is sufficient.
2) The quote could also mean that the case is as simple as racial prejudice. Most people would take a white man’s word over a Negro’s no matter how much proof there is that the Negro was not at fault. Many people make their decisions solely based on skin colour.
Handout Homework Pt. 2 (#’s 7-8)
7. Points of evidence that Tom Robinson was not guilty, taken into consideration by the judge
1) No one called a doctor to the scene. If Mayella was really raped by Tom Robinson who she accused she’d have needed a doctor. Also, if Tom Robinson was the man who beat her up, she wouldn’t have hesitated to call a doctor, however, the family does not and this gives the impression that they are hiding something.
2) The left side of Mayella’s face was beaten up most severly and Mr. Bob Ewell was left handed. Tom Robinson was missing his left hand, and therefore he couldn’t have hurt her so severely in that position. This raises Bob Ewell as a suspect of battery.
3) Mr. Ewell is suspected of lying and has drinking habits which would cause him to abuse his children.
4) There is no medical evidence that shows Tom could have committed the crime, only the testimonies of two witnesses.
8. The two meanings of “this case is as simple as black and white”
1) The case is in reality very simple. The answer is obvious as too who did the crime and what happened. The evidence presented by Atticus is sufficient.
2) The quote could also mean that the case is as simple as racial prejudice. Most people would take a white man’s word over a Negro’s no matter how much proof there is that the Negro was not at fault. Many people make their decisions solely based on skin colour.
Ben Carson Character Description
Ben Carson is a major character in Gifted Hands. He narrates the true story of his life which includes hardships, trials and tribulations, but overall triumph. In the first chapter of the book, Ben is eight years old, and is undergoing his childhood with his mother Sonya and his brother Curtis. We see that in the first chapter he loses his father as it was found out that his father was not faithful to his mother, and thus Sonya separates and divorces from him. As is expected, Ben, who was still young and immature, does not see why his father had to leave. Protected from his mother as to the reason his parents have separated, he desperately wants his father back. Soon, however, he learns that although they are poorer, life is subsequently better without their father, and Ben eventually stops thinking about it.
Ben, without a father, has to go through a rough time both at school and at home. He started out at the bottom of the food chain, so to speak, in his class. He was seen as the dunce, but never cried or gave up, he just saw himself as mediocre. In chapter four, his grades began to improve after he was given glasses. On seeing his grades go from failing to Ds, his mother was still not pleased. But suddenly Ben had a new emotion, determination and hope. He realized he could do it. His mother pushed and motivated him to do well and through more studying, he soon became one of the smartest students. Ben soon became open-minded and motivated.
We also learn throughout the first five chapters in the book that Ben was easily influenced, although this was not always a good thing. When he was being “capped” on, we see that he, although trying to be defensive, really he felt left out and rejected. He desperately wanted to be accepted, as any child would want to be. We see that he gave into peer pressure, and began capping on other people. Soon, he was the best of the lot of them, and began pressuring his mother for material items, to be one of the cool children. However, when Ben begins to be one of the cool kids, and his grades begin to drop, he was not very happy. He had strayed from the important values in his life, Christ and fulfilling his dreams.
Through a mixture of downfalls and uprisings, Ben turns into the man we know today. We learn from Ben that we can do anything if we fact our minds to it and give it our best.
Ben, without a father, has to go through a rough time both at school and at home. He started out at the bottom of the food chain, so to speak, in his class. He was seen as the dunce, but never cried or gave up, he just saw himself as mediocre. In chapter four, his grades began to improve after he was given glasses. On seeing his grades go from failing to Ds, his mother was still not pleased. But suddenly Ben had a new emotion, determination and hope. He realized he could do it. His mother pushed and motivated him to do well and through more studying, he soon became one of the smartest students. Ben soon became open-minded and motivated.
We also learn throughout the first five chapters in the book that Ben was easily influenced, although this was not always a good thing. When he was being “capped” on, we see that he, although trying to be defensive, really he felt left out and rejected. He desperately wanted to be accepted, as any child would want to be. We see that he gave into peer pressure, and began capping on other people. Soon, he was the best of the lot of them, and began pressuring his mother for material items, to be one of the cool children. However, when Ben begins to be one of the cool kids, and his grades begin to drop, he was not very happy. He had strayed from the important values in his life, Christ and fulfilling his dreams.
Through a mixture of downfalls and uprisings, Ben turns into the man we know today. We learn from Ben that we can do anything if we fact our minds to it and give it our best.
Crime in Jamaica
Crime in Jamaica
Jamaica – Land of wood, water and now crime. Jamaica was once and is still known as one of the islands of paradise of the world. If one did not know Jamaica and visited a tourist resort for a couple of days, or weeks even, you would see nothing but sunshine and beaches. An ordinary newspaper or even five minutes of the evening news would change your views drastically.
There have been over three hundred acts of crime and violence in the first quarter of the year of 2006. Of course, this is a superb breakthrough in comparison to the past years. Kidnappings, rape, incest and above all murder dominate our green isle. Al of these things has also been filling the media and is now beginning to become a part of our everyday lives.
With all of these acts of violence going on, there is only one question in our minds – “Why?”
No one knows the motives of these criminals who we have running about, but it is easy to guess some of these. Some people were not raised in communities that encourage healthy lifestyles and so they see nothing wrong with crime, others find it as a way of “getting back at the world” for the hardships they’ve had in their lives. Drugs and plain, cold cruelty drives a good-sized portion of the criminals as well. Many of the reasons however will never be known.
A few weeks ago, I played witness to a horrific act of crime. I was walking down the road to a function around mid-day when I saw two men in the street. I thought nothing of this scene until I saw one of the men sprint off into the near by bushes and the other clutching his chest. I made sense of it all when I saw a trickle of red on his white shirt below his hand. Taking advice from a nearby vendor, the victim went to the nearby policeman, whom, to my surprise, eluded him. When the man finally caught up with him, the policeman listened to his complaint and then cast his eyes upwards and deliberately walked away. The man who, by now had gotten weak went and sat down on the sidewalk. A woman saw him and tended to his wound with her rag. By now, a small group of people had formed around him but still the policeman was nowhere to be found. From what I could see of him, he wounded man had gone into immense pain and was shaking violently. A nearby car was stopped and the half – lifeless body hauled into a passing car and then to the nearest hospital…. twenty minutes away.
After his experience, and the shock of it all, I wondered whose fault was it? Wan it the man’s for getting involved with that bad man? Was it the policeman’s fault for walking away and not nabbing the criminal? Or was it the country’s fault for so much corruption? Whoever’s fault it was – a life was taken away and one chance to change the future is gone.
As solutions to this crime and violence in our country, I suggest we reintroduce and reinforce forms of punishment that we already have, we could also work with communities to identify individual skills and help to maximize potential. An idea that has been going on for quite some time now is to get more children off the streets and into institutions which have positive influences on them. Can this plague set on our country be stopped? The answer is “Yes” but only by us – the people of this country, the caretaker’s of God’s earth.
Jamaica – Land of wood, water and now crime. Jamaica was once and is still known as one of the islands of paradise of the world. If one did not know Jamaica and visited a tourist resort for a couple of days, or weeks even, you would see nothing but sunshine and beaches. An ordinary newspaper or even five minutes of the evening news would change your views drastically.
There have been over three hundred acts of crime and violence in the first quarter of the year of 2006. Of course, this is a superb breakthrough in comparison to the past years. Kidnappings, rape, incest and above all murder dominate our green isle. Al of these things has also been filling the media and is now beginning to become a part of our everyday lives.
With all of these acts of violence going on, there is only one question in our minds – “Why?”
No one knows the motives of these criminals who we have running about, but it is easy to guess some of these. Some people were not raised in communities that encourage healthy lifestyles and so they see nothing wrong with crime, others find it as a way of “getting back at the world” for the hardships they’ve had in their lives. Drugs and plain, cold cruelty drives a good-sized portion of the criminals as well. Many of the reasons however will never be known.
A few weeks ago, I played witness to a horrific act of crime. I was walking down the road to a function around mid-day when I saw two men in the street. I thought nothing of this scene until I saw one of the men sprint off into the near by bushes and the other clutching his chest. I made sense of it all when I saw a trickle of red on his white shirt below his hand. Taking advice from a nearby vendor, the victim went to the nearby policeman, whom, to my surprise, eluded him. When the man finally caught up with him, the policeman listened to his complaint and then cast his eyes upwards and deliberately walked away. The man who, by now had gotten weak went and sat down on the sidewalk. A woman saw him and tended to his wound with her rag. By now, a small group of people had formed around him but still the policeman was nowhere to be found. From what I could see of him, he wounded man had gone into immense pain and was shaking violently. A nearby car was stopped and the half – lifeless body hauled into a passing car and then to the nearest hospital…. twenty minutes away.
After his experience, and the shock of it all, I wondered whose fault was it? Wan it the man’s for getting involved with that bad man? Was it the policeman’s fault for walking away and not nabbing the criminal? Or was it the country’s fault for so much corruption? Whoever’s fault it was – a life was taken away and one chance to change the future is gone.
As solutions to this crime and violence in our country, I suggest we reintroduce and reinforce forms of punishment that we already have, we could also work with communities to identify individual skills and help to maximize potential. An idea that has been going on for quite some time now is to get more children off the streets and into institutions which have positive influences on them. Can this plague set on our country be stopped? The answer is “Yes” but only by us – the people of this country, the caretaker’s of God’s earth.
Descriptive Writing Excercise
The Wedding
It is a cool, breezy day in March. A wedding is taking place in a Hotel in Kingston. The whole city seems to be in on it as traffic is backed up until three blocks away. Locals are seen across the street “fasting” in the wedding, trying desperately to get a glimpse of the event. Birds chirp, and the sun shines down on the wedding as all of nature seems to be in favour of it. Guests have started to arrive. Fancy cars, waxed until they glistened, roll into the parking lot in their numbers. Relatives and friends the bride and groom never knew they had pop out of the cars like flowers blooming in spring, in their variety of colours. A group of relatives of the bride stand apart from the rest and chatter loudly about their excitement.
The bride stares out the window and her panic level hits the roof. Trying desperately not to loose her composure she takes a deep breath and stares at herself in the mirror. I’ve waited my whole life for this. This moment. This is my time. And John… she remembers her true love, the one who made all her worries melt away and suddenly he was right there with her, comforting her. She had the strength now. Glancing at the clock she snaps back to reality, less than half an hour to go, her mind snaps into gear. She looks back at the crowd of bridesmaids squeezing into scarlet dresses half their size she smiles and goes to do the finishing touches on her makeup.
The procession begins. Bridesmaids and groomsmen stride down the aisle looking as perfectly matched as if they were the bride and groom themselves. A seven-year-old niece of the groom beams proudly and paints a masterpiece on the white runner with her purple and white flower petals. An equally aged younger brother of the bride has a solemn face as he carries two golden symbols of trust. The grooms smile slowly fades and he breaks into a small sweat as a minute of cruel silence passes. The organist glances around for his cue to pipe up with “Here Comes the Bride”. The groom starts to panic – Has she runaway? Is there a delay? I thought we felt we felt the same way about each other – she is the one…His thoughts were cut short by the low rumble of more than a hundred adults turning around in their seats followed by the abrupt sound of the organs cutting through the air. The bride had come. She gave him a wink of reassurance as she slowly made her way up the aisle. The couple gazed into each other’s eyes and it was all they could do to beam at each other, no matter how corny it looked. Finally, the vows came and each replied with the same honest “I do”. Rings were exchanged and finally, it was the moment every one in the hotel had been waiting for “You may now kiss the bride.” Without a moments hesitance the couple shared a passionate kiss and the congregation burst into applause and shouts. This was the moment of their dreams.
It is a cool, breezy day in March. A wedding is taking place in a Hotel in Kingston. The whole city seems to be in on it as traffic is backed up until three blocks away. Locals are seen across the street “fasting” in the wedding, trying desperately to get a glimpse of the event. Birds chirp, and the sun shines down on the wedding as all of nature seems to be in favour of it. Guests have started to arrive. Fancy cars, waxed until they glistened, roll into the parking lot in their numbers. Relatives and friends the bride and groom never knew they had pop out of the cars like flowers blooming in spring, in their variety of colours. A group of relatives of the bride stand apart from the rest and chatter loudly about their excitement.
The bride stares out the window and her panic level hits the roof. Trying desperately not to loose her composure she takes a deep breath and stares at herself in the mirror. I’ve waited my whole life for this. This moment. This is my time. And John… she remembers her true love, the one who made all her worries melt away and suddenly he was right there with her, comforting her. She had the strength now. Glancing at the clock she snaps back to reality, less than half an hour to go, her mind snaps into gear. She looks back at the crowd of bridesmaids squeezing into scarlet dresses half their size she smiles and goes to do the finishing touches on her makeup.
The procession begins. Bridesmaids and groomsmen stride down the aisle looking as perfectly matched as if they were the bride and groom themselves. A seven-year-old niece of the groom beams proudly and paints a masterpiece on the white runner with her purple and white flower petals. An equally aged younger brother of the bride has a solemn face as he carries two golden symbols of trust. The grooms smile slowly fades and he breaks into a small sweat as a minute of cruel silence passes. The organist glances around for his cue to pipe up with “Here Comes the Bride”. The groom starts to panic – Has she runaway? Is there a delay? I thought we felt we felt the same way about each other – she is the one…His thoughts were cut short by the low rumble of more than a hundred adults turning around in their seats followed by the abrupt sound of the organs cutting through the air. The bride had come. She gave him a wink of reassurance as she slowly made her way up the aisle. The couple gazed into each other’s eyes and it was all they could do to beam at each other, no matter how corny it looked. Finally, the vows came and each replied with the same honest “I do”. Rings were exchanged and finally, it was the moment every one in the hotel had been waiting for “You may now kiss the bride.” Without a moments hesitance the couple shared a passionate kiss and the congregation burst into applause and shouts. This was the moment of their dreams.
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