...Karla Veloz Professor Wendy Tronrud English 130 29 April 2016 All living is listening for a throat to open — The length of its silence shaping lives. When he opened his mouth to speak, his speech was what was written in the silence, the length of the silence becoming a living. And what had been “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States…” becomes “I do solemnly swear that I will execute the office of President to the United States faithfully…” (112-113) Silence versus Voice: Exploring the Effects of the Stop-and-Frisk Law on Black Citizens in Claudia Rankine’s Citizen: An American Lyric. In Citizen: An American Lyric, Claudia Rankine’s prose poetry sheds light on the racial aggressions...
Words: 2209 - Pages: 9
...Douglass’s 4th of July speech…What is it? Does it mean anything? What does it have to do with us as African Americans? Can or does His speech still have an impact on our generation? Honestly I believe his speech is something that is very important to everyone who is African American. In Douglass’s speech, he shared his perception of 4th of July as a free man and slave man. One of the things that really stood out to me in his speech is when he said “My subject then, fellow citizens, is American Slavery. I shall see this day and its popular characteristics from the slave point of view.” How and what makes 4th of July important to a slave. He explains briefly says “Nation never looked blacker to me than on this Fourth of July.” I believe...
Words: 346 - Pages: 2
...Hate Crimes Hate Crimes In today’s society crimes are being committed all around us, but hate crimes are particularly hurtful crimes and are committed against people for things that they cannot change. Martin Luther King once said that “Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.” So why is it that these crimes are still tolerated in 2012? Racism has been a major contributor to hate crimes but as the years have gone by it is not the only factor involved. Gender, sexual preferences, disabilities, and religious beliefs also play a role in this type of bias. Hate crimes are criminal offenses committed against a person property or society which is solely motivated by the offenders’ bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnicity. Who, Why, What, When and Where? These crimes are usually committed out of fear, ignorance, prejudice, or just a general lack of understanding with the highest percentage (62.3%) being committed by our white society. The FBI Hate Crimes Statistic lists 6,624 documented cases for 2010 alone. Racial hate crimes contributed 47.3%, followed by religious hate crimes at 20%, sexual orientation at 19.3%, ethnic crimes at 12.8%, and crimes against people with disabilities at .6%. 32% of these crimes are committed on the victims own property, 28% across various locations, 19% on public roads, highways, and alleys, and the remaining 11% at our Public Schools and Colleges. Some things that are done during...
Words: 2162 - Pages: 9
...Declaration of Independence states that “all men are created equal.” The term “Hate Crime” defined by Public Law #103-322A, a 1994 federal law, defines a hate crime as: “a crime in which the defendant intentionally selects a victim, or in the case of a property crime, the property that is the object of the crime, because of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation of any person.” Although this is the federal definition, each state has their own legal hate crime statues, which states what constitutes and is punishable as a hate crime in that state. Some states do not recognize hate crimes at all, yet, as it clearly states in the countries founding documents the people of this country are “one nation” and “all men are created equal.” The number of hate crimes being committed is growing in numbers. What is considered a “hate crime” today is no longer restricted to the issue of black and white, but the national standard for these crimes remains unclear. Some individuals feel that hate crime legislation or Hate Crime Laws are not only unconstitutional, but redundant and unnecessary. The writer of “Hate Crime Laws Are Unnecessary” argues that “hate crime laws, whether at the state or federal level, are not necessary” ("Hate Crime Laws Are Unnecessary"). The writer further argues that passing such laws will not prevent crimes motivated by...
Words: 2281 - Pages: 10
...The United State Constitution CJ 310-02 Criminal Law April 7, 2011 In Criminal law, there is an ancient proposition saying,” no crime without law, no punishment without law. That in criminal law is based on the principle of legality. The ancient saying means that no one can be convicted or punished, unless there is a law that defines it’s as a crime. The case of Treva Hughes, Ms Hughes was driving while under the influence. She ran into Ms. Reesa Poole and killing her unborn child and was convicted. The Appeals Court reversed her conviction because the law didn’t give Ms. Hughes fair warning that it included the unborn in homicide stature. An Ex Post Facto Laws criminalizes an act that was innocent when it was committed. It is the clearest example of ex post facto laws, they’re also the rarest. Ex Post Facto also increases the punishment for a crime after the crime was committed. Just as clear an rare like the first one. An example is raising the age of statutory rape form 16 to 21. Finally it takes away a defense that was available to a defendant when the crime was committed. The Ex Post Facto ban is protect private individuals by ensuring that legislature give them a fair warning about criminal and that they can rely on that requirement. The other purpose is to prevent legislators form passing arbitrary and vindictive laws. The Void-for-Vagueness Doctrine takes aim similar to the ban on ex post facto. Void laws fails to give fair warning to individuals...
Words: 2745 - Pages: 11
...January 2012 Using material from Item A and elsewhere, assess the usefulness of labelling theory in explaining crime and deviance. (21 marks) The Labelling theory plays a major role in explaining crime and deviance. It implies how actions become labelled as criminal or deviant in society and how its only deemed as such labels when society says it is. Since the early 1950s, one group of sociologists influenced by symbolic interactionism, questioned the approach that there is a difference from those who offend and those who do not, the sociologists argue that most people commit deviant and criminal acts, but only some people are caught and stigmatized for it, therefore it is pointless trying to search for the differences between deviants and non-deviants, instead, the stress should be on the reaction to and definition of deviance. “Deviant behaviour is behaviour that people so label” - Becker (1963). However, labelling theorists have also been criticized for presenting deviants as perfectly normal people and not acknowledging that there has to be a reason for the label to be placed on them. In 'The Outsiders', Becker gives a clear and simple illustration of the labelling argument, drawing up an anthropological study by Malinowski (1948/1982) of tradtional culture on a pacific Island, describing how a youth killed himself because he had been publicly accused of incest. On Malinowski's first inquiry about the case he saw the islanders digust on the situation however, on further...
Words: 594 - Pages: 3
...right to freedom of speech was given to all of them. Without this right the participants would not have been able to express their opinion on the political state of affairs in Athens. This would make Athens less of a democracy and more of an autocracy, ruled by either one or several of the same ideologies. (Smith, D., & Torres, L. (2006)) An important figure in the...
Words: 3812 - Pages: 16
...“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character.” This was famous and inspirational quote spoken by activist and pastor, Martin Luther King Jr. He played a major role in black history and fighting for equality for all races. When thinking of Martin Luther King Jr., another person with very similar qualities comes into mind, Former President, Barack Obama. Barack Obama was the 44th president of the United States who had many similar views and qualities to King’s. These two men have played a substantial role in shaping America into what it is today. Martin Luther King Jr. and Barack Obama both grew up in similar conditions and circumstances. They both raised in good conditions and grew up in households with their parents. Both men also came from middle class backgrounds. These two also graduated from some of the best universities in the Boston Area. Obama attended Harvard Law School in 1988 and graduated with great distinction in 1991. M.L.K. Jr. attended Boston University and was awarded his Ph.D. in 1955 when he was only 25 years old....
Words: 817 - Pages: 4
...named Fredrick Douglass. The goal of his famous speech “What to Slave is Fourth of July?” was to convince the people of the wrongfulness of slavery. In his speech he stated that while he hears the joy of the rejoicing citizens he also hears mournful wail of millions whose chains and grievous rendered more intolerable by jubilee shouts that reach them. What this means is that while the whites are celebrating “freedom”, his people mourn. He also questioned his audience by asking “Was I being mocked by them inviting me to speak?”. He believed that fourth of July was a revolting reminder to him and...
Words: 447 - Pages: 2
...states things that everybody in the room knows to emphasize it. For example, in his speech where Atticus says “This case is not a difficult one, it requires no minute sifting of complicated facts, but it does require you to be sure beyond all reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the defendant. To begin with, this case should never have come to trial. This case is as simple as black and white” (Lee 271.) This quote excellently summarizes the trial and how simple it was. The judge, the...
Words: 932 - Pages: 4
...Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombing The Civil Rights Movement contained hundreds of events that affected the lives of millions of blacks and whites. Many people know about the “March on Washington” or MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Some critical events during this time period were not so peaceful or uplifting though. Lots of events included deaths, explosions, bombs, or just plain sadness and tragedy. The events, causes, and results of the Sixteenth Street church bombing, which occurred in the 1960’s, were an important part of the Civil Rights Movement in America. The Birmingham church bombing was a major event in the Civil Rights Movement. On Sunday, September 15th, 1963 a bombing occurred at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. This was the seventh bombing in Birmingham within six months! About 200 members of the church were in the building on this horrific day (History.com 2). Most were going to Sunday school or preparing for the 11am service. Four girls, wearing white, were preparing for their church’s annual youth-day worship service. They were getting ready in a bathroom underneath a staircase. A Caucasian man had been seen getting out of a turquoise Chevrolet and placing a box somewhere around the church earlier this day. At around 10:22 am, a box of fifteen dynamite sticks with a timer hooked to them exploded at the church (Hampton and Fayer 171). The detonation of the bomb happened on the east side of the church, under the...
Words: 1209 - Pages: 5
...Negro is a speech written by Booker T. Washington September 18, 1895. Washington was born April 5, 1856 and died November 14, 1915. He was known as an educator and a reformer for the black community. A majority of his professional career was spent living in Tuskegee Alabama, home of Tuskegee University (Encyclopedia Britannica para. 1). “Along with disenfranchisement, the 1890’s saw the widespread imposition of segregation in the south” (Foner p.646). At this period in time whites were having issues coinciding with blacks, rather it was in the workplace, theatre, or on a train. Since Reconstruction, matters have only got worse. The South at this point were still trying to find ways around federal laws like arresting unemployed blacks for minor crimes and placing them onto farms to work as punishment (Foner 641). The biographical detail I will point out is where he lived throughout his professional life, Tuskegee Alabama. Washington is a resident of the problematic and highly racist south. He goes on to explain that blacks are one third of the South’s population (Washington para. 1). They can either be productive, intelligent, hardworking workers or they could be the opposite. Washington genuinely cares about the outcomes of the South and its progression as a resident. This reason alone gives purpose to the whole speech. After the reading of the speech I believe Washington wanted his listeners to hear where the blacks were coming from. It appeared that he wanted blacks and whites...
Words: 1137 - Pages: 5
...Jessica D. Henderson Engl 1010/101/3 October 5, 2011 “Frederick Douglass Speech” During the Civil Rights Movement Frederick Douglass gave an passionate speech about the fourth of July. The purpose of Douglass speech were to applaud America for her accomplishments, to discuss his passion for black rights, and to prove that all Americans didn’t receive its blessings. Frederick Douglass mentioned in the beginning of the saying how proud he was of America. “I am glad, fellow-citizens, that your nation is so young. Seventy-six years, though a good old age for a man, is but a mere speck in the life of a nation. Three score years and ten is the allotted time for individual men; but nations number their years by thousands (Douglass 462).” Before he start expressing how he really felt, he still spoke about the good things that were existed and the blessings that were on the way. However, Douglass later on began to express how he really felt about this particular day. He felt that was need for him to celebrate, and that they gained something that he did not. Around this time in the speech this is when the hypocrisy began to show. Douglass quoted, “I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common.” (468) Douglass went on discussing more how he wasn’t included in America’s blessings. He felt that while they were...
Words: 740 - Pages: 3
...Significant Legal Decisions Involving Hate Speech in America What exactly is Hate Speech? There are many different variations to this answer. According to dictionary.com, it is “speech that attacks a person or group on the basis of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation” (“hate speech”). Anthony Lewis’ description of hate speech focuses more on the people it aims at: “Hate speech, it is called: virulent attack on Jews, blacks, Muslims, homosexuals, or members of any other group. It is pure hatred, not based on any wrong done by an individual” (157) Throughout history, many cases involving hate speech have been brought to court; each of them differ in their own ways and each brought a significant change to our Constitution. Our country prides itself in having freedom for all, and that includes freedom of speech. But when does freedom of speech cross the line? Many court decisions tried to come up with a solid answer, but there may not ever be a successful way to categorize hate speech. All of the cases covered here played a large part in transforming what the First Amendment covers. America started to recognize the significance of hate speech beginning in 1940, and policies began to form to protect offensive speech. At this point in history, hate speech was better known as “racial and religious propaganda” (Walker 62). The Holocaust was a major turning point for America, because we realized the destruction that it caused, and the government wanted to make sure nothing...
Words: 2890 - Pages: 12
...dedication to the principles of liberty and equality. It speaks to all who strive for liberty and seek to show the principles of self-government. Unfortunately, not everyone living in America felt the same American pride on the Fourth of July. The freedmen and slaves living in America has different views about the United States and the documents securing freedom and equality. One man, Frederick Douglass, spoke out for the slaves and freedmen in his speech “The Meaning of Fourth of July for the Negro”. In 1852, Frederick Douglass was invited to speak about what the Fourth of July means for America’s black population. In his speech, Douglass questions what the Fourth of July means to a slave. His answer: the Fourth of July is, “a day that reveals to him … the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim”. Douglass continues by saying, “your celebration [is] a shame, a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages”. Douglass states there is no other nation on Earth guilty of the bloody and crimes made by Americans during this time. Douglass makes it known that equality is not within America. The high independence of American citizens shows a great gap between slaves and citizens. Slaves do not get the independence promised by the Declaration of Independence, not do the slaves get “the rich inheritance of justice, liberty, and prosperity”. The lack of independence and liberty for the slaves only proves that the Fourth of July was not for...
Words: 528 - Pages: 3
