Ethnic Groups and Multiracial Identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethnic Groups and Multiracial Identity - Essay Example Racial stereotyping and crime in the society is partly attributed to the poverty levels in the society among people from a particular race. The Senator should address the issue of education and in particular the low enrollment levels and high drop out rates from school by children from particular races. The ability to attain good jobs can only be related to the ability to secure good education and training hence members of the African American community have been segregated in employment due to lack of enough education. High unemployment rates among the youth are the leading causes of crime like drug peddling and violent robberies hence the Senator should ensure youth receive property education. The Senator should also increase the rehabilitation facilities for drug patients and the correctional facilities for petty offenders. Lack of counseling and support services have increased the crime levels in the neighborhood. The Senator should work towards racial integration by establishing cultural centers and community centers where each racial group can celebrate and preserve their unique culture and traditions. The Senator should consider increasing the welfare benefits to the poor citizens. The Senator should consider the issue of taxation where he can advocate for reduction in the tax rates for the people whose income is not adequate for housing and other basic needs. The Senator should increase the housing provision facilities. Question 3 people of power: law, Supreme Court and congress Dr Friedman asserts that people lobby and assert pressure on their government for many social changes. He continues by saying the legal justice system is the product of people demand. The society shapes the legal framework and must live within the framework. The legal system reflects the power structure and authority in the society. He believes that the wealth and power influence the making and execution of the laws where big corporations and rich people run the country. He beli eves the middle class can be powerful but its keeps being divided and fragmented. He believes the minorities and civil rights are protected by the law but our ideals affect the policies which we pursue. Laws are made by legislatures enacted through popular vote and rulings are given by the Supreme Court hence want counts are the strength of the pillars holding the systems. The Supreme Court was established by Article 3 of the US constitution which did not explain the clear duties and powers of the Court. American Constitution denied African Americans citizenship. In 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment and Civil Rights Act of 1866 gave all citizens equal rights and ended slavery. Citizenships were granted to Non-white Americas in 1868 where no State was required to make laws that deprive any person of life, property without due law process being followed. African Americans were granted the right to vote in 1870 but on criteria that they could read the Constitution provisions fluently with out any error. In 1854, the Supreme Court in the case of Scott V. Sandford, ruled that Dred Scott was still a slave despite having lived in â€Å"free states† for several years hence he was the property of the owner. In the same case, Justice Taney ruled that Scott had no the capacity to bring the case to court since he was not a U.S citizen. The most historic Supreme Court ruling on race was delivered by Justice Thurgood Marshall who was the first

Theorizing Popular Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Theorizing Popular Culture - Essay Example As we enter and tumble into the 21st century we're at a point in human evolution where traditional cultures pushed by rough edge of modernity are really stepping back into their own traditions, and embracing their belief systems. One of the manifestations of that is body marking. At the same time, I think there is a whole sector of modern society, not just youth, but across all sorts of generations, genders, and ethnic backgrounds that are in search of identity, meaning and ritual. Hence, a huge explosion of tribal tattooing, and body marking. This is referred to as the "modern primitive" movement within tattooing. I think there's a correlation because if you step back and look at it, it's the larger picture of mankind wanting identity, wanting a sense of place, a sense of ritual, and a sense of culture within their own community.(National Geographic 2004) Ear piercing can be traced back to 2nd century B.C. in Cyprus along with Iran from 2900-3500 BC and Iraq in 9th century BC, with pieces of art and jewelry in museums. Unfortunately the reasons for this ear piercing phenomenon have not been determined. However an Eskimo tribe in Alaska around 1918 used shark tooth earrings as a form of social rank. Another raising popularity involving ear piercing is stretching the earlobes to accommodate ear spools and ear plugs. Some examples can be found in places such as Guatemala 900-1500 AD with ear spools, and also in china with the stretching of the earlobes. Some people today still stretch their earlobes some examples can be found in Asia on an island named Borneo. Lip piercing another popular part of body piercing is lip piercing or labret piercing which some examples can be found in native Alaskan tribe around 1897. Lip plugs were worn by both men and women and represented those men had reached puberty. For women it was worn as decoration, or by women born of noble stature. Nose piercing, in today's culture can be stemmed from Alaska in the late 19th century and were considered a mark of distinction and prestige and were worn by both men and women. Body piercing in the cultural reference is seemingly just another form of individualism which has been practice in every culture for many centuries and will still be practice for many centuries to come. American's may not get their bodies pierced for the religious or cultural reasons that other countries do, but they still promote individualism that is ultimately behind it. This Modification is slowly becoming our present culture. Cultural Background on Tattoo's Tattooing is one of the most common forms of body adornment and individualism in America today. Tattooing has been practiced since the time of Ancient Egypt. "Tattoo is a word of Polynesian origin which is related to the Tahitian word tatau and the Marquesan word ta-tu." (University of Pennsylvania) One example of tattooing is the ancient Maori of New Zealand. Maori men have their faces, buttocks and thighs covered. This type of tattooing involves chiseling the skin and then placing ink the cuts to create the tattoo. Since this procedure is very painful it is done in stages starting in early adulthood. "The facial tattoos were an