Category: African Americans

Statement of Purpose for your Research

The topic of the research project is minority cultures living in my state. Identify and investigate two minority cultures prevailing in the locality with the support of various relevant analytical reports to seek out various lifestyles, values, mores, and other characteristics, finally comparing those recognized facts. The two minority groups selected for my research are African American people and Hispanic groups with whom I’m familiar from my locality.

Gathering of Sources

Primary Sources

1. Academics on Hispanic culture and Health Care (2000)
2. Report on Ancient and Future Catholics (2006)
3. National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15-October 15, 2009
4. Hispanic Culture Review
5. Celebrate African American Heritage in America’s National Parks
6. African-American women weaving a rug in a home economics class at Hampton Institute, Hampton, UNITED STATES – CIRCA 1899: African-American women weaving a rug in a home economics class at Hampton Institute, Hampton, Va. (Photo by Buyenlarge/Getty Images)

Secondary Sources

1. Basiotis, P. & Lino, M. (2000). “Report Card on the Diet Quality of African Americans.”Family economics and nutrition review 131(6), 60-67
2. Byrd, M. (2006). Differences between Hispanics and African Americans. Journal of American culture, 21(2), 23-67.
3. Collins, M., Cathleen, A. & Esquibel, K. (2006). Definitions of Health: Comparison of Hispanic and African- American Elders. Journal of American culture, 12(3), 264
4. Koster, W. (2007). Minority health facts: Hispanics/Latinos in Florida. San Francisco: University of California Press. 20-34 – Secondary Source.

Conceptual Map

The images below show the variables which characterize the two cultures selected, namely African American Culture and Hispanic Culture.

Introduction & Background

The state of Florida is occupied by people of different cultures. There are dominant and minority cultures and their core values, lifestyles and other cultural practices are quite different. Minority cultures include Hispanic and African Americans among others. Hispanic culture is associated with anybody with linguistic or cultural antecedents in Spain. They are considered a monolithic group of Americans and their cultures are referred to as mosaic culture. This notion is true because there are very many Hispanic sub-groups with profound differences in their culture, origin, and ethnicity. The state of Florida and its communities have been enriched by the Hispanic culture and its history. This culture has affected the way of life in numerous ways. Collins, Cathleen, and Esquibel (2006) argued that the lifestyles of Hispanics have been adopted by other minority and majority cultures. Consequently, the culture of the whole state continues to benefit from the intellectual and cultural exchange between different people. Religion, dietary practices, and social practices are the most common features which differentiate one culture from the other. This research paper attempts to explain the core cultural practices of Hispanics and African Americans.

African American Culture

This culture came into being due to contributions of Americans of African origin whose cultural practices descend to the general culture practiced in the United States. The culture is deeply rooted in the historical experience of the African American people. This is a distinctive feature of this culture. The culture has influenced American culture in a big way. Anthropological field research reveals that African Americans have not lost cultural ties with Africa. There are continuums of African traditions as shown by Africans in the Diaspora. The African American culture continued to flourish after emancipation. There were many radical innovations in music, art, cuisine, and religion.

During ancient days, African American leaders prohibited written communication. They considered that African-based oral traditions were the best ways of preserving African history, morals, and other cultural norms. They did not rely on written words hence cultural elements were passed from generation to generation through storytelling. Storytelling and folktales were used as the primary means of inspiring and educating others. African Americans have affected the development of modern-day Florida through their great contribution to culture, education, business, and government. The vibrant cultural heritage has influenced many opportunities in the United States. Plantations have flourished due to their efforts.

“African-American women weaving rug in home economics class at Hampton Institute, Hampton, UNITED STATES – CIRCA 1899: African-American women weaving rug in home economics class at Hampton Institute, Hampton, Va. (Photo by Buyenlarge/Getty Images)” (African-American women weaving a rug in a home economics class at Hampton Institute, Hampton, Va, 1899). Basiotis & Lino (2000) pointed out that the diet and food practices of African American people reflect creative responses to racial oppression. Most of them use many agricultural products like yams, peanuts, rice, watermelon, indigo, dyes, and grits among others. They use hearty cuisine or soul food which can be easily procured through farming (p. 65).

Nowadays minorities are being recognized for their diversities and peculiarities so the same for African Americans as well. “The National Park Service has the honor of managing and preserving many areas that commemorate African American heritage” (Woodson, 2008, para.2). This explains the fact stated above.

Description of Hispanic Culture

According to Basiotis & Lino (2000), Hispanics are spreading to the whole of the state of Florida and the entire country. It is estimated that they will be the largest minority group in the 21^st century. Most of these people reside in urban areas such as Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls. Hispanics are racially diverse and their roots include India, Europe, and Africa. Youth represents the largest part of the population which sharply contrasts with the aging US population. It is easy to distinguish Hispanics from another group of people living in the state of Florida because of their unique naming. A child is named after relatives or religious figures as their first name whereas their middle name represents the last name of the biological father. The mother’s last name becomes the last name of the child. According to Hispanic culture, wives are at discretion to keep their maiden names and add on their husbands’ names. Furthermore, Hispanic surnames are not Spanish. For instance, the founding father of Chile, presidents of Peru and Argentina were named as O’Higgins, Fujimori and Menem respectively. This unique way of giving names makes the culture very distinct.

Hispanics consider family a primary source of support. Members of the same family are closely knitted and support each other emotionally and financially. People who are related by blood can belong to the same family; a characteristic that does not feature in other cultures. In the family structure, the eldest male is mandated to head the rest of the family members and should act as a role model to the rest. Every member of the family must participate in crucial decision making unlike in other cultures where the elders are mandated to make decisions without consulting the younger people.

Hispanics have a tendency of placing utmost value on personal affairs than those of institutions. Co-operation and trust amongst individuals are the hallmark of the social structure practiced by the Hispanics. They dislike formal and impersonal structures. Young people are expected to show maximum respect to the older people and other authority figures within the society. When young persons are conversing with an elder or an authority figure, they should address them as uste.

Diet and food is also a very unique feature of the Hispanic culture. They rely so much on beans and grains as their staple food. They do not consume much of food stuffs such as proteins, leafy green vegetables, dairy products or any other diet which has protein. Hispanics eat a great deal of tropical fruits, starchy root vegetables and fruit juices. The government of US have recognized and promoted Hispanic culture with honor. “The National Register of Historic Places lists many properties significant for Hispanic Heritage.” (National hispanic heritage month September 15- October 15, 2009, para.1).

(Hispanic heritage, n.d.). The image shows their preparations for their fiesta, the festival. Indeed shows much difference from the majorities.

Similarities between African American Culture and Hispanic Culture

Koster (2007) argued that the two cultures have some common characteristics. In both cultures, people believe in a supreme being. Research study indicates that a large number of people interviewed or interrogated believe in God as determination for good health. One of the respondents from Hispanic culture said, “I go to church everyday and it is my medicine.” On the other hand, an African American respondent said, “Prayer and belief in the Lord (make you a healthy person).” In both cultures, there is a belief of helping others. They believe that helping others is the best way of defining oneself. It is interesting that both cultures prioritize this aspect. Socialization is highly valued by both cultures as they believe that all people should socialize in a friendly way. The kind of food used by both group of people are the same (p. 25).

Differences between Hispanic Culture and African American Culture

From the research study, we can identify that Hispanic religion is quite different from African American religion. Hispanic religion is based on Catholic backgrounds since their ancestors were Spaniards. This is evidenced by the fact that most of the people from this culture believed that Catholic Church was the only church that was established by Jesus Christ. On the other hand, African Americans are predominantly Protestants and Muslims. This is supported by the fact that most of them do not perform rituals and other religious externals which are performed by the Catholic Community. On family issues, Hispanic community has less strong sense of family as compared to the African American culture. Hispanics do not support the idea that family is very important in social life. In addition, both cultures have different musical songs and styles. Byrd (2006) commented that Hispanics like salsa rhythms and dance whereas African Americans favor rap, break dancing and rhythm of blues (p. 60).

Personal and Professional Relevance

The information contained in the research paper helps students in cosmopolitan institutions to understand their cultural differences. This enables them to appreciate one another; hence promote positive relationships amongst them. It helps eliminate racial discrimination that commonly affects students learning in an institution with people of different racial origins. Importantly, the project fosters national and international cohesion since people from all parts of the world are able to interact in a positive way. Professionals are able to build their knowledge about relationships between different cultures in a country.

Conclusion

The two cultures have greatly influenced all aspects of living in the state of Florida. Notably, the cultural practices by the people in this state encompass both dominant and minor cultures. This implies that minor cultures have also affected the dominant cultures in many ways.

Reference

Academics on Hispanic culture and health care (2000) – Primary Source. African-American women weaving rug in home economics class at Hampton Institute, Hampton,Va. (1899). Getty Images. Web.

Basiotis, P., & Lino, M. (2000). Report Card on the Diet Quality of African Americans. Family economics and nutrition review 131(6), pp.60-67. – Secondary Source

Byrd, M. (2006). Differences between Hispanics and African Americans. Journal of American culture 21(2), pp.23-67. – Secondary Source

Collins, M., Cathleen, A., & Esquibel, K. (2006). Definitions of health: Comparison of hispanic and African- American elders. Journal of American culture 12(3), 264 -Secondary Source.

Hispanic heritage. (n.d.). Cybraryman.com. 2010. Web.

Koster, W. (2007). Minority health facts: Hispanics/Latinos in Florida. San Francisco: University of California Press, pp.20-34 – Secondary Source.

National hispanic heritage month (2009). NPV.GOV. Web.

Report on Ancient and Future Catholics. (2006) – Primary Source.

Woodson, G.C. (2008). Celebrate African American heritages in America’s national park. National Park Service. Web.

Introduction

• The United States is made of different cultural groups.
• This presentation focuses on the African and African American cultural groups.
• It also addresses the African American and Haitian heritages.
• Haiti is a North American independent nation.
• Its culture is a fusion of the African, West Indian and French cultures.
• The African American is a group with an African descent (Kittler & Sucher, 2007).

Cultural Groups

African American

• This is a cultural group of the African ancestry and sub-Saharan decent living in the Americas.
• Their way of life, religion, and beliefs differ from others cultural groups.
• This cultural group is made up of the black people.
• This group has created a distinctive language (Smith, 2011).
• They have a unique traditional attire.
• This has been borrowed from the West Africa’s dress code.
• They practice rites of passage borrowing from their African roots.
• The ‘jump the broom’ is still an important ritual during their weddings (Smith, 2011).
• African Americans have different burial ceremonies.
• They provide spiritual and emotional support to the bereaved family (Robinson, Russell & Salzman, 2001).
• A weak African American nuclear family structure exists.
• Slavery made the strong bond between families to break.
• The African Americans have been assimilated into the American Cultural group (McLoyd, 2005).
• However, they still face racism and stereotypes.
• Their neighborhoods are commonly known as “Ghetto”.
• They have poor access to health care services (McLoyd, 2005).

African Cultural Group

• They are people in the African region.
• They have a very rich in terms of traditions.
• However, they have changed their culture due to modernization (African Cultural Group, 1962).
• Despite adopting modern religion, they have some traditional beliefs and taboos.
• Traditionally, they used to dress in animal skins.
• However, this has changed to modern clothes such as the West Africa’s kitenge.
• The African cultural group uses many languages to communicate.
• They have a strong nuclear family bond where the father as head of the family.
• The family is valued and a strong bond exists unlike in the African American group (African Cultural Group, 1962).
• Traditionally, they used herbal medicine and had medicine men.
• They practiced healthy eating as they ate natural foods.
• This was before the advent of modernism.
• Their song and dance is vigorous and captivating.
• They value this aspect of their culture.
• They bury their dead in accordance with religious practices.
• There are a lot of similarities between the two cultural groups.
• This is in terms of beliefs and other cultural practices.
• In addition, they live in poverty, and their health practices are poor (African Cultural Group, 1962).

Cultural Heritage

The African American Heritage

• The heritage of their experience and history in the American history is preserved in museums.
• Through art, they also preserve their culture.
• Major artists in this group include David Hammons, Eugene J. Martin, Charles Tolliver, and Kara Walker.
• They also have literally works in which they have preserved their culture.
• The literature has its roots to oral traditions that slaves told stories and fables.
• The African Americans observe holidays as a way of preserving their culture (Kittler & Sucher, 2007).

Haitian Heritage

• Haiti has preserved its culture through artistic work.
• The art work has won the hearts of many people across the world.
• The Haitian culture has been able to preserve its culture through music.
• The Haitians are Roman Catholics.
• There is also an ancient religion – Voodoo.
• The staple food is rice and beans.
• Haiti is a very rich nation in terms of culture (New York (N.Y.). Board of Education, 1996).

Conclusion

• The cultural heritage of people is very important.
• It educates people about their origins.
• It also enables people to understand their culture and traditions.
• There is a lot to learn from the rich culture of the cultural groups.
• This is especially for the people who study history and even the anthropology students.

References

African Cultural Group. (1962). The African Cultural Group present “African Symphony”: Featuring the music of FelaSowande M.B.E. (African composer) : Carnegie Hall … Friday, June 1, 1962, 8:30 p.m. in aid of an African Cultural Center. New York: The Group.

Kittler, P. G., & Sucher, K. (2007). Food and culture. Australia: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.

McLoyd, V.C. (2005). African American family life: Ecological and cultural diversity. New York: Guilford Press.

New York (N.Y.). Board of Education. (1996). Haitians : a people on the move: Haitian cultural heritage resource guide. Brooklyn, N.Y: Board of Education of the City of New York.

Robinson, G., Russell, T., & Salzman, J. (2001). Encyclopedia of African-American culture and history: Suppl. New York, NY [u.a.: Macmillan Reference USA.

Smith, J. C. (2011). Encyclopedia of African American popular culture. Santa Barbara, Calif: Greenwood.

Introduction

Dramatic performances have been prevalent in many parts of the world for a long period of time. These artistic performances entail several aspects that reflect on a community’s point of view regarding certain societal elements. African American theater is a typical example of dramatic art presentations that serve to highlight on a society’s weaknesses and strengths (Rubin, 2000).

African American theater basically stemmed from American theater which is believed to be relatively new. The black population in America has basically strived to ensure that their dramatic performances get the required attention. It is believed that black American performers ventured into the field as early as 1820, but their work never attained sufficient recognition (Hay, 2004). Black artists generally performed, created, and staged shows for audiences that were not entirely black.

It is evident that black theater is currently facing challenges although it is regarded as a remarkably transformed field.

Challenges faced by African American Theater

These challenges occur through the various constraints faced by companies that seemingly work hard to promote this form of art. Most companies that aim to promote black performances rarely survive for a long time, thus, they close down for various reasons. For instance, it is hard to find such companies employing black participants in all the stages of production.

In simpler terms, the directors, producers, and performers are usually a mixed lot in terms of their racial affiliation. Nevertheless, there is every reason to state that African American theater has really improved as evidenced by intensified comparisons between the past and the present (Hay, 2004). The African Groove Theater stands out as one the first companies to appreciate African American theater.

Through William Brown and Hewlett James, who were also founders of the company, African Groove Theater offered black performers a chance to showcase their talents. Drama of King Shot Away was showcased to a mixed audience in 1823, but white people were not amused (Hay, 2004).

They basically opposed the idea of an African American theater and even executed several attacks that eventually led to its closure. The Sambo is a typical manifestation of racial issues during these periods and black people disliked such depictions. During this period, white actors could perform stereotypical black roles by wearing black faces. White audiences generally attended these performances as a way of mocking the Africans (Rubin, 2000).

Black actors during this period also performed African American roles in the performances, but they adhered to the prevalent white ideas about these particular roles. For instance, black actors could wear black faces in their performances and they also subliminally embraced racial depictions that were commonly performed by white artists.

The evolution of black theater

Black theater is constantly evolving as evidenced by the journey travelled through the years. Black theater made a bigger impact in the 1930’s, especially during the Harlem Renaissance (Hay, 2004). Grandison Lewis stands out as the first black actor and playwright to feature on Broadway. Others included Loraine Hansberry and S. Ntozake who appeared later on.

They overcame many challenges that were meant to sabotage the progression of African American Theater. These artists tried as hard as they could and their message was eventually heard. The artists currently command enough respect among the black population for their efforts. It is evident that despite the challenges, African American arts have become reliable channels of entertainment in America.

Black people in America have basically subdued several forms of subjugation in the community and this can be attributed to the African American Theater. They include human rights issues, political matters, and residential complications. Black films played a great role in changing the attitudes of the entire community towards black people (Rubin, 2000). Apart from being denied an opportunity to share drinks from the same source with white people, African Americans could not easily feature on television.

However, the persistence exemplified by black actors ensured that they started featuring on television without restrictions from the society. The stage, therefore, became a major platform through which black people expressed their sorrow, oppression, and other vices that were perpetrated by white people. Acting became the fundamental way of enduring the pain that was inflicted on black people by the White population.

Black Theater today

Today, African American Theater is a core component of American theater. Black Theater basically holds that the issues which are shared emanate from human stories and nothing else. This implies that the cultural affiliation and background that an individual has, does not matter because human conditions like love and struggle are usually at play. In other words these are universal themes that affect each and every individual.

However, these institutions require lots of support in order to maintain and boost their importance in the society. Some theater institutions have opted to ensure that black theater lives forever. This is done through supporting and educating the artists. The Ensemble Theater, based in Houston, is an example of institutions that currently promote African American Theater.

Urban theater has also emerged on the scene and it constitutes a multi-billion dollar industry (Elam, 2000). Its appearance has been a thorn in the flesh for black theater and its survival. Urban theater flourishes because unlike black theater, it has all the funding and it consists of fewer stereotypes. Black theater has come a long way, but many challenges are still evident.

References

Elam, J. (2000). African American Performance and Theater History: A Critical Reader. Oxford: Oxford University Press

Hay, S. (2004). African American Theatre:An Historical and Critical Analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Rubin, D. (2000). The World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: The Americas. New York City: Routledge.

Introduction

The Robert Gould Shaw and the 54^th Massachusetts Volunteer infantry Memorial Monuments are relief sculptures made of bronze; they are raised above the ground. In the Robert Gould Shaw monument, Saint-Gaudens used different men as models for the soldiers with each soldier standing out as a distinct person.

The monument was meant to honor the bravery of Colonel Shaw and the 54^th regiment. It is considered to be among the greatest public monuments (Hargrove 5).

The emancipation memorial, on the other hand, refers to the emancipation Group. The monument was sculpted by Thomas Ball. It consists of a sculptor of Lincoln standing before a rising slave whose wrist chain has been broken. It was erected in 1876 (Percoco 4).

This paper discusses the two monuments and finally points out which one shows more respect to the African Americans.

The Robert Gould Shaw and the 54^th Massachusetts Volunteer infantry Memorial historical perspective

Robert Gould Shaw was a Boston native and Union army officer. He was the privileged son of the abolitionist who devoted his life to fight for the Union. Shaw commanded the fifty fourth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. This was the first regiment of African American to be recruited in the North for service in the Union army.

Fredrick Douglass had urged many volunteers to enlist arguing that they (former slaves and decent Africans) would have full privileges of citizenship thereafter if they fought alongside Americans. Douglass was an escapee slave who fought for long to end the slavery. He was a famous public speaker. He encouraged African Americans to join Shaw’s 54^th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

However, then they were mere slaves and were not organized in any formal military group. However, the arming of black soldiers still remained to be controversial even after the civil war. Shaw led the 54^th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment. It was the first all black regiment. Shaw wrote several letters to his relatives which contained information expounding on the regiment of the time.

Shaw died in the second battle of Fort Wagner on July 18, 1863. Shaw and his 54^th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment soldiers today are memorized through a monument on the Boston Common. 281 of the soldiers and officers from the Unit got lost, were killed or were never accounted for at the fort Wagner with countless becoming injured (Head start 61).

Description of the Robert Gould Shaw and the 54^th Massachusetts Volunteer infantry Memorial

The art is a relief sculpture made of bronze measuring 11 feet by 14 feet. The Robert Gould Shaw and the 54^th Regiment memorial is a monumental relief; its sculpturing begun 20 years after the end of the civil war. The task remained uncompleted for another 14 years.

The sculptor (Augustus Saint Gaudens) regarded the task as a labor of Love. The memorial is said to be commissioned by group of Bostonians as an Honor to Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. Augustus Saint Gaudens originally had envisioned an equestrian statue of the traditional hero on a horse back. This became objected by the Family suggesting the format of pretentious.

The design consisted of an officer riding a horse beside a company of foot soldiers marching towards their destiny. The monument is identified as one as the first American soldier monument dedicated to a group of citizens united for their country rather than a single hero (Anon 44).

Saint-Gaudens symbolized the paradoxical period where defeat gave rise to victory. The relief consists of an angle in the sky carrying the poppies which is a traditional emblem of death and remembrance with an olive branch for victory and peace. In the portrait, Shaw seems to be idealized by his rigid posture and resolute gaze.

This was according to the contemporary accounts of his bravery demeanor when he went to the fight like a sacrificial lamb. In the monument, Shaw is wearing a long jacket and boots. He is holding a sword in one hand and his horse reins on the other. Remarkably, the stoic procession of soldiers has not been portrayed as cogs in the machinery of war but rather as individuals participating in a moral crusade.

The ragged uniforms of the recruits have been disheveled differentially. The aim as put by artists was not to undermine the soldier’s gallantry but rather to honor their lengthy and dreary trudge to Charleston Harbor. The monument consists of a drum on the far right and flags on the left behind the rifles.

The foot soldiers are wearing caps which are more wrinkled, long sleeve-shirts, shoes and pants. They are carrying canteens. On their shoulder are bed rolls and packs and rifles (Anon 44).

The artist created rhythm in the sculptor repeated the slant of leg and body lines and shapes at regular intervals across the sculpture. The riffles too create a steady rhythm in the top half of the sculpture. The only thing interrupting the steady match is the Shaw’s upright form and his horse neck.

The sense of depth in the sculpture is indicated by soldiers who stand out farther from the background in a greater relief than soldiers at the back. The overlapping of the closer form brings out sense of depth with Shaw figure being the closet to the viewers. From the sculptor, it is evident that Shaw (the man on the horse) is in command.

This is shown by the fact that he is above the other soldiers, carrying a sword and has fancy cuffs of an officer (Ballad of America 1). The sculpture is not only commissioned to commemorate Shaw but also the foot soldiers of the 54^th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. The monument is made of bronze.

The reason behind this could be the durability of the material and the ability to be worked on in minute detail such as thin forms like riffles and the like. More so, bronze reflects light, and it is dark and solemn. The sculptor also has a winged figure in the sky holding poppies and olive branch.

Artists analyze the situation as the winged creature to symbolize an angel. The poppies she is holding could be symbolizing death and remembrance whilst the olive branch depicting peace and victory (Anon 45).

Lincoln Emancipation Group, Heroic bronze of 1857

The monument became dedicated on April 14 in 1876. This day was declared by the Congress as a holiday. The monument is a twelve high foot statue which has been mounted on a ten-foot pedestal. It shows a benign half smiling Lincoln. He is holding the emancipation proclamation with his right hand.

His left hand is extended graciously towards the slave who is rising on his one knee. The slave’s wrist shackles are broken and his face turned upward ready to race for freedom and to accept the gift of emancipation. The statue was received warmly by most of African American. However, some disliked the kneeling posture of the freed slave and wished rather for a manly attitude (Peterson 59).

Description of Lincoln Emancipation Group, Heroic bronze of 1857

The statue was erected mainly as an attempt to bring emancipation proclamation to life through the sculpture. This provided another resonance for the document and the act itself. In the statue, Lincoln is depicted as a great emancipator. It is like he is blessing the slave who is holding a broken shackle on his right hand.

This monument has been depicted by history as the time of Lincoln’s visit in 1865 to Richmond when he moved through the chattered streets and the African American slaves got on their knees as Lincoln passed in a posture to show homage and supplication. He did not like that and would ask any slave who knelt down to rise up.

History holds that the slave figure is a model of a last African American to return to the south under the fugitive slave act, Archer Alexander. The symbolic devices used by the artists including the broken whip on the rear memorial and broken shackles depicting the broken chain and death of slavery (Percoco 4).

Conclusion

The Robert Gould Shaw and the 54^th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry memorial relief sculptures are made of bronze. In the Robert Gould Shaw sculptor, Saint-Gaudens used different men as models for the soldiers with each soldier standing out as a distinct person. The monument was meant to honor the bravery of the Colonel Shaw and the 54^th regiment in general. The monument took 14years to be complemented.

The Emancipation group shows the freeing of a slave and Lincoln’s great role in emancipation. Both sculptures depict the great achievements and the transformation processes.

However, as the essay depicts The Robert Gould Shaw and the 54^th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry memorial is the one which shows more respect to the African American. I feel this is because it shows the African Americans fighting for their livelihoods and therefore freedom.

Works Cited

Anon. “Robert Shaw memorial, 1884-1897.” Kay Smidt, English Department, Menno Public School, 2002. Web.

Ballad of America. “Marching Song of the first of Arkansas: Robert Gould Shaw and the 54^th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Chapter 9- Songs of the Civil war.” A ballad of America, 2003. Web.

Hargrove, Julia. Civil War’s 54^th Massachusetts Regiment: The Shaw memorial. Boston, MA: Lorenz Educational Press, n.d. Print.

Head Start. “Robert Shaw Memorial, 1884-1897.” Administration for Children and families, 2006. Web.

Percoco, James. “Sculpture and public history: My summer with Lincoln.” James Percoco, 2003. Web.

Peterson, Merill. Lincoln in American Memory. Oxford, UK: Oxford University press, 1995. Print.

Introduction

The color purple is a movie about the oppression and pain of an African American woman. Adapted from Alice Walker’s novel by the same name, the movie delves into the life of a girl who was sexually abused by her father before being sold off to an irresponsible and cruel husband. Celie, the poor African American character who is the protagonist, has to withstand brutality from her husband. The only way to vent her pain is by writing letters to her sister. Through these letters, the audience gets to understand her inner feelings emanating from the predicament she was going through. But the sister does not respond, leading Celie to believe that she was long dead. We however learn that it is Albert, Celie’s husband, who has been confiscating the replies. The movie provides relief when Celie finally gets emboldened by her friendship with another of Albert’s mistresses. She finds the letters from her sister and later makes away to rebuild her life.

Main body

The movie elucidates several thematic and social concerns that are insightful for a psychologist. Oppression is skillfully woven throughout the movie to caricature the experience of a Southern American black woman (Sacco, 2009). Ironically, oppression against women does not just originate from white men as one would assume. Rather, sexual exploitation begins from the family, the father who is supposed to be a source of security for his children. As an adolescent girl, Celie has experienced sexual exploitation from her father. She becomes pregnant twice and the father takes oppression to a whole new level by taking away the two children for adoption by another family. To cap it all, he sells away her daughter as a wife to an old man. Celie has no choice over her life. She is a victim of an evil father who perpetuates cruelty with pleasure. But her predicaments are not to end with her father. The husband is very brutal and she has to endure such brutality for thirty years.

Separation from family is usually a source of great pain to whoever that bad luck befalls. Celie is separated from her sister Nettie with whom a strong friendship and sense of comradeship had emerged (Sacco, 2009). Notice the ironic twist of events that led to their separation. An old man by the name of Albert had sought Nettie’s hand in marriage. But the father became intransigent and instead offered Celie because she was better positioned to be a wife. To cap it all, he expressly stated that Celie was ugly enough to marry. Women have no choices over their spouses. The father can sell them at his whims away like livestock. This represents the highest form of insensitivity and oppression that pervaded American society at the beginning of the 20th century (Green & Palgrave, 2013). The separation of close sisters is a cause of pain for them as illustrated in their constant communication through letters. But the cruel husband to whom Celie was sold exacerbates the pain by confiscating Nettie’s replies and leading her sister to believe that she was long dead.

The most surprising thing about the movie is how sexual exploitation and oppression have been presented (Lupack, 1994). Conventionally, one would not expect the father to be a source of pain to the family. Ironically and surprisingly, it is the father who commits such heinous acts against his daughters. One would expect that oppression would be driven by racism considering the tense race relations in the United States then. Surprisingly, it is blacks’ oppression against blacks. The ironic twist of events in the movie is unprecedented. Celie’s pains are turned into joy when her father dies and it emerges that he was a stepfather. She is bequeathed wealth by her biological father and her fortunes turn around. Albert, her former husband, suffers a lot after separation from Celie and is rueful over his past deeds. To assuage his conscience, he spends his lifelong savings to facilitate Nettie and Celie’s reunion. The person who spent thirty years meting out cruelty on Celie finally becomes the one to bring her happiness!

The movie provides useful insights to a clinician. To start with, it offers an avenue to understand human beings. It opens one’s eyes to the possibility that pain can be caused by the family even more than other things. Through the movie, it becomes clear that human behavior is influenced by past experiences (Green & Palgrave, 2013). Wealth is also not the source of happiness as one would assume. Though Albert is rich, his family is rarely portrayed as being happy. Throughout the semester, I have learned several things about myself. I have learned that my behavior to a large extent has been shaped by the family I grew up in. I have learned to appreciate other people first before judging them.

Conclusion

I found the course fascinating at the same time. Through the course, I have had an opportunity to understand people’s behaviors and attitudes. I now appreciate human diversity more than I did before. For the next semester, I would suggest that the lecturer provide a broad spectrum of reading lists and illustrations. It is only then that we can have a holistic understanding of human behavior. Overall, I found the course very informative.

References

Green, T. T., & Palgrave Connect (Online service). (2013). Presenting Oprah Winfrey, her films, and African American literature. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Lupack, B. T. (1994). Take two: Adapting the contemporary American novel to film. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State Univ. Popular Press.

Sacco, L. (2009). Unspeakable: Father-daughter incest in American history. Baltimore. Md: Johns Hopkins University Press.