...RUNNING head: AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE DIGITAL DIVIDE 1 African Americans and the Digital Divide; Are We Closing the Gap? Submitted for Course Number CIT 514 CIT-514 90 INFORMATION AND DECISION SUPPORT - 90 Concord North Carolina June 30, 2011 RUNNING head: AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE DIGITAL DIVIDE 2 The Digital Divide and African Americans: Are We Closing the Gap? What is the Digital Divide? Defining Digital Divide Since the beginning of the technology and digital ages there have been a lot of discussions about the use of new technology amongst minorities and the poor. These discussions have spurned lots of thoughts and definitions about the digital divide. The digital divide can be defined in a number of ways. It can be defined as the fact that certain parts of the population have substantially better opportunities to benefit from the new economy than other parts of the population (Nielsen, 2006). The digital divide can also be defined as the gap between individuals, households, businesses, and geographic areas at different socio-economic levels with regard both to opportunities to access information and communications technologies and their use of the internet for a wide variety of activities (Flemings, 2011). Lastly, and probably the simplest definition is the gap between those who benefit from digital technology and those who cannot (Smith, "Digital Divide" Defined (Hint: it's not about access.)). All of these definitions are correct and accurately...
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...regard to the implications the policies may have for African American Politics. Midway through his term, the address reconfirmed many of the policies presented previously. President Obama particularly emphasised the need for bipartisanship and respect for one another as a result of the recent Tucson tragedy. Democrats and Republicans intermingling in their seating displayed this. He called for all members of the “American family” to be “bound together as one people”. This is an important note when taking into account that of race for although over time the situation involving African Americans on the whole has improved, there are still many inequalities that still exist. The address emphasised three major points which will analyse innovation, education and infrastructure and technology. Continuing on the strong theme of unity, President Obama suggests that one of the most important investments the United States of America needs to make is that of innovation. He proposes that the nation needs to aim for “this generation’s Sputnik moment”. In this way, President Obama points out that developing nations like India and China are well on their way to becoming leaders in areas of technology and education. To continue being competitive in these areas he suggests the nation needs to “out-innovate, out-educate and outbuild” the rest of the world in order to reduce deficit and allow the nation to prosper. Traditionally, African Americans have had much higher rates of unemployment and lower...
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...faster. I think present day is better than the 1960s. The first reason why I think today is better is because people have the same civil rights as everyone else. Next, we have new technology to help us. Lastly, people aren’t as judgemental as they were back then. To start off, people in the 1960s were very judgemental. If someone looked different from everyone else they would instantly be judged. In the text it states “In today's society, people get tattoos, piercings, and write books or songs without being judged or told not to do it. Back then, people could have...
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...was fifty years ago, in many ways due to, technology, civil rights and medical breakthroughs. Technology today is far more advanced than it was back in 1961. Computers were not household products back then. If you look in a house today you will see at least one computer in most homes. Not only were computers not household items but flat screen televisions, cable, internet, DVD/Blu-ray player, cell phones, digital cameras/camcorders were not in the homes either. With all these things it’s clear that we have more now than people did fifty years ago and these are only a few examples of what we have now that was not around fifty years ago. Today with the technology we have, we can do more and achieve more than anyone ever did fifty years ago. Advancements in technology that have been made today have made life easier for people than it did for the people in 1961. The cost alone for a computer has dropped thousands of dollars, making it possible for us to have one or more computers in our house instead of not having one at all. In 1961 people didn’t make enough money to have a household computer. The cost of computers were anywhere from five to ten thousand dollars back then. Very few people would have ever been able to afford that. Now computers cost as little as three hundred dollars and they are much better than the computer that were made back then. Computers are not only for our homes though. We now have the technology to use them in our everyday life to make our...
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...THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FACEBOOK™ ACTIVITY AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS by Eric V. Brubaker Liberty University A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education Liberty University April, 2013 1 The Relationship Between Facebook™ Activity and Academic Performance Among African American Students by Eric V. Brubaker A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA April, 2013 APPROVED BY: Amanda Rockinson-Szapkiw, Ed.D., Committee Chair Jennifer Courduff, Ph.D., Committee Member Judy Sandlin, Ph.D., Committee Member Scott Watson, Ph.D., Associate Dean, Advanced Programs 2 ABSTRACT This non-experimental, regression study examined the relationship between Facebook™ activity and academic performance for an African American sample population. The study was conducted at a large, four-year, private university in the Mid-Atlantic. All undergraduate, African American students enrolled in the College of General Studies, School of Health Sciences, and School of Education comprised the sample population. Volunteer participants completed a Facebook™ Activity Survey, which is an instrument used to collect semester grade point averages (GPAs), time-use of Facebook™, multitasking information, type of Facebook™ activities, and demographic information. The results of...
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...trends and innovations shaped American culture during the 1920s? There was many trends and innovations that changed the American culture during the 1920s including new technology, communication, and the knowledge of science. New technology created the automobiles and airplanes which improved transportation. Communication and entertainment increased due to radio’s and movies. And media and popularity helped promote sports. These are only a couple of innovations that shaped America. Technology changed American life forever with the automobiles and airplanes. The automobiles allowed families to move further away from the cities, lowered unemployment rates, increased industries and mass production, and brought excitement and adventure to...
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...established by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935, aimed to provide an opportunity for both people and the American economy during a time of great struggle within the United States. What made the Works Progress Administration significant in United States history was the fact that it unintentionally stimulated social reform and progress within American society, even though its main purpose was to create jobs for artists and stimulate economic growth. An analysis of artwork from the Works Progress Administration, reveals that, through the United States’ involvement of creating jobs for artists, social, racial and gender barriers were disseminated, which allowed for progress in American society both economically and socially. After being elected into the presidency in 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered his New Deal to the American people, which addressed the devastating effects of the Great Depression. A number of bills were passed as part of the New Deal that was meant to alleviate the poverty rate, reduce unemployment, and stimulate economic recovery. Historians consider the Works Progress Administration to be one of the New Deal’s major work relief programs, employing over 8.5 million people nationally. The establishment of the New Deal was significant in the history of our country because it was the first time the United States government took responsibility and assisted the American people through such a tough time. Additionally, the New Deal questioned the role Federalism played...
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...During the late 1800s, a European man named David Livingstone traveled to Africa to promote Christianity and was there for so long, an American newspaper writer Henry Stanley was hired to find David Livingstone as they feared he was dead. During his exposition, he traced the course along the Congo river, and this made King Leopold II of Belgium interested. He then had Henry Stanley help him take over land in the Congo's. Eventually, due to poor treatment of African Americans, the Belgian government took Congo away from King Leopold. When Belgian got control of the Congo's, France wanted land. They eventually got the north bank of the Congo River. Eventually...
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...Obstacles African Americans Suffer The definition of an ‘obstacle’ is ‘something that obstructs or hinders progress.’ African Americans from the start of time, have always experienced obstacles. The reason for the suffering behind these obstacles is probably imbedded somewhere in the deep history from which African Americans come from. However, in today’s society, one would think that a specific race would not have to endure any obstacles because of their race, but African Americans do. African Americans today, still face discrimination and fewer opportunities in the federal workplace. The United States Equal Employment Opportunity is a federal law enforcement agency which enforces laws against workplace discrimination of any sort. The United States Equal Employment Opportunity investigates discrimination issues based on a person’s race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability. Between 2010 and 2012, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity worked with other bias agencies to discover the discrimination issues which African Americans suffered in the federal workplace. One of the biggest obstacles which African Africans suffer in the federal workplace is dealing with the unconscious biases and perceptions about African Americans. These biases and perceptions play a significant role in employment decisions in the federal sector. These unconscious biases are generally based off of learned stereotypes that operate automatically when we interact...
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...Women Inventors, What significant inventions( important parts of our lives) are women responsible for? Battery container Nancy Perkins 1986 Beehive Thiphena Hornbrook 1861 Canister vacuum Nancy Perkins 1987 Car heater Margaret Wilcox 1893 Circular saw Tabitha Babbit 1812 Computer program Augusta Ada Byron 1842 Cooking stove Elizabeth Hawk 1867 Dam and reservoir construction Harriet Strong 1887 Direct and return mailing envelope Beulah Henry 1962 Dishwasher Josephine Cochran 1872 Drinking fountain device Laurene O'Donnell 1985 Electric hot water heater Ida Forbes 1917 Elevated railway Mary Walton 1881 Engine muffler El Dorado Jones 1917 Feedback control for data processing Erna Hoover 1971 Fire escape Anna Connelly 1887 Globes Ellen Fitz 1875 Grain storage bin Lizzie Dickelman 1920 Improved locomotive wheels Mary Jane Montgomery 1864 Improvement in dredging machines Emily Tassey 1876 Improvement in stone pavements Emily Gross 1877 Kevlar, a steel-like fiber used in radial tires, crash helmets, and bulletproof vests Stephanie Kwolek 1966 Life raft Maria Beaseley 1882 Liquid Paper correction fluid Bette Nesmith Graham 1956 Locomotive chimney Mary Walton 1879 Medical syringe Letitia Geer 1899 Mop-wringer pail Eliza Wood 1889 Oil burner Amanda Jones 1880 Permanent wave for the hair Marjorie Joyner 1928 Portable screen summer house Nettie Rood 1882 Refrigerator Florence Parpart 1914 Rolling pin Catherine Deiner 1891 Rotary...
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...one may see racism all over America. In the future there will be no racism and everyone will be equal. Prior to today, African Americans along with other races were discriminated and put to shame because of the color of their skin. Slavery started as early as 1619 where people of color were treated as animals. When the civil war came in 1861, in a population of twelve million, four million were slaves (Contributors, Wikipedia). According to Samantha Siddique, “discriminatory laws barred them from voting and owning property.” One of the laws was the John Crow law, this law “made it legally acceptable to force African Americans to use separate washrooms, entrances, water fountains, schools, and transportation” (Segregation Facts). After all African Americans were treated as non humans throughout history....
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...ongoing situations which was changing America into modern America. Technology was advancing, different cultures were spreading, arts and music were blooming. After World War I everything called for a change in the nation, which was known as the Roaring Twenties. However, with America advancing laws were being created and discrimination was being a problem. Laws that were being created violated American civil rights, these laws made people break rules and it also increased discrimination. As technology increased so did the consumption of alcohol increased during the 1920’s. Alcohol was consumed by almost everyone, and it was bringing bad effects to America. The 18th amendment was passed, which was known for prohibition, banning every drink that contained alcohol, except medicine that contained alcohol. The law of prohibition violated people’s civil rights, it was forcing people to stop drinking when they have the freedom to do as they please. This led to Americans to breaking more laws which increased organized crime. For example, Americans opened speakeasies, gang members were still producing and transporting alcohol. By passing prohibition people were breaking more laws than when Americans were allowed to consume...
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...Whenever there is a divide created in society if it is not addressed quickly it can grow roots and have severe long term affects. This is a problem that if left alone could do catastrophic damage to the economic and social stability of the United States and the world. When the technical explosion erupted decades ago, Hispanics and African Americans as well as other minority’s where much less likely to use one of these incredible machines. As time went by another problem presented itself. As this innovation grew it became obvious that these groups had less access to the Web. This coupled with slower online connections and antiquated equipment put them on the wrong side of the digital divide. This technology is becoming almost a necessity in this day and age. It is clear that having quality internet access can be beneficial in many ways. It gives the user an avenue to educational opportunities, employment, and public health availability. It is extremely critical that we are able to provide lower income households the ability to acquire a quality high speed internet service. As the years have passed Hispanics and African Americans have become more likely than the general population to connect to the internet by way of their cell phones. However, connecting to the internet for entertainment purposes and connecting for professional reasons are two clearly different uses. There is nothing wrong with using the internet for social...
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...before the founding of our country, the American way of life has, and continues to be, hypocritical to the first lines of the Declaration of Independence. “That all men are created equal.” The lines that every American should hold dear to the heart, and many even lose their lives to uphold. America has seen many times of economic downturn, and economic prosperity. Though for African Americans; economics has been consistently been a downturn. The opportunity to play a role in, and to enjoy economic prosperity has always been an uphill battle for these groups. Racial inequality in America has always been inconsistent with equal opportunity in the job market. Which ultimately means that groups such as African Americans have always been deprived of their equal rights to fairly compete for jobs. Because the level of playing field is heavily shifted against minority groups and woman, there will always be high unemployment for these groups. What people tend to forget to realize is that this disparity in equal opportunity hurts the overall economy. When the nations employers deprive particular groups of economic opportunity, unemployment rises, and when unemployment rises, the poverty level will also rise. This is especially true for the case of African American. As we will see, African Americans fall below Caucasians in median income, and above Caucasians in poverty. We will also see a long history of inequalities towards African Americans in the Housing market. Comparative Median...
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...Determine the opportunities and challenges facing housing lenders and real-estate agents across ethnic subcultures. Lenders and real-estate agents face different opportunities and challenges among the African American and Hispanics in regards to the housing market. African Americans make up one of the major ethnic subcultures, representing 13 percent of the American population, where on average, are younger than the white population, have less education, and lower household incomes. “One-third of black households earn $50,000 or more and nearly 10 percent earn $100,000 or more” (Hawkins). African Americans are segmented as market leaders or market followers. Within those are generational differences which pose challenges when it comes to marketing because they don’t follow the stereotypical images that they have been subjected to. Many are “driving growth in income and purchase power through education and professional achievement. African Americans represent $799 billion in buying power, which is expected to grow by some 34 percent through 2011” (Hawkins). This fact gives lenders and real estate agents opportunity to implement specific marketing tactics. Internet usage among African Americans is on the rise, allowing marketers to leverage online-based advertising for example. Hispanics represent another major ethnic subculture and have diverse nationalities including people of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South/Central America or any other Spanish ethnicity. “The Hispanic...
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