The Meaning of Jazz in African American Culture...

The Meaning of Jazz in African American Culture Particularly in Harlem During the 1950’s In the Baldwin’s story, Sonny’s Blues, the author portrays African -Americans in the urban life. Even though he writes about reconciliation of two brothers, who are trying to overcome their differences and to come to understand each other, the story shows the meaning of Jazz in African American culture, particularly in Harlem during 1950. The urban life in Harlem has being described by many authors, including James Baldwin. The life of an African American man in this place during the 1950’s was a â€Å"disaster†, â€Å"faces and bodies† [†¦] were â€Å"trapped in the darkness† (Baldwin n.pag). It was a time prior to the Civil Rights Movement, the time of†¦show more content†¦The story portrays that the conflict between two brothers is more complex than it seems to be. Sonny tries to prove that â€Å"living by another man’s definition of success, or worse, being hemmed in by discrimination that deprives one true freedom, is like being dead. Music, art, and even drugs are avenues out of that social death, even as they are, in their own ways, dangerous or subversive† (Class Lecture). Sonny becomes a drug user and gets arrested for possession of narcotics. â€Å"Those who try to escape on the streets find themselves encircled by disaster† (Baldwin n.pag). In h is adolescence, Sonny succumbs to the streets and ends up hooked on dope and in prison† (Flibbert n.pag). Even though, Sonny tries to explain himself, the narrator chooses not to be involved. Later in the story he reconciles with his younger brother after the death of his daughter. The pain of loss made him more sensitive to his brother’s feelings. The narrator in the beginning assumes â€Å"that he has escaped the underclass(Baldwin n.pag), but what he discovers later is that his younger brother is still stuck there addicted to heroin, and he will never find a peace until he saves him†(Reid n.pag). What he begins to discover with Sonnys arrest and literal imprisonment is that he cannot free himself from responsibility for his brother. â€Å"He is his brothers keeper [†¦] and the vision that will make life and freedom from bondage possible is not the Platonic, Apollonian vision ofShow MoreRelatedLangston Hughes: A Poet Supreme Essay1879 Words   |  8 Pagesof language. No poet better carries the mantle of model and innovator the Langston Hughes, the prolific Duke Ellington of black poetry. Hughess output alone is staggering. During his lifetime, he published over eight hundred poems. Moreover, he single-handedly defined blues poetry and is arguably the first major jazz poet. Early in his career he realized the importance of reading his poetry to receptive audiences. When Alain Locke arranged a poetry reading by Hughes before the PlaywritersRead MoreThe Influence of Gospel Music Essay2325 Words   |  10 PagesGospel music has been around for a hundred of years. Gospel music is highly emotional evangelical vocal music that originated among African American Christians in the southern United States and was a strong influence in the development of soul music. (Gospel Music) Gospel music quite evolved from the songs slaves sang on plantations notably work songs, and from the Protestant hymns they sang in church. However in the 19th century, spiri tual hymns transfer into gospel music, which started the goldenRead MoreNew York City: History and Landmarks4966 Words   |  20 Pages(shell beads). Fewer than 300 people lived in New Amsterdam when the settlement moved to Manhattan. But it grew quickly, and in 1760 the city (now called New York City; population 18,000) surpassed Boston to become the second-largest city in the American colonies. Fifty years later, with a population 202,589, it became the largest city in the Western hemisphere. Today, more than 8 million people live in the city’s five boroughs. New York City in the 18th Century In 1664, the British seized NewRead MoreThe History of Dance9217 Words   |  37 Pagesto the deities; dancers are married to the deity. Devadasi also known as temple dancers usually illustrated their devotion to the Gods the most, performing in front of the Gods, or at festivals in honor of them. Bharata Natyam captures the true meaning of dance drama, the dance routines tell a story, creating theatrical unity and wholeness in the meditative mind. The following is a list of dance names; Argentine Tango - history of Argentine Tango and Milonga. Argentine Tango History - Milonga and

Henry Thoreaus Where I Lived and What I Lived For and...

Henry Thoreaus Where I Lived and What I Lived For and E.B. Whites Once More to the Lake At first glance, Henry Thoreau’s, Where I Lived and What I Lived For, and E.B. White’s, Once More to the Lake, have nothing in common. After several readings; however, one can interpret that both authors have the same message. Even though Thoreau and White use extremely different styles, they both portray nature as the simplest way of life. Thoreau writes an argumentative essay in the 1800’s trying to persuade society to â€Å"simplify† by going back to relying on nature instead of technology (50 Essays pg. 417). White writes a 1900’s narrative about his visit to his childhood lake where he shockingly discovers how nature reveals the essence of life.†¦show more content†¦417). What Thoreau suggests is to rely on nature for food, education, entertainment, and all needs of a simplified human being. In Thoreau’s Where I Lived and What I Lived For, simplicity is his method of achieving self-sufficiency. Once More to the Lake tells the story of E.B. White’s journey back to his childhood lake in Maine. White compares the lake of his childhood to the lake of his adulthood. Everything was the same to White when he went with his son. â€Å"It was the arrival of this fly that convinced me beyond any doubt that everything was as it always had been, that the years were a mirage and that there had been no years,† (50 Essays pg. 446). The scenery of the lake brought peace and tranquility to White as he realized that he had become his father and his son had become him. White embraces nature at first, but towards the end he fears its mortality. â€Å"As he buckled the swollen belt, suddenly my groin felt the chill of death,† (50 Essays pg. 450). Once More to the Lake is satiated with description and figurative language. White uses heavy detail to capture the reader and get his point across. The natural setting of the lake revealed the essence of life to him. Once More to the Lake proves that Thoreau’s Where I Lived and What I Lived For is true in that putting aside humanity’s distractions and living in a natural setting, one can discover the secrets of life. Thoreau andShow MoreRelatedThe Differences Between Thoreau s And White s Writings855 Words   |  4 Pagesleast once in their life, it probably happened in college or in that one time in life where one asks themselves, â€Å" What am I doing?†. Similar problems had also happened to both writers Henry David Thoreau and E.B. White. Thoreau, in â€Å"Why I Went to the Woods† went and â€Å"lived in the woods† and he did this because he wanted to determine what was really important in life. White had an identity crisis due to his past memories and had the fear of losing himself into his son as described in â€Å"Once More

The 3 Models of Criminal Justice Free Essays

Compare the three models of the criminal justice process (the Wedding Cake, the Funnel and the Net Models) The criminal justice process is very complex process and varies from state to state. Three models of the criminal justice process as discussed and reviewed in chapter 9 of out textbook are the funnel, wedding and net. (Meyer, Grant 2003) In this essay I will compare these three models of the criminal justice process and give my opinion on which model I think best describes the criminal justice system as it is today. We will write a custom essay sample on The 3 Models of Criminal Justice or any similar topic only for you Order Now I will also give you a rationale for the choice that I choose. The first model I will discuss is the funnel model. This model looks at how decisions are made at each level in the criminal justice process and sort out those people and cases that it feels should not go through the entire process from those whom it feels should. This process is used as a means of limiting the number cases to a small percentage of cases that have to be resolved by trial advocacy and incarceration. The process limits the amount of offenders in court and incarcerated at any given time. The benefit of this model is it prevents the criminal justice system from becoming backed up. The truth is the criminal Justice system is already backed up, and crimes are increasing on a daily basis. A common misconception of the funnel process is that it â€Å"lets criminals off,† however this is not true. Most cases are often dismissed or pleas are bargained due to lack of evidence. The truth is that there is not enough money, to prosecute every crime. It is up to the State (States attorney), or The Attorney general which crimes are worth prosecuting, and which one’s need to be thrown out, or plea bargained. The Next model that I will discuss is the wedding cake model; it is referred to as a wedding cake because with this model criminal justice officials decide how to deal with cases according to their informal discretionary definition of â€Å"seriousness. † This model was developed by Samuel Walker, a scholar who analyzed the judicial system. This model divides the criminal justice system up into four different categories: celebrated cases, serious felonies, lesser felonies and misdemeanors this model looks at the seriousness of the charge, the past criminal record of the offender, as well as the relationship of the victim to the offender. At the very top of the cake, the smallest layer represents famous (or rather, infamous) cases that attract a lot of publicity and, unfortunately, often contribute to public misinformation about the criminal justice. † (Meyer, Grant 2003) Lastly I will discuss the nets model. This model allows some offenders to exit the system and go free at certain stages during the criminal justice process; whereas some criminal struggle unsuccessfully to get free and often end up further entangle in the system. This model is designed to give the police desecration to use some criminals as informants to assist them in catching the ring leader. This model is also used as a plea bargaining tool whereas defendants with little information to trade with the prosecutor may get less attractive plea deals than their accomplices in crime that have more knowledge with which to bargain ((Meyer, Grant 2003). This model has become more familiar to me as I was growing up, in Chicago, IL. I knew several guys who would go out and commit crimes together, and brag about it. They would eventually get caught, and end up telling on each other to get lesser time. They also tell about other crimes, to save their skins. I guess it’s a great model to use to get the big guy, or big fish, but I do not agree to turn a blind eye to crime, whether it’s small or big. In my opinion the model I think best describes today’s criminal justice system is the wedding cake model. Much like this model in today’s criminal justice system is broken down into layers. With the first being celebrated cases or case that receive much media attention. Than in today’s system we look serious felonies these are cases where bail maybe revoked. The third layer of the cake in this model is lesser felonies’ often in these cases pleas are taken. The final layer is misdemeanor cases. This model gives us a basic understanding of cases is categorized today. Reference The Wedding Cake Model Theory of Criminal Justice; Copyright  © 1999-2011Demand Media, Inc. ; By. Mike Broemmel; retrieved fromwww. howe. com The Courts in Our CriminalJustice System, by Jon’a F. Meyer and Diana R. Grant. Published by Prentice-Hall. Copyright  © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc Reference the Wedding Cake Model Theory of Criminal Justice; Copyright  © 1999-2011Demand Media, Inc. ; By. Mike Broemmel; retrieved fromwww. howe. comThe Courts in Our Criminal Justice System, by Jon’a F. Meyer and Diana R. Grant. Published by Prentice-Hall. Copyright  © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc. The Courts in Our Criminal Justice System, by Jon’s F. Meyer and Diana R. Grant. Published by Prentice-Hall. Copyright  © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc. How to cite The 3 Models of Criminal Justice, Essay examples

Critical Lens Essay free essay sample

When going through a rough patch in life, someone may notice and come to terms with things about themselves that they didn’t come to grips with before. In other words, â€Å"In times of adversity or hardship, one’s true character is revealed. † In Ellen Foster, a book about a young foster child by Kaye Gibbons, Ellen faces many challenges. These challenges include the suicide of her mother, the abuse and unavoidable death of her father, and rejection from family members which led her to be moved from home to home. In the end, however, she learns that she’s never had â€Å"the hardest row to hoe† and proves that she is a survivor. I agree with this quote because of the major relevance it has in fictional Ellen’s life. Ellen is characterized as a lonely young girl. For example, Ellen’s first words in the book were; â€Å"When I was little I used to think of ways to kill my daddy. We will write a custom essay sample on Critical Lens Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † Her father was an alcoholic, racist, and not to mention cruel and heartless towards Ellen, he was Ellen’s earliest hardship but helped her grow as a person in the end. As a result of her father being so mean, Ellen always strived to be the opposite. Following this trauma, her mother killed herself, most likely because of the father, which in itself is overwhelming and heartbreaking for a 10 year old. During all of this Ellen is always very close friends with a little colored girl named Starletta, as much as Ellen doesn’t want to be like her father, she still can’t help being racist because of her own fathers influence. She may not be able to control who’s child she is or how much she looks like her father, but Ellen eventually learns she can take the way she feels about other people into her own hands. What you had better worry about though is the people you know and trusted they would be like you because you were all made in the same batch. You need to look over your shoulder at the one who is in charge of holding you up and see if that is a knife he has in his hand. And it might not be a colored hand. But it is a knife† this is where Ellen realizes she is wrong in all of her stereotypes. Colored peop le have never wronged her personally. It’s Ironic because It was always her own family, her own WHITE family that was cruel, and spiteful to her. In the end she even invites Starletta over at her â€Å"new mama’s† for a sleepover. Ellens final say of the matter is â€Å" I came a long way to get here but when you think about it real hard you will see that old Starletta came even farther And all this time I thought I had the hardest row to hoe. † In this she means generally speaking, African Americans have had a rougher start in their lives as stereotypical whole than any white man will have to go through, and she is just now appreciating the fact that she does not have to fight to be an equal with the world. â€Å"In times of adversity or hardship, one’s true character is revealed† is undeniably the most relevant theme in Ellen foster. Ellen’s loss of her parents and rejection from her loved ones eventually makes her realize that colored people aren’t bad like she was raised to think they were, and that her own family was who she should have been ashamed to be around her whole life. Among other things she comes to terms with the fact she is not the only person with a rough childhood, and she ends up not only in a new and great home, but with a new mindset. Racism is no longer a concern for Ellen and in that; she has grown closer with her best friend Starletta. Ellen was always strong, but by the end of Kaye Gibbon’s novel, she’s a survivor.