Abstract The paper discusses how the novel "Manchild in the PromisedLand" by the African-American writer Claude Brown, tells the story of Claude and his family after their move from the South to the Northern "PromisedLand" of New York City. The paper depicts how the novel reflects American culture in the struggles of a young black man in a drug, alcohol and crime-infested urban environment. The paper demonstrates how Claude was the exception to most black youths like him who remained in Harlem and therefore would be destined to adult lives of crime. The paper portrays how the author managed to rise above his early poor circumstances and succeed in life, despite the inequality of opportunities for all in urban America.
From the Paper "The autobiographical story that Claude Brown tells within his Manchild in the Promised Land reflects realities of American culture in many key ways, e.g., in terms of the hopefulness that Americans typically bring, historically speaking, to new places and new beginnings (e.g., the Massachusetts Bay Colony; westward expansion; the northward migration of blacks after Abolition and the passage of the 13th Amendment). Claude's own family's migration takes place during a mid-20th century wave of migration of Southern blacks, from places like Georgia (where Claude's family comes from); Alabama, and Mississippi, to the big cities in search of better jobs; less racial prejudice, and a better way of life."
Abstract This paper summarizes and analyzes various aspects of Claude Brown's autobiographical novel, "Manchild in the PromisedLand". The paper explains the significance and meaning of the title, analyzes the main character of the book, and describes the structure, style, and tone of the book, as well as Brown's use of poetic devices.
From the Paper "Claude's family has moved from the South to New York City. They, like many Southern blacks then, hope for more opportunity. Claude's Harlem childhood, though, is filled with violence, arrests, guns, knives, drugs, and alcohol. He turns into a juvenile delinquent. Claude wants to better himself, but feels conflicted between being the "coolest cat" in Harlem (or reform school) and escaping Harlem. From11, Claude attends Wiltwyck and Warwick. He receives encouragement from Wiltwick's director Mr. Papanek, and imagines life outside Harlem. He keeps getting pulled back in, though, by Harlem's exciting lure. Finally, after seeing friends killed and other friends' lives ruined, Claude finds strength to leave Harlem."
A discussion of Mary Antin's exceptional experience in America through a review of her book "The PromisedLand" on the Jewish experience in the United States.
1,525 words (approx. 6.1 pages), 7 sources, 2002, $ 57.95
Abstract This paper is a book review of Mary Antin's memoir "The PromisedLand" which very much supports the claim that the Jewish experience in the United States was fundamentally different from the Jewish experience in Europe. Indeed, "The PromisedLand" reveals the story of a Jewish woman who lived most of her life virtually free from the vicious ingredients of anti-Semitism. Not only was she not victimized by anti-Semitism, but she was able to rise to prominence through her success in writing. In many respects, Mary Antin's success as a writer, and freedom from the more pernicious aspects of anti-Semitism, epitomized the difference between the American Jewish experience and the Jewish experience in Europe. .
Abstract This paper explains that, in the novel "Mona in the PromisedLand" by Gish Jen, Mona, a second-generation Asian-American, confronts the reality that she is both different and yet integrated into her society because being born in the U.S. made her feel she was part of American society, but her physical appearance and Chinese parents makes her different and should be treated as such. The author points out that Jen's focus on utilizing religion as Mona's 'medium', through which she sought to establish her identity as an Asian-American, deviates from the usual depiction of teenage second-generation Asian-Americans interacting with other members of the American society; however, this paper posits that religion is but one of the primary instruments through which Mona tried to create and develop her identity. The paper relates that Jen does not attempt to reconcile people's difference in the novel; instead, she provides readers with the realization that, just like Mona, difference must not become an issue for the culturally-diverse individual because in difference also lies a similarity among people.
From the Paper "The most pivotal moments of Mona's life as an Asian-American were reflected in her school years as an adolescent. As a teenager, Mona reveled at her being Chinese-American, and used this difference to catch the attention of other people. Jen provides a detailed description of the social environment where Mona's life takes place: during the year 1968, the civil rights movement was at its height of popularity and acceptance, wherein the women, youth, and various race sectors in the society fight for equal rights in the society. Mona, who lives in a neighborhood that was dominated by the Jewish community, felt awareness that she lives in a society where differences were inevitable and had to be accepted. As Jen narrates, "...lots of Jews could take them or leave them same as the Christians...Mona shouldn't generalize. So let her not generalize, except to say pretty soon she's been to so many bar and bas mtzvahs..." "
Abstract This paper examines the thesis about migration and its effects in Nicholas Lemann's book "The PromisedLand: The Great Black Migration and How it Changed America". It looks at how Lemann shores up his thesis, through the use of intertwined personal stories. It also evaluates the strength of Lemann's positions, especially those related to the ghetto's continuity and how the federal government could institute policies geared towards ending the problems associated with a permanent, ghetto-based black underclass. Additionally, the paper evaluates the implications of Lemann's findings in light of critical race theory and the sociology of minority group relations. Finally, the paper argues that, 15 years after its initial publication, Lemann's book and propositions remain relevant.
From the Paper "The regrouping of this culture in the inner city therefore meant that many of the old problems were resurrected, and often intensified. As Uless Carter's later experiences show, black unemployment continued to be a problem in urban areas as well. The black migrant's dream of the promised land of economic opportunity therefore collided with the ugly reality of Chicago's south side. By the 1960s, the problem of joblessness had loomed large. Residents had to contend with slum housing conditions that had skyrocketing crime rates. Ruby Lee Haynes shows how black families struggled with dysfunction and welfare dependency. The racial crisis that loomed in the south had moved northward, and policymakers in Washington did not know how to handle or avert the crisis."
Tags: migration, urban, rural, ghetto, under, class
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses and analyzes the book "Naked in the PromisedLand," written by Lillian Faderman. Specifically, it discusses the author's relationship to men, heterosexual and homosexual. It then describes the influence of various men in her life. The paper shows how Faderman describes these relationships throughout her book.
From the Paper "In conclusion, this memoir shows that women can rise to greatness from great adversity. Feminist Wittig writes, "We were at the same time accused of wanting to be men" (Wittig 555), but Faderman makes it quite clear she never wanted to be a man. She knew she was a beautiful woman, and she used that to her advantage. However, she always knew what was inside her, and that was feelings for other women. Wittig continues, "To refuse to be a woman, however, does not mean that one has to become a man" (Wittig 556). Faderman's life is a great example of that statement. She is in a committed loving relationship, has a son, and a fine career. She has not become a man, rather, she has become herself, and that is an important journey for anyone in life."
Abstract This paper explores Mary Antin's assimilation into the American culture through her book, "The PromisedLand". She begins the chronicle of her experiences as an immigrant in the New World. Antin did more than just adapt to America; she threw herself into it, assimilating herself so much that she could not identify with the Russian Jew she was born.
From the Paper "Mary Antin's memoir, The Promised Land chronicled her immigrant experience in the United States. She wished to use her life as a model for other American immigrants so that they could understand the literal and spiritual journey of the process to Americanization. Through a progression of events, Mary Antin assimilates herself into the American culture and sheds her Russian-Jewish identity."
This paper examines the implications for the future of forest management on non-industrial private forest (NIPF) lands as well as the dwindling timber supply on these parcels of land.
Abstract This paper analyzes the spatial and temporal pattern of Alabama's forested landscape as well as the implications for the future of forest management on NIPF lands. This paper defines forested land as a parcel of land that is producing or capable of producing more than 20 cubic feet/acre/year of industrial wood and is land not withdrawn from timber production. Much of this land is held by private landowners not involved directly in the timber industry. Extensive studies have been conducted in the southern states concerning the motivation behind usage of NIPF land, its impact on the regional economy and environmental factors. The counties chosen for this particular study are those which had the highest reported income from forest products. The six counties chosen were Clarke, Marengo, Pickens, Monroe, Hale and Wilcox. These counties are located in highly forested areas and have a high amount of NIPF land. According to several surveys, the areas of greatest softwood shortage are those located near large paper and pulp mills. This paper discusses the impending shortage in economic timber that the U.S. will be facing by the year 2020. The writer of this paper examines the various strategies available to halt the dwindling timber supply which include changing the manner in which NIPF lands are managed as well as stricter government regulations which would deter the conversion of native grasslands and wetlands into croplands.
From the Paper "To determine if timber production is likely to be able to meet future needs, the ratio of growth to removal is measured. Timber inventories give an indication of how much timber is currently available. Using this model, it was found that only one state had a positive ratio, North Carolina at 1.15. Alabama's ratio was 0.91. Softwood removal rates consistently exceed growth rates. Hardwood removal ratios faired slightly better at above 1.3. Timber inventories increased from the 1960s through the 1970s, but leveled off in the 1990s. According to SERTS, softwood supplies are expected to decrease 30% by the year 2020. According to an FIA survey, the areas of greatest softwood shortage are located near large paper and pulp mills (Cubbage and Abt, 1998a). According to the SERTS model the southern US will be facing an economic timber shortage by the year 2020."
Abstract This paper discusses the issue of land degradation in the Arab region over the past 70 years. This paper reviews the various reasons and causes of this land degradation, focusing on the increase in population who require water for human consumption and agriculture, land for agriculture and land for their livestock.
From the Paper "Land degradation in the Arab region is primarily the result of a surge in the population growth in the past several decades. As the population had increased within the Arab region the need for water for human consumption, grazing land, and agriculture has risen. In an area that was already dry and naturally scarce in water supplies this added requirement for water has led to severe issues concerning the natural water sources and their ability to sustain the Arab civilization over time. Furthermore, cultivation of marginal land, as well as deforestation has created a situation in which natural trees and foliage have been depleted from the land surface, adding to the landmasses that are dry. As these dry land masses, or deserts are increased in the Arab lands the water is absorbed into the ground and the loss of foliage eventually leads to a loss of water."
Abstract In this paper the author questions the right of the "white" Europeans to take over and destroy the good soil of Australia.He questions the actions of the white Australians and highlights the history and rights of the Aborigines to his land, quoting many sources. The paper concludes that the Aborigines know the land better and he justifies their right to look after the land and not let it be destroyed.
From the Paper " The problem with those of us who consider ourselves "civilized" and "up to date" is that we specialize, first in genocide, then in the rape of nature, and then create new specialties to repair the damage. Before the Europeans came, the Aborigines had no worries about the Ozone layer, or mastering a driver's test. Cricket, to them, was the sound of Nature at work, not some distant test match."
Abstract This paper examines the Aborigines of Australia who are said to have arrived on the continent over 50,000 years ago, blending into the already existent population and thus creating perhaps the most physically diverse population in the world. This paper details the differences in conceptions of land ownership between the Australian Aborigines and European colonists. The writer of this paper describes how the Aborigines had developed their own society, culture and rules for land ownership which were inexcusably overlooked by the European invaders. When Europe began to encroach upon the territories of the Aborigines, the latter group simply adapted resourcefully and made new claims. This paper explores the various countries and nations that laid claim to Australia, including the Dutch, British and Spain While the Aborigines claimed Australia through ancestral travels, the Dutch and British justified their possession by initial landing rights and the Spanish laid their claim based on religious doctrine. The British extended their claim to the entire continent by 1826 with the stroke of a legislative pen. This writer of this paper describes how the conflict was furthermore exacerbated by the fact that Aborigines and Europeans had differing conceptions of private property.
From the Paper "Although the Aborigines lived according to such ancient beliefs for thousands of years, their fate would soon be doomed according to a very different system of territorial claims formulated 10000 miles away, in Europe. While the Aborigines justifiably had divided Australian lands into their own territories, the newly 'discovered' continent would soon come into a three-way struggle for possession as Britain, Holland, and Spain each claimed Australia separately, none of these claims based on right of ancestors, but on religious, economic, and political rationales. The Spanish and Portuguese, in search of southern trade routes and the legendary Terra Australis, had touched on the continent of Australia."
Abstract This paper looks at how the colonizing forces of North America, specifically the US government has continually been in conflict with the native peoples for the last four hundred years, focusing on land rights and usage. Issues discussed are relocation to polluted and toxic land, mining on native lands and re-appropriation of reservations for resources.
From the Paper "One of the major issues, and there are many, facing Native American Indians today is that of land usage and availability in many parts of the US. From the first contact with colonial explorers and settlers, the native peoples of the Americas have been fighting a losing battle with the white forces of power. What seems to be a simple negotiation of land and space is actually a complex series of issues that ultimately decide who has a right to live and in what way. These issues are in no way limited to European colonialism of the Americas, but for this paper, the writer focuses on the problems inherent in land rights in what is now the United States."
The use of technological machinery, the secular nature of Earthworks, and the celebration of the individual artist's viewpoint are the ties that bind land art to modernism.
Abstract This essay first examines the modern art movement known as ?land art? or Earthworks. After explaining the philosophy and techniques used by all Earthwork artists, the essay concludes by evaluating the meaning and significance of the famous Spiral Jetty by Robert Smithson. This 1500 foot coil of earth, salt crystal, and rock that extends into the Great Salt Lake is the most famous work of land artist and has multiple meanings and associations that are analyzed in the paper.
From the Paper "Earthworks, sometimes referred to as ?land art,? are a more recent development of modernist art, although they have their roots in thousands of years of cultural activity throughout the world. In that respect Earthworks differs from modern art movements like Impressionism and Expressionism. Stonehenge in England is an example of an ancient form of land art, and in most other nations can be found human alterations of the natural environment for symbolic or religious reasons. The Earthworks movement of the late 1960s and beyond was not the result of religious fervor or mystical devotion, but rather a grand response to art consumerism and insubstantial conceptual art (Hughes 384). Artists like Robert Smithson and Michael Hizer wanted to create huge and timeless rearrangements of the landscape that no one could ignore due to their overwhelming physical presence in the world. That is the nature of the Earthwork movement."
Tags: art, earthworks, jetty, land, robert, smithson, spiral, modern, Salt, Lake, Great
Abstract This paper explains that Leo Tolstoy's "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" is set in Russia; however, the story reflects the nature of the Americans and how they took advantage of their native Indians. The author points out that the story has four characters: The younger sister and her greedy husband Pahom, who are peasants and represent the Americans; the older sister, who is the European relative, visiting her younger sister and boasting of the high class lifestyle of Europeans and, of course, the Devil, who is greed itself. The paper relates that Tolstoy ends the story by stating that, when a person dies, he takes nothing with himself and his final abode is in a land, which is not hundreds of acres but only "six feet from his head to his heels."
From the Paper "One day a peasant from beyond the Volga came to Pahom and was given food and a place to stay at Pahom's house. He told Pahom about the land from where he has come and the immense opportunities that are present there. People were getting 25 acres of land for joining the commune. Tolstoy described the height of rye to be "as high as a horse" to show the temptation that Pahom was facing as he heard this. The temptation is best described by Tolstoy with the words "Pahom's heart kindled with desire." "
