Abstract
This paper briefly surveys three chapters and two corollary references are utilized to make the case that Mexican Americans are actually comprised of people of European, African, and Native American origin, just to name a few ethnic backgrounds. The paper asserts that the importance of such studies is that an accurate picture of these origins will help people of many races to identify with Mexican Americans as being comprised of people from all cultures.

From the Paper
"The phrase "Mexican Americans" describes individuals who were born in the U.S. but call Mexico as their land of ethnic origin. However, the composition of what truly constitutes a Mexican American ancestrally speaking is a far more complex definition. "Multiculturalism, as we define it today, came in response to movements for self-determination" (Hooks and..."

Tags:mexican, american, ancestry

Abstract
This paper analyzes William Least Heat Moon's "Blue Highways", which is an account of his journey along the back roads of the United States. The papers relates that Heat Moon's writing style is so compelling that the reviewer feels as if he is riding along in the passenger seat. A central theme of the story is that, even in Heat Moon's search for his ancestral roots, the only thing that is constant is change.

Table of Contents:
The Adventure
Change: A Constant Theme Throughout
From Beginning to End and Past to Present

From the Paper
"It seems that the looming issues in Heat Moon's life were a major influence on his decision to set out on this journey. After losing his wife to another man and losing his job, he decided to head out on a search for forgotten parts of America and the American experience by traveling the old back roads through old towns. This is an attempt to see passed the superficial nature of modern American culture by connecting with himself and nature by admiring idyllic, and not so idyllic, landscapes."

Tags:change, ancestral roots, connections messages courage

Abstract
The paper describes how Russell Kirk's "The Roots of American Order" takes readers back to Jerusalem, Athens, Rome and London to explain what makes up the country of America. The paper discusses Kirk's concern that America in his day was "straying from its roots". The paper believes that the book should be mandatory reading for every American, as it so beautifully tells the story of from where America's laws, customs, beliefs and freedoms originated.

From the Paper
"Russell Kirk's 1974 "The Roots of American Order" has been touted as "unsurpassable," "exactly what people need to read," "destined for distinctive status," and "an impressive affirmation of faith." Kirk takes readers back to Jerusalem and then works his way forward through Athens, Rome and London to get to Philadelphia explaining essentially what makes up this great country. He does this in a patient, methodical way explaining where America's laws, customs, beliefs and freedoms originated from."

Tags:Jerusalem, Athens, Rome, London, morality, justice, liberty, economy

Abstract
This paper addresses the themes of need and obligation in Simone Weil's classic work, "The Need for Roots". Weil's "Need for Roots" is a philosophical study of how humanity is "rootless", or without a strong foundation for future behaviors. Through addressing these concepts, Weil believed that humanity could once more discover its obligations and thereafter achieve true freedom and justice.

Abstract
This paper explores "Ghosts from the Nursery: Tracing the Roots of Violence," by Robin Karr-Morse and Meredith S. Wiley, which applies modern brain research to the role that early developmental processes play in later social and emotional development and actions. The author of the paper discusses how the disconnect between lower and upper brain functioning that Karr-Morse and Wiley's work outlines as the basis for impulsive disorders, explains tendencies such as rage expression, blackout, and self-harm in some impulsive individuals. The paper concludes that an education system that better responds to the pre-nursery school stages of development would seem logical, in order to better understand and correct juvenile delinquency.

From the Paper
"Additionally the overview offered by this article leads the reader to conclude that the major emphasis in psychological treatment of behavior disorders focusing on cognitive treatment may be a futile experiment and that the lower levels of brain function need to be the focus. (p. 45) The emphasis of this work is that lower brain levels are at work when imbalances in brain chemicals, under or over stimulation of the brain result in impulsive disabilities and without treatment of these areas, likely chemically and a greater understanding of the defects, these people will grow to become future impulsive individuals, with an inability to connect the upper thoughts with base responses to stressors."

Tags:destructive, violence, therapy, limbic, nature, nurture, biological

Abstract
This paper discusses the thirty minute documentary "From These Roots" that discusses African-American history in the "Roaring Twenties". The paper notes that art and creativity are the focus as the film covers performers like Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington. The paper also discusses how social and political subjects with respect to African Americans are covered in the movie, as narrated by Brock Peters.

From the Paper
""From These Roots" is a short documentary film focused on the Harlem neighborhood of New York starting with the Roaring Twenties. It is an account of African American history, told using actual photos from the time period. The film follows the "Harlem Renaissance", a significant cultural period in the United States. At just under thirty minutes, this is a succinct synopsis that allows viewers perspective into an important time in history. The piece covers social, political, and creative happenings in African American culture and was the recipient of many awards."

Tags:african, american, history

Abstract
The paper offers a review of the Leach's book which gives an historical look at the very roots of the American Revolutionary War. It discusses the thesis of the paper which explains that the Anglo-American friction caused by the presence of British regular forces prior to 1763 was indeed an important contributing factor in the coming of the American Revolution, especially in the form of intergroup attitudes and perceptions hardening into stereotypes and traditions. In conclusion, the author offers a crit and a personal opinion on the book.

From the Paper
"Critically, this book is obviously very well researched and written. The author notes that while he did use some previous studies of pre-revolutionary British forces, he relied primarily on his own personal research and discovery to write the book. 4 In addition, throughout the chapters he states his conclusions and arguments clearly and effectively, so the reader understands his points and his evidence. The strengths of the book are quite clear from the beginning. The author has a clear and detailed understanding of his topic, has studied and researched it thoroughly for the arguments and evidence he needs to back it up, and his presented it to his readers in a way that helps them understand and agree with his conclusions. In addition, the book is not so long that it drags on, citing detail after detail that the average reader might find boring or even unnecessary. Leach's book is succinct and to the point, leaving the reader little doubt that his research was meticulous and he truly believes his thesis entirely, and proves it well."

Tags:literature, history, Anglo, American, revolution, war

Abstract
This paper examines the television series "Roots." It examines how this program served as a good example of the difficulty that Black Americans faced in defining themselves. This is directly connected to the reality that white capitalist organizations produced the series. African Americans were attempting to write and see their history through the values of the dominant white culture.

Abstract
This paper discusses how few lessons on slavery can compete with the impact that "Roots" by Alex Haley has had on American society. It looks at how the story, said to be written from true stories with fictional twists, provides a graphic and accurate portrayal of life for a slave in America at that time. It shows how the author puts together a time-line that spans several generations and begins in the African homeland in a journey that few can imagine with text books and other school lessons. It also analyzes how the author's work has impacted American society for the past three decades because of the story he brought to the public eye.

From the Paper
"The reader is treated to examples of both pushes and pulls from sociological standpoint while the story unfolds. The examples of such occurrences are interspersed through out the story while clearly illustrating the influence the story had on not only the immediate society of Kunte's family but also the societal attitudes and changes that rippled from the path his family endured, and also chose throughout the story. One example is the ship trip to the states when Kunte is first captured. He is pulled into the situation and the society around him at the time is also being pulled because there were no choices."

Tags:slavery, kunte, africa, tom, kinte, george

Abstract
This paper examines the book "Roots" about the journey from freedom to slavery to freedom of a man called Kunta Kinte. It discusses how Kinte represents the unlimited potential of every black man and truly, of all men in their free will and freedom.

From the Paper
"'Roots' is the story of Alex Haley's lineage. There have been two lawsuits filed against this book claiming falsities of various types. One was settled for six hundred fifty thousand dollars and one was beaten in court. In all, it does not matter whether or not Mr. Haley's story is exactly true to life because it is an example of the oral tradition which uses truth relatively to make it's points and transfer its ideals to the reader or actually, listener."

Tags:slavery, africa, freedom