Civil Rights Movement: Sit Ins

I never wanted any violence. Just change. And that was the way.

Back in 1960, my riskier days I'd like to think, I did something my parents would never have done. I was a part of CORE, or Congress of Racial Equality. We were black students, fighting for our rights with protest, but, not in the way you see protests these days. I didn’t have some sign or refuse to do my job, I sat at a lunch counter all day long, and waited to be served.

We were called Sit Ins. Organized by CORE, we would go into restaurants at the beginning of the day and sit ourselves down at the white only lunch counters. There, only whites could sit and be served, but as part of CORE, we were trying to make a statement.

We’d sit down, all together, blocking every seat from a white customer, and asked to be served. We were most always met with resistance from the restaurant. And usually, they never served us. We’d sit from the very moment the restaurant opened, until it closed for the night, without being served. In most cases, the whites grew angry and yelled and made threatening remarks at us. And we just sat there. The restaurant owners knew the only way to get rid of us was to serve us, but they couldn’t bring themselves to do that. If they served us, they would without a doubt loose customers. By serving us alone, these restaurant owners would show their approval of equality, which to those stubborn whites, would mean the end of their customer loyalty. So, we sat. And we waited.

Sometimes, the whites would get really angry and form mobs with hundreds of angry citizens! They’d just toss us right from our seats! They didn’t care if they hurt us, they were just too preoccupied with being unequal. But, we knew this would happen. As soon as we’d be thrown out, more of us would run into the restaurant, and fill up the seats. Those whites would throw us out, turn around, walk back into the restaurant, only to find themselves in the same predicament.

The whole point of these Sit Ins was to fight for our Civil Rights. We wanted to be treated equally! To have the same opportunities - whether it be at the lunch counter, in schools, or in the voting registration.

Overall, I believe we accomplished this. By having us sit in at these lunch counters, eventually, owners had to feed us, otherwise they wouldn’t make any money. And at the end of the day, money is money, no matter who it came from, right? Well, we definitely helped these owners see that. With us there, most restaurants were forced to turn into integrated restaurants, and soon, these same ideas would reverberate throughout other public areas, and eventually, the entire country.

 CORE was able to use the sit ins as a spark toward integration. We didn’t use violence, but sat and made our points. We were respectful, we didn’t talk back, we sat down for what we believed in.

Citations:

"Sit Ins." Sit Ins. [CORE- Congress of Racial Equality]. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://www.core-online.org/History/sit_ins.htm>

"Home Page." Home Page. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://www.core-online.org/>
Web. 31 May 2012. <http://tucsoncitizen.com/retroflections/files/2010/02/Greensboro-sit-ins.jpg>
Web. 31 May 2012. <http://greensborositins.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/greensboro-sit-in.jpg>

Women in The Great Depression

The Great Depression was caused due to many different factors including over speculation, risky investments, loans, credit, and eventually, the stock market crash in 1929. This event caused a panic among Americans as they were unable to find work, support their families, or live in the same way they used to. Men spent their days searching for jobs to make money to support their families. The typical middle class American family was struggling, and for the first time women were being looked at as a possible second income,"Men finding themselves out of work now had to rely on their wives and children in some cases to help make ends meet." ("America in the Great War," EyeWitness to History, www.eyewitnesstohistory.com (2000).)

During the war, women took typical male jobs to help in the war effort. After the war, women turned back to jobs they originally had such as housekeeping, nursing, and clerk jobs. In addition, women were feeling eased, as new electric powered appliances, such as refrigerators, clothes washers, and vacuum cleaners. Also, contraceptive devices allowed women to feel an even greater sense of independence. 

However, as soon as the depression hit in 1929, most women were the first Americans to lose their jobs. Women's rights and roles, although previously fought for and won through the nineteenth amendment, were set aside. The women's suffrage movement was unimportant during the depression, as most Americans were focused on the economic slump.
During the depression, the progresses women had made were ultimately put to a halt. Women returned to the work they had previously been doing before the depression. Women focused on maintaining the household and focusing on the children, while their husbands searched for jobs.
Women didn't have the choice to become anything during that time. The most a woman could do was work in a factory, sew, or watch children. Still, women didn't make enough money to support a family, so their income didn't do much for a family.
Overall, women took a step back during the depression. Although they previously had jobs and rights, women during this time were forced to stay home with the children while the men searched endlessly for jobs. There was no real progress with regards to women's suffrage at the time. Women had no choice but to spend their days in the home once again, as it was the only thing they would be able to do. During the Great Depression, women's suffrage took a back seat, and women worked in the home, taking close care of the children.



Web. 26 Mar. 2012. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/9323753@N02/706103675/>
Web. 26 Mar. 2012. <http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/snprelief1.htm>

Jacob to Jacob

Since my last blog, I've finished Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen, and it was nothing less of amazing. With every turn of the page, and every word read over, I fell more into the story. At ninety-something, there is nothing left for Jacob. His children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren no longer care for him as they should, and he is left in the nursing home to ponder out the reasons of why they don't come to visit him anymore. He talks about the past more frequently, giving a true insight about what was happening between himself and August - and of course, Marlena. As the chapters continue and pages are flipped, the relationship between Jacob and Marlena grows stronger and stronger until the two are clearly no longer friends, but something more than that. Stuck between an abusive husband and the man she actually loves, Marlena breaks off her ties with August, and begins a secret relationship with Jacob. Heart broken, August is barely able to function and falls weak at the knees when around Marlena, begging her to come back to him. Uncle Al, the owner of the traveling show, attempts to strike up a deal with Jacob - if Jacob speaks with Marlena, and Al speaks with August, maybe the two of them can get back together and therefore save the show. Unfortunate for Al, he doesn’t really know that Jacob and Marlena are together, but even Al, along with everyone else on the show, isn’t stupid, and knows something must be up between the two of them, especially after Jacob lashes out at Al, refusing to set the two of them back together.

As the book comes to an end, nearly every question is answered. What happens with Jacob and Marlena? Does the show survive? What happens to August? Does Marlena go back to August to end the drama? Who does Jacob eventually marry? And what happens to Jacob after everything? Well, I’m not going to answer any of those questions, because if you’d like to know, then I recommend this book. Although I thought the beginning was somewhat dry and confusing, this book grew to become a part of me. I could easily picture the story line in my head, and I couldn’t wait to start reading.

From one Jacob to another, I recently finished a third book, by Jodi Picoult, entitled, House Rules. From beginning to end, cover to cover, I loved this book. Usually, I steer clear of books by Jodi Picoult, for some reason I thought I didn’t like her. But, after reading this book, I realized what a truly amazing author and researcher she is. To make sure her books are accurate, down to the word, the personality, and the voice of each character, she researches months in advance, way before ever sitting down to put pen to paper.

House Rules is about a family, and the rules they live by: always tell the truth, clean up all your messes, and love your brother, he’s the only one you’ve got. Emma Hunt, a struggling single mother has two sons, Theo, who is fifteen, and Jacob, who is eighteen. Although Jacob is older than Theo, it is referenced many times that despite this, it’s usually Theo who ends up playing big brother to Jacob. Jacob, at the age of three, was diagnosed with Asperger’s, which is a high functioning form of autism. Jacob appears normal - he walks, he talks, in fact, he’s brilliant - but he’s a little awkward. One of the biggest parts of Asperger’s is the lack of social skills. Basically, if you were to have a conversation with Jacob, he’d be able to rattle off forensics scientists, facts, tests, blood samples, basically anything and everything about forensics, which is great, but he doesn’t know when to stop. If you continued to stare at him, he’d think you were still interested in the conversation, even though you haven’t actually contributed to the conversation at all. But Jacob’s diagnosis is serious. He’s completely OCD, and everything must have it’s own order. For example, his clothes are organized in a ROYGBV format, he can only wear and eat certain colors on certain days, (for example, Thursdays are only brown foods, Mondays are only white, and Fridays are only blue,) his bed must be made every morning, and just trust me when I say there are many more organized restrictions he has. In addition, he hates the color orange as it stands for danger, (thus the family must avoid “detour” signs at all costs,) he hates even numbers, as they are just bad, and finally he has a gluten and casian free diet. Jacob is a lot to handle.

His mother and brother have changed their entire lives to fit Jacob’s schedule, to the point that they forget what normal life is actually like. Theo hates Jacob most of the time and wishes he was gone, but when all evidence points to Jacob as the suspect of his social skills tutor, Jess’ murder, will he still want Jacob gone?

The police, the judge, even Jacob’s lawyer, Oliver, don’t understand his disability. Jacob can’t look people in the eye, he has a twitch in his hand, he answers questions extremely literally, and throws tantrums that can last hours, but, does that make him guilty? He’s eighteen but his mother must be with him at all times, so is he innocent? Should he plead insanity, even though as Jacob clearly points out, he is not insane? When asked if he killed Jess, he simply says he followed the rules, and cleaned up the mess he made. But what does that mean? Is Jacob a murderer?

This story is told extraordinarily well, as it is told from all five of the main characters perspectives, and each character has their own font and style of writing. The reader can clearly see Emma is concerned about Jacob, Oliver, the lawyer, although cool and collected, actually has no idea what he’s doing, Theo reveals some hidden evidence about what really happened at Jess’ house that day, Rich, the detective who interviewed and arrested Jacob for the murder of Jess, and finally Jacob, who doesn’t understand anything that’s going on, or why everyone is upset with him, when he claims he’s telling the truth. As the case unfolds and more and more is learned about Jacob, you’ll find yourself wondering if Jacob really did commit the murder, and if he did, why won’t he just say so? Emma says Jacob can’t lie, but Jacob isn’t exactly telling the truth either. If he didn’t do it then why can’t he explain? You’ll see the case develop and most likely solve the case before the end of the book, as I did, but you’ll be left in a stubborn state, wondering if the truth will ever come out.

Women's Rights In The 1920's

The idea of what a woman was, was being redefined in the 1920's. From traditional to modern, the idea of what women were becoming, was vastly changing in America in the 1920's.
With the installment of the Nineteenth Amendment, which states that no citizen should be denied the right to vote based off their sex, gave women the right to vote, and thus the opportunity to have a voice for their opinions. Women were becoming able to do things just as men could, and this new sense of equality gave way to a new lifestyle of an American woman.
Flappers and vamps were the first women rebels of their kind. With short hair, short dresses, and a willingness to go further than any woman previously, these daredevils redefined what a woman could be. Traditional views stated that a woman had to be conservative, where long dresses, and have many children. The new woman, however, was a complete three hundred and sixty degree turn around. The new woman was wild and a frequent party attendee, wore scandalously short attire, and had a career before a family, if she had one at all. Women were changing the stereotypes the traditional views had forced upon them.
In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald,the 1920's are depicted through characters who define the 1920's, such as Jordan Baker. Jordan Baker, for example, is the epitome of what a new woman is. Jordan, a famous athlete, tours the country playing golf. She does not have a husband or a family and makes all her money soley from the career she runs herself. Jordan defines the new woman of the 1920's because of her independence. She makes her own money and doesn't rely on the income of a man, which, with traditional views, had been the only way thought for a woman to suitably live.
The role of women in the 1920's was a turning point in the timeline of their history. They redefined what a woman was, and what a woman had the potential to be. Women were finally able to voice their opinion, change the stereotypes, and become, most importantly, independent.

Water for Elephants #2

Unchanged from the last blog I wrote, I'm still reading Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen, but unlike the last blog, I'm loving the book and each class I can't wait to begin where I left off.
The book isn't very action packed, in fact, as told be a ninety year old, surprisingly it's somewhat slow moving and at times depressing. Yet somehow despite this, the events in the novel draw you in. The relationship Jacob has with Marlena is becoming more and more intense and August is becoming more and more of a road block in the way, so this begs the question - how will this novel come to an end?!
Most likely, you haven't read Water for Elephants, and with regard to that, you probably have no idea what I just said, but that's the point. There are so many loose ends to this novel. It seems utterly impossible for the author to end the book in less than one hundred pages.
As far as the relationship with Marlena and Jacob, I can only hope they become closer by having Marlena leave August and that way, be with Jacob. Although if that happened, Jacob and Marlena would definitely not be able to stay working for the circus. August would kill Jacob and who knows what he'd do to Marlena? August's new vicious ways are proving him unattractive in Marlena's eyes, and possibly forcing her to like Jacob even more. Still, she feels she can't turn on August. Jacob and Marlena seem so right, yet they can't be together because it'd be too risky and cause major drama.
As an old man, Jacob is losing it more and more each and every minute of the day. He can't recall conversations with nurses, the names of his nurses, even the names of his grandchildren - who don't seem to have a care in the world for him. One thing he does mention repeatedly is his wife, who has not been uncovered with a name. Could it be he does end up with Marlena? I'm not sure. He seems to be in love with her as a young man, but young men and women fall in and out of love all the time, and Marlena is married. Jacob loves Marlena, but in a different way than August. August views Marlena as a perfect wife; she's pretty, loves animals, and has a caring heart. Jacob on the other hand shares her love for animals and comforts her when she's upsets and needs to talk to someone. I must admit that both Jacob, and August, would be good choices for Marlena seeing as they both care deeply for her, but something in my heart is dying for her to be with Jacob.
I'm in love with this book. I'm so happy I picked it and I absolutely love reading it. I'm very interested to see what will happen in the final chapters of the novel, and hopefully my next blog will be about how thrilled I am with the ending.

Water for Elephants

Currently, I’ve been reading Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen. To be honest, at first, I really didn’t take a liking to this book. In fact, I only recently took a liking to it. But, for now, I’ll keep reading.

Anyway, Water for Elephants begins by introducing an elderly man, named Jacob Jankowski. Maybe ninety, possibly ninety three, (for Jacob cannot remember his own age), the man becomes extraordinarily angry when another man at his residential home begins to brag that when he was young, he gave water to the elephants at the circus. Enraged, Jacob begins to cause a scene, yelling and screaming at the man, informing him that he has no idea what he’s talking about, because carrying water for elephants is extremely difficult.

With that, begins a flashback...

Jacob remembers himself as a young man, in his twenties, when he first began working for the circus. His father had been a veterinarian, and, with hopes to take over the family business, Jacob was also in line to become a veterinarian. Just a few days before his final classes of his final year, Jacob receives news of his parents’ disastrous accidental death. With the shock of having to identify their dead bodies, Jacob is unable to take his necessary final tests. He simply gets up, hands in his blank test, and runs away. Jacob runs until he finds the circus which he joins, and the story continues from there.

But, what do I think of all this? And how does it relate to me?

Well, it doesn’t. At all. But like I've said in previous blogs, I love to read books that don’t relate to me. I love getting to experience a life I don’t live, an existence I don’t know, or a destiny I hope never to receive. Jacob’s experience actually makes me feel bad for him. I literally have an aching feeling in my chest when I read about how he threw away all those years of veterinary school. Personally, I always try to work hard, do my best, and set a goal. If I’m so close to a goal and I throw it all away... I’d be so upset. Even if I no longer want the same things anymore, I may as well still get it, right? You’re so close and you’re going to throw it all away? I get that his parents just died, and I’m not trying to be insensitive here but come on, really? Anyone I know would definitely have just taken the test. Or, why did the professors have to tell him? They could have just let him be, told him after finals. Yes, that would still be the worst news ever to receive, but at least he would have a better shot at passing his tests and becoming a vet! But no, Sara Gruen. You made him become a circus worker. 

Later in the book he reveals that he may use some of his veterinary abilities to help some of the animals in the show, so maybe all those years of vet school will come in handy. Also, he mentioned a girl in a sequin costume whom he seemed to have taken a liking to. I’m going to give a wild guess that they eventually end up together, (but that’s not because Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson are on the cover of the book or anything...). Apparently though, she seems to be someone else’s girl, so we’ll see where this little love triangle takes us.

In conclusion, although the beginning was confusing and somewhat dry, I’m beginning to like this book. Jacob seems so passionate about the circus. In fact, he spends so much of his time angry over what this man had said about water for elephants, that his nurses are convinced he is depressed, and with that he is put on medication.

As for the future of this book, I hope I grow more and more to like it. At this point, I have no idea what the end will bring, but I’m very excited to find out.

The Lady With the Alligator Purse

Miss Lulu had a baby, she called him tiny Tim.
She put him in the bathtub, so see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water! He ate up all the soap!
He tried to swallow the bathtub, but it wouldn't go down his throat!!
Call for the doctor!
Call for the nurse!
Call for the lady with the alligator purse!
"Mumps!" said the doctor. "Measles!" said the nurse.
"Vote!!" said the lady with the alligator purse!!

Ever wondered who the lady with the alligator purse is? 

I was shocked to learn that 'the lady with the alligator purse', is actually Susan B. Anthony. But, who the heck is Susan B. Anthony?

Susan B. Anthony was born on February 15, 1820 and stood for many things. She was known most for her work with woman's suffrage. Never known to back down, Susan B. Anthony and her alligator purse traveled the country in the hopes to educate and change the laws that banned married women everywhere from simple things such as; opening bank accounts, entering into a contract, renting a place to live, or being able to sue someone.

What's woman's suffrage?

Suffrage means the political right to vote, therefore woman's suffrage is a woman's right to vote. In the time period between 1870-1920 this was a heated debate. Even now, the discussion about inequalities between men and women is still heated and seems unending. Susan B. Anthony took us from little rights to every right a man has, but still we fight over the idea that woman only earn 70 cents to a man's dollar.

Susan B. Anthony stood firm in her beliefs. She gathered 10,000 signatures and got 26 states to petition with her for woman's suffrage, but still she was met with resistance from Congress who simply laughed in her face. Despite this, on August 18, 1920, American adult women finally gained the right to vote when the Nineteenth Amendment, nicknamed the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, was passed. The Nineteenth Amendment states that no one should be denied the right to vote on account of their sex.


The following is a video posted on youtube discussing the history of woman's suffrage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwPy8ScRkQc&feature=related

Without Susan B. Anthony, we, as women, may never have reached the point of where we are now. Divorced women are not shunned by the community, single women are not in a race to the chapel, and married women have the same rights a man does. Women have come an extremely long way since the time of the lady with the alligator purse, and as a nation we should be completely grateful for her contributions to our society.

"Susan B. Anthony House :: Her Story." The Official Susan B. Anthony House :: Home. Web. 11 Nov. 2011. <http://susanbanthonyhouse.org/her-story.php>.

"The Nineteenth Amendment." UMKC School of Law. Web. 11 Nov. 2011. <http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/nineteentham.htm>.