Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Shawshank Redemption
Based on the story by Stephen King; Andy Dufresne was a banker that was convicted of a double murder he claims he didnt commit. In 1946 he was sentenced to a life termin in the Shawshank State Prison in Maine. There he meets another inmate Ellis "Red" Redding, and Red picks him as te new recruit most likely to crack under pressure. Andy soon sees the ugly realities of prison life. A horrible warden and mean guards, and inmates that behaive like animals. They beat and rape to survive on the top. Yet throughout all of this Andy doesnt crack like Red predicts, he stays hopefully which no one could have but the innocent. Andy uses his banking skills to win over the warden and guards, doing the books for an illegal business, and looking after the investments of the prison staff. In exchange he is able to improve the prison library and bring respect to some of the inmantes, and the dignity of them especially Red.
Celebrities!
One of the biggest influences in our world are the rich and famous people. I'm talking celebrities, they decide whats hot and whats not, how to act, to spend your money, who to support, what trends are in, and the list goes on. I'm not saying everyone follows everything but many do. In this last election many celebrities supported Obama and I think it did make a difference for some people.
I think its a great thing to have celebrities of different races, it shows that not only white people can have money and beauty. Any race can. Our history is just so repetitive with Caucasian people being on top, and its stayed throughout, so I'm not trying to sound like damn those white people! Just that its a nice change for the world to see that other races can be on top too.
Some very influential/important celebrities: (my opinion)
1. OPERA: this woman can do anything! Hollywood has named her the most influential celebrity of all time. Everyone seems to love Opera. She's is generous (a little self absorbed) but still a kind heart. And she's a black woman who has the most famous talk show in the world. I dont think you can beat that. I just think its cool that not only a black person, but a black female has this much power to persuade people, its just cool!
2. Will Smith: Will is at the top of his game. He has made numerous blockbuster hits, and created a few movies himself! Everyone wants a piece of him! He is funny, kind, a family man (very cute family!) and he's black, what do you know about that!
3. Angelina Jolie: Although she is Caucasian I believe she has Hollywood on the tip of her finger. She is powerful and has made adoption a phenomenon! Of course people adopted before she ever did, but not as much as they do now. And not just any adoption, she goes overseas for her children. Places like Africa, Tibet, China, and other countries less fortunate than ours. What's cool about all of this is, she made it ok that you didnt have to look like your child to have one. That mixing races was totally normal, and that having a child of a different culture was a great gift. Since then many other celebrities and normal people have taken up her ways.
4. Halle Berry: She was the first black woman to win an Oscar. Her speech made me cry! She opened the door to so many other African Americans, especially woman around the world. She is known as one of the most beautiful woman in the world. I think thats great because like i said before, so many times beauty is associated with white woman, and Halle Berry is mixed, but appears more black. I especially love her because I'm in her same situation, I am mixed with black and white, yet I am looked at as black. But I love that people love her, it gives me hope too!
5. The Obamas (recently): They are everyones favorite couple, and family and so many people support them, and its amazing. My birthmom told me on the night that he won, "your possibilities are endless now, now we have an African American in the white house leading this country, so many doors have just opened for you." And honestly it does give me courage to go out and do what I want because someone who's a lot like me in looks, went all the way to the top. I feel that many people are and will become more comfortable with African Americans (and other races, but in my case African American) in the work world and in leading positions. I hope thats the case because I'm great at leading and hope people will give me a chance at doing so
I think its a great thing to have celebrities of different races, it shows that not only white people can have money and beauty. Any race can. Our history is just so repetitive with Caucasian people being on top, and its stayed throughout, so I'm not trying to sound like damn those white people! Just that its a nice change for the world to see that other races can be on top too.
Some very influential/important celebrities: (my opinion)
1. OPERA: this woman can do anything! Hollywood has named her the most influential celebrity of all time. Everyone seems to love Opera. She's is generous (a little self absorbed) but still a kind heart. And she's a black woman who has the most famous talk show in the world. I dont think you can beat that. I just think its cool that not only a black person, but a black female has this much power to persuade people, its just cool!
2. Will Smith: Will is at the top of his game. He has made numerous blockbuster hits, and created a few movies himself! Everyone wants a piece of him! He is funny, kind, a family man (very cute family!) and he's black, what do you know about that!
3. Angelina Jolie: Although she is Caucasian I believe she has Hollywood on the tip of her finger. She is powerful and has made adoption a phenomenon! Of course people adopted before she ever did, but not as much as they do now. And not just any adoption, she goes overseas for her children. Places like Africa, Tibet, China, and other countries less fortunate than ours. What's cool about all of this is, she made it ok that you didnt have to look like your child to have one. That mixing races was totally normal, and that having a child of a different culture was a great gift. Since then many other celebrities and normal people have taken up her ways.
4. Halle Berry: She was the first black woman to win an Oscar. Her speech made me cry! She opened the door to so many other African Americans, especially woman around the world. She is known as one of the most beautiful woman in the world. I think thats great because like i said before, so many times beauty is associated with white woman, and Halle Berry is mixed, but appears more black. I especially love her because I'm in her same situation, I am mixed with black and white, yet I am looked at as black. But I love that people love her, it gives me hope too!
5. The Obamas (recently): They are everyones favorite couple, and family and so many people support them, and its amazing. My birthmom told me on the night that he won, "your possibilities are endless now, now we have an African American in the white house leading this country, so many doors have just opened for you." And honestly it does give me courage to go out and do what I want because someone who's a lot like me in looks, went all the way to the top. I feel that many people are and will become more comfortable with African Americans (and other races, but in my case African American) in the work world and in leading positions. I hope thats the case because I'm great at leading and hope people will give me a chance at doing so
Race in Magazines
When it comes to magazines (at least the ones I read) celebrities are usually on the covers. If you put all the magazines together, there will be more white people on them then any other race. This is one of those things that is kind of hard to grasp, I guess there are just more famous people that are of the caucasion race, or magazines feel more comfortable putting more white people on the covers.
One of the magazines I read is Seventeen. It's geared towards younger adults (16-21). Although white people are the majority of there covers, they always have a very diverse selection inside. There are always fashion speads, and workout plans, and they always mix up the races, like it was totally normal. I noticed that in magazines that target older people, tend to try less with diversity. I feel that my generation is being taught more to accept everyone and that everyone is equal. And I feel that older generations were not taught that nearly enough, and that these entertainment magazines know that and dont feel the need to change it up.
Most magazines have someone famous or important on the cover, lately we have been seeing a lot of one black man in spicific on hundreds of magazine covers..because he's our president. Michelle Obama has also been a quite a few covers, and it's a nice change to see, and so many people admire them, I dont think a lot of people think twice about it (at least up here).
Hopefully this coming generation will keep promoting diversity where it gets to the point of being normal. I have faith in the upcoming generations too!
One of the magazines I read is Seventeen. It's geared towards younger adults (16-21). Although white people are the majority of there covers, they always have a very diverse selection inside. There are always fashion speads, and workout plans, and they always mix up the races, like it was totally normal. I noticed that in magazines that target older people, tend to try less with diversity. I feel that my generation is being taught more to accept everyone and that everyone is equal. And I feel that older generations were not taught that nearly enough, and that these entertainment magazines know that and dont feel the need to change it up.
Most magazines have someone famous or important on the cover, lately we have been seeing a lot of one black man in spicific on hundreds of magazine covers..because he's our president. Michelle Obama has also been a quite a few covers, and it's a nice change to see, and so many people admire them, I dont think a lot of people think twice about it (at least up here).
Hopefully this coming generation will keep promoting diversity where it gets to the point of being normal. I have faith in the upcoming generations too!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Race in TV commercials
I stopped and really looked at the races in commercials on tv during shows.
1. the majority of the people in them were white.
2. All the car commercials I've seen always have white people in them.
3. One ad for like coke or something had a white man at a bar, the bartender was black and most everyone else in the background was white. Was it really a coincedence the worker was black? Why couldnt a black man go out and spend some money?
4. Heidi Klum's red dress coke ad, mostly white woman, one black woman in the front, maybe a asian woman in the second row? I feel like a lot of these ads feel that if they put in one person of color then their off the hook and can say we incuded different races! But really?
5. Verizon ads are pretty good with the multiracial people, although many times there are like thousands of people on the screen so it doesnt count as a leading role.
6. Just most of the ads incorporate some different races than white, but most of the talking and leading roles go to white people.
7. Its to bad, hopefully we can keep heading in the right direction, even if its slow
8. Intel had a commercial with a middle eastern man leading the role as a famous guy (co inventor of USB) everyone in the office wanted a peice of, and i thought that was cool. So often its all about the black and white people, but of course there are other races!!!!
9.I noticed all the hands in commercials (like apple) are white hands, pushing open laptops and holding coffee cups, simple stuff like that, but the hands are always white.
10. Almost all the ads featuring a "hot" woman, are always white woman, who says other races arent beautiful too!
Oh boy
1. the majority of the people in them were white.
2. All the car commercials I've seen always have white people in them.
3. One ad for like coke or something had a white man at a bar, the bartender was black and most everyone else in the background was white. Was it really a coincedence the worker was black? Why couldnt a black man go out and spend some money?
4. Heidi Klum's red dress coke ad, mostly white woman, one black woman in the front, maybe a asian woman in the second row? I feel like a lot of these ads feel that if they put in one person of color then their off the hook and can say we incuded different races! But really?
5. Verizon ads are pretty good with the multiracial people, although many times there are like thousands of people on the screen so it doesnt count as a leading role.
6. Just most of the ads incorporate some different races than white, but most of the talking and leading roles go to white people.
7. Its to bad, hopefully we can keep heading in the right direction, even if its slow
8. Intel had a commercial with a middle eastern man leading the role as a famous guy (co inventor of USB) everyone in the office wanted a peice of, and i thought that was cool. So often its all about the black and white people, but of course there are other races!!!!
9.I noticed all the hands in commercials (like apple) are white hands, pushing open laptops and holding coffee cups, simple stuff like that, but the hands are always white.
10. Almost all the ads featuring a "hot" woman, are always white woman, who says other races arent beautiful too!
Oh boy
Black Like Me
I think the main point of this autobiographical memoir is the issue of Identity and how it applied to race. John wanted to experience firsthand what black people went through everyday, but in the process of doing so he learned things about himself that he didn't know before. In this book he was identified as a black man and a white man.
When he was going back and forth between races at one point, when he was black, white people were very rude to him, but the black community was very welcome. When he was white, the black community was fearful and sceptical and the white community was friendly and kind.
There is a very important element in this that is, how the importance of race as an identity in a racist society. Someones position in the world is largely predetermined by the color of their skin.
In 2009 we are getting a lot better. We just elected a black president, but this predetermined future by the color of your skin hasn't completely gone away.
Racism is something we are born with, it is something we learn, and until that stops, we will still have some prejudices and some racism.
When he was going back and forth between races at one point, when he was black, white people were very rude to him, but the black community was very welcome. When he was white, the black community was fearful and sceptical and the white community was friendly and kind.
There is a very important element in this that is, how the importance of race as an identity in a racist society. Someones position in the world is largely predetermined by the color of their skin.
In 2009 we are getting a lot better. We just elected a black president, but this predetermined future by the color of your skin hasn't completely gone away.
Racism is something we are born with, it is something we learn, and until that stops, we will still have some prejudices and some racism.
Black Like Me
John Howard Griffin wrote Black like back in 1959 when racism was a huge problem. The story starts out in Mansfield, Texas when John (who was already very comitted to racial justice) decides to undergo a medical treatment and become a black man. Of course his wife was supportive and he made the transformation. This book is about his journey around the USA and how much he learned about the black communities and what really goes on.
When he first starts out in New Orleans he expects to find predjuide and oppression, and what he find actually shockes him more. He couldnt get a job, he was called "Nigger", clerks refused to cash his checks and there were many mean bullys. After spending several horrible days in New Orleans he decides to go to Mississippi and Alabama where apparently things are even worse for black people.
In Mississippi a grand jury refused to indict a lynch mob that murdered a black man before he could stand trial. John felt so exsausted and sad at this point. So he calls a newspaper man he knows and spends a day with him, and they discuss the way racial prejudice has been incorporated into the South's legal code by "bigoted writers and politicians."
At this point he's appalled, and notices black communities seem run-down and defeated. He even notices a look of defeat and hopelessness in himself, and this is only after only a few weeks as a black man. Imagine if you were one all your life.
In Montgomery, however, the black community is determinat and has more energy than most. This is because of one of its leaders, a preacher named Marin Luther King, Jr. Blacks in nonviolent form of refusing to comply with racist laws and rules. After he sees this John decides to alternate races. He attends somewhere as a black man and then as a white man.
Finally in Atlanta, John conducts a long series of interviews with black leaders before returning to New Orleans to make a photographic record of his time spent.
He then goes off his medication and retuns back to totally white. He writes his article and it is published in March of 1960. The rest of the world quickly attaches to his story and he does many interviews but in Texas other citizens are very hateful towards him for telling that story. The treats get so bad that eventually he moves his family to Mexico.
Before he goes he tells a little black boy that racism is "social conditioning, not any inherent quality within blacks or whites."
And I think that sums up the problem very well.
When he first starts out in New Orleans he expects to find predjuide and oppression, and what he find actually shockes him more. He couldnt get a job, he was called "Nigger", clerks refused to cash his checks and there were many mean bullys. After spending several horrible days in New Orleans he decides to go to Mississippi and Alabama where apparently things are even worse for black people.
In Mississippi a grand jury refused to indict a lynch mob that murdered a black man before he could stand trial. John felt so exsausted and sad at this point. So he calls a newspaper man he knows and spends a day with him, and they discuss the way racial prejudice has been incorporated into the South's legal code by "bigoted writers and politicians."
At this point he's appalled, and notices black communities seem run-down and defeated. He even notices a look of defeat and hopelessness in himself, and this is only after only a few weeks as a black man. Imagine if you were one all your life.
In Montgomery, however, the black community is determinat and has more energy than most. This is because of one of its leaders, a preacher named Marin Luther King, Jr. Blacks in nonviolent form of refusing to comply with racist laws and rules. After he sees this John decides to alternate races. He attends somewhere as a black man and then as a white man.
Finally in Atlanta, John conducts a long series of interviews with black leaders before returning to New Orleans to make a photographic record of his time spent.
He then goes off his medication and retuns back to totally white. He writes his article and it is published in March of 1960. The rest of the world quickly attaches to his story and he does many interviews but in Texas other citizens are very hateful towards him for telling that story. The treats get so bad that eventually he moves his family to Mexico.
Before he goes he tells a little black boy that racism is "social conditioning, not any inherent quality within blacks or whites."
And I think that sums up the problem very well.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thankful
Just a quick thought:
I just got my latest issue of Seventeen magazine and in it was an article about a small school down in Georgia that has a black prom and a white prom. They literally have two different proms depending on your race. *Side note, what if your not black or white? Which prom do you go to? They didn't address that issue but I am curious to know. I think this is absurd! I can't believe we still have segregation like this today. For goodness sakes we just elected an African American president but 60 seniors can't have a prom together. In the article, a lot of students are against it, but the school and parents make it very hard to change the tradition.
When I was done reading the article it just made me so grateful that I go to a school where we don't think twice about something like that. That people don't judge you on your race, its the way you act that counts at our school, and that is totally your choice while what race you are is not.
I love South!
There were a few polls done at the end of the article:
74% of us (teens I believe) have friends who make raciest jokes and comments
More than 1/4 of us have parents who wouldn't approve of us dating someone of another race
(thank goodness mine don't care as long as I'm happy. That's the way it should be!)
Almost 3 out of 5 of us have witnessed some kind of racism firsthand.
1 in 10 of us wouldn't take someone of another race as a date to prom (that wont be happening at south)
32% of us say having an African American becoming president has made us rethink out opinions of people of other races.
It didn't say out of how many people surveyed.
I just got my latest issue of Seventeen magazine and in it was an article about a small school down in Georgia that has a black prom and a white prom. They literally have two different proms depending on your race. *Side note, what if your not black or white? Which prom do you go to? They didn't address that issue but I am curious to know. I think this is absurd! I can't believe we still have segregation like this today. For goodness sakes we just elected an African American president but 60 seniors can't have a prom together. In the article, a lot of students are against it, but the school and parents make it very hard to change the tradition.
When I was done reading the article it just made me so grateful that I go to a school where we don't think twice about something like that. That people don't judge you on your race, its the way you act that counts at our school, and that is totally your choice while what race you are is not.
I love South!
There were a few polls done at the end of the article:
74% of us (teens I believe) have friends who make raciest jokes and comments
More than 1/4 of us have parents who wouldn't approve of us dating someone of another race
(thank goodness mine don't care as long as I'm happy. That's the way it should be!)
Almost 3 out of 5 of us have witnessed some kind of racism firsthand.
1 in 10 of us wouldn't take someone of another race as a date to prom (that wont be happening at south)
32% of us say having an African American becoming president has made us rethink out opinions of people of other races.
It didn't say out of how many people surveyed.
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