For my reading minute I chose a novel titled, Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals. This novel is about nine African American teenagers chosen to integrate Central High School in the year 1957. What I really find interesting is the author, Melba Beals, was one of the teenagers in the Little Rock Nine. What happened with the Little Rock Nine is these kids attempted to attend school and the Governor of Arkansas wouldn't allow it. Up until President Eisenhower got involved the teenagers weren't allowed to go to Central High. When President Eisenhower got involved he then took control and the students eventually got to integrate the high school. The Little Rock Nine has said to of influenced the African-American Civil Rights Movement, which abolished slavery.
Just when we thought a campus shooting was the smallest of our worries, here it pops up again. There was a shooting at the University of Central Arkansas on Sunday. Police are still trying to find the motivations of the shooters, there were no specific targets. Four suspects were arrested directly after the shooting and were charged with of capital murder and of attempted murder a witness stated. They were also charged with committing a terroristic act and other weapons charge. One small piece of information the police have said is, the suspects are not university students. Two people were killed, Ryan Henderson and Chavares Block outside a university dormitory. A campus lock down and the cancellation of Monday classes followed the shooting. I really hope that in the end the suspects get what they deserve. This article was short, but gave me a good detailed idea of what happened.
I just finished a book called, 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson. Its about a girl who's aunt just died and her aunt sends her on a scavenger hunt, through letters. The first letter explains the situation and tells her to pack for Europe. Tells her what to pack and not to pack any more or any less. In the letter it included a ticket to board the plane and instructions saying not to bring any money. The main character, Ginger/Ginny was very worried at first but realized she had to trust her aunt and go with the flow. The rest of the letters lead her around Europe, meeting new characters and going to new places. Ginger learns so much about her aunt during the whole process. Even though she was worried at first she learned to trust her deceased aunt. The end of the book is a huge surprise and I was so glad I read it.
Yes, yes I know I have been reading a lot of newspaper articles lately but honestly I don't know what else to read right now!! Today I read an article on cnn.com about a news anchor, who is in critical condition after receiving a beat down in her home. The police are investigating about whether she was attacked because she was a news anchor or if it was just at random. I find this article overall fine except for the fact that the police want to investigate the motive. Thats not really what I find important. I think the police should be more focused on who rather than why in this case.
Sometimes I don't think people realize how much African Americans have done for us, and this country. While researching I learned so many things invented, and achieved by African Americans. There are also a ton of African American heroes. Every hero was modest, intelligent, and didn't let anything get in the way of them. African Americans have achieved so much this far and the heroes really should be more well known.
Drinking Gourd Song
When the sun comes back, and the first Quail calls, Follow the drinking gourd, For the old man is waiting for to carry you to freedom If you follow the drinking gourd.
Chorus:
Follow the drinking gourd, Follow the drinking gourd, For the old man is waiting for to carry you to freedom If you follow the drinking gourd.
The riverbank will make a very good road, The dead trees show you the way. Left foot, peg fo
ot traveling on, Following the drinking gourd.
The river ends between two hills, Follow the drinking gourd, There's another river on the other side,
Follow the drinking gourd.
When the great big river meets t
he little river, Follow the drinking gourd. For the old man is waiting for to carry you to freedom
If you follow the drinking gourd.
The drinking gourd song was supposedly used by the Underground Railroad that included instructions and a map to escape slavery.
QUOTES......
"I don't know what the future may hold, but I know who holds the future." Ralph Abernathy, Civil Rights Activist (1926-1991)
"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will acco
mplish nothing in life." Muhammed Ali, Boxing Champion (1942-)
"Hatred, which could destroy so much, never failed to destroy the man who hated, and this was an immutable law." James Baldwin, Writer and Activist (1924-1987)
HEROES....
George Washington Carver was a hero because he dreamed of going to college for so long and finally was able to. While he was there Carver worked so hard and he was asked to stay and become a science teacher. But Carver had already decided to move to Alabama and assist poor farmers. He figured he could teach the poor people the things he learned in college. George Washington Carver supplied education to people who needed it the most. He was in fact a hero.
This song is Slide Show by T.I ft. John legend. I posted this because African American heroes, DJ Kool Herc and Afrika Bambaataa are said to of discovered rap. This is a modern day rap song.
The picture is Jesse Owens. Owens was a track-and-field star who set a world record for the long jump that stood for 25 years and won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics. Mae Jemison was the first woman, not to mention African American woman to land on the moon. She was a hero because Jemison worked so hard to be an astronaut and was finally rewarded with being able to go to the moon. She accomplished so much as an African American hero.
Conclusion
My overall findings with African American heroes was every single hero had to have enough endurance and ability to devote their life to something. So many African Americans have accomplished so much and its just amazing to see in comparison to modern day. Without African Americans in general, the world as we know it today most definitely would not be the same.
I recently read an article about a beach in Jamaica that was missing approximately 500 truckloads of sand. Honestly I cracked right up at this one. I mean come on, first off how did anyone notice that, and two who steals sand? Probably one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. There has been no charges or arrests yet but investigators are still searching. Even though a source says that the sand was probably sold to home owners, due to construction. According to the article illegal sand mining is "a problem" in Jamaica. The sand that was stolen from a resort at Coral Spring beach costing over a whopping 108 million! So much money for sand I tell ya. I know this probably is a big deal in Jamaica right now, figuring that BBC news wrote about it and everything, but I honestly find it as a huge joke. Stealing sand? Okay we better get right on that. I'm laughing at this article now and I probably still will be for a while. This article was entertaining and hilarious, not very helpful or informative when it comes to someone who actually wants to know a little more about Jamaica but overall very well written.
I read this article today about a girl, who changed her name from Jennifer Thornburg, to Cutout Dissection.com. Yes, that is her name. She changed it because she wanted to make a statement on a issue about dissection in schools. She passed a dissection choice policy at her high school and is a vegan. When I first looked at this issue I laughed. Who changes their name to “Cutout Dissection.com?” I found it hilarious actually until I read the article. I admire that she changed her name to show something that she believed in. I actually kind of think its cool. But it also might be confusing if other people chose to follow her path and change their names also. Its cool that she did that, but I highly doubt I ever would.
I was just skimming through People and I came across a article labeled, "Why Did A Dad Unload His Nine Kids?" and for some reason stories like these always interest me so I decided to read it. Turns out this story is about a dad who couldn't afford his 9 kids, 9 KIDS! So he dropped them off at a hospital, and abandoned them. Him doing this started a controversy with Omaha, Ohio. They reconsidered their current law on abandonment, the safe haven law and revised it. The new law was created to stop what unwanted newborns are known as, dumpster babies. So the law basically allows parents to leave babies/children at hospitals or police. After reading this for some reason I felt slightly disturbed. I felt that parents shouldn't be encouraged to abandon their children. Though after reading it again I had a different take on the issue. I would rather have a child left with people that could help them then, shot as some parents do when it has become an issue. This article I'm sure will have a lot of feedback from other people but overall I thought it was very well written and I'm glad i know about the new law.
I was browsing through some news and came across a article saying a man was shot three times for wearing an Obama T-shirt. Really? Is that what we have come to, a tad dramatic in my opinion. This article is pretty self-explanatory; a man, Mr. Egwautu was walking down the street in London, and stopped into a cellphone store to buy minutes. Another man came into the store yelling a ton of racist things and telling Mr. Egwautu to leave the store with him. The man who was yelling left the shop but when Mr Egwaut saw him again he was holding a gun behind his back and was with a "threatening-looking dog". In the middle of the day may I remind you! He then followed Mr. Egwautu to his car, threatened him and shot at him three times. Hitting him in the face, hand and shoulder. My personal view on this the guy was as innocent has he could be, walking down the street doing nothing to harm anyone and all of a sudden some other guy thinks he can waltz up and shoot at him? Not okay. At all. I don't know what he was thinking but obviously he’s got to have some sort of mental problem. I don't think a sane person would try to kill someone in broad daylight. This article was really informative as to what kind of extremes a person would go to, to get their point across. Stupid, but in reality it's bound to happen.
In the movie a Civil Action the main character Jan Schlichtmann was perceived as a hostile character in the beginning. He acted as if he didn't care about anything but himself. For example the speeding tickets, money being spent on his firm. Mr. Schlichtmann changed throughout the movie immensely. He changed from caring mostly about himself and winning lawsuits, to caring about the families and wanting the best for them. He found himself by getting really into the case, and into the families lives. Jan Sschlictmann ended up giving basically everything he had for the families. Even though things didn't true out very well, (or until what point we came to in the movie), he changed into a much more caring man. Mr. Schlictmann changed immensely and he brought to our attention many issues that needed to be addressed, he cared so much about something and put everything he had into it. Even thought he came out short-handed he tried all he could, which is what counts.
I recently read an article at Cnn.com about how some women never get sick. Coincidentally I am sick right now! The article listed seven tips on how not to get sick. One being get a massage, its apparently very good for you. Some benefits are it can; reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and your heart rate. Number two being take a cold shower. It supposedly can keep you energetic throughout the day. Three, treat GI problems, "gingerly", I think I'd rather move on to number four. Lather up a lot, which make sense because you get sick because of germs, so keeping clean just might be the next option. Number 5 doesn't apply to me so I really just skimmed over that one. Number six is, eat more garlic. Which really surprised me as funny, because really who eats garlic? Then I read on and discovered garlic is actually really good for you! It has lots of antioxidants that can boost immunity and fight off inflammation. The last rule is to stay positive, which I personally believe cannot make a difference in whether or not you get sick but there are tests that stand behind it. This article had a lot of information that I took in. Some I agreed with, some I didn't. Overall it was an enjoyable, informative article.
"She said, " You can't let your heart go bad like that, like sour milk. There's always the chance you'll want to use it later." This quote was used when Hallie was writing Codi and she was telling Codi about these people that had a Jeep and were on a secret sabotage raid on a hydroelectric plant. This has been my favorite quote so far because it seems so true. If you suddenly start making all these terrible wishes, your going to have to face the consequence of having that mind frame for a while, and I feel like Hallie was saying that too. My favorite character so far I think would have to be Loyd. I say Loyd because he has such strong beliefs but still can understand Codi's point of view. Also he never gets upset and is usually very calm. He seems like the kind of person that generates a lot of respect from others by his actions. There have been a lot of very important parts in the book so far. If I had to choose ONE I would say the part when Loyd was explaining to Codi about the spirits and that prayer dances and rain dances. I feel like this was more the most important conversation in the book because Codi expresses the way she feels very strongly and so does Loyd. Codi really opened up and told him what she thought which I also think is really important because step by step its helping Codi find herself in the book.
The most recent thing I have read is Unforgettable by Cecily Von Ziegesar. It is a series of It Girl novels and I have read them all! Basically this book is about a boarding school called Waverly Academy. Each book introduces new characters and new locations. In this book Jenny Humphrey stole her roommates boyfriend from under her. Also her roommate, Callie got into a bit of trouble herself getting involved in a fire off campus. I read it because I have been following the It Girl books and it looked interesting. Honestly I thought this book was a major letdown. Not enough happened and I don't feel like the main character moved anywhere. I feel like Jenny is in the same position as she was in the last book, Reckless. Overall the book wasn't terrible but it wasn't unforgettable, and thats for sure.
My favorite book that I have read recently is A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. This book is about a recovering drug addict and alcoholic going through situations in a rehab center. The main character, James, goes through many difficulties with depression and trying to work his way through rehab. I liked the book because of its in depth detail and the author's writing style and his truth with the story. I really enjoyed the book A Million Little Pieces.
