Race in America since the 1960s Essay Example for Free

Race in America since the 1960s Essay America has come a long way since the dark days when slavery marred the continent. The journey to equality was not always a smooth one, and only in the last half-century have African-Americans been granted their complete rights and freedoms. Now that they have these equal rights, they are taking their place to take advantage of their equal opportunities, but there still seems to be a glass ceiling preventing their further progress. White Americans still cite racial progress in many areas, while the reality remains that much of this progress is illusion. With the election of Barack Obama as the President of the United States, it seems safe to say that racial relations in the country have certainly improved in the past fifty years. In the 1950s, many African-Americans could not even vote in many parts of the country, with racist leaders and citizens doing everything in their power to deny this most basic of rights. Once desegregation took effect and was enforced by the federal government, it seemed that African-Americans had finally achieved equality. However, this was largely a myth based on the horrible conditions they once faced, and the current conditions still often view them as a marginalized race. Couple this with the massive influx of Latin Americans into the U. S. , and race relations are just as explosive as they were in the 1960s. One program designed to aid racial equality is affirmative action, which has been both a blessing and a curse for minorities. Originally conceived as a means to redress discrimination, affirmative action has created racial preferences that have instead promoted discrimination. And rather than fostering harmony and integration, these preferences have divided many businesses and college campuses across the country. In no other area of public life is there a greater disparity between the rhetoric of preferences and the reality than with affirmative action. Many have cited lesser qualified applicants hired or accepted to colleges based on race, not qualifications or need. If preferences were truly meant to remedy disadvantage, they would be given on the basis of disadvantage, not on the basis of race, so that a poor, qualified white student would stand a better chance of being admitted than the under-qualified son of a black doctor. This illustrates a problem with the idealism of affirmative action and how remedying some racial issues have merely created unfairness in other areas. Instead of a remedy for disadvantage, many supporters now claim that preferences promote diversity. This same push for diversity also has led colleges like Stanford University to create racially segregated dormitories, racially segregated freshman orientation programs, racially segregated graduation ceremonies and curricular requirements in race theory and gender studies (Sacks Thiel, 1996). But if diversity was really the goal, then preferences would be given on the basis of unusual characteristics, not on the basis of race. The underlying assumption—that only minorities can add certain ideas or perspectives—is offensive not merely because it is untrue but also because it implies that all minorities think a certain way. While affirmative action is a noble effort, it is perhaps antiquated. Today, while African-Americans enjoy greater freedom and equality, Latinos have come to represent the current racial crisis. Many conservative Americans demand that they learn English, adopt American culture, and assimilate or leave. Additionally, Middle Eastern Americans are finding life equally difficult and face often violent retributions for crimes that they did not commit. This xenophobic behavior may be largely from the scares encouraged by global terrorism, but may also be representative of the fact that not much has really changed except the language used to discuss race. The only way to truly understand the state of race in America and make a balanced assessment is to measure the equality of each race. The sad state is that many of the minorities in America are still marginalized, make less money, and have far less influence politically than the dominant white culture. Progressive and liberal legislation may continue to chip away at long held racial prejudices, but Americans cannot achieve complete equality unless it is an endeavor equally valued by all. Unfortunately, as history has shown, those in power will be reticent to relinquish that power, and those in power in America are still largely male, largely white, and largely though subtly fearful of difference. With a president with parent that are black and white, much of the racial future of America rests with a man that represents better than anyone the progress made in the past fifty years, as well as the distance left to travel until true racial harmony is achieved.

The Leadville 100 Mile Trail Race :: Sports Running Geography Papers

The Leadville 100 Mile Trail Race Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Leadville, Colorado is a historical monument. In the mid 1800s, Leadville was a booming mining city known for its lead and zinc. People fled there looking to build their fortunes, and at one point the population rose to nearly 30,000. Today, Leadville attracts many tourists because of its frontier mentality, beauty, and historical district. Although the population has drastically dropped to 2,800, Leadville is a charming town that truly represents the spirit of Colorado. One might ask what Leadville is well known for today? A popular event that puts the small town on the map for many people throughout the country is the Leadville Trail 100 mile race. This ultra running race which originated in 1982, is well known throughout the running community. The 100 mile race which must be completed in thirty hours or less, covers many trails and passes in Colorado. The main difficulty of the race is the challenge of the altitude. The climb and the decent of the trail totals 15,600 feet, with the lowest point being 9,200 feet and the highest point being 12,620 feet. Together, the altitude, incorporation of water crossings, changes in temperature, and steep inclines and descents, make the Leadville race one of the most difficult 100 mile races in the running world. The $160.00 entry fee that is required to run in "The Race Across the Sky" is money well spent. Not only do individuals get to run in one of the most beautiful states in the country, but they get to experience the friendly atmosphere of Colorado. The locals from Leadville volunteer to work at the aid stations which line the course, and there is truly a spirit for running. It is not only a challenging and competitive race, but a guaranteed good time. Throughout the 30 hour race which begins at 4:00 A.M. and ends at 10:00 A.M. the following day, there are fans and volunteers to make the experience more enjoyable. There is definitely a "personal" feeling which the Leadville 100 brings to running. The course is basically made up of a one hundred mile loop that can be broken up into ten different stages. Dana Roueche who is from Boulder, Colorado, has run the Leadville Trail 100 three times. In an effort to increase the percentage of finishers, he posted a journal which discusses the strategies he follows in completing the race.

Emily dickinsons nature poems Essay

Emily Dickinson’s use of nature imagery in her poetry incorporates elements of both romanticism and realism. These usually contrasting visions allow Dickinson to express a duplicity of perception, a duplicity which can be considered as a part of nature itself, as expressed through human consciousness. Although the overall impact of Dickinson’s nature imagery is romantic and reveals perception of nature as a mode of transcendence, the imagery and diction of Dickinson’s poems also establish a convincing realist tone, which separates her work from strictly transcendentalist nature-poets such as Emerson or Thoreau. It is not difficult to pinpoint individual poems by Dickinson where nature emerges as an obvious transcendent force. Her poem #214 â€Å"I Taste a Liquor Never Brewed† (Perkins, 990) utilizes an obvious metaphorical dynamic: the speaker of the poem is â€Å"drunk† on elements of nature: â€Å"Inebriate of Air — am I — / And Debauchee of Dew –† (Perkins, 990) and the exuberance of the speaker is meant to be both humorous and extreme. The poem strikes a comic tone, due to Dickinson’s belief that â€Å"the comic or humorous is no less serious than the tragic† (Eberwein 150) and in her mind, the â€Å"depths of human existence could never be climbed, would never be plumbed, without a humorous attenuation to the world† (Eberwein 150). The humor in poem #214 is meant to emerge from the irony of a speaker blatantly celebrating their drunkeness. Despite the poem’s comical overtones, the theme of the poem is, in fact, quite serious. The poem’s theme is that nature is a â€Å"gate† through which ecstacy is reached. The true irony of the poem is that liquor is superfluous to true ecstacy; all that is needed is nature itself. In this way, Dickinson is casting a criticism on her society’s reliance on â€Å"artificial† stimulants. Nature will endure where actual liquor runs dry: â€Å"When `Landlords` turn the drunken Bee/Out of the Foxgloves door –/When Butterflies — renounce their `drams` –/ I shall but drink the more! † (Perkins, 990) The seriousness of the poem’s theme is in the implied isolation of the speaker, who is acknowledged only by the â€Å"Seraphs† and â€Å"Saints† (Perkins, 990) who watch â€Å"the little Tippler / Leaning against the — Sun -† (Perkins, 990). It is impossible to escape the feeling that â€Å"Leaning against the — Sun† (Perkins, 990) is a dangerous position even fro an ecstatic poet; so while the poem demonstrates transcendence, it also expresses isolation and alienation. By contrast, Dickinson’s poem # 328, â€Å"A Bird came down the Walk –† (Perkins, 995) begins with a sense of alienation and rigid realistic description and opens toward the end to a transcendentalist vision of nature. The beginning line describe how a bid hopped on the speaker’s walk and â€Å"bit an Angleworm in halves† (Perkins, 995). The poet’s observation that the bird â€Å"ate the fellow, raw,† (Perkins, 995) suggests anything but a transcendental vision of nature. rather, the scene evokes a stark, biologically precise depiction of natural processes. Nevertheless, a duplicity of perception is hinted at in the following lines â€Å"And then he drank a Dew /From a convenient Grass –/ And then hopped sidewise to the Wall/ To let a Beetle pass –† (Perkins, 995) where the previously predatory scene gives way to one of â€Å"civility† and calm. The duplicity of perception is extended by the phrase â€Å"Like one in danger, Cautious† (Perkins, 995) which â€Å"may modify either the preceding â€Å"He stirred his Velvet Head† or the following â€Å"I offered him a Crumb,† hence either the bird or the speaker or both† (Eberwein 85) and, as such, admits an ambiguity into the poem’s diction which is foreshadowed by the imagery. This ambiguity is not quite resolved, but merely turned toward an image of transcendent nature in the poem’s closing lines: â€Å"Too silver for a seam –/Or Butterflies, off Banks of Noon/ Leap, plashless as they swim† (Perkins, 995). Whereas poem #214 began with a blatant expression of intoxicated transcendence and ended with an ambiguity of isolation and alienation, poem # 328 begins with a sense of alienation and even violence,but resolves in a harmonious, transcendental uplift of diction and imagery. Obviously, Dickinson aim in her poetry was to represent the duality of human perception and the duality of the natural world which can be resolved in aesthetic expression, but not by methods based solely on rationalism or realism. Works Cited Eberwein, Jane Donahue, ed. An Emily Dickinson Encyclopedia. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1998. Perkins, George; Perkins, Barbara. The American Tradition in Literature 11th Edition 2007

The Case Of Lance Armstrong - 810 Words

This team application is based on the case study of Lance Armstrong, (Clayton and Fisher, 2013). As a professional cyclist, Lance Armstrong dominated his competition, (Clayton and Fisher, 2013). He was viewed as a celebrity, donating several millions of dollars for charity and was endorsed by several big name corporations, (Clayton and Fisher, 2013). For the most part, he was placed on a high pedestal and praised for all of his achievements. He began riding at a young age, winning numerous local and national competitions, (Clayton and Fisher, 2013). To be eligible to enter these competitions he had to lie about his age, (Clayton and Fisher, 2013). At the young age of sixteen he had already established his dominance, by being named rookie of the year, (Clayton and Fisher, 2013). Based on the case study, Armstrong turned professional right out of high school at the age of eighteen, (Clayton and Fisher, 2013). He was picked up by the U.S cycling team, which marked the beginning of his obsession to be the best, (Clayton and Fisher, 2013). I believe it was at this stage in his career which identified the true transitioning period. Prior to becoming professional, his raw natural talent was enough to distance him from the pack He was skilled and physically developed to achieve greatness, (Clayton and Fisher, 2013). His physical makeup differed from most, his body’s ability to effectively use oxygen was quite amazing. According to the case study, his VO2 efficiency levelShow MoreRelatedThe Case Of Lance Armstrong1868 Words   |  8 Pagesexception to ethical expectations set by society. The case of Lance Armstrong is a prime example of a superior athlete who blew any chances at being a positive role model due to a lack of ethical values. Armstrong is publically known for winning seven Tour de France titles between the years of 1999 to 2005. These were later stripped from him after the athlete confessed to taking performance-enhancing drugs during those years. Stakeholders involved in the case include his fans, sponsors, teammates, competitorsRead MoreEssay on Lance Armstrong Case Analysis 21324 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿When Bullying Leads to Believing â€Å"Following Lance Armstrong: Excellence Corrupted case study, written by Clayton Rose and Noah Fisher 2014, of Global Research Group for Harvard Business School.† When it came to the sport of cycling, Lance possessed characteristics that made him unique. His ability to take in and use oxygen effectively was higher than an average man by 90% and a trained and active many by 42%. Lance also produced less lactic acid than others, which allowed him to dominate theRead MoreLance Armstrong Ethical Dilemma Case Study1806 Words   |  8 PagesEthical Dilemma The decision maker for the ethical dilemma for the lance Armstrong case is Chris Carmichael, the coach. 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Also, the other major point of discussion is whether it isethical for the funders to ask for their money to be returned considering the fact that the scandal took place in Lance Armstrong’s personal life and not within Livestrong. Now, if we look from Livestrongâ €™s perspective, we can question whether it was ethical to completelyRead MorePerformance Enhancing Drugs Sports Today1476 Words   |  6 PagesResearch, period 3 December 15, 2013 Performance Enhancing Drugs In Sports Today Performance enhancing drugs, or steroids, have long been in the lifestyle of athletes. Many famous athletes like Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Marion Jones and Lance Armstrong have all confessed to the use of steroids. Celebrities like actor Charlie Sheen and ex Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, have also admitted to using steroids in the past. 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Conclusion Steroids Steroids have a bad reputationRead MoreEthical Issues For Livestrong 53171 Words   |  13 PagesShekhani(T00039156) Tung Phan(T00053780) Edward Mishio (T00000000) November 19, 2014 Contents Company Background: 2 Case Background: 3 Ethical Issues for Livestrong 5 Organization Perspective: 5 Funders Perspective: 5 Breakdown of stakeholders involved 7 Organization’s Response: 9 Conclusion: 11 Recommendations: 11 Bibliography: 11 Company Background: In 1996, at the age of 25 Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer that spread to his brain, lungs and abdomen. He educated himself aboutRead MoreSteroids And Its Effects On The Body985 Words   |  4 Pageschampionship. The best example is the case of Lance Armstrong, the best American bicyclist and the more successful in the history of the sport. Armstrong was found positive in many anti-doping test. 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