Author's note: I am writing about freedom in the North in the 1800's. My purpose of writing is to show that even though African American people back then were free, their freedom was less than many others.
In the times of the 1800’s-1860’s, how free were the Africans in the North? The answer is not very free.
To deal with participation in government, the African American citizens weren't allowed to vote, or do barley anything the whites could, simply because voting was something that the African American people couldn’t have a say on because their opinion was "wrong" even if it was the same opinion as a white person. The Caucasians were racist. It took so long until the Caucasian people realized that skin color does not what so ever matters. People are people, no matter what you look like. There were some rights that the black people had, when lucky.
The blacks were allowed to own some land, but nothing compared to the whites. If you are white, think about how you would be treated back then if you were black. It's horrible that actual real people have gone through stuff as bad as this. Compare your life now, to someone who was black back then. So many people take everything for granted, and it's a shame.
Back in the "day" the rights the blacks had were very low. They couldn’t do anything with white people, from using the same bathrooms, to going to the same churches. The rights that the blacks had were so different than to this day. Today, mostly everyone is treated with respect no matter what the skin color is and that’s the way it should always be… except for people who still are racist for whatever reason that is. For education, black children and teens often were not allowed to attend regular school, therefore had to find a good education plan whether its having your parents teach you, or going to more extremes, even not having a education at all if necessary, even though that is never necessary in times today, but everything is so different now.
In conclusion, blacks were not free. Throughout the 1800’s, it was a very hard time for the people with a darker skin tone, and the way that they got treated is very poor.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Mother to Son Parody
This is a parody of the poem Mother to Son by Langston Hughs. The tone is giving it is advisory telling someone to never give up. I am writing as Steve to his mother from the book Monster.
Well, mom, I’ll tell you:
Life for me has been difficult
there have been different people
and drama,
and a lot of friends
and places where the carpet has been torn out-
Bare.
But all the time
I have been strong
and reaching for the sky
and turning corners
and sometimes in no light
In the dark
So don’t be disappointed if you get bored.
don’t you sit out
Don’t fall
it will get easier
Just Never Give Up
Well, mom, I’ll tell you:
Life for me has been difficult
there have been different people
and drama,
and a lot of friends
and places where the carpet has been torn out-
Bare.
But all the time
I have been strong
and reaching for the sky
and turning corners
and sometimes in no light
In the dark
So don’t be disappointed if you get bored.
don’t you sit out
Don’t fall
it will get easier
Just Never Give Up
Friday, March 16, 2012
Themes of Fallen
Author’s note: I am writing an essay about the main theme in the novel “Fallen” by Lauren Kate. My purpose of writing is to show how “Fallen” is a mystery.
“I don’t know. Prying into Daniel’s files? I’m not sure I need another reason to feel like a crazy stalker girl” said by Luce Price with deep expression to one of her many friends, Penn at her new boarding school, Sword & Cross. Nothing is more on Luce’s mind than to find out a secret Daniel has been hiding from everybody, and who knows what extremes she will go to, to find out what that secret is that he is desperately wanting to keep hidden. Since Luce considers herself a “stalker” she questions if she is right, or wrong throughout the novel, but within the book you realize that it is a mystery.
The three themes of Fallen are mystery, loss of innocence, and family. Ever since a horrible accident with one of her close friends ending in death, Luce is accused for the murderer since she was with him that night. Her parents don’t believe her and sent her to a boarding school filled with “freaks” and nobody believes her. Everybody thinks she is a killer or a psycho person, but when her parents sent her there, it was like they were scared of her. They knew they could only talk to Luce once a week and they were okay with that. The theme is family because her family leaves her and in Sword & Cross her friends are her new family.
Second, the other theme is loss of innocence. Luce lost her innocence when she was accused of killing her friend, and got shipped off to her new school. She lost her innocence because it was murder, but it wasn’t a crime she committed.
The last theme is mystery. Luce is in love with this boy named Daniel, but he is holding a secret. It is a mystery what the secret is, but also nobody knows what Luce will do next… She is unpredictable, and that’s what makes it a great read. Although through the whole book there are secrets, lies, and crazy actions, it keeps you guessing.
A connection I can make is Luce is accused of things she didn’t do by her parents, and my parent also accuse me of a lot of stuff I don’t do or that m brother does.
“I don’t know. Prying into Daniel’s files? I’m not sure I need another reason to feel like a crazy stalker girl” said by Luce Price with deep expression to one of her many friends, Penn at her new boarding school, Sword & Cross. Nothing is more on Luce’s mind than to find out a secret Daniel has been hiding from everybody, and who knows what extremes she will go to, to find out what that secret is that he is desperately wanting to keep hidden. Since Luce considers herself a “stalker” she questions if she is right, or wrong throughout the novel, but within the book you realize that it is a mystery.
The three themes of Fallen are mystery, loss of innocence, and family. Ever since a horrible accident with one of her close friends ending in death, Luce is accused for the murderer since she was with him that night. Her parents don’t believe her and sent her to a boarding school filled with “freaks” and nobody believes her. Everybody thinks she is a killer or a psycho person, but when her parents sent her there, it was like they were scared of her. They knew they could only talk to Luce once a week and they were okay with that. The theme is family because her family leaves her and in Sword & Cross her friends are her new family.
Second, the other theme is loss of innocence. Luce lost her innocence when she was accused of killing her friend, and got shipped off to her new school. She lost her innocence because it was murder, but it wasn’t a crime she committed.
The last theme is mystery. Luce is in love with this boy named Daniel, but he is holding a secret. It is a mystery what the secret is, but also nobody knows what Luce will do next… She is unpredictable, and that’s what makes it a great read. Although through the whole book there are secrets, lies, and crazy actions, it keeps you guessing.
A connection I can make is Luce is accused of things she didn’t do by her parents, and my parent also accuse me of a lot of stuff I don’t do or that m brother does.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Motherly Advice
Author’s note: I am writing a response on “Mother to Son” written by author Langston Hughs. My purpose of writing is to identify the mood, tone, and figurative language throughout the story.
When you have a poor relationship with your father, I’m sure great advice from your mother would mean a lot. In the short poem “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughs, the poem is from the mother, to the son about never giving up. In a way, the tone, which is the expression the author has, is motivational, because of the way the mother is looking out for her son, only wanting the best. How the author wants you to feel is inspired, reasoned because even if you have ‘tacks’ in your life, or have been broken, always persevere. I thought the figurative language was amazing, because life can’t be a crystal stair, and your life can’t be “boarded up” but those were great ways of explaining how she felt at certain points in her life, and that’s how the figurative language was meant to be in this poem.
When you have a poor relationship with your father, I’m sure great advice from your mother would mean a lot. In the short poem “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughs, the poem is from the mother, to the son about never giving up. In a way, the tone, which is the expression the author has, is motivational, because of the way the mother is looking out for her son, only wanting the best. How the author wants you to feel is inspired, reasoned because even if you have ‘tacks’ in your life, or have been broken, always persevere. I thought the figurative language was amazing, because life can’t be a crystal stair, and your life can’t be “boarded up” but those were great ways of explaining how she felt at certain points in her life, and that’s how the figurative language was meant to be in this poem.
Friday, March 9, 2012
It's Not All About the Looks Edited
Author’s note: I am writing about the description of the main character in the book “Monster” by Walter Dean Myers. My purpose of writing is to understand the way people look, as well as how they are treated.
When you read a book do you even pay attention to what the main character actually looks like? In the book “Monster” by Walter Dean Myers, the author demonstrated a great job of describing what the main character Steve Harmon looks like; mostly because the setting is in jail and the whole story is written out as a screenplay or diary format. In his description there is a file report of his profile which tells you all about the main character. Steve is prosecuted for robbery and murder, but to the reader, it is still unclear whether he committed the crime or not.
First of all, Steve Harmon is a young sixteen year old African American teenager who got arrested for supposedly being the look-out in a robbery that took place at a local drug store in Harlem, New York ending with the clerk lying dead. Who Steve really is, not even he knows, but within the book he rediscovers his identity. He is tall, like a skyscraper. Steve has dark brown eyes like the bark of a weeping tree in the shade, and has dark brown hair spiked up like needles sticking out of his head. Despite what he looks like, the way he is treated makes you wonder if it’s because his skin color, because he is a very nice young man, hanging out with the wrong people.
How Steve is treated is a whole other story. Think about an innocent young man being accused of being a helper during a robbery, and even a murder. This has been really hard for Steve and even though he is the main character, being on trial is not his only role throughout the novel. He is very strong inside like a little boy fighting cancer; all they can do is stay strong. I would imagine that anybody else would break down from all the pressure. Adding to that, he is still just a kid. Basically the only thing that is keeping him sane at the time is writing his life in a movie plot line on paper almost as if it were a script for a movie. This is his way of understanding and coping with everything that is happening at the time.
When you read a book do you even pay attention to what the main character actually looks like? In the book “Monster” by Walter Dean Myers, the author demonstrated a great job of describing what the main character Steve Harmon looks like; mostly because the setting is in jail and the whole story is written out as a screenplay or diary format. In his description there is a file report of his profile which tells you all about the main character. Steve is prosecuted for robbery and murder, but to the reader, it is still unclear whether he committed the crime or not.
First of all, Steve Harmon is a young sixteen year old African American teenager who got arrested for supposedly being the look-out in a robbery that took place at a local drug store in Harlem, New York ending with the clerk lying dead. Who Steve really is, not even he knows, but within the book he rediscovers his identity. He is tall, like a skyscraper. Steve has dark brown eyes like the bark of a weeping tree in the shade, and has dark brown hair spiked up like needles sticking out of his head. Despite what he looks like, the way he is treated makes you wonder if it’s because his skin color, because he is a very nice young man, hanging out with the wrong people.
How Steve is treated is a whole other story. Think about an innocent young man being accused of being a helper during a robbery, and even a murder. This has been really hard for Steve and even though he is the main character, being on trial is not his only role throughout the novel. He is very strong inside like a little boy fighting cancer; all they can do is stay strong. I would imagine that anybody else would break down from all the pressure. Adding to that, he is still just a kid. Basically the only thing that is keeping him sane at the time is writing his life in a movie plot line on paper almost as if it were a script for a movie. This is his way of understanding and coping with everything that is happening at the time.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
It's Not All About the Looks
When you read a book do you even pay attention to what you character actually looks like? In the book “Monster” by Walter Dean Meyer did a great job of describing what the main character Steve Harmon looks like mostly because the setting is in jail and the whole story is written out mostly as a screenplay or diary format. In his description there is a file report of his profile which tells you all about the main character. It is unclear whether he robbed the store or not.
First of all, Steve Harmon is a young sixteen year old African American teenager who got arrested for supposedly being the look-out in a robbery that took place at a local drug store in Harlem, New York ending with the clerk lying dead. Who Steve really is, not even he knows, but within the book he rediscovers his identity.
How Steve is treated is a whole other story. Think about an innocent man being accused of being a part of robbery, and even a murder. This has been really hard for Steve and even though he is the main character, being on trial is not his only role. He is a very strong person and I believe that anybody else would break down from all the pressure being such a young age. Basically the only thing that is keeping him sane at the time is writing a movie plot line on paper almost as if it were a script. This is his way of understanding and coping with everything that is happening at the time.
First of all, Steve Harmon is a young sixteen year old African American teenager who got arrested for supposedly being the look-out in a robbery that took place at a local drug store in Harlem, New York ending with the clerk lying dead. Who Steve really is, not even he knows, but within the book he rediscovers his identity.
How Steve is treated is a whole other story. Think about an innocent man being accused of being a part of robbery, and even a murder. This has been really hard for Steve and even though he is the main character, being on trial is not his only role. He is a very strong person and I believe that anybody else would break down from all the pressure being such a young age. Basically the only thing that is keeping him sane at the time is writing a movie plot line on paper almost as if it were a script. This is his way of understanding and coping with everything that is happening at the time.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Alternate Ending to "Bud, Not Buddy"
Author’s note: In this essay I am writing about what I think would happen if Bud found his real father in the book “Bud, Not Buddy” by Christopher Paul Curtis.
If you were on the search to find your father, how close would you get to finding him? The main character Bud, from “Bud, Not Buddy” went on the adventure of a lifetime, looking for his father. Bud never really knew who his real father was, but four years after the death of his mother, Bud was determined to find his dad. Following the flyers his momma gave him before she passed, Bud finds himself in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Before Bud’s mother died, she gave him a couple of clues that would lead to him finding his father- flyers for a band called “The Dusky Devastators of the Depression!” Although constantly switching orphanages wasn’t enough, Bud decided to run away. On his journey from Flint, Michigan, to Grand Rapids, Michigan, Bud had met some really interesting people along the way, such as Herman E. Calloway. Herman was in the band that Bud had flyers for and when he noticed Bud’s talent for music, Herman wanted but in his band and was willing to do anything to get him in his band but when Bud found the missing piece to himself was he wanted to be in a circus, Bud joined a circus event and he participated as a clown. Because Bud needed to find his father, he figured he needed some money, and he discovered it was fate how there was a circus that he could become a part of, just around the same time he arrived in Grand Rapids.
Though Herman was angry that Bud took the road of a clown, and not a musician, he still let Bud live with him.
“I have an extra room in my house. I live with the rest of the Dusky Devastators of the Depression! If you want you can always tag along with us to performances.” Said Herman. He kept insisting on Bud coming with for a performance on stage when the truth finally came out.
“Okay, Bud. Listen, and you better listen well because what I’m about to tell you will change your life. I know all about your search to find your father, and I know who he is.”
Bud was so shocked, all he could say was
“That’s great! Who is my father? Oh but one more thing, how did you know I was looking for him?”
“Because one thing lead to another and I knew about the flyers and your momma guiding you here with little clues, and Bud, I know one thing and that you are looking at him.” Bud was speechless. He had finally found his father. This was a great moment for him and both Bud and Herman started hugging and crying. Out of excitement Bud said to his dad
“Why? Why for all these years not come visit me or at least let me know that you’re okay? I have gone my whole life not knowing who my father was and knowing now that you knew about me, it hurts. I am very happy but it has just been a mixed up day.”
All Herman could do was stare into the heart broken child’s glossy eyes and question himself in regret.
“It was a… complicated time between your mother and I. I know you wouldn’t understand and in the time, forgive me. I know you are angry, and have mixed emotions, but Bud one thing I know is I love you and never meant to hurt you. Please forgive me it was a terrible mistake. You are such a great kid from what I’ve seen from you these past couple of weeks.” But had forgiven him and decided to look past the mistake that his dad made, being really happy that he finally has a place to call home.
If you were on the search to find your father, how close would you get to finding him? The main character Bud, from “Bud, Not Buddy” went on the adventure of a lifetime, looking for his father. Bud never really knew who his real father was, but four years after the death of his mother, Bud was determined to find his dad. Following the flyers his momma gave him before she passed, Bud finds himself in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Before Bud’s mother died, she gave him a couple of clues that would lead to him finding his father- flyers for a band called “The Dusky Devastators of the Depression!” Although constantly switching orphanages wasn’t enough, Bud decided to run away. On his journey from Flint, Michigan, to Grand Rapids, Michigan, Bud had met some really interesting people along the way, such as Herman E. Calloway. Herman was in the band that Bud had flyers for and when he noticed Bud’s talent for music, Herman wanted but in his band and was willing to do anything to get him in his band but when Bud found the missing piece to himself was he wanted to be in a circus, Bud joined a circus event and he participated as a clown. Because Bud needed to find his father, he figured he needed some money, and he discovered it was fate how there was a circus that he could become a part of, just around the same time he arrived in Grand Rapids.
Though Herman was angry that Bud took the road of a clown, and not a musician, he still let Bud live with him.
“I have an extra room in my house. I live with the rest of the Dusky Devastators of the Depression! If you want you can always tag along with us to performances.” Said Herman. He kept insisting on Bud coming with for a performance on stage when the truth finally came out.
“Okay, Bud. Listen, and you better listen well because what I’m about to tell you will change your life. I know all about your search to find your father, and I know who he is.”
Bud was so shocked, all he could say was
“That’s great! Who is my father? Oh but one more thing, how did you know I was looking for him?”
“Because one thing lead to another and I knew about the flyers and your momma guiding you here with little clues, and Bud, I know one thing and that you are looking at him.” Bud was speechless. He had finally found his father. This was a great moment for him and both Bud and Herman started hugging and crying. Out of excitement Bud said to his dad
“Why? Why for all these years not come visit me or at least let me know that you’re okay? I have gone my whole life not knowing who my father was and knowing now that you knew about me, it hurts. I am very happy but it has just been a mixed up day.”
All Herman could do was stare into the heart broken child’s glossy eyes and question himself in regret.
“It was a… complicated time between your mother and I. I know you wouldn’t understand and in the time, forgive me. I know you are angry, and have mixed emotions, but Bud one thing I know is I love you and never meant to hurt you. Please forgive me it was a terrible mistake. You are such a great kid from what I’ve seen from you these past couple of weeks.” But had forgiven him and decided to look past the mistake that his dad made, being really happy that he finally has a place to call home.
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