Violence And Fear Created By Gangs Criminology Essay

Violence And Fear Created By Gangs Criminology Essay The term gang has instilled fear in communities and neighborhoods for decades. This fear is created by the violence exhibited by prison, street and motorcycle gangs. The media shows and tells the public that no one is safe and anyone at anytime could become a victim in the gang wars. This portrayal in the media causes parents, neighborhoods and communities to shut down in the fight against gangs. Gangs are able to survive and thrive off of this fear created not only by their actions but by the media as well. Knowledge is power in the fight against gangs as well as the prevention of membership. Should we be as concerned as this fear has lead us to be? Gangs: Should We Be Concerned? A gang is defined as a group of individuals that work or act together, particularly criminals or juvenile delinquents (Agnes, 2003, p.268). A gangster is defined as a member of a gang (Agnes, 2003, p.268). The term gangster was first used in the 1890s to label the Chicago thugs who used violence and other illegal methods to make sure their favorite candidates for political office were elected (Blackwood, 2002). The period that is most associated with gangsters is the 1920s. This is the period that the term gangster was used to also include criminals such as bootleggers, kidnappers, bank robbers, extortionists and hit men. The term has maintained popularity over the years and is still used to label members of a gang. Gangs in the 1920s and gangs now are similar in that both gained control of an illegal market. The liquor trade was controlled in the 1920s during Prohibition and the drug trade is currently controlled by gangs (Blackwood, 2002). This control of an illegal market also brings arrests, violence, weapons and money. Being a part of a gang then was about making money and today that is still the goal. Money, however, is just one factor in the desire to become a gangster. Gangs formed before the 1980s fit the traditional definition of a gang. These gangs began defending turf, however, grew into large organizations that became heavily involved in the drug trade and other criminal activity. Fists, chains and knives that were used in earlier gangs were replaced with automatic firearms and drive by shootings. The average size of a traditional gang is one hundred and eighty members and has distinct structure and organization (Sonder, 1996). Many cities such as Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia have a few of the larger organized gangs and even more of the loosely organized gangs. These gangs are considered neighborhood gangs. The newer, smaller gangs tend to be less involved with drugs and violence. These smaller gangs are more diverse and tend to have white, female, and even middle class members. Some of these gangs take names similar to the nationally known gangs and participate in graffiti, etc. but may not be overly violent or heavily involved in drug sales. Parents, police, and the community still need to be vigilant in combating these gangs as there is a possibility of more violence and criminal activity over time (Barbour, 2006). The statistics that back up the gang problem are eye opening. There were over twenty one thousand gangs identified in the United States and over seven hundred thirty one thousand gang members identified in 2002. In that same year, one thousand two hundred and thirty two homicides were attributed to gang activity (Barbour, 2006). The ethnic make-up of gang members is diverse. Forty nine percent are Latino, thirty four are black, ten percent are white, six percent are Asian, and one percent is other (Barbour, 2006). There are more Latino gangs, which include Hispanic, due to immigration, the need for fast money and the perception that there is a need for protection from other gangs. Gang experts advise there are multiple reasons individuals join gangs. These reasons include but are not limited to peer pressure, self esteem issues, poverty, yearning for excitement, survival, the want to make fast money, gain power, and attract members of the opposite sex. The main reason an individual joins a gang is to feel a sense of belonging and protection (Barbour, 2006). Many juveniles join gangs due to an unstable family environment that normally provides a sense of belonging and protection. For these juveniles, a gang is their family and serves the purpose of a traditional family (Barbour, 2006). For others, it is a rite of passage to join the same gang as their family members are already in. In the latter situation, gangs and the lifestyle of the gang is simply a way of life for these juveniles (Barbour, 2006). Juveniles enter the gang early and begin committing crimes immediately. Power and entitlement are other factors that encourage gang membership. Gang members are often individuals with high ambitions who have a fantasy about making fast money and gaining expensive cars and flashy jewelry (Sonder, 1996). Obtaining these items seems out of reach and would take too long to achieve so gang life seems the only alternative. Committing crime appears to be an easier method to obtain the fantasy of high achievement (Sonder, 1996). Gangs are a contributing factor in juveniles committing violent crimes in both small and large cities. Members of gangs are relocating from urban areas to suburban areas. This move expands the gangs control of drug distribution, money, new members, evading law enforcement and other gangs (National Drug Intelligence, 2009). A study of delinquent acts in Rochester, NY showed that gang members accounted for sixty eight percent of all violent offenses committed by juveniles. In Denver, a similar study reflected seventy nine percent of all violent offenses were attributed to juveniles that were members of a gang. Gang related homicides involving juveniles has increased by more than fifty percent according to Professor James Alan Fox, a Northeastern University criminologist (Barbour, 2006, p.17). Those statistics are a representation of juveniles and gang activity. Law enforcement officials have reported that eighty percent of criminal activity is gang related, involving both juvenile and adult members (National Drug Intelligence, 2009). As far as what type of gang a juvenile or adult becomes a member of depends, as there are several different types of gangs. According to the National Gang Intelligence Center of 2009 there are three types of gangs. There are street gangs, prison gangs, and outlaw motorcycle gangs. Street gangs that operate in multi jurisdictions across the country are a huge threat due to the control of such a large geographical area. Street gangs that commit criminal acts such as violence and drugs are the greatest threat to society. That threat becomes intensified as the street gangs migrate from urban areas to suburban and rural areas. Prison gangs are a major threat due to the control and influence over the street gangs in the community, even from prison. The structure of prison gangs is highly organized and acts as a criminal network within the state and local prisons. Members that have been released from prison also assist in the day to day operations of the prison gang. Released members generally return to their community and resume old gang affiliations. Once old gang affiliations are resumed, the member then recruits street gang members to carry out criminal acts for the prison gang. Prison gangs control the distribution of drugs within the prison but also in the community in some cases as well (Know Gangs, n.d.). Outlaw motorcycle gangs are also a public safety threat in the communities where they operate as they take part in various criminal acts, frequently use violence, and counter the efforts of law enforcement. Some of the criminal activity outlaw motorcycle gangs participate in are drug and weapons smuggling as well as violent crime. Outlaw motorcycle gangs are highly organized and structured. There are regulations on membership, conduct, and even criminal activity. The size of the gang ranges from a single chapter to hundreds of chapters throughout (National Drug Intelligence, 2009). The most widely known street and prison gangs are the Aryan Brotherhood, La eme (Mexican Mafia), Latin Kings, Gangster Disciples, Texas Syndicate, Crips, Bloods, and MS-13(Mara Salvatrucha). The most widely known outlaw motorcycle gangs are the Hells Angels and Mongols. Fear is the one thing that all of these gangs have in common. By putting fear into the community, they are controlling it. The Aryan Brotherhood originated in 1967 at the San Quentin Prison in California. This gang was originally formed as protection from black prisoners, however, it quickly turned into a lucrative criminal enterprise. Members have a white supremacist, Neo-Nazi mentality; however, have a working relationship with Le-eme (Mexican Mafia). Symbols of the Aryan Brotherhood are Shamrock clover leaves, swastikas, double lightning bolts, initials AB, and the numbers 666(Inside Prison, 2006). Members have a deep rooted hatred towards blacks and black gangs such as the Crips, Bloods, and Gangster Disciples. A violent act must be committed for initiation Blood in, Blood out). There is also a creed that all members must abide by: I will stand by my brother, My brother will come before all others, My life is forfeited should I fail my brother, I will honor my brother in peace and war(Inside Prison, 2006). This creed is evident during criminal prosecutions against members, such as the one in Santa Ana, California. In Santa Ana, California one of the largest death penalty cases was tried and involved four Aryan members. The trial revealed that the Aryan Brotherhood is a ruthless gang that murders anyone that opposes them, even their own members. Two of the members convicted were eligible for the death penalty due to their part in ordering a race war at a Lewisburg, Pennsylvania prison that resulted in the death of two black prisoners. Both members ended up with life without parole instead of death. The same two members responsible for the race war along with another accomplice also murdered another prisoner in 1989 (Inside Prison, 2006). La eme also known as the Mexican Mafia began in California in 1957. The day to day operations are of a paramilitary structure that includes a president, vice president, lieutenants, sergeants, and generals. Under these high ranking officials, there are soldiers, suppliers and associates. There is a twelve rule Constitution that must be followed by all members: Membership is for life, all members must be prepared to kill or be killed for the greater good of the gang, every member must be disciplined and work through weaknesses, never let the gang down, a sponsoring member is completely responsible for all actions of the new member and if the member turns out to be a snitch the sponsor must eliminate the new member, when disrespected by any person, all members must eliminate that person, maintain a high level of integrity at all times, never speak of la eme business, each member can express opinions, each member can organize, arm, and defend la eme, each member has the right to wear la eme tattoo, and the last rule is that la eme is a criminal enterprise and will participate in any and all criminal acts for monetary benefit(Inside prison, 2006). The symbol of the Mexican Mafia is the national symbol of Mexico, which is both an eagle and a snake on a circle with flames, along with crossed knives (Inside Prison, 2006). The Mexican Mafia was created as a way to gain more freedom over the prison underworld which was controlled by whites. The Italian Mafia was the template for the creation of the Mexican Mafia. Over a short period of time they began to control the narcotic traffic in the California prison system and develop their own trademark (Inside Prison, 2006). The Mexican Mafia has a specific manner in which contract murders are carried out that became their trademark. The manner involves kidnapping, binding, and gagging the victim with duct tape prior to putting bullets into the back of the skull. The body is then wrapped in a blanket and disposed of in a remote location. This method was demonstrated in the 1997 robbery on West French Place that did not go as planned. Five individuals were blindfolded and duct taped then shot several times in the back of the skull (Inside Prison, 2006). Gangster Disciples, also called Black Gangster Disciples was created in the 1960s by David Barksdale, leader of the Gonzanto Disciples and Larry Hoover, leader of the Supreme Disciples. These two groups combined and formed the Black Gangster Disciples. David Barksdale was the leader and Larry Hoover was second in command. David Barksdale died in 1972 and Larry Hoover took over (Know Gangs, n.d.). The Black Gangster Disciples use the six pointed star, Star of David, as their symbol. This symbol represents loyalty, understanding, knowledge, wisdom as well as love. Other symbols include an upside down pitchfork and a heart with wings. Members generally tattoo themselves with a top hat with a staff out of the top which is a pitchfork with the numbers three, six and zero along with an upside down cross at the bottom. Clothing may consist of the sports team Oakland Raiders and carry a black, grey or white bandana (Know Gangs, n.d.). The Gangster Disciples can be found in cities across the United States, however, Chicago is the location of the leaders and there is a strong presence in the Midwest. In the mid 1990s a federal task force was formed to investigate the involvement of the Gangster Disciples in multiple murders and drug trafficking. The result of the investigation found that the gang was making over one hundred million dollars a year in illegal drug sales. Multiple members were convicted and are now serving life sentences (Know Gangs, n.d.). Latin Kings first came about in Chicago in the 1940s. The Latin Kings gang was created by a few Puerto Rican immigrants as a way to defend and protect themselves from racism and prejudice. Their slogan was that they would rise above racism and prejudice and form an organization of Kings. After a period of time, the gang became involved in criminal activity and even though the first members were Puerto Rican, most members now are Mexican-American. Identifiers include the five point crown, which means represent love, respect, sacrifice, honor and obedience. Colors of the Latin Kings include yellow or gold. The head of the entire criminal organization is known as the Inca. Latin Kings have chapters also known as sets in states across the country, each reporting to a leader (Know Gangs, n.d.). The gang known as Texas Syndicate originated in the early 1970s at Folsom Prison in California. It was started as a direct result of the formation of other gangs in California prisons. Other gangs, specifically Mexican Mafia and Aryan Brotherhood, were targeting inmates that were Texas natives. The only symbols noted to identify members are tattoos with TS somewhere in the design. Some of these tattoos require intense observation in order to locate the TS. The tattoos are generally located on the back of the right forearm, however, have been located on the outside calf area, neck and chest (Inside Prison, 2006). The main criminal activities Texas Syndicate is involved in are drug trafficking, extortion, and internal violent discipline of members. Members in prison have communication methods with outside members through smuggled cell phones and coded messages. The Crips were started in 1969 in Los Angelos as a street gang by Raymond Washington and Stanley Tookie Williams. This gang has received the reputation on being extremely violent and aggressive. Stanley Tookie Williams faced the death penalty in San Quentin State Prison on December 13, 2005. He received the death penalty after being convicted of murdering four individuals during a robbery by shooting them to death with a shotgun in Southern California in 1970. Also, in 1979 Raymond Washington was murdered. The name Crip has different theories as to where the name actually came from. One theory is that a woman from the housing projects filed a police report on two teenagers for stealing. One of the teenagers was Raymond Williams. The description of one of the teenagers was crip with a stick meaning a disabled person with a cane. Another theory is that the name came from Crib, from the Baby Avenue gang in the 1960s. The Baby Avenue gang eventually became known as the Avenue Cribs as they were located in the Central Avenue, Los Angeles area (Inside Prison, 2006). Identifiers of the Crips gang are the colors blue, gray, orange, and purple. Handkerchiefs or clothing generally reflect those colors. Other identifiers are the six pointed Star of David, the letter B crossed out as the gang Bloods is their rival. Specific clothing choices can include tennis shoes, jogging suits or sports teams reflecting Los Angeles teams (Know Gangs, n.d.). British Knight tennis shoes are popular due to the B and K which represents Blood Killer. Communication between members is facilitated through hand signs, codes, and graffiti. Although there is no Constitution for the gang there is a book of knowledge that outlines all rules and regulations for the gang. The Crips gang is involved in criminal activity such as drug sales as well as trafficking, violent robberies and burglaries. Members of the Crips have been located in every city of the United States and even in a few foreign countries. Their rivalry with the Bloods often results in bloodshed and/or murder. The street gang known as Bloods was started in the 1960s. Neighborhood protection and as a force to combat the Crips were reasons the gang was created. Crips were becoming too powerful as they were allying with other street gangs. African American men called each other Bloods in the Vietnam War and that is where the name came from. Identifiers of the gang include a five point star and the color red. Clothing choices tend to be sports teams such as the Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Francisco 49ers (Know Gangs, n.d.). The Bloods are similar to the Crips in that there is no Constitution; however, there is a book of knowledge that outlines rules and regulations of the gang. The organizational structure for the Bloods is as follows: the first superior, this person is in charge of day to day operations of the set and in charge of discipline. The next in charge is the second superior who assists the first superior. The minister of information and defense are next and they are responsible for giving information and strategies to the Superiors. Head of security handles obtaining weapons for the set. The commanding officer is in charge of handing down orders per the superiors. Below those officers there is a captain, who gives information to the lieutenant. The lieutenant ensures orders are carried out and soldiers carry out orders. In the early 1980s MS-13, also known as Mara Salvatrucha, was created. After leaving the death squads of El Salvador, a number of Salvadorian immigrants settled in California and created MS-13. MS-13 was created as protection against rival Mexican gangs and is one of the most violent gangs in the United States. This gang is a highly organized, paramilitary one with some members formally belonging to the Salvadorian guerrilla forces. Members are generally heavily tattooed, can be identified by blue and black bandanas as well as specific tattoos of MS-13. Phrases that are specific to Ms-13 are La Mara which means gangs, Salva which means Salvadorian, trucha which means look out, and Eme Ese which means MS (Gang Awareness, n.d.). The motorcycle gang, Hells Angels, began in Fontana, California in 1948. Hells Angels was a term coined for bomber squadrons in World War I and II. Hells Angels have been linked to criminal activity such as drug trafficking, especially meth, assaults, weapon possession, and even murder. The most notorious plot that surrounds this gang are the allegations that they plotted to kill rock star Mick Jagger. Mick Jagger supposedly criticized the Hells Angels after one of its members killed a man at an event in which the gang was in charge of security. The victim pulled a gun and a Hells Angels member stabbed him. All charges were dropped and it was declared self defense (James, 2009). Despite the extensive history of the Hells Angels, still much is left unknown as what happens at a club meeting, stays there. Hells Angels can be identified by their leather or denim jackets with the red and white winged deaths head ensignia, the letter HAMC (Hells Angels Motorcycle Club), and the number eighty one (eighth letter in the alphabet is H and the first letter is A). Each members status can be located on the jacket by a patch, each specific meaning is only known to members. Hells Angels also wear a patch that has 1% on it which means they are part of the one percent that are willing to do anything, legal or illegal to accomplish their goals. Members have road names which are the only way they are known to other members (James, 2009). The Hells Angels are rivals with the motorcycle gang The Mongols. The Mongols are also a motorcycle gang that wears the 1% patch and is considered very dangerous. The gang consists of mostly Latin and Hispanic members as the gang was created due to the Hells Angels not allowing Hispanic members (Mongols Motorcycle Gang, 2008). Other names the gang goes by is the Mongol Brotherhood or Mongol Nation. The headquarters is located in California, however, there are chapters all over the United States, Canada, overseas and Mexico. The Mongols have been linked and charged in violent organized criminal activity. In 2008 a three year investigation over several states ended with at least thirty eight Mongol motorcycle gang members being arrested. The charges included murder, attempted murder, assault, as well as gun and weapons charges(Mongols Motorcycle Gang, 2008). According to the 2008 National Drug Intelligence Center there are over twenty thousand gangs that have approximately one million members that are criminally active in all fifty states of the United States and the District of Columbia. Aside from the nationally recognized gangs, there are also neighborhood cliques, crews, or posses. These groups usually consist of only twenty to twenty five members and are loosely structured. There is less graffiti, hand signs, and colors identified with them. The philosophy is similar to the national gangs: Live by the neighborhood, die by the neighborhood (Barbour, p.18). Gangs are not just in the streets, they are also in the schools. Public and private schools are both faced with the reality that gangs are in the schools. In 1994, a report stated that administrators of schools with an enrollment figure of more than twenty five thousand and principals of urban schools reported an increase in gang involved incidents. Even one in four elementary principals referenced an increase in gang related incidents (Kopka, 1997). In a study of six thousand sixth graders in eleven cities, eleven percent advised they were currently gang members and seventeen percent advised they belonged to a gang at one point(Barbour, 2006). Gangs are becoming a problem in areas that have not been recognized before. Recognizing the signs that a juvenile or family member is in a gang can start with asking. If there are still concerns about gang membership, look for these signs: change in behavior(becomes defiant), grades drop, truancy at school, new associates, calls from unknown individuals, money and jewelry appearing, preoccupation with particular colors or sports teams, hand signs, graffiti on books or walls, developing nicknames, and evidence of drug abuse. One of these signs alone may not be indicative of gang membership, however, more than one could be indicative of gang membership (Gang Awareness, n.d.). After parents determine their child is in a gang it is natural for them to feel anger and even jealousy towards the gang. Feelings that the child has been taken from them by the gang are evoked. Parents handle this information differently. Family first parents put the situation and the child first in an attempt to restore the core family unit. Rescuers minimize their own accountability and fear. Rescuers try to save the child. The rescuers can be successful in that there is family support, which assists the parents in dealing with the issue as well. Crusaders take on the task of saving their child and other children as well. These parents often suppress the core issues of their own child. The negators acknowledge that they have contributed to their child joining a gang. These parents tend to respond more negatively and deny personal responsibility of the childs poor social, emotional, and spiritual well being. The most extreme are the detached parents. These parents simply do not care and refuse to engage in any attempt to remove their child from the gang (Barbour, 2006). In certain instances, removing a child from a gang can be difficult and at times require moving away (Barbour, 2006). Parents can teach their children a critical lesson that can assist in the prevention of gang involvement. This critical lesson is for a child to face reality. This will teach juveniles to take responsibility for their actions as well as the choices they make (Barbour, 2006). And there must always be consequences to bad behavior. Parents should realize there is a difference between the behavior of their child and the identity of their child. Behavior is what a juvenile does and identity is who the juvenile is. When teaching choices, it must be taught that life is filled with actions and reactions. Juveniles need to know the choices made are in their complete control. Being aware of reality and facing it allows children to have control over their choices and assert themselves in a positive manner (Barbour, 2006). Most gangs are built on the premise Blood In, Blood Out. In order to get out of a gang, a member must shed blood, or do they? Solutions to get out of a gang may not mean Blood Out. Other suggestions include talking to high ranking members and expressing the interest to get out, ask for help from a relative, guardian or friend, go to the police, or even become an activist (Sonder, 1996). The solution to gangs is that communities as a whole must stand together. Far too often communities have viewed gangs as an inner city problem, something that would not affect them. Neighborhoods affected and plagued by gangs have been left to defend themselves without assistance. Now, no neighborhood or community is safe. Indiscriminate police sweeps in neighborhoods have had a negative effect on the way the community views law enforcement. Possible informants refuse to talk and gangs prey on young members that have nowhere else to go. Treating the gang issue as a law enforcement problem is not going to solve anything. Along with tough policing, the community must take action and not accept gangs in their neighborhoods. Society has failed to deal appropriately with the social root causes, like fatherless homes, which lead to young men seeking male role models. Popular culture also sends a message that lawlessness is cool as is violence whereas education and hope are not. To combat gangs every member in society plays a part; police, social workers, the church, friends and family members. Each and every person-in the attitudes that are kept, the choices that are made, and even items purchased-helps to shape the culture that must be joined together with the commitment to make communities and neighborhoods safer (Barbour, 2006). References Barbour, S. (2006). Gangs. Detroit, MI: Thomason Gale. Blackwood, G. (2002). Gangsters. New York, NY: Benchmark Books. Gang awareness guide. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2010 from http://www.state.nj.us/oag/gang-signs-bro.pdf Inside prison. (2006). Gang profiles. Retrieved November 2, 2010 from http://www.insideprison.com/ James, R. (2009, August 03) Hells Angels. TIME magazine. Retrieved November 4, 2010 from http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1914201,00.html Know gangs: Gang resources. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2010 from http://www.knowgangs.com/gang_resources

Midterm part 1

Prior to the sixteenth century, racism – in the modern sense of that term – was practically unknown. Oppression and slavery had existed, of course, but before the beginning of the African slave-trade, these had never been based on skin color. Racism, like all forms of oppression, is ultimately rooted in a capitalistic economic system that relies on heavy-handed control and oppressive authority in order to maintain itself and concentrate the greatest amount of wealth into as few hands as possible. When there â€Å"legal† controls and sheer force begin to fail, it becomes necessary for the â€Å"ruling class† to create a mythology.   In early Virginia, this mythology took the form of what was essentially a â€Å"divide and conquer† strategy. Those Englishmen who came to the Chesapeake region of their own volition in the early 17th century fell into one of two categories; landless gentry, generally the younger sons of aristocrats – and landless peasants who came as indentured servants in hopes of receiving land of their own land once the term of their service contract had expired.   The Portuguese had started the African slave trade over a century earlier. The English had made attempts to enslave the local native Indians, but as the Indians were masters at surviving in their home environment, it was nearly impossible to keep them as slaves. Africans, uprooted and separated from their culture and isolated in a foreign environment seemed an ideal solution (Zinn, 25-27). While Eric Fone argues that white Englishmen in Jamestown and the Chesapeake area had varying degrees of â€Å"liberty,† the fact is that true liberty depended on the ownership of land. In Fone’s â€Å"spectrum,† the freest people were those who of course owned their own land. Indentures were somewhere in the middle of this scale, enjoying a â€Å"partial† freedom. This may have been true, depending on your definition. An indenture agreed to become a virtual â€Å"slave† for a term of seven years – which is what indentured servitude entailed – a peasant could get passage to North America and a land grant of fifty acres once their period of servitude was completed. However in practice, this rarely happened; indentured servitude was so harsh that many died before the terms of their contract was over (Fone). Others ran off to join local Indians (the reverse, significantly, was never true), or gave up their claim to land in exchange for a shorter term. Despite underlying racism on the part of some English gentry (mostly stemming from cultural associations with the color black), the nature of slavery at that time was different from it was later to become. African slaves during the early history of the colony had many legal rights similar to those of indentured servants. The line between indentured servitude and slaver could often become blurred. There was no real reason to separate black and white during the first seventy years or so, nor deny blacks the status that was extended to any other worker. In fact, Africans slaves and English indentures did the same work, often side-by-side. There is documented evidence of fraternization, socializing and even sexual relations across racial lines (Zinn, 31-32) By the time the Virginia colony was viable and indentured servants lived long enough to complete their terms, arable land had become unavailable, due to the increasing number of landless gentry who had managed to acquire large estates – often illegally. This led to serious tensions between the growing numbers of indentures who were unable to claim the land to which the law (in theory) entitled them, and the large estate owners who controlled the best acreage. Eventually, there was an uprising by the landless working class against the landed gentry. After â€Å"Bacon’s Rebellion,† the ruling class, began to understand the precariousness of their position.   One problem was the possibility of further uprisings among disenfranchised Englishmen. The other was that of a slave uprising. The worst case scenario was that in which white indentures and black slaves should join forces.   Since these two groups faced many of the same problems, this was a real possibility. The answer was to pursue a strategy of â€Å"divide and conquer.†   Beginning in the 1660’s, a number of increasingly oppressive â€Å"slave codes† were legislated.   Eventually, this turned Africans into something less than human from a legal standpoint. Masters could literally beat a slave to death without legal repercussions; a slave could be dismembered as a form of punishment; manumission was made far more difficult. Most significantly, a 1670 law specified that African servants were slaves for life, and children born to slave women were automatically slaves as well. Next, the gentry began extending privileges to the landless working class, giving them a greater stake in Virginia society. The vote was extended to more white Protestant males than before, and the House of Burgesses – which represented the lower classes – was granted more power. Further action was taken to make western lands available to settlement. The result was that these token privileges reinforced an idea among poor and working class whites that they were somehow â€Å"better† than the Africans. The irony lies in the fact that if Africans had never been imported to Virginia, indentured white servitude would certainly have become institutionalized. The Virginia colony – and perhaps all of America – may very well have become the feudal society wished for by today’s trans-national corporate capitalists and their neo-conservative lap dogs in the current U.S. Administration and Congress. Works Cited Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty! An American History.   New York: W.W. Norton,   2006. Zinn, Howard. A People’s History of The United States (3rd ed.) New York: Harper Collins, 2003.

William Blakes Infant Joy and Infant Sorrow Essay

â€Å"Infant Joy† from â€Å"Songs of Innocence† by William Blake is a simple song that highlights the joy of childbirth from a mother’s perspective. The mother asks the child what she should name the newborn child. The newborn names itself Joy, because that is all it knows. In contrast â€Å"Infant Sorrow† from â€Å"Songs of Experience† by William Blake is a simple song that focuses on childbirth from the infants perspective. It is a much less pleasant experience compared to that of the mother’s. The newborn struggles as it leaves the comfort of its mothers womb and enters the world. Romanticism is defined by Margaret Drabble from and emotional perspective as â€Å"an extreme assertion of the self and the value of individual experience†(Drabble 842-43). The†¦show more content†¦The poet highlights the personal experience and emotions that the infant feels during childbirth, which is an essential aspect of Romanticism. The po sitive personal experience that the newborn expresses is a result of its innocence being intact due to the lack of interaction it has had with the real world. The newborn child in â€Å"Infant Joy† is given the opportunity to name itself, which allows the child to determine its own destiny through personal experience, rather than its destiny as determined by religion or reason which is expected in the Enlightenment period. The newborn experiences happiness through childbirth, and as a result, it is allowed to decide its own nature by naming itself. The newborns nature is not determined by reason or religion, but rather through personal experience which is essential in the Romantics. The poem â€Å"Infant Joy† in â€Å"Songs of Innocence† highlights imagination which is â€Å"a watchword† for Romanticism (Drabble 842-43). The newborn in the poem is encouraged to use its own imagination when naming itself. The newborns opportunity to name itself shows that the parents are encouraging the newborns imagination, rather than attempting to stifle and repress it. The infants imagination is encouraged because it has the opportunity to see the best aspects of the world due to its lack of experience. The mother is also having anShow MoreRelatedWilliam Blake s Songs Of Innocence And Experience1268 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Experience, printed in 1794, â€Å"represents the world as it is envisioned by what he calls ‘two contrary states of the human soul’† (Greenblatt, 1452). This collection of poetry is accompanied by pictures, which create a mutually reliant relationship that allows for com plete understanding of Blake’s works. â€Å"To read a Blake poem without the pictures is to miss something important: that relationship is an aspect of the poem’s argument† (1452). Overall, Blake’s worksRead MoreWilliam Blake in Contrast of Songs of Innocence and of Experience1452 Words   |  6 PagesEN 222-Intro to British Lit. II April 21, 2012 William Blake in contrast of Songs of Innocence and of Experience William Blake, an engraver, exemplified his passion for children through his many poems. Blake lived in London most of his life and many fellow literati viewed him as eccentric. He claimed to have interactions with angels and prophets, which had a great influence on his outlook of life. Blake believed all prominent entities, those being church, state, and government had become sick withRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem On Another s Sorrow By William Blake946 Words   |  4 PagesSorrow is something we all have or will have to deal with throughout our lifetime. Thankfully, there are people in our lives who can comfort and help us in this time of need. As stated in â€Å"On Another’s Sorrow† by William Blake, it is natural for parents to feel their child’s sorrow and comfort them, but parents are not the only ones who can provide their child with comfort. Just like natural parents, our heavenly father and maker, as Blake refers to God in the poem, is always with us to comfort andRead More Comparison And Contrast Of William Blakes Poems Essay2717 Words   |  11 Pages Comparison and Contrast of William Blakes Poems Introduction (Innocence) Piping down the valleys wild, Piping songs of pleasant glee, On a cloud I saw a child, And he laughing said to me: quot;Pipe a song about a lamb!quot; So I piped with merry chear. quot;Piper, pipe that song again;quot; So I piped, he wept to hear. quot;Drop thy pipe, thy happy pipe; Sing thy songs of happy chear:quot; So I sung the same again, While he wept with joy to hear. quot;Piper, sit thee down and writeRead MoreEssay on Common Issues in Romanticism1475 Words   |  6 PagesThe key figures in Romanticism addressed many of the same issues. Such connectivity is marked in William Blake’s poems â€Å"Infant Sorrow† and â€Å"On Another’s Sorrow†, and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Shelley, like Blake, argues for continual development of innocence to experience, and through the character of Victor Frankenstein’s creation, Mary Shelley suggests the equilibrium of innocence and experience offers insight into the human condition. The shift is distinguished by what Blake states in plateRead MoreEssay on History of Childhood2207 Words   |  9 Pageschildhood innocence in the Romantic Period, and in turn to analyze and see how William Blake perceived it in his poetry. During the eighteenth century the idea of childhood entered romantic ideology. Prior to the eighteenth century, society expected a child to follow an adult behavior, where emotional demonstrations of any kind were severely punished, and there was no allowance of childhood emotions as outbursts of joy, excitement or anger. When a child had no more need of his mother he belongedRead MoreThe Notion of Duality of the Human Soul in William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Experience4371 Words   |  18 PagesOf The Human Soul In   William Blake’s Songs Of Innocence And Experience Tembong Denis Fonge             Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Experience generally subscribe to the main stream appreciation that they present the reader with two states of the human condition - the pastoral, pure and natural world of lambs and blossoms on the one hand, and the world of experience characterized by exploitation, cruelty, conflict and hypocritical humility on the other hand. However, Blake’s songs communicate experiencesRead More Comparing William Blakes The Tyger and The Lamb Essay1246 Words   |  5 PagesComparing William Blakes â€Å"The Tyger† and â€Å"The Lamb† William Blake is referred to as many things, including poet, engraver, painter and mystic, but he is probably most famous for his poetry. Blake began writing the poems below in about 1790 whilst living in Lambeth, London. His poetry has a wide range of styles but his most famous poems are those from â€Å"Songs of Innocence† and Song of Experience†. The two sets of poems are designed to show different states or ways of seeing. They are BlakesRead MoreRossetti Manuscripts and Innocence and the Songs of Experience1873 Words   |  8 Pagesof poetry written by William Blake, not only show mens emotions and feelings, but explain within themselves, the childs innocence, and mans experience. A little over two centuries ago, William Blake introduced to the English literary world his two most famous books of poetry: the Songs of Innocence and the Songs of Experience. In his own day, he was widely believed to be quite mad, though those who knew him best thought otherwise. Today, few of us take Blakes madness seriously, eitherRead More Childhood1804 Words   |  8 PagesAt its fundamental level, adulthood is simply the end of childhood, and the two stages are, by all accounts, drastically different. In the major works of poetry by William Blake and William Wordsworth, the dynamic between these two phases of life is analyzed and articulated. In both Blake’s Songs of Innocence and of Experience and many of Wordsworth’s works, childhood is portrayed as a superior state of mental capacity and freedom. The two poets echo one another in asserting that the individual’s

World War II Was A Good Thing - 1802 Words

World War II was the largest armed conflict in history, spanning the entire world and involving more countries than any other war. It was a time of militarism, nationalism, and fascism. The combatants were the Axis powers and the Allies were the victors. World War II laid the groundwork for a lot of positive results and by the post war, major leaps of change were brought about. Despite the fact that any sane person would agree that â€Å"War is hell†, World War II was a good thing because of the technology and scientific advancements, it ensued an end to colonialization, the United States became a global power from it, and there was a social change with minorities. Saying that World War II completely changed the world is a simple fact; it ushered in a new progression that transformed everything. No other war had a more profound effect on the advancements of our current lives than World War II (1939-45). We can point to numerous new inventions and scientific principles that eme rged during the war. Industrial weaponry was a huge breakthrough, this included, ships, vehicles, tanks, automatic aircraft, artillery, rocketry, small arms; and biological, chemical, and atomic weapons. All of these weapons helped in making the countries that had the best and most powerful weapons, win. Explosive bombs played a part in the war and was newly developed for tension between the United States and Japan during that time. Some of those weapons were also used for logistical support; vehiclesShow MoreRelatedThe Best War Ever : America And Wwii Essay729 Words   |  3 PagesEddie Taylor March 31, 2015 History Book Review The Best War Ever: America and WWII Michael C.C. Adams, the author of my chosen narrative, graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1993. He is a professor of history at Northern Kentucky University. Dr. Adams holds a Ph.D. in American Studies. His primary area of interest is military history and early in his NKU career. From the information about what he is interested in being state, you can easily understand why he became the author of suchRead MoreGeneral Pete Quesada And The Triumph Of Tactical Air Power During World War II1318 Words   |  6 PagesGeneral Pete Quesada and the Triumph of Tactical Air Power in World War II I would like to begin my paper with the quote by John Kennedy â€Å"learning and Leadership are indispensable to each other.†1 I think it is a great saying about leadership I have ever heard. There are many books about leadership. But if someone wants to be a good leader and if they do not have leadership abilities, character from birth, they will never be able to be a good leader. When we say leader, we have to think about peopleRead MoreThe Best War Ever By Michael C.c933 Words   |  4 PagesUnited States, World War II is believed to be a good war, and why wouldn’t it be considered as such? During World War II, in addition to stopping mass genocide and stopping the spread of Nazism and Fascism, the United States beat Japan after their attack on Pearl Harbor. As a result, the U.S. was no longer in the Depression and the United States became a world power. However, in â€Å"The Best War Ever,† Michael C.C. Adams argues that as a result of Hollywood’s glamorization of the war, government propaganda/censorshipRead More World War I and The Treaty of Versailles Essay559 Words   |  3 Pa gesAs a result of World War I, Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles, made to pay for the war, and had to disarm themselves, which directly led into World War II. Germany went down the tubes after they were forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles. There economy crashed and there money had just about no value. Many people that World War II was just a 20 year break from World War I. They were right because just about 20 years later World War II started. There are many things that could contributeRead MoreThe Best War Ever By Michael C. B. Adams862 Words   |  4 PagesThe Best War Ever, written by Michael C. C. Adams, is a book focusing on the balanced history of the experience from America’s view during World War II. It neither glorifies nor vilifies the U.S. participation but discusses the real horrors of the war by using glorifying aspects that could have been deceptive or even misleading. World War II defined and transformed the rest of our lives. Americans v iewed World War II as the â€Å"Good War† or â€Å"The Best War Ever†. After the end of the war, Americans hadRead MoreAmerica and World War II Essay1103 Words   |  5 Pages Was World War II a Good War For America? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;One of the most important wars ever fought was World War II. In the midst, the Nazis were in control of most of Europe, the Soviet Union was causing more deaths than any other country, and Japan had taken over parts of China. The United States of America was stuck in the middle of all this. They had to deal with the Nazis and deciding when to join the war, meanwhile, Japan was breathing down their necks with attacks. What wasRead MoreThe Impact of World War II on the United States674 Words   |  3 Pages World War II had an extensive impact of the United States. In spite of all the battles being fought off America mainland, the war affected all aspects of American life back home. World War II may be known as the worst war in history, but a lot of good came out of it. If it was not for World War II many economic changes, social changes, and political changes may have never happened. Prior to WWII the economy was in bad shape. The U.S. was in a depression. Unemployment was at twenty five percentRead MoreThe Holocaust : A Traumatic Event Essay1644 Words   |  7 PagesThe Holocaust was a very traumatic event in history. Every year in school from about middle school onward students learn specifically about Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party’s cruel treatment of the Jewish culture and people during World War II. The same general knowledge is given to us from middle school up until the ending our high school history careers. We are taught to believe that Adolf Hitler was a corrupt man, who sought control of Germany in the 1930’s. Even though we are given backgroundRead MoreThe Canadians Involvement During World War II1257 Words   |  6 PagesWhen Germany invaded Poland on September 1st 1939 the world went to war for the second time in 27 years. One country, albeit overtly expansionist in its aims, had simply invaded another, but the omens were not good . Unbelievably, so soon after the war that will end war , nations and their leaders had allowed another conflict to threaten the planet. The scope of this new war was not yet apparent, the truth dawning gradually; this one would last six years, involve more than two hundred countriesRead MoreDifference Between Violence And Compassion1404 Words   |  6 Pagesexperienced this first hand or through family members. These things have a lasting impact on people, especially those affected by the violence, they never forget even after seeing an act of compassion. In this essay You will learn the difference between violence and compassion and how violence has more of an impact on people than compassion. Some acts of compassion wouldn’t exist without violence . Take Clara Barton for example, if the civil war never happened, she never would have become a hero or