anewhope4change-blog

[anewhope4change-blog]

Girls Gone Wild, Wishful, and Wearisome

Since the dawn of time women have always been seen as the weaker gender and the lesser sex. We are seen as the weaker sex when in reality women have had it harder since the beginning and have proven to be stronger than many have claimed. One of the hardest things women have had to deal with is being oppressed by men. Woman have been humiliated, degraded and looked down upon for centuries. Along with that women deal with the pains, complications, and dangers of childbirth, the aches of menstrual cycles, “boys being boys” and last but least, the pressure to be perfect. Even after managing and coping with all of these battles, women still have to fight for their voices to not just be heard but to be listened too. Woman are fighting for their words to be considered and not just thrown into one ear to tumble out of the other. Woman are fighting to be able to make choices about their own body’s, fighting to be seen as more than a mom, more than a wife, more than a homemaker. Woman are fighting to be seen as equals and will continue to fight until demands are met. 

In these recent years there have been women all around the world fighting for the rights their male counter parts are given. One of those rights is the right of education. This is a more a problem in the middle east where the laws for women are more extreme than on this side of the world. Young girls are forced to age without the concept of going to school. One remarkable woman by the name of Malala Yousafzai fought for the rights of young girls and woman in Pakistan to be able to go to school, she spoke out against officials and for that she was awarded a bullet to the head. In an academic article by TIME Magazine stated that on November 27th 2011 a young girl by the name Ayesha stayed home from school because a bomb that was put under her fathers car. She was scared and remained coiled up in the corner for majority of the day, around 10:30 pm her father handed her the phone and said “She wants to speak to you.” This is a quote from the article. "This is Malala," said the girl on the other end of the line. Malala Yousafzai, 15, was calling from the hospital in Birmingham, England, where under heavy guard she has been undergoing treatment since Oct. 16. "I understand that what happened was tragic, but you need to stay strong," Malala told Ayesha. "You cannot give up." This was quote from the article written by TIME magazine. 

This was one of the first times that Malala had called anyone in Pakistan since she had left from England to receive medical treatment after “Taliban assassin climbed onto her school bus, called out for her by name and shot her in the head on Oct. 9.” She did this because she knew the older girl needed her, she needed the encouragement from someone who understood what she was going through, she knew she needed the support from a strong female. Malala told the girl to stand up for her father even if it would cause problems, she told her she had to be brave and fight her enemies. This just goes to show that women will always stand together in this endless war. No matter how far away they are from each other, no matter how well they know each other, they will always remain in unity. Malala and Ayesha are warriors standing along side all other women in the world who are doubted because of their gender. 

In a short story called “The Story of an Hour” by the author Kate Chopin she tells the story a woman who finds out that her husband has died and is going through the motions dealing with it. Throughout the story the way she is dealing with her “grief” is physically described as her shaking, sobbing, motionless and her eyes glazed over, almost like her soul had left her body. “When she abandoned herself, a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under her breath: "free, free, free!" The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it went from her eyes. They stayed keen and bright. Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body.” This is quote from the story describing more in detail how she felt after finding out that her husband died. From a first look at the story one would think she was dealing with grief, but sorry to spoil it for you this woman was actually overjoyed that her husband was dead. She was chanting “free, free, free” because now that her husband was dead, she could actually be her own person again. This story was written in 1894 which was a time that the women’s suffrage was continuing to be fought. Woman could not own property, they could not earn a salary and in most eyes were still seen as an object. They were seen as something that was owned by their husbands. If a woman wasn’t married during this time they were seen as crazy or uncanny. “And yet she had loved him--sometimes. Often she had not. What did it matter! What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in the face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being! "Free! Body and soul free!" she kept whispering.” This quote from the text shows that even though you can have a good relationship with your husband during this era, it could still feel good to find out you were free of his holding. 

During this era a lot of times women married for security, for support, to make their families happy, or just because they felt like it was what they had to do. Marriage rarely happened because that man and women truly loved each other, and if it did than I hope they thanked their lucky stars. During these ages from woman it was better for your husband to die than to get a divorce. The first reason is because you would be seen as distasteful to even speak about divorcing your spouse. The second reason was because if a woman and her husband did get a divorce, how would they split their property and belongings? The husband would get everything, he would get the house, and everything that came with it, including the children. This would essentially leave the woman homeless and lonesome. 

The woman in this story was ecstatic that her husband died, and by the end of the story her world came full circle.  She had found out that he hadn’t been in a train accident and that he was actually alive. When she was alerted of this news she died. “Some one was opening the front door with a latchkey. It was Brently Mallard who entered, a little travel-stained, composedly carrying his grip-sack and umbrella. He had been far from the scene of the accident, and did not even know there had been one. He stood amazed at Josephine's piercing cry; at Richards' quick motion to screen him from the view of his wife. When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease--of the joy that kills.” She died from the alarming news that her husband was still alive. Everything she thought about while she was “grieving” was now gone. Her freedom was snatched from her, as well as the thought of living the rest of her life in peace. This story is evidence of a time that has yet to end, women are still being seen as object’s in todays world and they are still being pressured to marry. Woman are still put into boxes and expected to live up to the standards that society put into place for them. Though the walls of these boxes are not as strong as they were in 1984. Then they were made out of steel and stone and now, they still are. Woman have developed iron fist and hammers to break out of these boxes. They will soon arrive at a point where it’ll be nearly impossible for society to even manufacture one of these boxes. 

Little mix is a British pop girl group, they are known as one of the most successful music groups of all time. They were the first group to when the X factor UK singing competition and has since them sold over 90 million albums and 15.8 million singles. They have broken records that were previously held by the spice girls and the pussy cat dolls. In 2018 the group released and album title “LM5” which held a strong them of women empowerment. The album includes a a sound track with songs titles, some for example would be: “Joan of arc,” “Woman like me, ”The National Manthem,”” love a girl right,” and “strip.” One song that stood out the most to many was the song title “Woman’s World” This song holds lyrics that are powerful and have been used for many signs during the most recent woman’s marches. That song starts of with the lyrics

“Every day she tells her daughter

"Baby, you're not just a pretty face"

She says "you gotta work much harder

Than every single man, that's just the way

"But she goes to the same job everyday

She's overworked and underpaid

Just 'cause the way her body's made

Ain't that insane?”

This part of the song is addressing the well-known fact that woman are receiving less pay in this world than the men are for doing the same work. Why are they Receiving less pay? Because they are woman. In many fields, particularly S.T.E.A.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) fields woman are seen as nothing more than a pretty face. They are often doubted of their skills and have to work ten times harder just to be noticed and twenty times harder to be respected. Though at the end of the day, after working hard to prove herself, a woman will be paid less for doing the same work as her male counterpart. They will be paid less for doing better work than their male counterparts. 

The US woman’s soccer team is a prime example of this fact. The USNWT has one four world cups while the men are always kicked out in the beginning stages. The USNWT scored 13-0 during their most recent world cup, the most goals for a game in world cup history while the men’s team has never achieved anything close to this. “Overall, from fiscal 2016 to 2018, the women’s games generated about $900,000 more revenue than the men’s games. In the year following the 2015 World Cup win, women’s games generated $1.9 million more than the men’s games.” This is a quote from the Washington post stating the amount of money generated from the revenue of the USNWT in recent years, and how much more they generated than the men. Even with the woman’s team bringing in more money and being more successful they are they paid far less than the male counterparts. If the men’s team loses a game, they are paid 5,000 dollars. If they woman’s team loses a game, they are paid nothing. The men’s team are paid 9 million dollars for losing the 14th round of the world cup while the woman’s team are paid only 2 million for winning the entire competition. The woman’s team is fighting everyday for equal pay when they should be fighting for more pay. The entire team recently sued the U.S Soccer federation for gender discrimination which is still on going and active, may the odds be in the favor. The Little Mix song continues with the bridge and the chorus. 

“If you never been told how you gotta be

What you gotta wear, how you gotta speak

If you never shouted to be heard

You ain't lived in a woman's world

And if you can't see that it's gotta change

Only want the body and not the brains

If you think that's the way it works

You ain't lived in a woman's world, no

Try living, try try living

Try living, try try living

Try living in a woman's world”

This part of the song describes how hard it can be to actually be a woman and live in the world they do. It is physically and mentally exhausting. Woman are told everyday how they should dress, that they should smile more, that they shouldn’t be so loud when in reality they have to be loud, they have yell just to be heard, though they are being listened too. The lyrics than challenges the listener to “try living in a woman’s world,” because that’s exactly what it is, a challenge. It is one of the hardest things a person can do because a woman’s world is filled with constant fighting. Even during times where woman would rather sit back and be quiet, they are still forced into the light. In an article called “Shouting into the void” by Lyz Lenz a story is told about a woman by the last name of Ford. This woman has made allegations against the politician Brett Kavanugh. 

She tried to keep her story private, but it soon got leaked into the media and the encounter became something that was far from private. She decided she had to tell her story. “I AM HERE TODAY not because I want to be. I am terrified. I am here because I believe it is my civic duty to tell you what happened to me while Brett Kavanaugh and I were in high school,” This quote from the article shows that talking about this stuff is never easy, it is terrifying. Even when you’d rather not talk about it, you still have to. Most choose to because they are helping others but a lot of woman choose to do it to also help themselves. “Now she was sitting in front of a panel of politicians, who were frowning, judging, as she excavated her trauma for an unforgiving and violent nation. In the end, the political process ran right over her, as if she were a speed bump, nothing more than an annoying slowdown on the march of a patriarchal agenda.” This quote from the article describes how things ended in the courtroom. 

Even though Ford told her story, it was worth nothing. She told her story to people who didn’t care, who didn’t want to listen. This is where the title of the article comes into play because Ford was shouting into a void. She had to take her mind through the memories of that traumatic experience just for it to be thrown away. This is nothing new to woman in the world. To this day the voices of woman are still being thrown away, they are still shouting into a void. How many more young girls have to be shot? How many more woman have to be raped/sexually assaulted? How many more woman have to shout? How many more woman do we need to be seen as disposable for all the hardships to end? How much more blood has to be shed? The article also talks about how woman in ancient roam were not allowed hold office or even speak on the senate floor. The only time these women were able to speak were when they were a victim, a martyr, or a person protecting their family. 

This shows that even during ages as early as ancient Rome woman were still seen as the lesser. In the bible Eve is seen was less value than Adam. She was made for him, she made the mistake, she got them banished from the good lands. Woman are always portrayed with a negative conation. Joan of Arc was seen as crazy, Audre Lorde was portrayed as an angry black woman, Anne Frank was a helpless girl, Queen Elizabeth was depicted a prude tyrant and Helen Keller was thought to be unintelligent and mindless but learned to speak and write. She even went on to graduate college and earn the degree she very well deserved. Malala was seen as a defiant girl who was shot in the head for wanting an education.

Woman are polishing their armor and sharpening their spears. If you want to join the fight and help end this gender inequality than stand up and support your fellow woman. March alongside them, you your voice to speak up even though there may be consequences. Tell your daughter she is amazing and tell your sister that no one compares to her. Tell your more you love her and tell your grandmother thank you. Let’s make this a world where woman wont have to pry open elevator doors, instead they’ll just open and allow them in. How about we end this boring and repetitive fight together.

 Sources:- 

Lenz, Lyz. “Shouting Into the Void.” TIME Magazine, vol. 194, no. 13, Sept. 2019, pp. 48–52. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=138707943&site=ehost-live&scope=site.- 

Baker, Aryn, et al. “No 2: THE FIGHTER MALALA YOUSAFZAI.” TIME Magazine, vol. 180, no. 27, Dec. 2012, pp. 96–107. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=84628093&site=ehost-live&scope=site.-

Das, Andrew. “U.S. Women's Soccer Team Sues U.S. Soccer for Gender Discrimination.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 Mar. 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/08/sports/womens-soccer-team-lawsuit-gender-discrimination.html.

-Kelly, Meg. “Analysis | Are U.S. Women's Soccer Players Really Earning Less than Men?” The Washington Post, WP Company, 8 July 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/07/08/are-us-womens-soccer-players-really-earning-less-than-men/. 

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Chains

For the past century African Americans have been subject to prejudice and institutional racism. The tragedies they have faced are abundant. Throughout the past hundred years we have seen a good amount of change in regard to African American rights. What still remains elusive to this day is their true liberty. From unjust police killings, to hate crimes, and the minimization of their struggles, it seems African Americans have been labeled the scapegoat. 

Audre Lorde wrote many poems expressing her sheer anger at the injustices she witnessed in her life. “Power” is a poem that she wrote in response to hearing about a white police officer who shot and murdered a ten-year-old African American boy. Lorde heard the news that the police officer was acquitted and was enraged. The first stanza of the poem opens in a very crude manner. “The difference between poetry and rhetoric is being ready to kill yourself instead of your children.” (Lorde) She does this to set the tone of the poem. Lorde wants the audience to understand her intent immediately; This is not a traditional, vague, allusive poem, this is raw, and she is livid. Lorde proceeds in the second stanza, writing how she cannot get the thought of the dead boy out of her head; “...a dead child dragging his shattered black face off the edge of my sleep...” Lorde continues to characterize the awful things she is thinking about. She describes the boy’s blood sinking into a white desert that she is lost in. She ends the second stanza almost remorseful, saying that by writing and trying to express her pain, it is somewhat consolation to the boy. She is “trying to make power out of hatred and destruction.” (Lorde)

The incident Lorde is specifically writing in response to, is the killing of Clifford Glover by police officer Thomas Shea. The incident happened in South Jamaica Queens. Officer Thomas Shea believed Glover and his stepfather to be suspected cab robbers. Officer Shea confronted them with a weapon drawn and ended up fatally shooting Clifford in the back after he ran away. (“The Day”) Stanza three of “Power” is about the disgust Lorde feels about the police officer. She expresses her anguish with some of the details from the case. She quotes two things that Thomas Shea said: “Die you little motherfucker” after he shot Clifford and “I didn’t notice the size nor nothing else only the color” during his trial. This highlights Shea’s injustice and racial profiling. She continues in the next stanza describing how Thomas Shea was found unguilty of the murder. Her outrage seemingly increases as she furthers along in her writing. She then begins to indict the jury, describing the “eleven white men who said they were satisfied justice had been done.” 

There was also one black woman in the jury. Lorde begins to indict the woman. She insinuates that the woman’s decision was stifled by outside predispositions. “’They convinced me’ meaning they had dragged her 4’10 black Woman’s frame over the hot coals of four centuries of white male approval until she let go.” (Lorde) Lorde is obviously upset by the decision of an African American woman to decide Thomas Shea was not guilty. The woman is then described to have “...lined her own womb with cement to make a graveyard for our children.” (Lorde) This really encapsulates how Lorde feels about the juror’s decision.

The last stanza is very crude and emotional. It seems Lorde is struggling to contain her rage. She seems to be afraid that her rage will consume her and one day she will violently erupt. “One day I will take my teenaged plug and connect it to the nearest socket raping an 85 year old white woman who is somebody’s mother and as I beat her senseless and set a torch to her bed a Greek chorus will be singing in ¾ time ‘Poor thing. She never hurt a soul. What beasts they are.’” (Lorde) This is to point out hypocrisy in society’s mindset. Lorde points out how society would prosecute an African American for a crime against an innocent white woman, and proclaim African Americans beasts, but they won’t do anything about a white cop murdering a young black boy.

J Cole’s “Be Free” is very reminiscent of “Power.” J Cole wrote the song in response to the acquittal of Darren Wilson, the cop who shot and killed Michael Brown in Ferguson. The same exact circumstances 40 years later. The chorus of the song is a repetitive plea stating “All we wanna do is take the chains off. All we wanna do is break the chains off. All we wanna do is be free.” In his second verse Cole asks, “Can you tell me why Every time I step outside I see my n***** die?” The majority of the song is excerpts from an eyewitness account from Dorian Johnson describing what happened in the incident. Dorian was the man who was walking with Michael Brown when the altercation happened. J Cole bridges excerpts from Dorian by asking “Are we all alone, fighting on our own? Please give me a chance, I don’t wanna dance. Somethings got me down, I will stand my ground. Don’t just stand around, don’t just stand around.” (Cole) J Cole also performed this song live on David Letterman’s show, where he added an extra verse. He speaks on society as a whole indicting the state of America. He is disappointed by the lack of change he’s seen under Obama’s presidency with my favorite lines from the song, “No disrespect, in terms of change I haven’t seen any. Maybe he had good intentions but was stifled by the system And was sad to learn that he actually couldn’t bring any. That’s what I get for thinking, this world is fair. They let a brother steer the ship And never told him that the ship was sinkin.” (Cole) Cole ends the verse by question his own priorities as a rich African America watching the injustices happen around. “Forget that watch, you paid too much for it. You ‘ought to be ashamed When brothers back home be dreading when the seasons change.” (Cole)

Unfortunately, the prejudice America holds against African Americans is engrained deep into our society. You can evidence this through many policies and statistics that blatantly show a disfavor towards them. Racial disparities in conviction rates and police violence are evident. In 2015 1,187 people were killed by police. 339 of them were African American. That means 28% of people killed by police in 2015 were African American. (National) More interestingly, African Americans only account for 13% of the total population. (U.S.) “African-American adults are 5.9 times as likely to be incarcerated than whites.” (Report) These statistics show an obvious racial disparity. This disparity is due to America’s inherent prejudice towards non-whites.

Even in 2019 we continue to see the same systemic racial disparities in cases like Amber Guyger. She (a Caucasian female police officer) fatally shot Botham Jean (an African American man) in his own apartment. She was off duty and (allegedly) mistakenly entered Jean’s apartment thinking it was her own. Although Amber Guyger was found guilty of murder, she was only sentenced to 10 years. Meanwhile there are African Americans serving life without parole for drug possession. 

Works Cited

Cole, J. “No Disrespect, in Terms of Change I Haven't Seen Any / Maybe He Had Good Intentions but Was Stifled by the System / And Was Sad to Learn That He Actually Couldn't Bring Any.” Genius, 10 Dec. 2014, genius.com/4532137

.Lorde, Audre. “Power by Audre Lorde.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/53918/power-56d233adafeb3.

“National Trends.” Mapping Police Violence, mappingpoliceviolence.org/nationaltrends.

“Report to the United Nations on Racial Disparities in the U.S. Criminal Justice System.” The Sentencing Project, 19 Apr. 2018, www.sentencingproject.org/publications/un-report-on-racial-disparities/. 

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An American Dilemma

“Theme for English B” is a poem written by the famous poet Langston Hughes.  The poem is narrated by a young, African American man who is attending a college near Harlem. He is told to write an assignment about himself. The teacher in the poem could be a symbol of American Society during this time. The narrator begins to think of what to write and looks to the city. He says, “I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you. hear you, hear me—we two—you, me, talk on this page. (I hear New York, too.)” (Hughes) Many African Americans came to New York and populated Harlem during the 1950s, when this poem was written. The author making Harlem the main subject of the line could be an underlying message that the student is mostly concerned with listening to his own culture and people. Having New York in parenthesis makes it seem like a secondary concern and it could be because New York had a large white population and a mainstream white culture as well. There was often white opposition to integration in the neighborhoods and schools which is also shown in the poem as he says “I am the only colored student in my class.” (Hughes) 

Segregation is even still present now and affecting minorities, “residential segregation, which economically and politically marginalize communities of color.” (Bylander) Also like today, people are spilt up residentially and economically often with the same pattern. White people tend to make more money and live in higher class neighborhoods, “The average wealth of white households in the United States is 13 times as high as that of black households” (Bylander) and people of color who do not make as much tend to be placed in lower class communities with lower income. “Segregation helps determine a person's socioeconomic status by affecting the quality of education and employment opportunities available to that person.” (Bylander) As the narrator writes his paper for class, he lists things he likes that are normal like eating, being in love and records for Christmas. He seems to think his interests are questionable because he is African American when he states, “I guess being colored doesn’t make me not like the same things other folks like who are other races.” (Hughes) This question about identity can be seen in today’s society as white people do not experience the same inequality as African Americans. This has caused “An American dilemma": the wide gap between the American ideals of liberty and equality and the actual conditions of African American life.” (Harris) 

This shows how segregation and racism work in separating cultures and races. He goes on to ask the question, “So will my page be colored that I write?” which could also be another hint at the differences shown between white and African American culture. The poem takes a positive turn when he says that “the page, being me, will not be white” but will be a part of his instructor as they are a part of each other. (Hughes)  The narrator is talking about how people are all connected in America and says, “yet a part of me, as I am a part of you. That’s American.” (Hughes) He is referencing that people are connected no matter their race, “perhaps you don’t want to be a part of me. Nor do I often want to be a part of you. But we are, that’s true!” (Hughes) Americans are supposed to be equal to each other and have that connection. 

As centuries and decades passed, the United States has indeed become more progressive in racial equality and wanting to celebrate diversity. However, there are underlying issues in the structure of our government and our society. “The idea that American society is now colorblind neglects a crucial fact: apparently race-neutral practices often mask deeply unequal arrangements.” (Harris) Hughes takes a shot at racism in the last few lines but also sends a good message of equality by explaining that people learn from each other even though they are different, “As I learn from you, I guess you learn from me—although you’re older—and white—and somewhat more free.” (Hughes) Overall, “Theme for English B” is seemingly calling out the racism and discrimination that effect African American communities while also encouraging the thought that different people with different backgrounds can still be a part of the same community and learn from each other.

We can see the need for discussion on racism today. America is seen as a place of equality for all yet even today we see the effects of the underlying racism of the system. With social media so prominent in our society, we repeatedly see instances of police brutality, racist attacks and exposure of racist politicians. Musicians have taken to their music as well to express their anger towards the broken system. 

Red Hot Chili Peppers, a rock band, has a song called “The Power of Equality.” The lyrics express their issues with American society as far as equality. “Blood red, but without sight, exploding egos in the night,” could be reference to politicians not recognizing violence in the country while only caring about themselves. They call out America’s history to give notice that it has not fully equal even today, “American equality has always been sour, an attitude I would like to devour.” Along with this they also call out the Ku Klux Klan. White supremacy has recently come back to light with public appearances by the group during Trump’s election. “Death to the Ku Klux Klan, I do not buy supremacy.” 

Media, being one of the roots of public information, has been known to bring the wrong attention to the wrong things. More often than not, African Americans are showed in the media in a bad light. This lyric may be referencing this wrongdoing of the media, “Media chief, you menance me, The people you say cause all the crime, Wake up motherfucker and smell the slime.” The United states has progressed if people look at the big picture. African Americans have been historically oppressed and discriminated against and although lawmakers have progressed the country at a legal level, it is up to the citizens of America to change its society in order to keep making change. 

Works Cited

Bylander, Jessica. "Civil Unrest, Police use of Force, and the Public's Health." Health affairs 34.8 (2015): 1264-8. ProQuest. 9 Nov. 2019 .

Harris, Fredrick C., and Robert C. Lieberman. "Racial inequality after racism: how institutions hold back African Americans." Foreign Affairs, Mar.-Apr. 2015. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A412275533/OVIC?u=viva2_vccs&sid=OVIC&xid=cd9f9780. Accessed 6 Nov. 2019.

”Langston Hughes - https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47880/theme-for-english-b

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Protest and the Erotic

“America” by Claude McKay is a relatively short and incredibly compact poem.  America, to McKay, is a cruel woman who feeds him “bread of bitterness” and sinks into his throat “her tiger’s tooth”, likely implying that America is trying to silence him and people like him. Although despite her flaws, America is a place that he both loves and hates, writing that he “love(s) this cultured hell that tests my youth”. At a glance, this poem’s meaning appears to be one of resistance. McKay tells us he will continue to exist, to live in spite of the hatred and bitterness he receives from the land he hates to love. This stance is not unlike Langston Hughes, who, rather than wanting America, as the racist society it was, torn to shreds, simply wanted it to live up to its founding ideals and become a nation of equals. 

McKay was considered then, even today, as one of America’s finer protest poets. The manner in which he wrote his protest poetry is different than say, Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston. Despite his unabashed pride about his Jamaican and African heritage (Drayton) and the fact this poem was written at the height of the Harlem Renaissance, he doesn’t mention race a single time. The language of the poetry makes it clear he is talking about race, but regardless, the fact he chose to omit any language about race speaks volumes. McKay decides to make the poem about criticizing America the nation, not through the lens of a black American, but simply as an American. This speaks to McKay’s writing style and poetic philosophy, which is described as him “...protesting as a Negro and uttering a cry for the race of mankind as a member of that race.” (Drayton). It is possible this aspect of his poetry is due to his early attraction to Communism (Smethurst). Many of the thinkers and poets that were around towards the closing years of the Harlem Renaissance, specifically the year 1920 onwards, became infatuated with Communism similar to McKay (Smethurst) due to its revolutionary and egalitarian appeal. However, McKay, despite his love-hate relationship with America, never fully committed himself to the ideology, even going so far as to virulently criticize it a few years after the Harlem Renaissance “ended” (Smethurst). 

Why would McKay opt not to embrace radicalism, be it political or poetic, despite many of his peers deciding to do so? Fortunately, McKay answers this for us. His answer is a lot more interesting than one would expect, to say the least. Personally, this required a couple more readings before I could find McKay’s answer. 

Her vigor flows like tides into my blood,

Giving me strength erect against her hate,

Her bigness sweeps my being like a flood.

Yet, as a rebel fronts a king in state

I stand within her walls with not a shred

Of terror, malice, not a word of jeer

McKay stands “erect” in the face of America’s “hate”, whose “bigness” overwhelms him. Despite being overwhelmed, he “stand(s) within her walls”, unafraid of what might happen to him. McKay could have just as easily used different words to get the idea across he will stand resolute in spite of the country’s racism. Why would he eroticize this entire section of the poem? It all has to do with the love-hate relationship he has with America. Relationships between couples can get very complicated - I doubt further description is needed in that subject. McKay is using that dynamic between certain couples to describe his relationship with America. He does not like America, America does not like him. Yet they still have sex all the same, as couples generally do. The answer to why McKay rebuffed and rejected the radicalism which had influenced other artists from the Harlem Renaissance is that he, against all odds, loved the country too much - like a man loyal to his woman, or vice versa. 

After reading that part of the poem over for the third time, I was surprised I didn’t pick up on McKay’s erotic language the first time. However, after picking up on it, I encountered a new problem. “How can I use this information to discuss a protest poem?” I thought. “It’s not like eroticism has anything to do with protest... or does it?” In the span of 5 minutes, I was hit with two major “aha!” moments. First from realizing you could use eroticism in protest and second from realizing that we have been using it for quite some time. Although this might be common knowledge to some people, humor me for a few minutes. It is possible I and possibly many others, did not realize the nature of this section of the poem because of how widespread eroticism has become. 

Even beyond protest, eroticism - sex in general - has permeated society at almost every conceivable level. Eroticism, for better or worse, has been intrinsically linked with the idea of protest for decades. This is especially relevant when looking at recent events, such as Donald Trump’s Presidential campaign in 2016, as well as the protests that occurred before and after his election. Eroticism as protest has been particularly popular against Trump, due to a leaked tape which recorded him making several sexist comments, chief among them being the famous “grab her by the pussy” line. This tape, as well as a few other questionable past comments by Trump, prompted waves protests following his ascension to the Presidency in 2017. The most famous of these protests occurred on January 21, the day after Trump’s inauguration. The Women’s March, which became the single largest protest day in American history, was defined by the sheer amount of protesters, as well as the “pussyhats” worn by many of them. Although the hats are not necessarily eros in the form of protest, many of the signs employed by the protesters were sexual (sexually derogatory towards Trump to be precise) in nature - at least in Richmond. Another example was the Trump statues that popped up overnight in multiple states in August of 2018 (Snyder). These statues were designed to resemble a naked Trump, depicting him as an overweight, unhealthy, and unattractive man, with a micropenis (Snyder). 

This trend of anti-Trump, sexually-based insults and protest slogans/signs employed by protesters has increased in popularity and absurdity. While the original meaning of the protest is still present, the protest messages have degenerated into the realm of ineffectiveness and pettiness. A brief journey to one of the political hashtags on Twitter or other social media platforms is proof of that. 

While eros is not something Claude McKay should be remembered by, his use of erotic language in “America” and other poems helps shed a light on its usage in modern protest. The Greeks believed the idea of eros came from the god Eros. They recognized that eros, as an idea, was extremely powerful, divinely so. While there are certainly many ideas made, or inspired by, the ancient Greeks that are worth forgetting, perhaps their concept of eros is worth remembering. It is an immensely powerful idea, one that should be applied in the form of protest against the most worthy of opponents. In his time, McKay used these ideas to fight the racism and discrimination he and other African-Americans encountered. In our time, it was used effectively, however briefly, against Trump. While politics and discrimination are worthy subjects to use eros as protest, it is important not to overuse the idea. The key aspect of protest is the hope that change will come as a result. By using the same idea to protest, no matter how powerful that idea is, it is hypocritical and foolish to believe that any change can be made.

Works Cited:

Drayton, Arthur. "Claude Mckay's Human Pity: A Note on His Protest Poetry." Introduction to African Literature: an Anthology of Critical Writing. (1979): 86-98. Print.Smethurst, J. (February 19, 2009). 

"The Red Is East: Claude McKay and the New Black Radicalism of the Twentieth Century". American Literary History. 21 (2): 355–367. DOI:10.1093/alh/ajp011. ISSN 0896-7148.

Snyder, Chris. “Naked Donald Trump Statues Are Popping up across America.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 18 Aug. 2016, https://www.businessinsider.com/naked-donald-trump-statues-video-2016-8.

[anewhope4change-blog]

Gender’s Inequality

“Gender equality is a human fight, not a woman fight”, said by Freida Pinto. Gender inequality means unequal treatment or perceptions of individuals based on their gender. Our history proves that for decades to decades we used to discriminate men and the women again and again. The gender discrimination still exists in the world, but not as much as it used to be. The basic concept behind gender’s inequality was the man consider the household of the home, so he has the right to treat the woman just like he wants, because he knew that women are week and they have no rights, no freedom, as well as they are just an object. “Freedom cannot be achieved unless women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression,” said by Nelson Mandela. Gender inequality impacted the lives of many women. There were few women who tried to raise their voices against it in a different way, but most of them who were not that strong accepted that as the realities of their lives. The most famous women poet from that time, who used their words as a gun and thoughts as a grenade, were Emily Dickinson and June Jordan.

Emily Dickinson wrote the poems on gender’s inequality which include; My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun, I’m Wife, I Gave Myself to Him. Those poems are the examples of discrimination, and the injustice in the society. After reading those poems you get an idea about the situation of the women of that time. In the poem, “My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun,” and “I’m Wife,” the poet talks about the relationship between her husband and herself, which is not same as the relationship between a husband and a wife in this modern era. She said, whenever I try to start the conversation with my husband, my voice came back (he never replied) because she is not important to him, and my responsibility is just to follow him wherever he goes, listen to him and obey all his orders. And in the evening my job is to guard him, and I wish he lives longer than me and he realize what I used do for him. She said that’s the life of every wife. But time has change now, women can pick her own life partner, she has equal right to work and earn the money just like man, she can vote and she has the right to make any decision in marriage life. Modern woman is not depending on anyone and she has every right to make her own decisions in any matter of her life. 

Now a days, women are the very powerful figure in the society. A woman is a scientist, a woman is a doctor, a woman is businessman, a woman is a congresswoman, but many years ago a woman was just a daughter and then woman was just a wife. Her whole life revolves around her husband, but now a woman has her own social activities, a woman can talk, walk, and work like a man, without even any hesitation. I Gave Myself to Him, by Emily Dickson talks about the same issue about the marriage and the woman’s identity. The imbalance and unfairness in a relationship of husband and wife, makes the marriage unfaithful. In old days as soon as a woman married a man, the man used to be the responsible of her possession, her importance was not more than a servant, and she was the slave of her husband. But today in 21st century, the story is different; a woman can raise her voice against anything, she can take a part in any kind of protests, she has freedom to do whatever she likes to do, as well as she has freedom of speech which she didn’t have in last century. 

“I want for myself what I want for other woman. Absolute equality,” said by Agnes Macphail. If you have equal rights for everyone that would help society to grow and be successful. The poem written by June Jordan, “Poem About My Rights.” is the prove and the summary of the time when women had no rights. The June Jordan wrote about the difficulties which a woman had to face at that time, and her sufferings were just because of her gender. The poem has a lot to discuss, but the bottom line of the poem is the rights of the woman which they didn’t have at that time. I think the most important word in this poem is “Wrong”. She said I am in the wrong place, with wrong color, with wrong hair, with wrong gender and the reason because I am not free, women are allowed to get bully by anyone. If some guy rape me, it’s not a rape because I am wrong. She said whatever I do I am wrong, and I can’t prove anything because I am wrong. But in the end, she said, wrong is not my name though. As compare to this modern era, things have been changed a lot in a good way. The rape percentage dropped massively as compared to last century. 

It happened because of many reasons, people are more literate now a days, men started respecting woman, and start considering and treating them as a human being, while a woman got the high qualified education, and that’s how things actually changed. Now a woman is strong enough to defend herself, she doesn’t need a man to keep her safe or protected. She is well groomed and socially active and she has the awareness of every single thing happening around her. That’s how I described a modern woman, who has guts to do anything in this world and she can prove people wrong again and again. 

In the conclusion, I'd recommend everyone to read the poems which are written by Emily Dickson and June Jordan; My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun, I’m Wife, I Gave Myself to Him, and Poem About My Rights respectively. In all those poems we can learn something and as a man we can correct our mistakes. The gender inequality still exists in this world, and the illiterate people still alive in our society and they are still spreading hate about the woman. The characters like the characters of “My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun, I’m Wife, I Gave Myself to Him” are still the part of this modern era. We have to spread the words against it socially, and we have to arrange the workshops which spread the awareness about the importance of gender’s equality. A woman has very beautiful soul, but you have to win her trust first, and treat her with love and respect.  And there will be a time when our society and especially America will be free from this disease. Respect the woman, love the woman. God Bless America. 

Citation:

Dickinson, Emily. “My Life Had Stood - a Loaded Gun (764) by Emily Dickinson.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/52737/my-life-had-stood-a-loaded-gun-764.

Dickson, Emily. “I Gave Myself to Him -- - Poem by Emily Dickinson.” Back to Main Page, famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/emily_dickinson/poems/7082.

Dickson, Emily. “I'm ‘Wife’-I've Finished That by Emily Dickinson.” Hello Poetry, hellopoetry.com/poem/2991/im-wifeive-finished-that/.

Jordan, June. “Poem about My Rights by June Jordan.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48762/poem-about-my-rights.

[anewhope4change-blog]

Social Media, Politics and “Howl”

Social media and politics- together, they have become a dangerous combination. In the world we live in today, they are a major component of our everyday culture. The trouble is, they have a bad reputation to do more harm than good. In fact, things have become so bad that: 

“Boundaries have blurred between personal and professional lives, as well as between nations, through international networks that bring people together as never before. It is vital, therefore, that all who implement social media strategies for organisations, or use it for personal purposes, are aware of what the digital world offers in the community, the political sphere and the workplace” (Reiman).

One key component to both things is perspective, particularly politics. When it comes to politics, a perspective can be influenced through the candidate’s platform which is, “A manifesto of principles and policies that a candidate or party seeks to be elected upon. Although important, US political platforms tend to be less detailed and binding than the equivalent manifestos of European parties” (Tomson). In addition, having social media can also provide a platform for politicians. 

However, there was a time when the culture was a little bit different. Picture yourself in America just after world war II. America in theory is on the upswing after winning the war in Europe and Japan. This perhaps would lead you to think that everything was good right? Not exactly. In the decade that followed the second world war, “Conformity was common, as young and old alike followed group norms rather than striking out on their own. Though men and women had been forced into new employment patterns during World War II, once the war was over, traditional roles were reaffirmed” (“The Culture of the 1950s”). There were some that were against the reoccurring culture of conformity and they became known as the Beat Generation. The overall motivation for the Beats was, “They fashioned a literature that was more bold, straightforward, and expressive than anything that had come before” (The Beat Generation) which was a conscious behavior on their part. The most controversial Beat was Allen Ginsberg who published Howlin which, “Ginsberg takes the reader/listener on a tour of the underside of America” (The Beat Generation). One such example is, “Who ate fire in paint hotels or drank turpentine in Paradise Alley, death, or purgatoried their torsos night after night” (Ginsberg). With “Howl”, “There is a visceral rage against the system that requires conformity and selling-out. Foul language and slang are common throughout the work, as well as drug use and criminality. All of these things were shocking to the 1950s establishment” (The Beat Generation).

 Which brings me back to today. It was about a week and a half ago I wrote a creative manifesto after reading Ginsberg’s “Howl” and when he called out America’s culture at that time, I decided to follow suit: 

America; Land of the free home of the brave, 

Oh, really? 

In a world where tension is at an all-time high?

Where politics and media of all platforms control shape our perspectives? 

The world we live in today is not what we want.

That is just the first few stanzas and when I was writing this, it made me think about songs that are politically influenced such as “American Idiot” by Green Day or “B.Y.O.B” by System of a Down and I do reference those in the work: 

In a world where, “Television dreams of tomorrow” (Armstrong, et al.),

It’s a government system where to quote System of a Down, “You depend on our protection, yet you feed us lies from the table cloth” (Malakian and Tankian).

You see, things started to significantly turn after, “May 2, 2011, U.S. Special Forces raided an al-Qaeda compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and killed the world’s most wanted terrorist: Osama bin Laden” (Marks). That is actually referenced in the manifesto: 

Once the head was cut off the snake, 

it seemed that only one thing was left: ourselves 

For instance, “When we killed it all The hate was all we had” (Slipknot).

Ever since then it’s been nothing but political tension.  

Like Ginsberg calling out America’s culture going to back to the, “Visceral rage against the system that requires conformity and selling-out” (The Beat Generation), the manifesto is calling out the trends/actions that both politics and social media have committed. However, there is some good news when it comes to social media and politics. One such example is an article recently published by CNN in which, “Facebook and Twitter are reviewing and taking down posts that spread disinformation about how and when to vote on Election Day” (Collier) and, “Ahead of last year's midterm elections, Facebook and Twitter declared such posts against their policies and created methods for states to flag election-related misinformation for removal” (Collier) but, that’s not all. Recently, “Twitter (TWTR) will stop accepting political ads, the company's CEO, Jack Dorsey, announced Wednesday” (O'Sullivan and Fung). 

Politics and not just social media but mass media in general have come a long way and that is due particularly due to technological advancement. In fact, “Advancement in technology had a profound impact on the practice of statecraft” (P.R. 146) and so much so that, “It is technologies of social connection which has direct influence on international relations in the twenty-first century. In the age of globalisation and Internet, top-down alleyway communications have almost become meaningless” (P.R. 146) and it doesn’t stop there. As a result of the evolution, “Politicians are constantly seeking alternatives to social media as a dominant form of communicating to the public” (Owen).  With this comes with what lies ahead and, “Great uncertainly surrounds the future of political communication” (Owen). However, there is some hope for these trends to provide some insight.  One benefit includes, “Issues and events that might be outside the purview of mainstream journalists can be brought to prominence by ordinary citizens” (Owen). Social Media and politics seem to bring nothing but negativity especially lately but hopefully actions performed by companies such as Twitter and other events such as gaining insight from the news will keep the good of media intact.

Works Cited

Armstrong, Billie J., et al. "Green Day American Idiot." Genius, 21 Sept. 2004, genius.com/Green-day-american-idiot-lyrics. Collier, Kevin. "Social Media Companies Remove Posts Spreading Disinformation About Election Day." CNN, 6 Nov. 2019, www.cnn.com/2019/11/05/politics/social-media-companies-disinformation-election-day/. 

Ginsberg, Allen. "Howl by Allen Ginsberg." Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49303/howl. 

Malakian, Daron, and Serj Tankian. "System of a Down B.Y.O.B." Genius, 17 May 2005, genius.com/System-of-a-down-byob-lyrics. 

Reiman, Cornelis. "social media growth and global change." Public Interest and Private Rights in Social Media, PDF File, 2012, p. 36. Marks, Julie. "How SEAL Team Six Took Out Osama Bin Laden." HISTORY, 24 May 2018, www.history.com/news/osama-bin-laden-death-seal-team-six. 

O'Sullivan, Donie, and Brian Fung,. "Twitter Will Ban Political Ads, Jack Dorsey Announces." CNN, 31 Oct. 2019, www.cnn.com/2019/10/30/tech/twitter-political-ads-2020-election/index.html. 

Owen, Diana. "The Past Decade and Future of Political Media: The Ascendance of Social Media." OpenMind, 2019, www.bbvaopenmind.com/en/articles/the-past-decade-and-future-of-political-media-the-ascendance-of-social-media/. 

P. R., Biju. "Internet Diplomacy." Political Internet State and Politics in the Age of Social Media, 2016, p. 146,  www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781315389929. 

Slipknot. "Slipknot Psychosocial." Genius, 20 Aug. 2008, genius.com/Slipknot-psychosocial-lyrics.

"The Beat Generation." The Literature Network, www.online-literature.com/periods/beat.php. 

"The Culture of the 1950s." American History from Revolution to Reconstruction and Beyond, 1994, www.let.rug.nl/usa/outlines/history-1994/postwar-america/the-culture-of-the-1950s.php. 

Tomson, Alex. A Glossary of US Politics and Government. online read, Edinburgh University Press, 2007, p. 136. 

[anewhope4change-blog]

Mental Health, Addiction, and Billie Holiday

The concept of mental health has evolved over the past one hundred or so years. Through awareness and science there have been incredible breakthroughs in the field. The hope is to find the cause and cure for the issues that plague the human mind. Mental health is a crucial part of a persons well being and advancement in life, both socially and professionally. Those that struggle with mental health issues often go without treatment. Without proper diagnosis and treatment, these mental issues can become increasing more debilitating for those affected. Addiction is one of the most common mental health issues that people struggle with these days. Addiction comes in many forms. A person could be addicted to almost anything. Addictions many forms include drug, sex, alcoholism, coffee, food and many more. The most common addictions are substance based. The substances that people are most commonly addicted to are coffee and sugar. These addictions are usually only negative if they have an adverse affect on your body, such as high blood pressure or weight gain. The other substances of addiction are not as forgiving. The power that these substances can wield over an unfortunate soul are terrifying. 

The effects of addiction can be seen in almost every facet of the addicts life. Not only is the addict affecting themselves but, also the people around them. The substance takes over the mind and body of the addict. The addict no longer has full control over itself. The substance becomes the central part of the addicts life. Mourning noon and night the addict thinks about the next drink or high. They lose interest in the things that used to bring them joy and prosperity. This is a sad sight for the loved ones of the addict. The person they know and love is no longer there. What is left is a shell of the individual they once knew.    The only hope they have is to get the person professional help. Interventions and rehab are incredible resources for those afflicted with addiction.

The causes of drug addiction range in variety. For some people they grew up around the substance, so it was second hand to them. They just fall into the black hole that is addiction. The more they do, the further from reality they get. Some people use for the first time and never try anything ever again. Other times the individual is not so lucky. The high is such that they begin to fantasize about getting back to that high. This is usually impossible and the addict chases that high until it kills them.Through the texts assigned in this class it is evident that some of the writers that are studied have struggled with addiction themselves. One of the most prevalent figures is Billie Holiday. After finding massive fame as a jazz singer, Holiday fell on hard times and began using heroin. Holiday began her drug use smoking opium with Jimmy Monroe which led her to later become addicted to heroin(White). She was arrested for possession of heroin and spent time in jail. The drug was the cause of her fall from fame. The control the drug had over her could be seen by those around her. Francoise Sagan who saw Holiday in Paris two years after meeting her and is quoted saying “It was Billie Holiday and it wasn’t Billie Holiday(Campanaro). In just two years since they had met she noticed “She had gotten much thinner and much older and on her arm you could notice tiny needle marks”(Campanaro). Just as in the poem “Power”by Adrienne Rich, Marie Curie’s passion for what she loved inevitably killed her. Holiday knew that her highly publicized arrests and conviction only increased her celebrity and market value, thus further supporting her heroin addiction(Chown). The years of drug and alcohol use finally catch up to her and she was admitted to Metropolitan Hospital in New York. She was succumbing to cirrhosis of her liver. While she lay in bed dying from the lifestyle that her fame afforded her she is arrested for drug possession and chained to the bed. Under police watch she was denied the medicine she required to stay alive. On July 17th, 1959 she died of pulmonary edema and heart failure. She was only 44. The substance addiction took away the best years of her life. There is much speculation on how high her star was to rise, but the world will always have her memory.

The struggle with drug addiction is still very much at the forefront of the many issues plaguing our society today. It is very common for someone to know of or is directly connected to someone who struggles with substance addiction. A recent tragedy involving drug addiction are the losses of Heath Ledger and Mack Miller. Much like Billie Holiday the stress of their job caused them to turn to chemical substances to function. Drugs like fentanyl cocaine and alcohol are the cause of Mac Miller’s death. He is reported to have used the substances to relieve the pressures of his high famed career. His struggles with addiction were only fueled by the media attention it received. His music was also influenced by these substances, which also made it more difficult to distance himself from the addiction. Heath Ledger found himself victim of his passion for his work. For a solid month he locked himself in his hotel room to work on the character, the Joker. He began having issues with anxiety and sleeplessness. The pressure he put on himself to perform caused him to begin to lose his sanity. He was prescribed several drugs to help with these symptoms. In the toxicology report they found oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temezapam and a few others. He was prescribed these drugs together. It was the combination that killed him. He was seeking relief from the pressure of his success. His fame caused his anxiety. Fortunately these days there are many places that a person can find help. It only takes reaching out to the right person or organization. There are networks of people that have gone through the tortures of addiction. It is imperative that those affected by this disease seek treatment. They need to do this for themselves and for the people they affect with their addiction. If the celebrities mentioned could have allowed themselves to receive the proper medical treatment it may have saved their lives. 

Works Cited

Billie Holiday - ProQuest.”Proquest.Com, 2019, search.proquest.com/openview/c65409868fe3101479021ef151ed28ea/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=6316. Accessed 10 Nov. 2019.

Campanaro, Georgio. UCLA Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies Title A Case for Billie Holiday. 1988.White, William. Selected Papers of William L. White Jazz and Junk: The Story of Billie Holiday. 2014.

[anewhope4change-blog]

Social Media and Social Destruction

Society and american culture has always made a huge impression on culture and always will. The way we grow up, the way we have been taught, and the way we observe others to be. Allen Ginsberg in 1954, published “Howl,” a poem that impacted the literacy generation with the help of the Beat Generation. The Beat Generation was a literacy group that formed in the 1950s after World War. It was created to protect the american culture at the time and form a new cultural norm that fought against society. Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg were the original founders of the group and later inherited William S. Burroughs, Gregory Corso, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Neal Cassady, Carl Solomon, John Clellon Holmes, Joyce Johnson, Ken Kesey, Richard Brautigan, and Gary Synder. 

Ginsberg wanted to fight against cultural norm and form a group that did not fit in with the others. He wanted to break all ties with “correct” and “appropriate” literature. Ginsberg used “Howl” as a cry of protest against the literacy culture and write about topics nobody wanted to speak about. The story was written to a man named Carl Solomon, a man Ginsberg had met in a mental institution. Allen Ginsberg wrote this poem to start a protest and fight against capitalism where industries are owned by separate individuals. Ginsberg separated the poem into three sections to get his point across. 

The second part of the story was the most impactful section when Ginsberg compared Moloch, a biblical god, who was known as the “god of sacrifice.” The story behind Moloch was built around the idea of respect. Everyone believed they had to sacrifice everything to him for respect. The most popular sacrifice was children. Ginsberg says in this section, “Moloch! Solitude! Filth! Ugliness! Ashcans and unobtainable dollars! Children screaming under the stairways! Boys sobbing in armies! Old men weeping in the parks! Moloch! Moloch! Nightmare of Moloch! Moloch the loveless! Mental Moloch! Moloch the heavy judger of men! Moloch the incomprehensible prison! Moloch the crossbone soulless jailhouse and Congress of sorrows! Moloch whose buildings are judgment! Moloch the vast stone of war! Moloch the stunned governments! Moloch whose mind is pure machinery! Moloch whose blood is running money!” (Ginsberg 1957) Ginsberg is comparing sacrifices to industrial machines. Allen Ginsberg was trying to draw attention to everything we sacrifice to capitalism. His purpose was to highlight anger and pain in hopes to relate to others feeling the same way. 

Ginsberg was trying to express his hatred towards american culture and how the culture is shaping the world. The Beat Generation challenged society and the views society put onto the world. He describes the limitation of acceptance, love, and voice from the generation. The poem reads from visions of falling, cultural blindness, self destruction, total self darkness, and self isolation. Ginsberg’s purpose was to challenge the mainstream culture through darkness, mind captivity, and vulgarness. 

Howl inspired myself to fight against social media perfectionism. Social media sees humans as bait when it comes to accounts of body image and self love. Media is nothing but selfish for stealing our self worth and self respect. Ginsberg stood up against culture normalization and society destruction. Social media sets us up for social destruction. Instagram, snapchat, twitter, and so many more sites have sucked media users in overtime but how many can say they still have self worth? Self respect? How about self love? a weakness, ruining our society

Imprisonment to self image

Feelings of wanting to look and act to our standards

Makes you Want to measure up

Want to look a certain wayWant to be seen in a way

Want to be praised

Want to fit into everyone else’s box

Want to have depression

Want to have anxiety 

Want to have an eating disorder

Want to be defined by likes and follows

Want to live in fear of rejection

That is what we are for

We are Destroying society one post at a time

Kim Kardshian, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, Kylie Jenner, Rosie O’Donnell, Anne Rice, Jennifer Aniston, Iggy Azalea, Bradley Cooper, Wayne Newton, Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Blake Lively, Gwen Stefani, Victoria Beckham

Setting a fine line between self love And barbie dreamhouse

Don’t you wanna look like them?Destroying mental health

Rising of insanity, to the thought of social destruction

Destroying of physical health

Gym memberships declining, grocery stores out of business

All because of Kim’s new post

We compare

Can’t help but despair Our world is full of imperfections

Full of Self rankings 

But that is what you want right?

Hate is everywhere, but we don’t see it

Self worth? Who needs it when you have likes

Morals? But what about your followers?

You are what? Sad? Delete that.

Depression? What is that?

Anxiety? You are fine

Bullying? Well....

You are addicted? well good! $$$$

Suck in, pose right

100 takes

Can NOT let them see you down

Only happiness gets shared

Struggling? Don’t show it

Hungry? Suck it up

Pimple? Put makeup over it

Not enough likes? Show more skin

Not enough followers? Buy them online

Finally Feeling not good enough? 

That's more like it!

Love, Instagram, Twitter, & Snapchat

This mantra was created out of pure hate for social media but also written by a hypocrite that would bend over backwards for anything posted online. Sure you can keep up with what your friends are doing and share what you are up to. But is posting maybe once a week worth the loss? Social media has taken over all of our society and will continue to spread and engross us more and more each day. Social media has formed boxes around society to act and look a certain way thanks to celebrities. Social media has stripped us from our self esteem and happiness. Before posting share, think of yourself for once. Self happiness over likes.

Works Cited:

Ginsberg, Allen. “Howl by Allen Ginsberg.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49303/howl.The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. 

“Beat Movement.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 27 Feb. 2019, https://www.britannica.com/art/Beat-movement.

Parker, Sarah. “The Danger of Perfectionism in Social Media -.” Union Metrics, 28 Mar. 2017, https://unionmetrics.com/blog/2017/03/danger-perfectionism-social-media/.

Ehmke, Rachel, and Child Mind Institute. “How Using Social Media Affects Teenagers.” Child Mind Institute, https://childmind.org/article/how-using-social-media-affects-teenagers/. 

[anewhope4change-blog]

Speak Up

It can be difficult for a person to rapidly switch the lens through which she views the world. Individuals are molded from an early age to recognize what is generally accepted in their society. When these guidelines are too closely followed, it deters individuals from speaking up lest they are shunned from society. As a result, it can make it nearly impossible for social improvements to be made due to the increased attitude of apathy. To combat this, Allen Ginsberg and Saul Williams express the importance of fighting back against the constructs that control a society.

A common term that many people are familiar with is the idea of the American Dream. It glorifies the concept of an individual “making it on [her] own if [she has] the will power, stamina, and intestinal fortitude to survive and compete” (Banks 168). However, as many have come to find out, this type of concept is not always the easiest one to follow. Even if a person does all that she can, there are usually other extrinsic roadblocks that automatically make certain dreams become impossible. In fact, research states that there is “scientific evidence that this very strategy is driving society into disconnection, despair, and even poor health” (168). This is only one of the examples in which society puts its belief into something that can be detrimental. It is a limiting mindset that controls the actions and behaviors of an individual trying to follow the idea. This type of situation ultimately offers the question about what needs to be done to break free from the social constructs and obstacles that choke America’s culture. It helps to have and to utilize an outlet of expression in order to be heard. Allen Ginsberg begins by demonstrating this through his poetry, most notably in “Howl.” 

Following the post-war era in America, there were still instances of social restraints placed upon society due to widespread conformity. It ultimately led to the movement of the Beat Generation. Members of this demonstration were known for paving the road for “a refreshing new age of social and literary freedoms” by denouncing what was wrongfully controlling their culture (Theado 748). As a prominent figure of the Beat Generation, Ginsberg did just that. In “Howl,” he expresses what he has seen happen to his society and how it has affected his fellow members of the Beat Generation. 

The poem itself is an example of protest that is broken up into three parts. The first portion explains who is feeling wronged by the forced conformity. He then continues on to the second part, which explains what it is exactly that is causing these feelings. Finally, he manages to finish the poem on more of a hopeful note. However, the overall message that he is hoping to convey is an impactful one. Seen especially during the second part of the poem, he personifies the effects of consumerism through Moloch. Moloch is a “deity associated in biblical sources with the practice of child sacrifice” (“Moloch”). By explaining how Moloch, “whose blood is running money,” is also the “smoke-stacks and antennae [that] crown the cities,” Ginsberg is making the connection that society is the one being sacrificed to consumerism (Ginsberg lines 28-29 and 32-33). Furthermore, consumerism is damaging to the overall culture. Years following Ginsberg’s poem, Saul Williams created a piece that further demonstrates how society should fight back against the standards put into motion by America’s culture. 

Similar to Ginsberg’s “Howl,” Saul Williams’ “Coded Language” is a poem that protests against what he sees occurring around him. Highlighting an issue that is seen in modern America today, he expresses his concern with how oversaturated the media has become. It holds society within its hands and essentially has limited the minds of everyone. He states that “the current standard is the equivalent of an adolescent restricted to the diet of an infant” (Williams lines 32-33). Ultimately, he is arguing that individuals in society are no longer given the tools to accurately stretch and train their minds. There is a certain stopping point in which they no longer are able to freely express their ideas and opinions. Furthermore, he pointedly states that “now is the time to self-actualize” (line 19). The Theory of Self-Actualization “is the process of achieving one’s own full potential or the hidden potentials through creativity, autonomy, spontaneity and vibrant understanding of what one’s desires and wishes” (Tripathi and Moakumla 499). As such, Williams is proclaiming the importance of regaining the drive to want to be better. Especially in the environment seen today in the media, individuals need to remember that they have a voice.

Another important element that both poems utilize is calling out to real instances and people. Ginsberg calls out to the struggles of his fellow Beat members as they were “the best minds of [his] generation destroyed by madness” (Ginsberg line 1). However, most notable in his work is his repeated cry to Carl Solomon, the person to which “Howl” is dedicated to. Similarly, Saul Williams lists many prominent names ranging from Lennon to Nostradamus. Each person or place on Williams’ list is significant in causing change one way or another. By involving real examples into their works, Ginsberg and Williams make it feel more tangible and relatable to the current audience. When readers are able to feel like they connect to a piece, the lesson being told will become more effective in the long run. Perhaps it will motivate the audience to be on the next list of influential figures.

Overall, Ginsberg and Williams were not only poets but also activists wishing to open the eyes of their audience. It can be easy to fall into the monotonous cycle of what the media and culture feeds to its victims, but that is no excuse to become apathetic. Just because something feels familiar does not mean that it is always the best option. If anything, both poems should be a motivating factor for people to want to change the antiquated standards that have been set in motion. Furthermore, learning from past experiences of other individuals allows a society to understand how to continue moving forward. These types of changes will not happen overnight, but it can be gradually worked on. 

Works Cited

Banks, Amy. “Developing the Capacity to Connect.” Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science, vol. 46, no. 1, Mar. 2011, pp. 168–182. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/j.1467-9744.2010.01164.x.

Ginsberg, Allen. “Howl.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49303/howl.“Moloch.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 26 Feb. 2016, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Moloch-ancient-god.

Theado, Matt. “Beat Generation Literary Criticism.” Contemporary Literature, vol. 45, no. 4, Winter 2004, pp. 747–761. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1353/cli.2005.0010.

Tripathi, Nishi, and Moakumla. “A Valuation of Abraham Maslow’s Theory of Self-Actualization for the Enhancement of Quality of Life.” Indian Journal of Health & Wellbeing, vol. 9, no. 3, Mar. 2018, pp. 499–504. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=129285067&site=ehost-live&scope=site.Williams, 

Saul. “Coded Language.” Coded Language Lyrics, https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/4811860/Saul Williams/Coded Language

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“Howl” for a New Generation

There are many ways to have one’s voice be heard in order to get a point across, whether that be in the form of speaking, physical interaction, or writing. With the first amendment being, “the right to express any opinions without censorship or restraint”, many people exhibit this amendment by using their voice in a way of protest. One of the more better-known groups whom took this into account was known as The Beat Generation.”The Beat Generation was a group of loosely-bound young poets and writers in US in the 1950s. They challenged all the traditional values and became a most important force in questioning and denying traditional cultural values after World War II” (Zhang). Groups such as the Beat Generation helped cause a domino effect, while beat poetry is still alive today.One of the more famously known members of the Beat Generation was Allen Ginsberg.

 According to the Poetry Foundation, Ginsberg was, “One of the most respected Beat writers and acclaimed American poets of his generation” (Poetry Foundation). It would seem that in 1948, “Ginsberg claimed to have heard William Blake’s voice, and from then on Ginsberg emphasized the visionary aspects of his poetry. He experimented with drugs, sexuality, and meditation throughout his life” (Theado). With that fun fact, we have so called “William Blake” to thank for the inspiration behind Ginsberg’s need to, “emphasized the visionary aspects of his poetry” (Theado). One year later he was arrested and eventually, Ginsberg, “was sent to a psychiatric institute, where he met Carl Solomon, a key figure in Ginsberg’s poem ‘Howl’” (Theado).Though it appears Ginsberg had a rough couple of years, good always seems to come with the bad. In this case, Ginsberg’s Poem “Howl”, was the good that came out of the bad, “Ginsberg’s public breakthrough came in San Francisco, in 1955, when he read the first part of “Howl” before an audience as part of an event that launched the San Francisco Poetry Renaissance” (Theado).

In the long poem, “Howl” by, Allen Ginsberg, Ginsberg goes into depth on the changes he is seeing on his society explaining how “I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked...” (Line 1 & 2) Ginsberg goes about this by ranting in an almost a shouting manner using foul language, refusing to hold back what he has to say. In the poem, Ginsberg acts as if he is an outsider looking into the destruction of the minds of the Americans around him. Ginsberg begins to mention “Moloch” repetitively throughout the poem. Moloch in short terms is “a Semitic god whom children were sacrificed” (Ginsberg). By including this God, Ginsberg is comparing and contrasting this child sacrificing god to the minds of society being destroyed or sacrificed in a way. Ginsberg does this by breaking up the long poem into three sections which include, the first being whose minds he was watching be destroyed, for example, “who were expelled from the academies for crazy & publishing obscene odes on the windows of the skull...” (Ginsberg). 

In the section he breaks it down more into what the cause of this madness is, this is when he repetitively brings in the word “Moloch”, by the third section Ginsberg switches up the flow and begins to speak to a man named Carl Soloman where in the beginning of each stanza, Ginsberg repeatedly tells Soloman he is with him in Rockland. For example, “Carl Solomon! I’m with you in Rockland where you’re madder than I am I’m with you in Rockland” (Ginsberg). By Ginsberg saying at the end that he is seeing what is driving the best generation mad and isn’t gullible to the changes, meaning he is with the best generation, he sees them. And by seeing and being with that generation, he uses his voice to try to make a change and open others minds to the matters.Beat Poetry such as “Howl” by, Allen Ginsberg helped pave the way for more artists to use the same techniques in order to get their point across just as Ginsberg did. Having read “Howl”, it’s clear that Ginsberg believed in what he preached and was undeniably himself. 

For this post, I decided to attempt a manifesto much like Ginsberg’s in which I share my personal view of the world and all of the negative I have seen, specifically on climate change.

                                                         Howl

                                                            I

I saw the undeniable signs and statistics on climate change and its mere possibility to destroy mankind.

I saw the generation we were supposed to look up to fail us, neglect us, and dismiss the idea of global warming, as if it were a fairytale, rather than a real-life matter. 

I saw entire ecosystems collapsing, record high temperatures, scientists having,” high confidence that global temperatures will continue to rise for decades to come, largely due to greenhouse gases produced by human activities” (IPCC).

                                                          II

And yet...

The government we are supposed to look up to, the government that we are forced to trust, leave us with empty promises and the inability to take action.

The government while in the midst of a mass extinction and quite possibly the beginning of the end, can only think about money, economic growth, and immigration.

Things that only benefit the government and the higher class, things that shouldn’t be put before our futures well-being, things that aren’t main priorities.

                                                           III

Therefore, ...

It is left to the people, to our future, and to our generation to make a change.

It is left to mankind to make our voices heard, to be taken more seriously.

It is left to the people to make a change, and make it fast, before it is too late to reverse the already mass amounts of damage.

It is left to us, or there will no longer be an us to talk about.

 In other words, the topic “climate change” has been labeled a myth for too long. Generations above us have left it to our generation to step up and do something about it due to the issue not being taken more seriously. Now that evidence is undeniable, if the nation as a whole doesn’t start making drastic changes, effects will be irreversible. However, because the matter still isn’t being as widely addressed as it should, our generation has to take matters into our own hands.

Works Cited

Zhang, Yonghong. “On the Beat Generation.” International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, Sept. 2013, www.ijhssnet.com/journals/Vol_3_No_17_September_2013/21.pdf.

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Chopin and “The Modern Family”

In modern times the household is something that is different family to family. Many of these households do consist of one man and one woman as the parents especially in older times. Nowadays the modern household can consist of 2 women who are partners and even two men who are parents. Let us not forget about the individuals who are raising their kids by themselves. An author known for her work that was featured in many high-profile magazines of the time, Kate Chopin was well known and received for her work. Not only was she able to describe life in her time with unpinning accuracy, her work was also featured in children magazines and books. One such novel that received ill acclaim was The Storm written in 1898. 

This story described a time when women were mainly stuck in marriages that they were either unhappy or were chosen to participate in by family.Many forms of her work were banned from public libraries as the contents within these stories were controversial. Not until 1991 were her words put into separate stories and made available on public library shelves (Biography, Kate Chopin). Even in this day and age many authors work is deemed inappropriate by society's and withheld from the youth. Her works also strike a theme with woman today looking for self-worth, discovery and identity. She was against women conforming just to meet society's view of the perfect woman. She wanted women to go outside of the norms and push boundaries. She also liked to relate cultural themes in with her characters, many of which are still present in today's writings inspired by Chopin’s works.Considering her history and given the present situations of the modern family.

Many similarities do exist, although the storm forces an ex-boyfriend to appear and get stuck at the same home she is in, they are able to have a deep sexual encounter that leaves them both satisfied. With the storm coming to an end, the old boyfriend writes a letter to his wife saying she can stay where she is a while longer. The story can be taken in many different directions than what Chopin could have intended. The idea of betraying one’s husband is a controversial topic, let alone another man marrying a divorced woman at the time.  In current times, we have more options in relationships than existed back in the late 1800’s. It is not such a taboo for a female to have a female partner or a male to have a male partner. Many people do not agree with it to an extent, but couples are able to be more open with their relationships. 

This story was published around 1969 it shocked many people due to the explicitness of her writing as sexual encounters were still something that was considered private even in poetry. Some people think her writings or stories are not appropriate for this day and age. If you are understanding of her language back in those times, we just have a modern way of saying the same things. Even relationships can still be dramatic as she spoke about in her writings.  Another aspect of her relationship is she was in a loveless marriage. There were not many suitors to choose from and if you did find one it was usually through an arranged marriage or agreement that benefited the family. Some would even say the American Family is dying in a sense. In her story it talks about how she is having an affair with her past lover while she is still happily married to her husband.  ”Devoted as she was to her husband, their intimate conjugal life was something which she was more than willing to forego for a while.( The Storm,)” She even says that having conjugal visits with her ex is something that is okay and that she will continue to do while he is still in town.

In the poem “The Modern Family” it describes how mothers do not feel any love anymore. How they cry and feel pain. How children talk back to their parents and fathers are not to be seen. It describes how fathers use abuse to get points across and rule with an iron fist. Kids struggle to feel the love as parents struggle to love their children. We now live in a society where it is easier for women to leave relationships and take their kids. The male role model is changing from one that rules the relationship to one that is feared in many relationships. In the poem it talks about how women would rather die than live their lives trapped “Mothers do not feel loved. 

Underappreciated, they cry for help. When no one seems to care, they end their life with death. (“The Modern Family.”) What the weird parallel here is that Chopin also took her own life to escape her husband, similar to the way that other poet proclaims. This poem written in 2013 really paves the way for the path our ideal families have gone. These poem enforce the idea that not every home is perfect, yet some are far from repair. Chopin’s version is something that is considered controversial but profound for the time period her piece was written in. One thing I take away from the authors poem is that how we have changed as a society from accepting our fate to changing it into something better. The fact that Chopin as was able to talk about something that was considered taboo at the time is something that is revolutionary. When she was alive, she made her stories feel like something that could have been written last week. I wonder if her poems were written today would they still carry as much of an impact as they did back then? 

“Biography, Kate Chopin, The Awakening, The Storm, Stories.” KateChopin.org, https://www.katechopin.org/biography/.

“The Modern Family.” Power Poetry, https://www.powerpoetry.org/poems/modern-family.

“The Storm, Kate Chopin, Characters, Setting, Questions.” KateChopin.org, https://www.katechopin.org/the-storm/#scholars

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Problems Immigrants face.

“Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists,” said by Franklin D. Roosevelt who was the 32nd president of the United States. Immigrants all over the world, especially in the United States, are the backbone of the economy. Immigration and racism are the problems of America for so long now. In every century, every era, every year they faced problems and problems throughout their lives and the reason is people categories them all in one category. Like all immigrants are illegal here, or all immigrants from Muslim countries are terrorists, or all the colored people are dangerous. The reality is the problem are in the people’s mind.

“Everywhere immigrants have enriched and the fabric of American life,” said by John F. Kennedy. Immigrants who used to live in their home country and moved to the United States especially for better future, better life, better education, and better opportunities or came here to be part of the American dream just like Langston Hughes mentioned in Let America Be America Again. They came here with the dream inside them that they will get justice, freedom, and they can spend their lives according to their own desires. And the matter of the fact is, we should feel good and proud that they think our country has all those things which they are looking for. They are ready to accept the new culture, new tradition as well as the new language for good. It’s not an easy thing to move to a new country and start your whole life from scratch again. If they are willing to do, we shouldn’t stop them. The problem is when they moved here after leaving everything behind, we should treat them good and fair with love and care. The companies, and schools they are applying to have to understand that maybe English isn’t their first language, or they are not white or black we should encourage them, motivate them, and work with them to get them successful. Being brown in this country is a problem and the reason is you feel disassociate from others. Just like Langston Hughes mentioned in his poem Mulatto. The look on the people's faces, and the way they treat you, you can feel that they don’t think you are one of them. The brown people trying to find who they actually are. Are they the part of the white group or the black community? As an American, they have the right to follow their own religion believes, and we should give them an opportunity to live here because we all are immigrants as well. Oscar Handlin was an American historian who said, “Once I thought to write a history of immigrants in America. Then I discovered that the immigrants were American history.” Do we know how many kids get bullied because of their traditional clothes and because of their mother tongue? Do we know how many times people lost their jobs because of racism? How many times even teachers treated immigrated kids differently? I am raising these questions because all these things happened with me or my family members. The thing which hurts more than if I am accepting this country as my second home, working hard, going college, paying taxes and then someone questions my loyalties. Some people are not that strong and after being moved here they left the states and went back to their home countries. They received the feelings that Americans are acting different and superior around them and America will never be their second home, just like Langston Hughes said, “(It never was America to me. )” in Let America be America Again, and this is because of racism. What kind of dream we are presenting them? We often talk about the American dream. But the question is do we actually remembered it? Do we even have a right to talk about it? Do we still want to achieve that dream? This is the question every American should ask their selves. Does it mean we are still living at the time when Langston Hughes wrote the poem “Let America be America Again”? If it’s yes, then it means in all those years nothing changed, we are still at the same place where stronger can crush the weaker, where white is superior then others, where you couldn’t find equality, where hungry is still starving. It means we are not totally free yet, it means the time still has to come when we will follow the actual American dream and then we will make America great again. The answer is we are way far from it, just like Langston Hughes mentioned in Let America Be America Again. It’s that far that we can’t even see it. Many times, our politicians said we will make America great again, but in actuality, they are spreading hatred, confusion, and false hope. Government after a government, leader after a leader, talks about it but no one actually tries to implement anything; because no one remembers it anymore.

How many times in social media we heard the term white supremacy? Sometimes it’s very shocking in the sense that this term still existed in this modern era. Every religion talks about humanity and peace, you can read the Quran or Bible, you can talk to the Priest or Imam, you can talk to Jew or Hindu, they will all tell you about this. Physically we are living in the 21st century but actually, we are hundreds of years back. Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said, “A white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action.” Bible said, in James 2:4 that, “have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” Discrimination is a disease that is spread out all over the world and no one knows how dangerous it could be. The biggest example is if some Muslims killed someone for any reason, he is called terrorist but if some white person kills someone, everyone tries to prove that he was not mentally stable. No one is trying to defend the Muslim who killed someone, he should be punished but at least your rules and law should be the same for everyone.

I think we to stay hopeful and positive about the future just like the poem I, Too by Langston Hughes where in the beginning he told us that how people treat him because of his color or race and he feels bad about it. But in the next few lines, he also said there will be a time when everything will be sorted out, we as a nation treat everyone the same, and the people who are racist will be ashamed. He is American too, and we as an immigrant have to believe in that and keep the right attitude just like Langston Hughes and he also said that he has all those rights which others have and there will be a time when our society will be free with this problem.

In conclusion, I just want to say that every group has some good or bad people. Because of those few bad people, you can’t say that this whole group is not good. We Americans should take a look in our society and wherever we see some kind of injustice we should raise our voice against it. We should treat each human being the same without even knowing his faith, religion, and race. If we take those steps, I am assuring you our next generations will definitely see the American dream becoming true in a very short time. We also keep the poem I, Too by Langston Hughes in our minds and stay positive just like Let America Be America Again. God Bless America.

Citations:

Roosevelt, Franklin. “Quotes about Immigrants.” FDR Quotes about Immigrants, Quotes Hd.com, www.google.com/search?q=FDR+quotes+about+immigrants&safe=active&sxsrf=ACYBGNTJmmk5aDf_V7I4mBmVanPn2AHobA:1571340062332&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjK7fHxgaTlAhVjdt8KHVeXBNUQ_AUIEygC&biw=1440&bih=821#imgrc=GgOlKiX3TEnXlM:

“James 2 - NIV Bible - My Brothers and Sisters, Believers in Our Glorious...” Bible Study Tools, www.biblestudytools.com/james/2.html.

Khattak, Adnan A. “Prophet Muhammad's Last Sermon.” Prophet Muhammad's Last Sermon, www.introductiontoislam.org/prophetlastsermon.shtml.

Reign, Ashley. “13 Quotes About Immigration That Will Remind You We're All Human.” Women.com, www.women.com/ashleyreign/lists/number-quotes-about-immigration-that-will-remind-you-were-all-human.

“TOP 25 IMMIGRANTS QUOTES (of 860): A-Z Quotes.” A, www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/immigrants.html.

Hughes, Langston. “Let America Be America Again by Langston Hughes - Poems | Academy of American Poets.” Poets.org, Academy of American Poets, 1936, poets.org/poem/let-america-be-america-again.

Spacey, Andrew. “Analysis of Poem ‘I,Too’ by Langston Hughes.” Owlcation, Owlcation, 5 Mar. 2019, owlcation.com/humanities/Analysis-of-Poem-I-Too-by-Langston-Hughes

Hughes, Langston. “Mulatto.” Poem: Mulatto by Langston Hughes, www.poetrynook.com/poem/mulatto-0.

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Be The Change

The sound of the media and the news droning on is not an unfamiliar one. With it constantly feeling as though these issues are mounting each day, it can be tempting to want to ignore it entirely. However, a real problem arises when these calls to action only end up falling upon deaf ears. The fact that there is such an abundance of issues piling up is indicative of a growing apathetic environment of those in charge. As such, Ted Chiang and Greta Thunberg emphasize the importance of effectively being heard.

Ted Chiang begins with this idea by narrating through the eyes of a concerned parrot in “The Great Silence.” While the bird demonstrates the ability of his kind to exhibit communication, he laments how humans repeatedly disregard the species instead. In doing so, the narrator points out that humanity is not only ignoring the subsequent intelligence of his species, but also “our language, our rituals, our traditions” (Chiang). Despite the behavior and ignorance that he faces, the narrator further acknowledges that “[humans] didn’t do it maliciously” and “they just weren’t paying attention” (Chiang). The narrator exemplifies the enthusiasm and empathy that society needs to rekindle. The parrot’s call to action reflects this.

Although this is from a fictional story, the overall message continues to ring true today. For example, the issue of climate change not only affects humans but also the other animals that live on earth. Even though there are individuals in power who can enforce a change, there seems to be a constant attitude of assuming it will just get fixed eventually. Then, when the issue is deemed not important enough anymore to the general population, it is forgotten about a week later. This is not always done purposely in a cruel manner; life just continues moving on. However, it is important for society to recognize the pattern it continues to follow so it can work toward a change.

Today, it can be easy to be swept away in the media. A majority of the reports come off as bleak. Various individuals might assume that anything they do to help would only be insignificant against such sizeable problems. Chiang argues that humans instead focus too much on situations that ultimately are inconsequential. The parrot in “The Great Silence” openly wonders why humans would rather expend their resources studying something far from their personal reach when they could focus on something right before them. Ultimately, this type of attitude is indicative of the bystander effect. Under the bystander effect, studies show that there is a “reduction in helping behavior in the presence of other people” (Hortensious and Gelder). Although individuals claim that they would go out of their way to assist others, research suggests that “many people refrain from helping in real life, especially when we are aware that other people are present at the scene” (Hortensious and Gelder). This attitude can be seen in countless of the disputes seen today. Even though there are issues begging to be solved today, attention seems to shift elsewhere time and time again because they assume someone else will fix what is in front of them. This type of mindset needs to change. As such, there are activists today like Greta Thunberg who work to break this mold.

Each year, climate change increasingly becomes more of a dilemma. Only 16 years old, a Swedish activist by the name of Greta Thunberg has already been “nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize” in February 2019 and received numerous other honorary distinctions (Kühne). Although she has these recognitions for her achievements in fighting for the environment, there are still multitudes of individuals that completely discredit her. In her speech given at the Houses of Parliament, she brazenly states, “I know many of you don’t want to listen to us – you say we are just children” (Thunberg). Thunberg does all that she can to elicit a response against the mounting concern for climate change, but several world leaders and citizens fail to listen just because she is younger than them. However, she is actually echoing the parrot from Chiang’s work. Both individuals are addressing an audience that struggles to understand the gravity of their respective actions. She asserts, “I’m sure that the moment we start behaving as if we were in an emergency, we can avoid climate and ecological catastrophe” (Thunberg). This idea further solidifies the point of individuals needing to recognize the changes they need to make. Only then will they be able to work toward a better world.

Although the political and societal climate can appear to be a downward slope, it is crucial to recognize that this is not truly the case. While instances of the bystander effect may pop up here and there, this just means that society needs to learn how to step up again as it has done before. It is not asking for the impossible. In fact, many individuals are currently doing this. People like Greta Thunberg, anyone working to create a change or someone who does what he can to benefit the overall community, are shining examples of hope in the world. There are even studies done on the evolution of human cooperation in which the author expresses how there are “altruistic social preferences supporting cooperation, [which] outcompeted unmitigated and amoral self-interest” (Gintis 174). The media often forces a pessimistic view on what is happening in the world but understanding that virtuous changes are being made is crucial in motivating people to move forward. Thunberg rightfully states that “the moment we decide to fulfill something, we can do anything” (Thunberg). This is the type of mindset to admire and follow.

Overall, making a change is a mutual interaction among the citizens of the nation. There are several steps in this process, but it can be done. Chiang and Thunberg all but argue this in their works. It is only impossible if the society slips too much into a closed mindset of apathy. Thus, it is important to resist the temptation to ignore problems. Instead, people need to listen and learn how to make the changes that the world is begging for.

 Works Cited

Chiang, Ted. “The Great Silence.” Electric Literature, 6 May 2019, https://electricliterature.com/the-great-silence-by-ted-chiang/.

Gintis, Herbert. “The Evolution of Human Cooperation.” Cliodynamics: The Journal of Theoretical & Mathematical History, vol. 3, no. 1, Jan. 2012, pp. 172–190. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=90506773&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Hortensius, Ruud, and Beatrice de Gelder. “From Empathy to Apathy: The Bystander Effect Revisited.” Current directions in psychological science vol. 27,4 (2018): 249-256. doi:10.1177/0963721417749653

Kühne, Rainer W. “Climate Change: The Science Behind Greta Thunberg and Fridays for Future.” OSF Preprints, 2 Sept. 2019. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/2n6kj.

Thunberg, Greta. “You Did Not Act in Time.” Vital Speeches of the Day, vol. 85, no. 6, June 2019, pp. 174–175. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=136738333&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

[anewhope4change-blog]

The Isolation surrounding Immigration

For decades and through history people from different countries all over the world heard myths and stories about an Amazing place. This place welcomed and even celebrated people of all color and identity, some called it a melting pot, meaning that all races could come together and become one.  While people in other parts of the world heard that this place had streets that were paved with gold. Other people heard that everyone was given astonishing opportunities. These opportunities were something they could never even think of in their home country. Some even heard of a big green woman who stood thousands of feet tall and she wielded a torch to guide people with no home to her so she could take away their sorrows. She was the lighthouse to all the souls that were in fear of sinking. She was lady liberty. These stories and prophecies soon began to lead all these different people on a witch hunt in search for this amazing place that held the land of the free. They were in search of the placed called, “The United states of America.”

When many arrived at their destination many were disenchanted and baffled. “I came to America because I heard the streets were paved with gold. When I got here, found out three things: First, the streets weren't paved with gold; second, they weren't paved at all: and third, I was expected to pave them.” This quote was pulled form a scholarly blog created by Danielle  Trottier called “The Migrant Crisis.” This is a quote from an Italian immigrant that arrived in New York in the early 1900’s through the Ellis Island immigration center. This information comes from This is how many immigrants that came to America felt. Their dreams and goals that they made for themselves soon dissolved in the polluted water that they found America to be.  America was far from the stories that traveled through the grape vine and this country is still presently dealing with this same issue and it’s no doubt to say that it has gotten worse. It’s gotten awfully violent and emotionally wrenching. There are families being torn apart and houses being raided. All of this is happening because the people who idolize this country and wanted nothing more but to be apart of it are here under circumstances that the government doesn’t agree with. Our American government would rather elongate the process of becoming official Americans by making people abide by a certain set of standards. First you have to pass a lengthy test all about America that most American born citizens couldn’t pass, second you must be able to read, write, and speak basic English, and third you have to be a good person of moral. These are just the requirements to determine if someone would even be eligible to become a United states citizen. After that you have to go through a ten-step neutralization process which includes taking more test and having a face to face interview. You also must be over the age of 18 to become a U.S citizen. To any normal person who has never had to deal with leaving everything in your home country behind to come to a place where you’re might come true this whole process might sound bizarre but to the thousands of immigrants being held in detainment centers and the ones that are being shot at the American boarder this is nothing new.

           People in general always hold America to the standards of being the land of the free. In America there is freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, and in Americas very own pledge it states that justice will be served for all. In the declaration of independence, it is stated that all men are created equally. The actual citizens of the united states know that those standards are far from reality and have known for many years. “Let America be America again. Let it be the dream it used to be. Let it be the pioneer on the plain, seeking a home where he himself is free.” These are the first few lines of a poem of called “Let America be America Again,” written by the famous African American Poet, Langston Hughs. Just from the first few lines you can see that the speaker of the poem shares the same values as many of the immigrants that migrated to America even though the speaker himself is not a immigrant. He acknowledges that people see America as the land of dreamers because in America you could accomplish anything you wanted to with a little hard work, or so people thought. He also acknowledges that America is known for becoming the home of people who needed to get away from their own or never had one at all. The speaker of this poem is expressing his belief in that America should be this place because this is the values that it has created for his self but is simply not this amazing place that everyone thinks it is.  In the third stanza of the poem the speaker says “O, let my land be a land where Liberty, Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath, But opportunity is real, and life is free, Equality is in the air we breathe.” These words bounce back to the thought of everyone believing that America celebrates equality no matter race, religion, back ground and past and this is a big reason that many people immigrate to this country. This country in known as a melting pot because it celebrates the difference in the people that reside here, and people love the fact that you can come to this country and be your authentic self without any preservations. This is another thing that people tend to find false when they arrive in this country. America is very centered around Christianity and even though religious freedom is allowed, it is not rejoiced. It is often frowned upon if you observe any other religion. People have gone has far as tearing off hijabs from women’s heads to blowing up synagogues. These terrorists are the ones who label themselves as patriotic Americans, when in reality they are actually very far from being Patriotic.

“I am the poor white, fooled, and pushed apart, I am the Negro bearing slavery’s scars. I am the red man driven from the land, I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek- And finding only the same old stupid plan, Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.” In this part of the poem Hughs talks about how America a unsettling place for anyone who isn’t white and of high-class. He mentions in the first line he mentions that even though someone may be white, if they are poor, America typically doesn’t care about them. White is the dominating race in America and people typically think that all you need is the skin color to be successful when that isn’t the case at all. This piece of the poem than talks about the Negro with slavery scars and the ran man who has been pushed from their land. America took people from another continent an enslaved them, treating lesser than animals. America has also pushed Native Americans (the red man) from their own land. They were here before anyone else was and they are treated like they are the colonizers. This isn’t the place that immigrants think they are coming to when they dream of this country. This leads to the ending of this part of the poem, the immigrant is coming to this country seeking hope, only to find out that America isn’t a place that celebrates difference, it only pits people against each other and expect the fittest to survive, or more so the majority to survive. That hope the immigrants came to this country with is now gone, in some cases, the united states are no better than the land they came from.

           As the poem goes on there is a common theme to be seen. This theme is talking about America and how great it is supposed to be. It also talks about how America can be this great place that everyone thought of in their minds when the name is said. “And yet must be—the land where every man is free. The land that's mine—the poor man's, Indian's, Negro's, ME—” This is the point in the poem where Hughs states that America isn’t there yet, but it can get to a place where everyone who is a part of this country that can be truly free. “Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain, Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain, must bring back our mighty dream again.” The people who helped build this country from the ground up, the slaves, the Native Americans, the poor people who work to no end. These are he people who’ve worked hard to make this country what it is, and they have to be the ones to change it and make it the place that it has the potential to be, the place that it has never been. Though they shouldn’t have to do it alone.

           The most prominent problem in America that has to do with immigration at the moment isn’t about religion nor is it about race. It is about color. People of color are the main subjects of being discriminated against when it comes to immigration. There are people from other countries like Canada and English who can come to America and typically stay as long as they want without problem. Justin Bieber would be a great example. He is Canadian born and before receiving his official American citizenship he’s committed several crimes including driving under the influence and physical assault. He has done these things, yet he has never been deported back to his country or heard the threat of it. In the hit Netflix show “Orange is the New Black,” the last season of it focus primarily on ICE and how it is keeping immigrants detained in prison like camps. There are immigrants are in these camps awaiting trial to prove that they belong in this country for committing crimes like running a red light. Some immigrants have been in the United States since infancy and have to deal with the nightmare of being deported back to a country that they have no recollection of. There is a scene in the eleventh episode of the seventh season that depicts the reality for children immigrants who have been torn away from their parents because of their legal status. The scene contains a courtroom full of children of various ages going as low as infancy discussing with a judge their removal proceedings, with no lawyer present for any of them. The two children in question at the moment are siblings who can’t be over the age of 5, the judge than goes on to ask them if they know what a lawyer is, if they know why there are here and then explains to them that “we are here to determine whether or not you can remain in the United States.”  The young girl than ask if she can go to the bathroom understandably disregarding everything the judge has said to her. These are children who are expected to vouch for themselves on why they should be able to stay somewhere they know as home. In this scene the judge says, “Let the record show that the respondents are in court without a lawyer present.” She says this almost as if the children had a choice of having a lawyer. These children have no idea where their parents are, they are in a foreign place with people they’ve never met. When would these young children who may not even know how to use a computer have gotten the chance to hire and pay for a lawyer? The child in question didn’t even know what a lawyer was.

           “Orange is the New Black” also depicts what life is like for the adults who try and immigrate into this country. They are thrown into detention centers and given jail like jumpsuits to wear. They have limited access to the internet and limited access to communication to anyone on the outside. They cannot shower freely, they eat on a schedule and they must deal with abusive guards and they all sleep in a confined area that is also their cafeteria. They don’t get the luxury of having free time, using exercise equipment or being able to express themselves creatively. The Majority of the people trying to enter America have never even committed crimes. The only crime that’s been committed is the want and need for stable home. President Trump of America is a firm believer that Mexicans are dangerous people but, in an article, written by Robert J. Sampson called “Rethinking crime and Immigration,” he discussed statistics that mostly immigrant neighborhoods have lower crime rates compared to their white and black counter parts. “If immigration can be said to have brought violence to America, it most likely came with (white) Irish and Scottish immigrants whose cultural traditions emphasizing honor and respect were defended with violent means when they settled in the South in the 1700s and 1800s.” American is discriminating against immigrants of color but when it comes to white immigrants, this country is paying no mind to them. These white immigrants are potentially the people who are making the country more dangerous overall but only fingers are being pointed at the immigrants of color, when they are not always the case.

“We’re so used to thinking about immigrant adaptation we’ve failed to fully appreciate how immigrants themselves shape the host society.” This is a quote from the article written by Sampson, and it shows that there are many different instances where Americans forget all that immigrants do for this country. There are a lot of people in this country saying that immigrants are stealing jobs, when in actuality they are doing the jobs that no one else wants too. They are doing yard work, construction work, going into sewers just to make a living. A lot of immigrants of colors are also farmers and pickers of fruit. These are the jobs they have because they are the ones who help make this country what it is.

There are also a lot of people who believe that immigrants take away opportunities from American born citizens and want to do nothing more than to cause harm in America but in a Article written by Susan Milligan, she talks about how immigrants from many different places in the world are Americas true patriots. "You were born in America – don't mess it up. You won the lottery," This quote was pulled from the article and it shows that being born in America makes you lucky, because nothing is harder than trying to become a citizen of this country. You are handed all of your rights and more. Even though it extremely hard to become an American citizen there are still people trying each and every day. After all of the discrimination they’ve endured, all the doors that were shut in their face they are persistent and still pushing. "I think people still see this country as a beacon of light, with the promise of hope,". A quote pulled from the article written by Milligan showing that people still admire this country, they still see it as a place of freedom, and the place they want to make there home.

These types of things are happening every day in this country and there are people who are trying to fight it. There are people who are marching, protesting and donating to the cause. People are signing petitions, flooding the ICE hotline with their opinions and voicing them. There are even religious groups that are devoted to helping immigrants by giving them free classes on American citizenship and they are giving them the supplies and intellect they need so they can stay in this country for as long as possible. The biggest thing anyone can do to help is to use their voice, use their privilege and use what they have been given to help those who need it the most.

Citations:

1.      Sampson, Robert J. “Rethinking Crime and Immigration.” Contexts, vol. 7, no. 1, 2008, pp. 28–33., doi:10.1525/ctx.2008.7.1.28.

2.      Milligan, Susan. “Meet America’s Patriots.” U.S. News - The Civic Report, July 2019, pp. C1–C7. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=137336642&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

3.      “How to Apply for U.S. Citizenship.” USAGov, https://www.usa.gov/become-us-citizen.

4.      Trottier, Danielle Nicole. “The Streets Aren't Paved With Gold.” The Migrant Crisis, 23 Sept. 2016, https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/themigrantcrisis/2016/09/23/the-streets-arent-paved-with-gold/.

[anewhope4change-blog]

Capitalism, Hong Kong and Auden

           “September 1, 1939” is a poem written by Wystan Hugh Auden. He wrote this poem on this specific date because it is the day Hitler effectively started World War II by invading Poland. Auden, stricken with worry, expressed some of his objections in this poem. He focuses on the psychology of man and how it has led to our downfall. This poem alludes to a range of things from morality to government. The poem only contains 9 stanzas and does not rhyme. Although there is a pattern that is purposeful. With each 9 stanzas there are 11 lines. Coincidentally, this poem gained a lot of traction after the 9/11 terrorist attacks (Sansom). The psychological and political themes expressed by Auden apply to all time periods.

Auden starts off by addressing that he is writing the poem inside of a bar on 52nd street in New York. This description coincides with later stanzas when he talks about the mindset of everyday Americans. He starts off describing himself as uncertain and afraid. He is alluding to the start of World War II, finishing the stanza with “The unmentionable odour of death Offends the September night.” (Auden)

He begins to question the psychology of man, but more specifically Adolf Hitler in the second stanza. He questions what happened from the time period of Martin Luther to the current time that has shaped German culture “mad” enough to follow someone like Hitler. He proceeds with one of the most famous lines of the poem, “Those to whom evil is done Do evil in return.” (Auden) One can gather two meanings from this. Either Auden aims to say Hitler has become who he was due to past experiences or Germany itself has become what it was due to past experiences. This double meaning is evident in the lines preceding, “Find what occurred at Linz, what huge imago made A psychopathic god:” (Auden) Imago is a concept of one’s idealized self (Ducret); Auden wonders who has formed Hitler from his childhood and as a political leader. He lays blame to the culture of Germany and Hitler’s raising.

Stanza 3 is about the corruption of political leaders. Auden mentions Thucydides, who was renowned for writing about his views on politics. Thucydides was an Athenian general who was exiled. During his exile, he wrote a lot about the Peloponnesian War. One major theme he wrote about was the exploitation of civilians by their leaders (Teon). Auden reiterates how people in power let emotion drive their agenda. Auden writes this as a recurring theme that continues to plague generations, ending the stanza with “The habit-forming pain, Mismanagement and grief: We must suffer them all again.” (Auden)

The following two stanzas (four & five) are about the hypocrisy of capitalism. He begins in stanza 4 by pointing out the façade we have as a society, created by our extravagant structures, and hypocritical ideals. Auden then questions how much longer we can live in this “euphoric dream” of denying all the wrong happening around us. “Out of the mirror they stare, Imperialism’s face And the international wrong.” (Auden) I think stanza five is the reasoning behind stanza four. Auden calls to question our ethics as Americans. He writes that we rely on our materialism, and conformity to blind ourselves from the truth; The fact that we are hypocrites. This is my favorite stanza of the poem, as it is very powerful.

Auden begins to relate with his proclaimed faulty humans towards the end of the poem. He mentions how in reality we all wish to be loved. I think this was to add to the tragedy of his description of humans. The preceding stanza was very pessimistic about how we are lost and have never been happy or good. He follows by writing how we all crave what we cannot have.

He begins a transition into a more compassionate and hopeful tone. He explains how society will continue as it always does regardless. Civilians will continue to blind themselves with trivial things while the world burns around them, and politicians continue to prosper off the backs of the hopeless. But then he goes on to find solace in the fact he can express his grievances. Auden writes “All I have is a voice To undo the folded lie-“ He states his universal truths, that no is truly alone, and we all have an obligation to one another. Auden ends stanza 8 with the most famous and controversial line of the poem, “We must love one another or die.”

The end of the poem is hopeful as he addresses others like him. He addresses other like-minded people as “the Just”. Auden writes that each expression of hope and awareness from others symbolizes a point of light in the shadow cast by negligence.  Auden ends with a powerful message. He does not omit himself from blame but challenges himself and others to become more aware.  “Beleaguered by the same Negation and despair, Show an affirming flame.”

This poem relates to cotemporary times as much as it does to the past. Specifically, at this time the world is going through so much turmoil that you have to question what is really causing this. From Hong Kong to England and BREXIT to Syria to Chile to America it feels like the world is imploding. “September 1, 1939” could be titled November 9, 2016 and it would still make sense.

This poem reminds me of a song by the late Capital STEEZ, “Free the Robots”. STEEZ refers to people as robots for a reason. Throughout the song he questions our ethics that have led us to where we are today. “We killed Osama and plenty innocent people died. We should see the signs but we Stevie blind.” He follows by including himself as the problem stating that he isn’t innocent of violence in the same manner Auden did. STEEZ’s questions our ethics as people in a few different ways. He takes a few stabs at politics in the song, one questioning the intent of his lawmakers in New York. At the time when STEEZ wrote the song New York had a scare about sugar consumption and took quick legal action to regulate how much sugar can be in a soda. STEEZ questions why they are focused on the wrong things with the lines, “But they’re more focused on our lil youth sippin’ soda. Fuck the sugar act, n***** out pushin’ crack.” STEEZ continues to question the morals of people in power by saying, “The arm of the law is tryin’ to man-handle us. A man’s world, but a white man’s planet.”

I think Thucydides was right, people in power will do whatever they want to maintain power, even if that means manipulating and exploiting others. Just like Auden I find hope where I can, specifically with all the protests that have been happening in the recent years. I think the ideas Auden relays in this poem are universal, unfortunately. People will continue to neglect their own hypocrisies and shortcomings as long as they are comfortable. All we can do as people is stay aware and continue to stand for what is right.

  Works Cited

Auden, W.H. “September 1, 1939 by W. H. Auden - Poems | Academy of American Poets.” Poets.org, Academy of American Poets, 1939, poets.org/poem/september-1-1939.

Ducret, Antoine "Imago ." International Dictionary of Psychoanalysis . . Encyclopedia.com. 26 Oct. 2019 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>.

Sansom, Ian. “The Right Poem for the Wrong Time: WH Auden's September 1, 1939.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 31 Aug. 2019, www.theguardian.com/books/2019/aug/31/wh-auden-september-1-1939-poem.

Teon, Aris. “Democracy, Mob Rule, Dictatorship: The Problem of Freedom in Ancient Athens.” The Greater China Journal, 1 July 2016, china-journal.org/2016/07/01/democracy-mob-rule-dictatorship-the-problem-of-freedom-in-ancient-athens/.

[anewhope4change-blog]

On Self Love

Self-worth is a concept that is pretty self-explanatory, it is one’s sense of personal value. This concept can also be compared to self-love. Everyone has a different perception of their value and while some people may have an intense love for themselves, others may feel the opposite or a mixture of the two. The media has been almost always been a main stage for what is “hot or not.” This includes pop culture, news, television, movies etc. Media can be influencing since it is often what people look too in order to find out what is popular and this includes the “popular look.” While in some cases this may mean clothes, shoes, hair and makeup, it is also often the image of the “attractive body.”

The poem to be analyzed has an unknown author and title. It is about a bird who learns the place it is always safe is within itself. The author uses the symbolism of the birds “own two wings” as the bird’s self-worth. This poem can be used to learn a lesson in self-worth regarding social media. Using social media can cause low self-esteem like the winds in the poem. “Research suggests that the media exerts socio-cultural pressure on females to attain the Western ‘‘thin ideal’’ standard of beauty.” (Meier) Although the bird faces strong winds he still knows that he can save himself by flying. The bird lands on a branch and feels safe but once the winds start, he thinks the branch will snap and he will be carried away. The branches are symbols of a safe place. Social media can be used as a safe place if there is positivity and acceptance rather than judgment. More often than not though, media is filled with unrealistic body images which can have an adverse effect on self-worth. “Tiggemann and Miller found that adolescent girls’ Internet ‘‘appearance exposure,’’ was associated with greater internalization of the thin ideal, appearance comparison, weight dissatisfaction, and drive for thinness.” (Meier) The bird feels like the branch will break and people know this feeling when they lose confidence in themselves or down about the world around them. It is often hard to have confidence in these times. Although the bird knew the branch could break, it also knew it could save itself with its wings and that there were other safe branches it could land on. When people feel good and trust themselves they can feel confident during hard times. On social media, it is often hard not to compare yourself and other people. There are however, safe places on social media for support people often find it comforting to meet so many others like themselves. When people feel included and important their self-worth will rise. Social media can be like the branches in the poem, sometimes it will make people feel bad and other times it can uplifting and supportive.

In most cases, the media portrays the ideal body image as something that is generally unrealistic for most people. This can cause body comparison and a lower self-esteem as people feel they do not live up to the standards for being attractive. A movement that has been growing on social media in past years is the “body positive movement.” Its purpose is to show people that they should be confident and love themselves no matter what media says they should look like.  It is often a hashtag used on social media accounts to promote loving yourself and not letting the standard of beauty the media presents as a standard for yourself. As previously stated, the body image media portrays in unrealistic as many of these celebrities have expensive plastic surgery and more often than not, the images shown to the public are edited, airbrushed and make the person look perfect. Over the past few decades, there have been many studies about the effect of social media on self -worth and body image one study suggests that “Facebook appearance exposure was positively correlated with internalization of the thin ideal, self-objectification and drive for thinness, and negatively correlated with weight satisfaction.” (Meier) As well as wanting to diet or using some other means to lose weight, some people may even develop eating disorders. “…point out that increased incidence of eating disorders across the early and mid-twentieth century seem to coincide with trends in the media toward emphasizing thinness in women.” (Ferguson) Overall, social media can be damaging to a person’s view of themselves.

Although celebrities, movie and television stars are the icons that portray the “ideal” body image that we have come question, one star has made it a point in her career to show her support for all types of people. Stefani Germanotta, also known as Lady Gaga, has always been an interesting character. She has made very bold fashion choices and always seems to be genuine and herself which inspires her fans to do the same. She is also an activist for the LGBTQ community and has her own foundation (Born This Way Foundation) for empowering youth. Lady Gaga has a famous song by the name of “Born This Way.” The song is about being yourself.  Lyrics in this song are empowering and anyone who likes the song can feel included and like they matter. “There’s nothing wrong with loving who you are, cause he made you perfect babe…whether life’s disabilities left you outcast…Whether you’re broke or evergreen, you’re black, white, beige…no matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgender life.” Although this song mentions God in the form of “He,” Gaga still infuses people who do not believe in God in the very beginning of song saying, “It doesn’t matter if you love him or capital Him.” Gaga has inspired many people and she is an icon people can look up too because she promotes self-love. She is one celebrity that encourages self-love and strength.

Outside influences like social media can effect self-image it is important that people recognize unrealistic body images and to see that icons do not always look perfect. It is unlikely that being thin will go out of style and it is also unlikely that other body types will become popular but growing and positive support can change the outlooks people have on their self-image.

  Works Cited

Ferguson, Christopher, et al. “Concurrent and Prospective Analyses of Peer, Television and Social Media Influences on Body Dissatisfaction, Eating Disorder Symptoms and Life Satisfaction in Adolescent Girls.” Journal of Youth & Adolescence, vol. 43, no. 1, Jan. 2014, pp. 1–14. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1007/s10964-012-9898-9.

 Meier, Evelyn P., and James Gray. “Facebook Photo Activity Associated with Body Image Disturbance in Adolescent Girls.” Cyberpsychology, Behavior And Social Networking, vol. 17, no. 4, Apr. 2014, pp. 199–206. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1089/cyber.2013.0305.