Huck Finn: The Twisting Tides Of Portrayal - Racism Essay -- essays re

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In recent years, there has been increasing discussion of the seemingly racist ideas expressed by Mark Twain in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In some cases, the novel has been banned by public school systems and even censored by public libraries. Along with the excessive use of the word, â€Å"nigger,† the basis for this blatant censorship has been the portrayal of one of the main characters in Huck Finn, Jim, a black slave who runs away from his owner, Miss Watson. At several points in the novel, Jim's character is described to the reader, and some people have looked upon the presented characterization as racist. However, before one begins to censor a novel it important to distinguish the ideas of the author from the ideas of his characters. It is also important to read carefully to sufficiently capture the underlying themes of a novel. If one were to do this in relation to Huck Finn, one would, without a doubt, realize that it is not racist and is, in fact, anti-slavery.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On an superficial level The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn might appear to be racist. The first time we meet Jim he is given a very negative description. The reader is told that Jim is illiterate, childlike, not very bright, and extremely superstitious. However, it is important not to lose sight of who is giving this description and who it is being given to. Although Huck is not a racist child, he has been raised by extremely racist individuals w...

Globalization & new trend Essay

Globalization is the hip and new trend when the discussion focuses on certain social aspects like technology, economy, business, commerce, media, entertainment, sports and communication. This is owed generally to the impact of globalization to the way individuals live in the modern day, 21st century world. Globalization is the idea that individuals can reach each other despite geographical and other boundaries that made globalization impossible before and kept life strictly local or regionalized. With the entry of the trend of globalization, the world has embraced a new concept of the world which is now closely interlinked, countries acting like small communities that houses citizens that can freely interact with citizens of another countries in real time despite the thousand miles of separation and the difference in time zones. Many believed that globalization is generally a good idea – viewers in China can watch the National Basketball Association Finals game real time, while students in Pakistan, Australia and Greenland can talk with each other simultaneously via the use of the Internet. Banking became flexible and ceased to be country-centric, and trade and commerce saw a bigger opened door that pitted international and local businessmen in a toe-to-toe battle since globalization in trade and commerce commenced. But not all of the effects of the globalization is viewed as a very positive spin on things. Everyone has caught the globalization bug, and to make sure that they do not get left behind, the street gangs of the United States of America has also stepped up and made important restructuring steps to ensure that the operation of their specific gangs transcends localized action. The street gangs of the US has gone global, and why not? As much as it is a peer group that grows because of the fulfilment of what street gangs promises to provide its members, affiliates and partners in a personal level (affinity, protection, a sense of belonging and brotherhood, etc), these same street gangs of US are also thriving because of their role in local (and now, global) albeit sometimes illegal economy. What does it mean to have a US street gang globalized? It does not directly mean that these gangs establish branches outside of US territory, say for example, Crips-China or Bloods-South Korea: this idea is at worst preposterous since the very core idea of the formation of street gangs is the creation of a self imposed fiefdom over a particular neighbourhood which they consider as their turf, the seat of their power. The creation of branches or extensions in other places or other countries will make these loosely structured gangs akin to the rigid structuring of legitimate fraternities, which they are from. While it is not far fetched that the idea of branching out happened to any of the street gangs in the US sooner or later, the globalization of these gangs is not merely defined or limited using this particular precept: they become globalized once their ‘operation’ ceases to be limited to localized action, distribution and supply pipeline construction; they become globalized when they maximize and utilize any and all available technology so that they connect with other gangs and similar entities across the globe; they become globalized when their existence becomes a part of pop culture or socially shared common knowledge even in places they haven’t even been before, due mainly to the role of mass media and how gangs are always included in entertainment materials beamed and telecast in different parts of the world, introducing them to this kind of social strata; they become globalized when their status improves to that of global prestige and renown. Klein (2001) supports the thinking of the natural course of pattern of growth of local US street gangs going outward, saying that â€Å"we have exported our American street gang culture abroad† and adding that â€Å"there are Crips in the Netherlands† and that â€Å"the particular forms of European gangs seem similar to those to be found in the United States† (pg 237). These copycat street gangs followed the same US street gang roles in their own countries, doing their part in their part of the world while US street gangs did theirs in America. Schaeffer (2002) said that â€Å"foreign mafias were based close to drug supplies but far from US government prosecutors. This meant they were better placed to obtain drugs and evade the law, particularly since government authority was weak in their host countries. There were also able to establish connections with young, aggressive street gangs based in US immigrant communities† (pg 356). The Triggers of Globalization – Like all of the other aspects of life affected by the entry of globalization, these street gangs did not just go global by itself; instead there were external triggers that acted as catalyst towards the change that these gangs experienced from being local entities to global participants. The triggers prompted the change; they allowed the gang members to see the potential and possibility of going global, in effect selling the idea of globalisation to these groups and enforcing the compulsory change at the same time. Some of these triggers include internet, telecommunications infrastructure, music, written media and movies. More and more people are becoming more cognizant of these gangs and how they work, and many impressionable kids who want to emulate the characteristics of the gang members utilize the internet for information. Even the amount of related literature available about US street gangs is voluminous, owing to the fact that street gangs and their lives and actions has been intensively chronicled by news as well as academic studies resulting to written works published both via the Internet and traditionally. Even in popular movies, music videos and television shows, US street gangs have already earned a niche as a particular group present in the modern day setting. These allowed the US street gangs to earn international notoriety and fame, and at the same time advertise themselves to the worldwide audience. At some point, these tools blew the US street gangs out of the proportion – they were overrated but criminal organizations put them inside their operations, and the resulting globalized popularity made law enforcement efforts versus street gangs in the country more stringent and strict. Conclusion – Globalization is a freight train that bumps off anyone that stands in the way, and street gangs in the US will not be exempted from the impact of globalization. Not that these gangs considers this as a bad thing to happen to them; its just that globalization imposed itself upon these gangs and not the other way around, globalization dictating the terms to which street gangs made itself amenable too, in exchange for effects that made US street gangs see more than one reason to thank globalization. Something happened to US street gangs, and that is globalization, and like any other social aspect affected by globalization, the US street gangs are changing and metamorphosing – for one, they are far from the ethos of old-school street gangs which exist solely to establish and maintain their fiefdom and establish a social status quo to their liking, particularly those under the blanket of underground and subculture worlds where sin and city merges. Now, street gangs are more business minded; they make themselves effective business entities not by power dressing nor by publicity campaign, but by the use of the only remnant of the old street gang type, a feature still found in the new and globalized street gang – violence, raw power and intimidation. The neighbourhood is now not merely a place they fight for group pride and bragging rights; it has become more important to them because it is an important section of the global pipeline to which their operation and existence depend, may it be drugs, counterfeit money, small arms, black market technology, intelligence, prostitutes, automobiles, gambling etc. Looking at the history of street gangs, it is quite predictable that such international networks would be developed sooner or later, and it is found in the very nature of the creation of street gangs. Going back to the time when the US is still starting to become a new place in the world where people can live, many different individuals with varying ethnicities and cultural background flocked the country. Naturally, there will be groups that will be dominant over the other, and there will be minority groups whose members will soon try to assimilate with those of their own ‘kind’. These are a fairly tribal instinct. Soon, the disharmony that exists between the ruling majority and the minority will become intolerable that a new group will try (and will either succeed or fail) in usurping the former majority group. This will be the cycle inside the society, and those who will grow up will find these affiliations necessary for self preservation. This is the formula that created all African-American street gangs, all Latino street gangs, all Chinese-American street gangs, all Japanese-American street gangs, etc. Soon, these groups with lineage in other countries beside America will be reconnected with their home country, and being American-Japanese, American-Chinese, and American-Mexican allows for the creation of a connection between these two countries. What the street gangs do in the US will be offered in the country where they have an affiliation to (i. e. the Latin Kings participating in drugs, guns and prostitution operations undertaken by Mexican or even Colombian crime lords, the street gangs acting as pawns and small, localized lords representing big, transnational criminal organizations). Even the transformation is natural; street gangs is as much a separate and independent type of social group as it is an integral part in the growth and regression phases of criminal groups that were once street gangs that become powerful criminal organizations and regressed back to becoming small, street gangs. Huff (1996) comments, â€Å"For decades, very few gangs have evolved from adolescent street gangs into adult criminal organizations† (pg 74), while for Repetto (2006), these groups have the tendency sooner or later to experience â€Å"regressing from sophisticated criminal cartels back to street gangs† (pg 9). References: Reppetto, Thomas. (2006). Bringing Down the Mob: The War Against the American Mafia. Henry Holt & Company, Incorporated. Ronald, Huff C. (1996). Gangs in America. University of Michigan. Sage Publications. Ronald , Huff C. (November 2001). Gangs in America III. SAGE Publications. Schaeffer, Robert K. (January 2002). Understanding Globalization: The Social Consequences of Political, Economic, and Environmental Change. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

William Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet - 1478 Words

Young lovers defy their families’ long-established vendetta and jeopardize all they have to continue their relationship. The violent commotion between the two lovers, Romeo and Juliet, finally bring peace to their feuding families, with their own death. Like with many suicide cases, there are challenges and decisions being made that lead up to this decision. Often times, we question who contributed to the suicide. Regardless, others argue that Romeo and Juliet should be held accountable for their ultimate decision. Then again, there is no definite reason to assign fault to Romeo and Juliet. Not only are their brains not fully developed, but pressures from outside forces caused such stress within the relationship. To begin with, teenagers, like Romeo and Juliet, don’t yet have a fully mature brain to make wise and reasonable decisions. In particular, the region of Romeo and Juliet’s brain that assists in making knowledgeable decisions, the prefrontal cortex, also recognized as the frontal lobes, are not completely connected until the mid 20’s. Dr. Adriana Galavà ¡n, a Director and Principal Investigator of the Developmental Neuroscience Laboratory, with an expertise in adolescent brain development, commented in her Ted Talk that â€Å"the prefrontal cortex is the part of your brain that helps you think of the consequences or potential consequences of your actions before you do them, it helps you regulate your behavior and your emotions†. Throughout the book, Romeo and Juliet haveShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1287 Words   |  6 PagesLizzy Baginski English Composition 2 Mr. Spera March 10, 2015 Romeo and Juliet Research Paper The movie Romeo and Juliet is a modern classic film that took place in 1996. Overall this is a timeless story that everyone should go and watch. This movie has an intriguing plot line that tells the story of two feuding families, The Montagues and The Capulets, and how the children of these two different families fall in love. The two children overcome various obstacles such as hiding their chemistry fromRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet 966 Words   |  4 Pages Beauty Over Gold â€Å"Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold.--William Shakespeare, 1623. In his book As You Like It, William Shakespeare pointed out the supremacy of love rather than the want of gold and wealth. Truly, beauty is more important to thieves than wealth. Many of the thieves in this world would rather have an elegant woman than to obtain precious rubies. After all, what good is a prosperous man if he doesn’t have a charming woman? Two famous men grab my attention who didn’t fear forRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet Essay1024 Words   |  5 PagesRomeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare s most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with Hamlet, is one of his most frequently performed plays. Today, the title characters are regarded as archetypal young lovers. Romeo and Juliet belongs to a tradition of tragic romances stretching back to antiquity. The plot is based on an ItalianRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1124 Words   |  5 PagesThe play Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. 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The story of two destined lovers who were killed by their own doing. But what if they weren t two destined lovers who got unlucky, but doomed partners that were never going to have a good-life to begin with.William Sha kespeare gives us a view of early signs of gang conflict in the early age of Verona, Italy. He gives us a perspective of the norms and customs of Italy during the Setting of William Shakespeare s most famous story. Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, givesRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1616 Words   |  7 Pageslove can also cause some of life s most controversial battles. These battles could stem from lack of patience, disagreement of moral values, and in some cases, an absence of attraction overall. In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, the issues that drive Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet s to each of their dreadful misfortunes are inevitable. When it comes to many of Shakespeare s plays, Aristotle s theory is used to describe them as tragedies. Romeo and Juliet is known by many as a tragedyRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1264 Words   |  6 Pagestheater-going public the most important dramatist in English literature, Shakespeare oc cupies a well-known position in the world of talented authors. His canon contains thirty-seven plays, written in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Additionally, throughout the years, they continue to sustain critical attention, with the majority of his works circling tragedies, one being Romeo and Juliet. William Shakespeare s Romeo and Juliet speaks to the timeless appeal of star-crossed lovers. Their loveRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet924 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy that follows the so-called love of two teenagers. The two fall in love at a masked ball and have a secret marriage. Throughout the play, their actions show how ridiculous love is, and how it is a danger to anyone who become twisted in its choking grasp. However, in the death of the youth and survival of the elders, an alternative explanation for the tragic events may be found. Although Shakespeare seems to be mocking love throughout the play, itRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1279 Words   |  6 Pagesour lives. The great, classic writers teach timeless, valuable life skills. Shakespeare was the greatest writer of all time. His writings mainly consisted of dramas and sonnets. Romeo and Juliet, as well as, A MIdsummer Night’s Dream were written about the same time period. He was able to inter relate everything that wrote. For example, the tale of Pyramus and Thisbe could possibly be an advertisement for Romeo and Juliet. The basic structure of the two dramas is the same; two forbidden lovers meet