The Sociological Imagination

Racial prejudice, discrimination, and societal expectations made it difficult for the protagonist of the novel, Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison, to be true to his own identity. He changes throughout the book to fit these high expectations and this causes him to struggle in achieving his American Dream. The narrator calls himself the Invisible Man because he has yet to find his identity through all the cruel acts that come upon him because of his race. He goes through different roles in society such as a college student, a paint maker, and also as a leader in the Brotherhood. This work shows the struggle blacks have to go through in society because they either aren't heard or they are treated unjustly.

All information has been presented by the following articles by Newsela, entitled, “Why Stereotypes should Be Avoided”, “Famous Speeches: Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream””, and "Worsening, Unchecked segregation in K-12 Public Schools”. There is still a bit of racism left in current society as of today, despite Mr. King’s past efforts to purge the country of segregation. With Mr. King alive in today’s time and world, racism would definitely be miles closer to disappearing. Other problems in current society, for example, ridiculous gender roles and terrorism happening in modern day could be impacted beneficially for the

The Black power movement was more than just a raised fist. It was an influential movement established in the 1960s, and began to slow down in the 70s, it promoted self-sufficiency among the black and African community, and they fought for equality and power among those who faced discrimination in society. The Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power Movement were two different movements with very similar motives, but different ways of going about their fight for equality. Symbolism played a significant role in representing the Black Power Movement, and helped unify the group by using one symbol that all recognized. The movement began as a reaction to the Civil Rights Movement and continued into the 1970s as a force for good.

They liked Roosevelt because he was big on helping them out on getting their rights that they deserved. "One important demographic change underlay the experience of African-Americans during the Roosevelt years. The migration of African-Americans from the South to the urban North, which began in 1910, continued in the 1930s and accelerated in the 1940s during World War II. As a result, black Americans during the Roosevelt years lived for the most part either in the urban North or in the rural South, although the Depression chased increasingly large numbers of blacks to southern cities as well. In the North, blacks encountered de facto segregation, racism, and discrimination in housing and public services; nevertheless, they were able to vote and had better job opportunities.

When giving thousands of speeches, he spoke of his own great ideals for America without slavery and racism. Douglass supported the Women’s Rights movement and considered the Civil War as a moral crusade against racism and slavery. The Reconstruction was a tough time for African-Americans but despite the problems blacks faced, Frederick continued his work, traveled around the country, gave numerous lectures on the issue of racial inequality, rights of women, as well as national politics. Not only did he have the capacity to see himself free, he also had the courage to speak for the slaves. Being able to make it out of slavery, tell his story, and become the one to make a significant change for the African-American community, he was one of a kind.

Sociological Imagination refers to the ability or concept of looking at the problems in society in a multi-faceted technique to find its roots in historical, geographical, and cultural events, background, and beliefs that have bred/led up to the current state of affairs. Enrolling in this class I was brought up to question everything and to not be afraid of asking questions, yet no matter how many questions I asked I couldn’t understand the benefit of problems like the mass incarceration of African American males or the disproportionate number of minority youth who come into contact with the juvenile justice system. (DMC). As I have worked with youth in the communities that are part of the mass incarceration plan I felt a sense of despair and

The Black Lives Matter movement is a movement that hopes to remove racial inequality in everyday life and in the criminal justice system through protests, and peaceful riots. It was in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer, George Zimmerman. BLM hopes to eliminate the discrimination that is prevalent in today’s American society, that has been in existence since years to come(What We

Although he makes it clear that he also supports our countries city police officers, he also makes sure to add that there are things that need to be changed in black communities that most of us don’t see, also stating that the movement is indeed a ligament cause that people should be aware of. Along with the praise for this movement trying to better the lives of many black people around the country and world, there has also been some criticism of the organization. Some people claim that their title “Black Lives Matter” suggests that other lives don’t matter or aren’t as important as black lives. But people like President Obama have stated that the movements title means that black lives also matter like the lives of whites or other races.

There were other factors and incentives that drove the anti-slavery supporters. Larry Gara describes this phenomenon: “While some abolitionists were indignant at the slave system and what it did to black men, many more northerners became anti-southern and antislavery because of what the slave system did or threatened to do to them. A failure to recognize this can easily lead us into a blind alley of oversimplification, and to view the events of a hundred years ago as a morality play with heroes and villains rather than a plausible presentation of a human dilemma.” Gara brings up a good point here.

America was founded upon the ideals of equality and freedom, so why have the citizens taken it upon themselves to sacrifice the very values that are the foundation of The United States? Racism is presumably nonexistent by many Americans who refuse to face the facts even though many movements, such as the black lives matter movement, have drawn attention to the racist acts that have occurred. Inconsistencies within the police department have given rise to long existing prejudices and given people a reason to believe racism has persisted in America. Racism still exists in America because of distant events in the past that have created stereotypes passed on through the generations and stereotypes upheld in the police system. Previously spread

Everything that Dr. King has fought for I appreciate and wish I could thank him for it. The way the city reacted to the shooting showed how much a community who go out of their way to show their feelings on the topic at hand. The way the author describes the feelings of Dr. King’s friend who were with him at the time showed a compassionate side to him. And with him adding the detail about James Meredith and Dr. King being treated at the same hospital, after both being attacked because of their race, and only one making it out of the hospital showed the racial tension amongst people during the time. The article made my heart ache at the thought of people weeping over the lost of one of the greatest African American figures of their lifetime.

In modern day America, the government, although not explicitly, isare still very much negatively affecting black lives through systems of laws and government programs. Although there has been a significant amount of improvement since the Jim Crow era, because of integration, in many ways, black people are still being discriminated against on a daily basis. According to Emily Holdgruen, writer of the University Wire, The voter ID laws in Alabama “show a continuation of institutional racism.” Act 2011-673 makes it so that you must show a picture ID to be able to vote in Aalabama, when black people are ??

My personal observation is that the community members feel sad and depressed when they remember the issues of colonization and how they are been oppressed in following the laid down rules and principles of the colonizers. Being subjected by the colonialist rules which created a standpoint that their version of addressing issues is right, whereas that of the victim is wrong. One of the strength perspective of the Northern New Mexico (Nuevomexicano) Hispanic culture is the desire to protect and preserve their culture. ASSESSMENT The historical trauma affected the life of community members till this present day, where members perform the role of cultural and community protector and this have major consequence on their part because there is a feeling of protecting of one self constantly and the fear of that there are enemies everywhere.