Misconception of African Americans Essay Example for Free

Misconception of African Americans Essay Since the beginning of time African Americans have been viewed negatively. We have always been viewed as a threat to society and frowned upon by many races. There are many cliches displayed in the media of what African Americans are supposed to act like. These conclusions cause almost immediate negative feelings from other races and sometimes by our own race. African American females in television shows and movies are often shown as the loud â€Å"ghetto† acting, angry black girl who is always â€Å"telling someone off†. Actor Tyler Perry has been criticized for illustrating African American females as â€Å"big momma†, another negative portrayal of black women. Other times shapely video vixens cause other black females to be portrayed as â€Å"jump-offs† or gold diggers. African American males have even greater judgments to overcome. They are viewed as a menace to society. They are illustrated as wild, angry, dangerous â€Å"gang bangers†. Black men are viewed as absentee fathers or abusive husbands. Although, in some cases, African American males do possess some of these characteristics, there are just as many black men that are positive role models. These ignorant judgments are called stereotypes. A stereotype is defined as â€Å"a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing†. Stereotypes, in my own words, are judgments blindly made by people who use ignorance as an excuse to be biased against those who are different from them. There are many different types of stereotyping. Racial stereotyping, sexist stereotyping, stereotypes about cultures, and sexual orientation stereotypes are all judgments that can affect one’s life in many ways. Stereotypes are, sadly, made by everyone. Racial stereotyping, however, is the most common type of stereotyping, and can sometimes be dangerous. The Trayvon Martin story, for example, is a situation where stereotyping turned tragic. Trayvon Martin was a young African American boy who was walking from the store with nothing but Skittles and a drink in his pockets. Because of his race, and the stereotype of what black Males are capable of, he was targeted, and tragically killed. There have been many similar cases of dangerous stereotyping. People’s fear of what the media shows we are suited to do, has gotten out of control. Too many of us are dying because of this fear. While many stereotypes do seem to be believable, people like Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, my grandparents, and my mom allow me to realize that not all stereotypes are true.

Industrial Revolution Essay -- Technology, Inventions

Advancements in agriculture, textile, transportation and economic growth became possible only because of the Industrial Revolution. Taking place in the United States between 18th and 19th century, times went from separating the cotton from its seed to using an automated cotton gin made by an American inventor Eli Whitney. This allowed for the lower class citizens to be able to have the important goods such as medication and clothing. Before the American Industrial Revolution, people were mostly farmers and life went by slowly and tedious work was required for simple tasks. But with inventions like the cotton gin, and the assembly line, mass production evolved. The United States had one of the fastest economic growths than any other country during this time. The Industrial Revolution developed the world and how it produced its goods. There were numerous inventions that made everyday tasks easier to perform by eliminating the tedious work that people performed by replacing it with a m achine. The invention that fired up the Industrial Revolution was the steam engine, which was invented by James Watt in 1775. The steam engine made travel faster and more efficient, which is why it earned the name â€Å"Iron Horse†. The steam engine not only powered the trains, but it also powered the factories (The Industrial Revolution United State, page 27). This provided numerous factories and industries to transport their goods farther away and at a faster pace. The numerous inventions led to the radically increasing American economy. There would be more export of goods which would mean higher flow of money into the economy to boost the value of the American dollar. Mass production was cheap and it meant more goods can be produced, resulting in more pr... ...e busy cities and worked in the manufacturing and textile industries because the jobs altered from self – production to mass production. By constructing the road to a colossal economy, developing countless jobs with a better work ethic, and making life easier with innovative inventions, the American Industrial Revolution was a blessing to America’s progression. Inventions starting from the cotton gin by Eli Whitney to the Model T invented by Henry Ford, the American lives and economy changed drastically. Changing from the agrarian economy to the manufacturing and textile industries, it opened doors to most people to start a new job in a new economy. It would not have been possible to achieve the simplest tasks as we would have today if it was not for the Industrial Revolution. Thus, the Industrial Revolution was a remarkable phenomenon in America’s history.

Henry David Thoreau and Resistance to Civil Government Essay

Henry David Thoreau was the most active participant in the Transcendentalist movement. He was a student and mentee of Ralph Waldo Emerson. While Emerson had transcendental ideas, Thoreau would act on them and fully practice them. Hence, he felt that he and others should resist America’s Civil Government. I heartily accept the motto, â€Å"That government is best which governs least†; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. (Thoreau) Thoreau starts out his famous essay with the statement that government should be weak and the people strong. He was a strong advocate of the individual the rights of the individual. To him, a person should be self reliant, as Emerson taught. He felt that the more citizens relied on their government for their needs, then the stronger the government would become and that could be dangerous. He felt that being controlled by a government, or anything else for that matter, was a tragedy in a person’s life. The main reason that Thoreau wrote Resistance to Civil Government was because he was completely tired of a government that could allow slavery to exist. Slavery was an institution in the Southern states where people actually owned African Americans. He felt that if it was wrong for a government to have to much power over the individual and his/her rights, then surely it was wrong for another human to own another. In the institution of slavery, the slave has no rights at all. Slaves were made to work extremely hard. Thoreau had nothing against hard work for an individual’s own self-reliance, but the slave did not benefit from his/her work. The owner reaped all of the profit. They did not get to choose their profession, it was illegal to teach them to read or write, many owners beat them, and they could be sold away from their families at any time. The owner controlled everything about them even life and death. Slavery went against everything that Thoreau believed about government and the individual. If it was true that it government should have as little control as possible, then it was an abomination that this kind of power could control another. Thoreau was so appalled that a government that claimed in its constitution that all men were created equal, could turn a blind eye to the institution of slavery. He decided that since his tax dollars went to a government that supported such an institution, he would no longer pay his taxes. He hoped that he could inspire others who proclaimed abolitionist thoughts would do the same. However, they did not. In fact when Emerson came to the jail to post his bond, he asked Thoreau why he was in jail. Thoreau responded by asking Emerson why he was not in there with him. Thoreau’s idea of civil disobedience to a government that is not of the people has been successful for several generations after Thoreau’s death. He impacted the lives of such great men as Ghandi and the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. King used Thoreau’s method and turned a nation around and forced it to recognize the civil rights of all people by Resistance to Civil Government. Thoreau and his idea of peaceful protest will remain an affective way to change governments for generations to come.

The Harmful Effects Of Smoking Cigarettes - 964 Words

Tobacco is widely used by people around the world. It’s so addicting that many people cannot prevent themselves from smoking. The reason is because of a toxin called nicotine. Nicotine can be found in all tobacco products. Prior to research, researchers have found that nicotine changes the way the brain works, also when a person smokes tobacco they not only consume nicotine, but also over 600 chemicals including tar, ammonia, acetone, lead, methanol, and more (What s In a Cigarette?). Many of those chemicals are poisonous and at least 69 of them can cause cancer (Pietrangelo). The nicotine as well as over 600 chemicals are very harmful for the body, however the fact it’s harmful doesn’t stop people from smoking. Many people will argue smoking is very beneficial. They would seek tobacco cigarettes because it relieves stress, makes them look attractive and cool, and reduces their hunger, and much more. The positive effects of smoking may seem beneficial, but the ne gative effects make a greater impact in your life and body. Tobacco smoking effects a person’s life in many ways; it can effect a person physically and mentally. Tobacco can damage inner organs including: the brain, heart, lungs, mouth, and throat, as well as the outer organs including the skin, hair, and nails. To begin with, let’s clear something about smoking. Many people will argue smoking relieves stress, but studies conducted at the London School of Medicine and Dentistry proven it was a myth (O’Conner). TheShow MoreRelatedEssay on Harmful Effects Of Smoking Cigarettes1247 Words   |  5 PagesHarmful Effects Of Smoking Cigarettes Mentioned Photos Not Included There are numerous effects of smoking Cigarettes that affect the individual. They can affect not only your health but also your social and family life. It can also affect the non-smoker around you. 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