Author: campion.19

Text Review Assignment

by

The book that I have chosen to discuss is a classic, that almost everyone will read at some point in their lives. To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee in 1960, is a story that focuses on that gut instinct of right and wrong and distinguishes it from just following the law. Set in Maycomb Alabama in the 1930’s in the midst of the Great Depression, the book follows Atticus Finch a prominent lawyer, who is relatively well off compared to the rest of Maycomb’s society. The book also follows Scout and Jem Finch Atticus’s children. If you are looking for a text that displays the concept of the “subaltern”, injustices against one group held down by another group, this is a good book for you. In the book Atticus Finch agrees to defend a black man by the name of Tom Robinson, who has been accused of raping a white woman. Because of this decision Scout and Jem, are abused by the other white school children, however they are taken in with open arms into the local black community. In the town of Maycomb there is great prejudice and social inequality against the black community. At the top of the social hierarchy sit the Finch’s, beneath them sit the ignorant country farmers such as the Cunnighams, who lie below the townspeople, and the white trash Ewells sit below the Cunnighams. Even with all their admirable qualities the black community sits below even the Ewells. This allows Bob Ewells to falsely accuse Tom Robinson of rape. 

In the Maycomb society, power is given through skin color and with this unfair share of power comes racism and injustice against the black community. The night before the trial a mob gathers to lynch Tom Robinson, however Scout is able to disperse the mob with her polite questioning about the son of a man in the mob.  During the trial Atticus provides clear evidence that the accusers Mayella Ewell and her father Bob Ewell are lying. In fact, what truly happened was Mayella propositioned Tom Robinson, was caught by her father, and then accused Tom Robinson to cover for her shame and guilt. Atticus provides clear evidence that that the marks on Mayella’s face are from her father’s hand, upon discovering her with Tom. Despite all the evidence pointing to Tom’s innocence the all-white jury convicts him. Later Tom tries to escape from prison and is shot to death losing his voice completely as he falls victim to the unjust system, forcing him to be a subaltern. With Tom’s conviction the racist judicial system in Maycomb also makes Atticus a subaltern, as even though his evidence clearly revealed Tom’s innocence, the racist all-white jury used their unjust power to not listen to Atticus’s making him a subaltern, as his voice and reasoning were not heard.

Week 14 Context Research Presentation

by

Patrick Campion 

The Power of Black Panther and the Origins of Black Power. 

Black Panther, the first mega budget movie- not just about superheroes, but about anyone- to have an African-American director and predominantly black cast, is groundbreaking, and is widely regarded as a movie not only about what it means to be black in both America and Africa, but in the world. The film is significant as it gives young black kids a role model and their first black superhero in a world almost entirely dominated by white superheroes. The use of African culture such as clothes, jewelry, and hats also presents strong African culture to an audience who most likely never seen African culture before.  

To really truly respect the movie in all of its cultural beauty, you first need understand to the origins of the Black Power movement. Activist Stokely Carmichael took over the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee from John Lewis, whose book we read early in the year titled March, and decided to move the organization away from the philosophy of pacifism and escalated the groups militancy to emphasize armed self defense. Later in 1996 James Meredith, an activist who four years earlier became the first black person admitted to Ole Miss, started the March Against Fear, a long walk from Memphis to Mississippi. On the second day of the march he was shot and wounded by a gunman. Carmichael and tens of thousands of others continued in Meredith’s absence. Carmichael, who was arrested halfway through the march, was incensed upon his release. “The only way we gonna stop them white men from whuppin’ us is to take over,” he declared before a passionate crowd on June 16. “We been saying freedom for six years and we ain’t got nothin’. What we gonna start sayin’ now is Black Power!”. The month after Carmichael’s Black Power declaration the character of Black Panther debuted in Marvel Comics Fantastic Four No. 52..

“Black Panther” wasn’t an alter ego however, it was the formal title for T’Challa, King of Wakanda. A fictional African nation that, thanks to its exclusive hold on the metal vibranium had become the most technologically advanced nation in the world. The nation showed a vision of black grandeur, and power in a time where African-Americans were treated as second class citizens. Black Panther is not just a movie about a black superhero, it is a black movie that finally serves a black audience that has gone unrepresented for far too long.          

https://time.com/black-panther/

https://www.history.com/news/the-real-history-behind-the-black-panther

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/12/magazine/why-black-panther-is-a-defining-moment-for-black-america.html

Diary of Systemic injustices Showcase

by

In the world today it feels as if we see issues with the police on the news almost every week. A few months back I was pulled over by a police officer for speeding while on my way home from school. It was a typical stop, he asked for license and registration, explained to me what laws I broke and what the consequences for those would be. In this 10 minute period of being pulled over to leaving, I could not find my registration for my car. After a minute of looking I called my dad and he told me where the registration was, I gave it to the officer and went on my way, feeling pretty dumb that I just handed him the wrong paper and couldn’t find my registration. During this time however, I had no fear that something could happen with officer in which I could end up hurt or in jail. However for many young African American men and women, daily encounters with the police such as mine can easily create a sense of fear in these people because, of the way the police treat young African Americans.

Back in March of 2018 National Geographic wrote an article titled For Black Motorists, a Never-Ending Fear of Being Stopped, the articles talks about how minorities are pulled over at alarmingly higher rates than white people, and the article also has people telling their stories of being racially profiled by the police. The issue with racial profiling and police brutality is systemic because is greatly and overwhelmingly effects minorities. Unfortunately racial profiling and racism by the police against minorities is nothing new. In this class we read March by John Lewis, in which he details all the racism and struggles that he endured from the police while working towards equality. In his novel he describes how he was beaten by the police and although police beatings on traffic stops are rare today minorities still have to face the looming doubt that something could go wrong on a basic traffic stop. People no matter what race they are should be in fear of their life during a routine traffic stop, but this is a terrible thing that minorities deal with daily. In order to write this wrong there needs to be more training in the police force, and police officers need to get rid of the racist stereotypes against minorities.

https://www.aclu.org/report/driving-while-black-racial-profiling-our-nations-highways

by

Hi Sri

I think you did a great job with your post, it really helped me further my understanding on the concept of “the third world”. I also now know the history behind the meaning of the third world so thank you for that, great post.