Abstract This paper examines the Nation of Islam as a social movement and tests whether its traditions and roots are really found in traditional Islam.
From the Paper "The presence of God (Allah) is another and maybe the most critical difference between the Nation of Islam and traditional Muslims. The Nation of Islam was founded in the 1930's by a man named W. Fard Muhammad. Fard Muhammad believed he was sent to wake ?the black nation to the full range of the black man's possibilities in a world temporarily dominated by the blue eyed devils.?(5) It is the Nation of Islam who has since said, ? We Believe that Allah appeared in the Person of Master W. Fard Muhammad, July, 1930; the long awaited "Messiah" of the Christians and the "Mahdi" of the Muslims.?(6) Fard Muhammad taught that the African American culture was unique and separate from that of ?the Caucasian devils.?(7)
Abstract This paper examines the diagnosis made for adolescents who experience conduct disorder and major depressive disorder . The author examines how these two disorders effect adolescents and the differences between the above diagnosis for adults and children. In addition the author looks at the trend for African-American youth to be teacher-reported for externalized symptoms more than Euro-American youth and the risk of substance abuse that youth who suffer from co-morbid conduct disorder and depression face.
From the Paper "Distinguishing between conduct disorder and major depressive disorder in the assessment of adolescent patients has proved to be a difficult task for clinicians (Meller & Borchardt, 1996; Herkov & Myers, 1996). While current literature has found that the two diagnoses are often comorbid, it appears that major depressive disorder may be under diagnosed, in part because the symptoms of conduct disorder tend to veil the symptoms of depression (Herkov & Myers, 1996; Swearer, 1998; Reinecke, 1995). There is evidence that adolescents express disorders differently than adults, and that "acting out" behaviors that are associated with conduct disorder may be a way for adolescents to express their depressive feelings (Reinecke, 1995). This under diagnosis of depression in adolescents is a serious problem because of the potential for improper treatment for the patient (Herkov & Myers, 1996). Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that clinicians are aware of the difficulties in discriminating between the two disorders."
Tags: disease, children, adolescents, development, mental, health
Abstract This paper examines the minstrel show and its negative images of black Americans that enforced commonly held white prejudices or mistaken cultural characteristics.
From the Paper "The images of blacks as presented in the minstrel performances remained embedded in the minds of audiences after they left the show (Anderson, 24). Due to their lack of frequent contact, many whites had nothing else to base their perceptions off of. Minstrel shows were not only entertaining, but they presented a foreign culture. It did not matter whether the characters were accurate or not; the audiences looked at the singing and dancing black-faced actors and expected all blacks to be like this."
Abstract This paper discusses the life and career of Clarence Thomas, U.S. Supreme Court Justice. The author looks briefly at his childhood, his education, then at his rise in the judiciary, and controversial nomination to the Court . The paper examines Justice Thomas' role as a conservative African-American and how his conservatism is shown through his decisions.
From the Paper "It is hard to imagine that few justices of the 20th century will remain as marked throughout their entire tenure by their confirmation process as Clarence Thomas, who was nominated by George Bush, Sr. for one of the associate justice positions on the U.S. Supreme Court in 1991. Surviving the controversy of this nomination, in which he was accused of sexual harassment as well as of being of insufficient legal acumen and gravity- many liberals believed that his primary qualifications for office were his conservatism along with the fact that he was relatively young and healthy and therefore could serve on the court for many years. Thomas succeeded to the seat of the ultraliberal Thurgood Marshall, and in doing so gave to the court a decidedly conservative cast, undoing many of the measures that Marshall had dedicated his own life to achieving."
Abstract This paper focuses on the life and works of Maya Angelou, one of the greatest African-American literary figures in the United States. This multi-talented woman has had a major impact on the black community because of her active participation in the civil rights movement.
From the Paper "Maya Angelou is an award winning writer, poet, historian, playwright, producer, and director and in short she is an amalgamation pf many talents, which are all, related to art. This amazingly writer has influenced the lives of millions of her readers because of her strong spiritual beliefs and an inner strength that she displays in her stories and other work. She has also actively participated in the civil rights movement because she feels that black still d not have equal rights in the United States; she has thus inspired many black men and women to achieve more by emulating her. She has written some autobiographies which are very famous among the public because of their emotional content as they come form the very core of the author's heart, these include All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes (1986), The Heart of a Woman (1981), Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry Like Christmas (1976), Gather Together in My Name (1974), and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), which was also nominated for the National Book Award and has been one of her most widely read works."
Abstract This paper describes the events leading up to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, setting it in a political and historical context.
From the paper:
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a very significant event in the civil rights movement, which spanned the 1950's and 60's. Prior to the Boycott, Montgomery maintained a rigid pattern of bus segregation. Bus drivers carried guns and had police power to rearrange seating. In 1945, Alabama passed a law (reproduced below) requiring that all bus companies under its jurisdiction actually enforce segregation.
This paper discusses the American Dream as reflected in the poem "Let America" by Langston Hughes and how other works such as of Thomas Jefferson and Thoreau reflects this idea.
920 words (approx. 3.7 pages), 2 sources, 2001, $ 32.95
Abstract This paper discusses the American Dream as reflected in the poem "let America".? By Langston Hughes and how other works such as of Thomas Jefferson and Thoreau reflects this idea.
From the paper:
The American poet Langston Hughes is considered to be the most original and the most representative of African American writers. In his various poems including the famous one "let America be America again", he is said to have envisioned the dreams of the common folk etching them into the memory of the Americans, which included both black and white Americans. Langston Hughes in spite of his many misgivings that he suffered in life pursued the dreams of his life as a committed writer at many times while facing the harshness of poverty.
Abstract This paper takes a view at the role of the mass media and advertising in furthering the stereotypes of African-American women. It compares the general role of stereotypes in advertising in a historical context to that of present day stereotyping. It also examines the role advertising has on the public in self-propagating the stereotypes.
From the Paper:
"Women might find themselves attracted to one shade of coral lipstick rather then another. But on a deeper level, advertisements present to us a world in which we must always be conscious of being looked at, of having to abrogate who it is that we ourselves think that we are for who it is that we should be as we have been told by society/people who create the images in ads. Thus if for look at the way in which African-American women are portrayed in ads and copy of women's magazines (as well as the ways which they are made invisible) from 1950 to the present we see a number of ways in which definitions of female beauty are limited in such a way as to preclude African-American women."
A discussion regarding the legal rights of Black Americans from the time they were brought to America as slaves. Specific reference is given to the various laws that were passed during the 19th Century.
1,870 words (approx. 7.5 pages), 4 sources, 2001, $ 59.95
Abstract In this paper the author discusses the situation of Black Americans and assesses whether the abolishment of slavery has provided any greater protection under the law. The author starts at the beginning of the 19th century and looks at how Blacks were taken into slavery and brought to America. The author moves on to discuss the Missouri Compromise and the discussions that took place regarding "slave free states". The author then discusses then various laws that were passed during the 19th century and how the issue of slavery was eventually brought before the nation.
From the paper:
?For a brief period during Reconstruction, many African Americans voted, and some were elected to public office. In the late 1870?s, however, enthusiasm for ensuring black equality waned in both the North and the Republican Party, and by 1877, when federal troops were withdrawn from the South, blacks were left to the power of whites committed to restoring white supremacy.?
This paper examines the ability of African-American families to exhibit resiliency can be understood through a consideration of their historical circumstances
Abstract This paper examines African-American history and the values that this community has, despite their history of slavery, discrimination and poverty. It examines the community's strong commitment to education, a strong work orientation, and sense of responsibility. This paper also includes a study of African-American resiliency that was developed by the author in order to find out what adversities African-Americans faced in the pursuit of their education. The results of this study were then analyzed, and compared to the findings of prior research done on the subject. The survey included questions about age; experiences of racism, or discrimination; family structure during childhood and who helped raise them; and motivating factor for staying in school.
From the paper:
"As slaves, black children were informally adopted and raised by other people in their immediate community rather than nuclear family arrangements. These extended family arrangements are still a prominent feature of contemporary African-American families and may be considered a major survival tool. The most important service provided by black kinship networks is support to single mothers, especially teen mothers. Hill's research has revealed that kin provide a wide range of support to young single mothers, often enabling them to complete their education or to obtain a job. Finally, the religious beliefs and behavior are strengths that exist among African-American families. In his research, Hill found that 82 percent of black adults said that religion was very important in their lives."
Abstract This paper examines the work of poet, Langston Hughes. The author emphasizes this poet's contribution to the world of poetry and literature and looks at how his writings impacted black society and helped voice the concerns of the American black community.
From the Paper "Langston Hughes has been called the Poet Laureate of the African American people. He was a prolific writer rising to a fame achieved by few other poets. He wrote expressive essays, poetry, short stories, and novels. Through his writing Langston voiced the needs and concerns of the black people that otherwise would have gone unheard. Langston was also involved in the Harlem renaissance through his inspirational writing inspired itself by the people of Harlem. Langston served as an inspiration for writers, composers, playwrights and all others in Harlem. "With his rich poetic voice, nurturing generosity, warm humor, and abiding love of black people, Langston Hughes was one of the dominant voices in American literature of this century and perhaps the single most influential black poet. (Heath, 1-2)"
Abstract This paper explores how legal inequality and the wholesale annihilation of African-American rights has gone underground, but hasn't disappeared. The author claims that it has changed from being institutionalized in law to being surreptitiously enforced in a thousand societal ways, but is still present.
From the Paper It was not new when the founding fathers of America met together to create our constitution, nor when they first set their signatures to the Declaration of Independence. America was not the first nation to keep a race of enslaved people, nor the first nation to think itself enslaved and rise against its masters. Slavery have been a part of human life through-out time, and many of the ancestors of even the whitest line have been slaves. Rome took slaves by the thousands from the nations of Europe. Greece had slave markets."
Abstract This paper explores the extraordinary talent and popularity of golfer Tiger Woods. The paper provides a biography of Woods and his father's guidance throughout his entire life. It discusses other great African-American sports stars who broke ground with the "country club" sports, like tennis player Arthur Ash. The paper describes how great talent can break cultural boundaries like no other political vehicle.
From the Paper "Golf has long been a maligned sport in American popular culture, most famously by Mark Twain as a nice long walk spoiled by a small white ball. Although it is a popular game in terms of people who participate in it, it is hardly what one might call a "cool" game like basketball. Basketball is a sport whose cache and celebrities may be considered to have kept the brand of Nike alive and well for decades.
Nor is golf a venerated game like baseball (as witnessed in the success of such spiritually conscientious films as "Field of Dreams" and ?The Natural,? in contrast to ?Caddyshack.?) Golf is not a culturally significant sport as football has been in the American psyche, with the focus the Super Bowl has had as a national event and pastime. Golf has not been the center of controversy for the violence or the practices of golfers in the national media. Golf has long been thought of as the game of the "leisure village" set, or overfed and overpaid white, male executives. On a symbolic level, nothing could be less cool or more reactionary than golf, so the thinking went.
That is, until Tiger Woods came upon the scene. Tiger Woods has given the game of gold a "coolness" that was lacking. "Until the last few years with Tiger Woods on the PGA Tour spiking ratings, the ratings haven"t been relevant to golf,? commissioner Tim Finchem said last week in defending declining ratings on the Senior Tour. Now, Woods often helps golf draw a larger TV audience than the NBA. (Ferguson MSNBC.Com) "
Abstract This paper describes the daily lives and culture of the black American Muslim and Nation of Islam communities. The paper defines these groups and their customs and religious rituals. It illustrates the historical leaders of the black Muslim movements, including in depth biographies of Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan. The paper discusses the missionary and racist elements in these movements.
From the Paper "Religion is important to many Americans not simply because they believe that their faith will bring them to a better world in the afterlife or because it will guide their actions as a moral and good individual here on earth but also because it provides them with a sense of self-identity. Religion tells people who they are, how they are different from other people, to which community they belong. This may be especially true for black Muslims. This paper examines the black Muslim and Nation of Islam movements within the larger context of religious life in contemporary America and the context of the daily lives of black Americans as we enter the 21st century.
It may be helpful for us toe begin with some basic definitions. Black Muslims are simply those followers of a predominantly black religious movement in the United States who profess Islam as their faith. Not all of the followers of this movement are in fact black, although nearly all of them are black or have a black member of their family (such as a spouse or child) who is involved. The movement encompasses not only spiritual and liturgical aspects of life but political and wide-ranging cultural as well, including an emphasis on economic cooperation and self-sufficiency for black communities and individuals. "
Tags: black, muslim, nation, islam, regilion, contemporary, america, identity, 21st, century, united, states, spiritual, political, cultural, farrakhan, malcom, x
Abstract The paper muddles on the evolution of the African American struggle coupled with civil right movements formulated- specifically the Black Panther Party- and focuses on the question of what the organization is, where it originated and spread, and why it was so popular.
From the Paper Amid the turbulent struggle for equal rights for the black community in America numerous organizations and arenas emerged as potential facilitators of that laudable goal. The struggle was long and arduous, and various approaches arose as potential modalities to pursue the end most effectively. The Black Panther Party, which was established in 1966, was one such tactical approach. In its brief sojourn on the American scene, it attracted mega attention and an almost mythical status and reputation. Actions to cope with the potential repercussions of the Black Panther Party were numerous, and often violated associated constitutional norms within the American psyche for fairness and legal protection. Nevertheless to some powers that be on at that time, no more dangerous cadre of proponents of black rights existed then the Black Panther Party (Summers, 1993, 21). To those who opposed the methods, philosophy, and personas of the Black Panther Party, the need to crush the organization and nullify their influence within the societal complex of the United States was considered a crusade for the survival of this country itself. To truly analyze and come to terms with the importance and problematic issue of the Black Panther Party, it is necessary to review in some depth the overall complex involved in the struggle for black liberation in this country. The Black Panther Party occupies a decided niche in this puzzle, but it did not exist in a vacuum. It is a clear product and reaction to what preceded it.
