Thomas Jefferson feels that African Americans were inferior to whites in a number of ways. First, he viewed black skin as monotonous and lacking natural beauty. He came to the conclusion that blacks are not as beautiful as whites. He also states that blacks are not capable of reason, and have not taken full advantage of their time knowing “more civilized” whites. He felt that blacks were incapable of ingenuity or imagination. He unfairly feels that he should not judge Africans in their own setting, because he doesn’t think much of Africa to begin with. Jefferson gives a sort of backhanded compliment, stating that blacks are better at music, but doubts they can handle extensive compositions. I believe he has mixed feelings about slavery because he knows it is unjust, but he feels blacks need slavery because they are not intelligent enough to become civilized on their own. Whites must help them along.
“Creative writing, of which poetry was considered the highest expression, constituted indisputable proof of genius” (p. 213). This is how Phyllis Wheatley was able to breakthrough the stereotypical European thought that Africans were unintelligent and unintelligible. The Brilliancy of Wheatley’s poems “intervened into an established literacy and cultural tradition” (p. 214). Wheatley covertly challenged notions of Africans unintelligance. In lines 21 and 24-25 of her poem “To the University of Cambridge, In New-England”, Wheatley ADVISES Harvard College Students to “improve your privileges while they stay” (p. 219) and to “Let sin, that baneful evil to the soul, By you be shunn’d” (p. 219). First, Wheatley is addressing students of an university should could not get accepted to because of her race. Her advice of improving their privaleges is basically saying “kids, stay in school and take advantage of the liberties not given to people like me.” Knowing that the understanding of Christianity is a sign of intelligence, Wheatley tells the students to avoid sins. Does slavery fall under her idea of sin? She proudly states that this advice is coming from an Ethiop. Yes, an african slave girl is teaching some of the “smartest” minds in the country a thing or two.
Some of Phyllis Wheatley’s poems can be seen as not very race concious. Wheatley can not be charged with completely ignoring the issues of black slaves, but did her poetry fight against her race’s plight? In “On Being Brought from Africa to America”, Wheatley says that it was “mercy that brought her from her Pagan land ” (p. 219). Is she thankful to be away from Africa? Is her current situation better than it would have been in Africa? But as I said, no one could charge Wheatley with not showing pride in her people. At 11 years old, Wheatley wrote to a letter to Samson Occum. She concurred Occum’s indictment of Christian ministers who were involved in the slave trade. She cared and was prideful, but maybe was not as militant as some wanted her to be.
Source: Gates Jr., Henry Louis, and Nellie Y. McKay. The Norton Anthology of African American Literature. 2nd ed. New York, NY: W.W. Norton &Company, Inc., 2004. 213-226. Print.
I want to preface this post by saying that Savannah has made amazing strides in an effort to revitalize the city. The recession caused various initiatives to take a step back, but for the most part redevelopment has been slow but steady. Downtown’s Historic District, East and West River Street, the Drayton Towers, and the old Candler Hospital building are all receiving well needed face-lifts. Still, there are some other areas and buildings around town that I feel can add to Savannah’s economic growth. In no particular order:
1. Old Sears Building
Just south of Forsyth Park on East Henry Street. I’ve heard different ideas on what to do with the Sears Building such as a movie theater, grocery store, Children’s activity center and Homeless shelter. Whatever it shall be, make it quick!
2. Romana Riley
After the Eastside elementary school’s closing in 1990 because of poor conditions, the building has since been used as a failed alternative education school, and a deal to establish the property as condominiums fell through. I grew up in this neighborhood, so I really hope this structure can be salvaged.
3. Bell South Building
This is the second property on the list that is just south of Forsyth Park. This area would really benefit from a makeover of Sears and Bell South. As far as the building itself, I really don’t like it. That is all.
4. Waters Avenue Corridor
22 blocks of businesses are waiting. Although, when SCAD is hesitant to buy your property, you should be worried. I wrote an earlier post about my thoughts on Waters Avenue’s Revitalization.
5. West Bay Street
City Government feels that West Bay street businesses should be torn down in order to widen lanes and ultimately beautify the corridor. I wholeheartedly disagree. In a game of word association, the words West Savannah immediately make me think of West Bay Street. Businesses such as Rib Hut, Mills Direct Carpet, Happy China Chinese Food, and Action Gasket have stood for over 30 years. How can two extra lanes of traffic be better than that? Savannah’s unemployment rate is nothing to sneeze at. Businesses are essential. How about less worry about traffic, and more community and business stimulation?
SignOn.org – Support the Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2013
This is the brand new one, NOT the one you signed last year. Here’s what it does:
| This is NOT only a “young person’s problem.” At least 60% of the $1 Trillion is owed by Americans over the age of 30. In short, student loan debt has become the latest financial crisis in America. If we do absolutely nothing, the entire economy will eventually come crashing down again, just as it did when the housing bubble popped.But now, there is a solution: H.R. 1330 – The Student Loan Fairness Act – Introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) and co-sponsored by Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL)! The Student Loan Fairness Act would create a new “10-10” standard for student loan repayment, in which an individual would be required to make ten years of payments at 10% of their discretionary income, after which, their remaining student loan debt would be forgiven. Further, this legislation would: • ensure low interest rates; • allow those eligible to convert their private loan debt into federal direct loans; • reward graduates for entering public service professions; • provide a lifeline for student borrowers who have fallen on difficult times; • encourage delinquent and defaulted borrowers to re-enter repayment; • replace the current, 10 year “Standard Repayment Plan” for the full amount of the loan balance with the “10-10” plan as the default repayment option for borrowers entering repayment. |
SignOn.org – Support the Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2013
This is the brand new one, NOT the one you signed last year. Here’s what it does:
| This is NOT only a “young person’s problem.” At least 60% of the $1 Trillion is owed by Americans over the age of 30. In short, student loan debt has become the latest financial crisis in America. If we do absolutely nothing, the entire economy will eventually come crashing down again, just as it did when the housing bubble popped.But now, there is a solution: H.R. 1330 – The Student Loan Fairness Act – Introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) and co-sponsored by Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL)! The Student Loan Fairness Act would create a new “10-10” standard for student loan repayment, in which an individual would be required to make ten years of payments at 10% of their discretionary income, after which, their remaining student loan debt would be forgiven. Further, this legislation would: • ensure low interest rates; • allow those eligible to convert their private loan debt into federal direct loans; • reward graduates for entering public service professions; • provide a lifeline for student borrowers who have fallen on difficult times; • encourage delinquent and defaulted borrowers to re-enter repayment; • replace the current, 10 year “Standard Repayment Plan” for the full amount of the loan balance with the “10-10” plan as the default repayment option for borrowers entering repayment. |
Coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings will be a case study in the practice of verifying information before publishing. In the chase for breaking news, media consumers were bombarded with conflicting and confusing information about what was going on. Wild assumptions, such as the one CNN correspondent John King made about the bombing suspect, does more harm than good.
Josh Stearns, author of the blog Groundswell, has accumulated a number of links to various pieces that tackle the issue of verifying information before sharing it with the masses.
I’ve been guilty of assuming in my writing also, so I’m no saint. But as Professor Dawers has stated numerous times, “Just get the facts right”. Consumers trust journalists to give them accurate accounts of what is happening in society. Let’s not betray them.
John McCain is sponsoring a bill which would force cable companies to offer channels “a la cart”, which would get rid of the need to buy packages for channels consumers don’t want.
I must preface my thoughts with this declaration, I HATE comcast cable. And the fact that it’s the only cable provider in town makes me hate them more. My service is interrupted at least 3 days a month for no reason at all, which leads to me interacting with their automated customer service rep (who I’ve personally named Mandy).
I have over 200 channels, but faithfully watch only 10 at the most. About half of the channels I enjoy are tied to a higher priced packages. Couple this with the fact that Netflix occupies a majority of my other entertainment needs, Cable is expendable.
Will the bill get anywhere? No. But I commend McCain for trying. Excuse me while I throw up.
Sparking interest is the key to successful short copy, which can be very hard to do with limited space. Being concise and brief is the order of the day. Orlando Montoya of GPB Radio does this extremely well.
The advantage of this style of writing is that reader receives news quickly and efficiently. Also, the attention span of most readers is remarkably short so the faster the news, the better.
The disadvantage is that some topics deserve long, thorough copy.
Truth be told, I enjoy short copy more. It’s not as hard to write as I’ve heard others proclaim, it just takes sharper focus to include details. It’s probably my strong suit because long copy gives me nightmares. I’m particularly short and blunt with my communication, and this doesn’t do me any favors when needing 700 more words for a piece.
With the decline of news revenue, there has been a conundrum for writers, editors, and readers of news. How valuable is journalism in 2013? Readers are spoiled accustomed to getting news for free, or at the very most a dollar. Editors are yearning for the financial success of yesteryear. And writers are seeing the monetary value of their good work decline because of shortage funds in the newsrooms.
Nate Thayer (google images)
So, knowing that things aren’t as peachy as we would like in the journalism field, should writers make compromises on the price of labor? Nate Thayer doesn’t think so!
The Atlantic, a reputable magazine, asked Thayer to re-purpose an article he’d written for another outlet. Only this time, do it for the total sum of nothing. The editor’s reasoning was that funds were low for freelancers and Thayer’s exposure to the Atlantic’s audience should suffice.
Wrong.
To a newbie – such as myself – the “free” exposure of getting published in a widely circulated magazine would be very tempting. But to Thayer, who says the Atlantic offered a 125k stipend for 6 stories years ago, this is a slap to the face. By taking the offer, am I contributing to the overall decline of freelance pay?
With the decline of news revenue, there has been a conundrum for writers, editors, and readers of news. How valuable is journalism in 2013? Readers are spoiled accustomed to getting news for free, or at the very most a dollar. Editors are yearning for the financial success of yesteryear. And writers are seeing the monetary value of their good work decline because of shortage funds in the newsrooms.
Nate Thayer (google images)
So, knowing that things aren’t as peachy as we would like in the journalism field, should writers make compromises on the price of labor? Nate Thayer doesn’t think so!
The Atlantic, a reputable magazine, asked Thayer to re-purpose an article he’d written for another outlet. Only this time, do it for the total sum of nothing. The editor’s reasoning was that funds were low for freelancers and Thayer’s exposure to the Atlantic’s audience should suffice.
Wrong.
To a newbie – such as myself – the “free” exposure of getting published in a widely circulated magazine would be very tempting. But to Thayer, who says the Atlantic offered a 125k stipend for 6 stories years ago, this is a slap to the face. By taking the offer, am I contributing to the overall decline of freelance pay?
The Truth of The Matter Is...... 