The Color of Water a Black Mans Tribute free essay sample

James McBrides memoir The Color of Water: A Black Mans Tribute to His White Mother not only tells the story of his own life but also tells the story of his mothers life. The book looks at the authors life experiences as a person of mixed race, his struggle with his own identity, and the discrimination that his mother, Ruth, endured from individuals due to her religion, as well as the injustices she faced from her own father due to her relationship with men of a different race and religion. While the notion of discrimination based on race, religion, or ethnicity may seem simplistic, this emoir recounts the plethora of instances where mother and son were faced with great injustices. The title notes that the book is a Black Mans Tribute to His White Mother and that it is. While James McBride looks back on his own life, the book is clearly centered around the life of his mother and the impact that she has left on his own. We will write a custom essay sample on The Color of Water: a Black Mans Tribute or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page At times, the book can be confusing as it Jumps from time period to time period and from James point of view to Ruths. While reading The Color of Water I was consistently looking at the situations in life of James and Ruth from a social Justice perspective. However, before I discuss the complex issue of social Justice and its relationship to the injustices of the book, I must first define what social Justice is. Social Justice essentially refers to the concept in which all individuals of a society are treated fairly and receive a proportionate amount of the benefits of society. To be precise, BusinessDictionary. om, cites social justices as fair and proper administration of laws conforming to the natural law that all persons, irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, possessions, race, religion, etc. , are o be treated equally and without prejudice. As I will outline, there are countless instances in James McBrides memoir in which the concept social Justice was certainly not practiced. Looking at this memoir though the lens of social Justice proved to be quite rewarding. The first chapter of the book is titled Dead, in reference to the disownment of Ruth by her own family. Not only did they disown her but they considered to her be dead in their eyes. The reason for this pseudo death was Ruths marriage to James biological father, a black man named Andrew Dennis McBride. Its important to understand that Ruth came from a strict Jewish family; the main perpetrator of the discrimination against Ruth is her rabbi father, who is referred to as Tateh meaning father in Yiddish. In Contrast to her familys staunch racist views, which were a reflection of societal views of the early to mid-twentieth century, the memoir shows Ruth as a woman ahead of her time who marginalized race and treated people equally, practicing social Justice. This is demonstrated throughout the book, especially in chapter two when James asks Ruth How come you dont look like e? and she simply responded by saying that she did look like him because she was his mother and drifted away from the topic by saying that he should focus on school. Furthermore, evidence of Ruths reluctance to look at people based on race is exemplified in chapter six when James asks her what color is Gods spirit, to which his own identity is clear, especially in chapter four titled Black Power. James struggles with a desire to have unity with blacks at the height of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and the love that he has for his white mother. Another injustice exposed in the book is the arranged marriage of Ruths parents. Ruth states that their marriage had nothing to do with love. Ruths father basically exploited her mother due to her familys relative wealth and the fact that she was his ticket to America to escape another injustice that he and other Jews in Poland were facing from Russian soldiers. However, the anti-Semitic injustices that Ruths family experienced in Poland did not end when they came to America, outlined in chapter five, especially when the family moved to Suffolk, Virginia after her father learned of he opportunity of an open synagogue there. Ruth describes that in Suffolk people loved anything new or different except for Jews. In school she was taunted and called Christ Killer and Jew Baby. She also noted the presence of the Ku Klux Klan in Suffolk on page 44 and the atrocities they perpetrated against blacks. Eventually, Tateh gave up on being a rabbi and opened at store in a predominately black section of Suffolk. At the store Tateh forced his children to work long hours. What is even more shocking is when Ruth describes in great detail the sexual molestation he endured from her own father, which caused her to develop of very low self- esteem and a hate for him. The second half of the book continues with more injustices faced by James and his family. In chapter ten, James brother Richie is arrested for a drug crime, that he did not commit and was haggled by the policemen because he had $90 of college money in his pocket, another example of the rampant racial profiling of the time period. Ruths fathers narrow-mindedness is shown again as she recalls her high school graduation that he forbid her to attended because part of the ceremony was to take lace in a Gentile church. Ruth originally defied her father, but could not go through with it when she approached the threshold of the church. In the books final chapters, James talks about how he began looking into his mothers past; he went to Suffolk with the address of his mothers old house and the name of her childhood friend. In Suffolk he spoke with this childhood friend and even entered the synagogue that his mothers family attended. This shows me, that as he grew older James began to finally discover the heritage of his mother that when e had questioned her as a child about she ignored, shrugging it off as irrelevant. In between James chapters about his visit to Suffolk, Ruth discusses the harassment that she and James father were subject to as an interracial couple in 1940s Harlem. It was during this time that Ruth converted to Christianity and eventually established a church with her late husband. The Epilogue seems symbolic to me, since it involves James coworker who is the son of a Holocaust survivor, the Holocaust being a cataclysmic injustice, invites James and Ruth to a Jewish wedding. Ruth agrees to attend and enters a synagogue for the first time since being a child. It is here where it seems Ruth has embraced her own heritage, a heritage that her son had embraced soon before. It seems that by the end of the memoir everything has come full circle. Both Ruth and James, while still haunted with the injustices faced, have come to grips with their heritage, which has multi-racial person faced not long ago in our countrys history, I can admire and appreciate the immense difficulty and struggle that a person has between two different groups of people that they love. While things in terms of racial and religious discrimination are less out in the open as they were Just decades ago and progress has been made, people still face the injustices of being treated differently simply because they dont look like the predominant group in a society. James McBrides memoir shows that regardless of race or religion we are all people and we all have the same feelings and desires in life and that while being of multi-racial background may have been seen as a detriment to him in the past, it appears to me that it has enriched his life and made him a very strong willed individual. The Color of Water is about much more than one issue; rather it is a glimpse at the life of a son and his mother, the discrimination that they both faced from family and strangers alike, and a multi-racial man learning to come to grips with his identity as person of two ethnic backgrounds, which African Americans and Jews seem extremely different, they ironically both faced the same type of discrimination. While being of mixed race made life difficult, by the end of the memoir it became evident that James embraces both sides of his background because both have shaped the man he is today.

F. Scott Fitzgerald and Gatsby Essay

F. Scott Fitzgerald and Gatsby Essay F. Scott Fitzgerald and Gatsby Essay THE GREAT GATSBY 1. The narrator of the novel the great Gatsby is Nick Carraway. Nick Carraway was from Minnesota in the middle west of the United States. 2. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s first initial impressions given of Gatsby in chapter one were that Gatsby was the type of person that was very sensitive and would give unbroken series of gestures to people. His impressions of Gatsby were very positive as Mr Gatsby was a good hearted man. 3. The reason why Daisy says that she hoped her daughter would be a beautiful fool was because that was expected of women in her world. 4. The type of relationship that Tom and Daisy have was the type of relationship that was just hanging around. There was no real love in their relationship because Tom was cheating on her b having Myrtle Wilson on the side. Tom was married to Daisy for convenience. 5. The first detail about Gatsby parties were he didn’t really invite anyone he just didn’t care much he just loved to throw parties there were no real invitations that were given out it was just be there for the life of the party. The second detail about Gatsby parties was there were only celebrities and the rich. The third detail of Gatsby parties was there was lots of drinking and dancing. 6. The first reason that keeps Nick from falling love with Jordan because he had women back in his town. The second reason was he has to carefully break off the relationship with his other woman and then he would be free. 7. The first factor Gatsby outlines about his background is he was a soldier in the United States in the Great War, that’s when he falls in love with Daisy. The second factor Gatsby outlines about his background is after the war he had to attend Oxford College in England. The third factor Gatsby outlines is he returned to New York after finding out Daisy was with another man and he started to make a lot of money with illegal business. 8. The first rumour that was about Gatsby was that he once killed a man. Another rumour was that he was a German spy. Another rumor about Gatsby was that he was a bootlegger and another rumour was that he had an underground pipe line to Canada. Another rumour was that he was also an oxford man. The reason people cared so much is because a lot of people know of him and because a lot of them are people that are always at the parties that Gatsby puts on. 9. The nature of Gatsby and Daisy relationship was extremely complex. She was

How Insects Fly

How Insects Fly Insect flight remained something of a mystery to scientists until recently. The small size of insects, coupled with their high wing-beat frequency, made it nearly impossible for scientists to observe the mechanics of flight. The invention of high-speed film allowed scientists to record insects in flight, and watch their movements at super slow speeds. Such technology captures the action in millisecond snapshots, with film speeds of up to 22,000 frames per second. So what have we learned about how insects fly, thanks to this new technology? We now know that insect flight involves one of two possible modes of action: a direct flight mechanism, or an indirect flight mechanism. Insect Flight Through a Direct Flight Mechanism Some insects achieve flight through a direct action of a muscle on each wing. One set of flight muscles attaches just inside the base of the wing, and the other set attaches slightly outside the wing base. When the first set of flight muscles contracts, the wing moves upward. The second set of flight muscles produces the downward stroke of the wing. The two sets of flight muscles work in tandem, alternating contractions to move the wings up and down, up and down. Generally, the more primitive insects like dragonflies and roaches use this direct action to fly. Insect Flight Through an Indirect Flight Mechanism In the majority of insects, flying is a bit more complex. Instead of moving the wings directly, the flight muscles distort the shape of the thorax, which, in turn, causes the wings to move. When muscles attached to the dorsal surface of the thorax contract, they pull down on the tergum. As the tergum moves, it draws the wing bases down, and the wings, in turn, lift up. Another set of muscles, which runs horizontally from the front to the back of the thorax, then contract. The thorax again changes shape, the tergum rises, and the wings are drawn down. This flight method requires less energy than the direct action mechanism, as the elasticity of the thorax returns it to its natural shape when the muscles relax. Insect Wing Movement In most insects, the forewings and hindwings work in tandem. During flight, the front and rear wings remain locked together, and both move up and down at the same time. In some insect orders, most notably the Odonata, the wings move independently during flight. As the forewing lifts, the hindwing lowers. Insect flight requires more than a simple up and down motion of the wings. The wings also move forward and back, and rotate so the leading or trailing edge of the wing is pitched up or down. These complex movements help the insect achieve lift, reduce drag, and perform acrobatic maneuvers.

The effective groups Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The effective groups - Essay Example A group should be goal directed as well as structured properly. Goal directed means that the group should be designed to achieve some outcome and properly structured means the responsibility of the tasks and its related performance should be delegated to the members of the group. The ultimate responsibility of the group is to achieve high performance in an effective and efficient manner in order to achieve the set goals and targets. An effective group is built on several skills including ethical as well as practical skills. Ethical skills are extremely important for the group to perform effectively. Ethical skills involve honesty skills, giving respect to all the members of the group, listening skills as well as relationships built in trust. Honesty is an important factor for any group`s success. The group members should follow a code of being honest towards each other. It is true that honest is the best policy. Without honesty among the group members, no group can work effectively and accomplish its goals. Even greater than being honest with other group members, a person should, first and foremost, be honest to himself/herself. If a person is not honest to himself, he will not be able to work effectively in any group and as a result, the group will suffer and will not be able to accomplish its goals and targets. Therefore, honesty within and with other group members is extremely important for the group as a whole. Along with this, all group members must be honest with their work as well. Not being hon est with the work can prove to be very costly for the group and the entire group will have to suffer and bear the consequences. In the past, there have been several cases where one group member used illegal ways to accomplish their task and as a result, the reputation of the entire group was affected. Therefore, honesty with the work itself is also highly important for the group as a whole. Another ethical skill necessary for group effectiveness is the

Economics of Race and Gender Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Economics of Race and Gender - Article Example It is because this discriminatory attitude is deeply rooted in one’s subconscious and it will take years of relentless struggle to wipe out this unethical approach from the society. It is emphasized by the movie’s director that even in the present competitive age, countless people still view, treat, and assess others on the basis of their cultural, ethnic, and racial backgrounds. The distinguished feature of this riveting movie is that it shows a mixed pot while taking care that the element of interest lasts till the end of the story. One finds the lives of various characters from entirely different racial backgrounds intertwined in such a way in this movie that everyone crashes or bumps into each other. Basically, every character in this movie has a different racial background and the individual interactions among them are portrayed in such a manner that the viewers cannot help but appreciate the reality and significance of the pervading discriminatory notions in the society. Each furious and provoking incident is tried to be presented as realistically as possible and that is an effort which is too conspicuous to ignore if this movie is scrutinized deeply. The movie starts with a car accident involving a female detective and an Asian woman, who start fighting each other and exchange racial insults straight-off. The way this incident is portrayed is too heart-touching and a sudden idea dawns on the viewers that the world is no yet free of unjustified biases despite many tedious efforts. This incident is then followed by a row reflecting racial biases between a Persian man and a gun shop owner, who refuses to hold any transaction with the Persian man owing to his religious background . Finally, the Persian man had to leave the gun shop seriously infuriated, while his daughter Dorri endured verbal sexual insults from the shop owner. After that, the scene between the district attorney, his wife and two black car hijackers also plainly shows paranoia, suspicion,

Dale v. Boy Scouts of America Essay -- Homosexual Rights Court Papers

Dale v. Boy Scouts of America This case deals with the Plaintiff's expulsion from his position as Assistant Scoutmaster in a Boy Scouts of America (henceforth called "BSA") troop due to his status as an active homosexual. Dale, the Plaintiff, was serving as an Assistant Scoutmaster in 1990, when, due to a local newspaper article, it was discovered by officials in the local Monmouth BSA Council that he was an active homosexual. A letter was sent to Dale by the Council, notifying him of their decision to revoke his membership in the organization. Dale sent a letter in response, asking why this action was taken. The Council then notified Dale that his homosexual activities made him ineligible for membership in the BSA, as well as making him ineligible to serve as an adult leader. In September 1990, Dale contacted the BSA Regional Director, requesting a review of the expulsion decision. The Regional Director's office responded to Dale via letter, notifying him of the Director's decision to support the Council's actio n, and also notifying him of the National BSA Council's pending review of the case. New Jersey Superior Court Analysis Rather than wait for the National Council's decision, Dale filed a lawsuit in the New Jersey Superior Court against the BSA in July 1992. In the lawsuit, Dale claimed that the BSA is a place of public accommodation, and as such, violated the New Jersey Laws Against Discrimination (LAD). LAD states the following: "All persons shall have the opportunity to obtain employment, and to obtain all the accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges of any place of public accommodation, publicly assisted housing accommodation, and other real property without discrimination because of race, creed... ...significant precedent. It is also quite conceivable that Dale will last no longer than the current class of Supreme Court Justices. Assuming a few more years, it is doubtful that Dale would have been decided the same. One never knows. Perhaps this case will be seen as another Plessy v. Ferguson. Works Cited New Jersey Supreme Court. Dale v. Boy Scouts of America et. al. URL: http://lawlibrary.rutgers.edu/courts/supreme/a-195-97.opn.html Superior Court of New Jersey-Appellate Division. Dale v. Boy Scouts of America et. al. URL: http://lawlibrary.rutgers.edu/courts/appellate/a2427-95.opn.html United States Supreme Court. Boy Scouts of America et. al. v. Dale. URL:http://usgovinfo.about.com/newsissues/usgovinfo/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://caselaw.findlaw.com/cgi%2Dbin/getcase.pl%3Fcourt=US%26amp%3Bnavby=case%26amp%3Bvol=000%26amp%3Binvol=99%2D699

Personality Theories Essay

Psychosocial theory brings in the understanding and appreciation with people who have to fulfill a requirement when they collaborate. Each person who is involved in fulfilling a requirement in the work place should fulfill the requirements before advancing. This means that in the workplace there are many people who come from different age group brackets. In the analysis of Erickson, there are eight stages that a human has to pass. For example the needs for each age brackets differ from the other age bracket. There may result a conflict in the work place when a young man encounters an older person. In most cases, the people who are between the 20-40 years tend to have different needs when compared to older community. Hence, the issue of psychosocial theory revolves in understanding of one’s ego and appreciating it. Hence, in a work place where different age sets are working together there many result problems. Each age set should understand what the other age set views accomplishment of the assignment and giving a neutral view in which it completely reduces the chances of conflict. Basic requirements such as respect, recognition and appreciation ensure that the social environment is compatible between the age different workers. Humanistic theory brings in the understandings of Maslow in accomplishing a task. This means that a person has a right in employing own behavior rather than attempting to accept reinforces or environmental stimuli. Hence, the major principle is facilitating personal development. Humanistic theory has been expounded by Maslow and Carl Rogers and is easily applied in a workplace environment. In a work place a worker is supposed to be firstly be satisfied before doing something else. This means that there are stages which may be referred to as needs that are supposed to be fulfilled in hierarchical manner in way of each importance. When the needs are fulfilled, the workers are to extend are motivated in which it results in them fulfilling there responsibilities. If a job satisfies and fulfills the needs that a person what ensures that the person is motivated in the work place. Increasing the amount of salary or wages in relevance to the prevailing economy ensures that the person is at pace with the economy which means that the basic needs are available which results in the person filling being loved and is encourage automatically to fulfill the requirements that the person is supposed to fulfill.