Electoral Politics and Party Identity

I feel that people are just making up anything to make this election feel like it is all about the Blacks. This wasn't a racial election at all, whites help put him in the office too. They did it for the equality, for everyone to be treated fairly, and the blacks did it for the change to be treated equally and have a chance too. The election has made a lot of people mad that didn't vote for him but it is over now and he is President and will lead this country. If you support him or not he still has to run things. Let him get time to change things, it wasn't like Bush was doing that much to help. They are judging Obama just because he is Black, if he messes up like Bush did it would be because he is black and that is not right to do to him. Color should not be the issue here. It is whites who live in poorer neighbor hoods that need the equal chance to get a job also, just like blacks, that need health care, that need that extra money from checks to make it by, and that need lower taxes to have money for other things in life. Obama is that guy to help get this economy back to the way it use to be, it may not take one year or two, but in the end you will see a difference. He has a lot to clean up, look at the way this world is today, it won't be easy to get it back fast. So they need to stop with the racist acts and just help support or get out the way because either way it goes, he will succeed. I don't think it will be a third party for African Americans because we have never thought like that, we weren't the ones trying to control a race and be the dominant ones, we just want a chance just like the next race and not be looked at by color of our skin but by the skills we have, intelligence, and our mindset to go out and make a change in whatever we do.

Still on the Obama Watch

I think that the president and First Lady contribute to a more positive socialization of other African American women and men because of their success on making it. It gives people like me the strength to keep going on and knowing how they said it will never be blacks in the white house and now it is. They didn't believe that blacks would ever run this country and that the whites wouldn't let him, and now that has been overcame. Their are whites out their who voted for him because they wanted some real change. They didn't want all of these race issues and problems between diversity to go on, and this proves how much we have changed since back in the day and the slavery days. Though it is still racist things going on, this proves that everyone isn't that way. It also shows the blacks how much power we have and how much of a difference we can make by getting him in the white house. Are voting was big for change and we made a big change by enrolling all these people to vote who never did, I even went out for my first time but was turned around because I was enrolled in a different county, but the thing was that I tried. It was even people who took trips back to their hometown from school just to vote and come right back. That is the things they did for change, and that was a big step to make something happen. Their images is important because right now they are the face of black people. They are the role models for black women and men, and are viewed in the public eye for our race. Those two show how blacks are really and not the stereotype of us. Now maybe they can change that stereotype and we can be viewed as smart, intelligent, beautiful, and not people who don't know how to act. It also really helps women because it shows that they can be successful and don't have to be a servant to their husband but just a supporter in what they do and keep their family strong. For the males it shows that we don't have to be afraid to love our black women but yet it's a good thing. He shows that we need to keep our family together, do the best we can to support them, and treat our women with respect as he does for Michelle.

My Mother Said She Never Liked that Name for a Girl Anyway

I feel that the author has a lot of positive and good ideas on the recovery and rebuilding of New Orleans. I feel like someone needed to do some rebuilding to that place after the damage that was made. It was like Bush didn't care and since the damage was done it would take to much to rebuild and to make attempts to even look like he cared. The plans made are good for the future things that may happen because it will be better for when damage happens to get the places back on their feet quickly and as many businesses and people won't be without as much money. The longer a community is down, the more that community is missing out on money. Well as far as the last question I felt that New Orleans was a big asset to black people being entrepreneurs because it was a mostly black area. That is why I feel bush didn't help as much. If it was a place like his home town he would have been quick to get them back on their feet. New Orleans was a place where blacks were successful and able to get on their feet. Where they could feel the love of blacks. When it gets back to how it use to be it will be not only a better place but a more historical site because of what happened their and many people will want to go their to see it and that will bring more money to businesses for the future.

I Am Definitely an Obama Girl

I feel the Obama family is a model for all families right now because of their success and the way that they show themselves nationally to us. They show them to us as a loving family who are happy with each other. Barack and Michelle show each other so much black love, and yet in a respectful way for the public. They got two well disciplined daughters who aren't ghetto acting but yet smart and are well behaved. The Obamas are just a good role model for black families. They look like they stick together and help each other through problems and support each others ideas, and a big reason they are a role model for our families is because of the long time they have been together and she was with him from when he was close to nothing until he became the big name he is now. We need to use them as a model of sticking together, being educated, and proud to be ourselves and that we can make it work despite ups and downs. They also show trying to help the black communities is crucial so we can not be looked at in the eyes of people as ignorant and negative.

Thinking More about African American Society and Culture

Despite racism we have overcame it by the sticking together as people, family, and just staying hungry to making it out of the struggle. The black churches have made us better people and have us living for God. In order to make it to heaven you have to live right by him so that is why we are good people despite the racist things that have been done to us. We are taught to forgive the things that people do to you, no matter how bad it might be. The HBU schools have made it so that we are proud of our people, the things we have accomplished and just making us I feel be remembered for years to come. Showing the importance of education and that are race is successful within that field also. The black greek organizations kind of remind me of like a black panther type of thing, just a group of black people coming together for a cause and doing positive things not only for themselves but thier community and all over. The leaders of all these organizations I feel have the responsibility of making black people look good, educated, and respected world wide. Just to show the positive blacks that are doing things with thier lives and trying to do good and not on the street and have overcame all of the other obstacles of racism and etc....

Considering African American and American Culture

When I think of family, I think of a mother, father or father figure, and at least two kids living all under one roof. We all think of family different. People of different races may not think of it like I do. Some households with just a mom and a kid is a family to some. It just all depends on how you were raised and who taught you what family is. When people talk about black families being dysfunctional and etc, I feel they are talking about when they are always having problems within the house hold and the father is back and forth, cheating and just can't get right. It's basically about love being in the house and doing things together as a family. In the hispanic families I know that they usually have thier grandparents live with them as a part of thier family. I feel a homosexual family with two guys and a child isn't really a family because that is not the way God intended it to be. The white families are always shown on tv as so happy and jolly, like a brady bunch family. The blacks are shown going through obstacles and problems like the cosby family.

Making Privilege and Power Visible

I must say that black women are mis-represented all the time. All the names that people call them is just wild to me. I even hate when my friends call them, sorry to say, bitches. I just feel like it is so disrespectful. Especially coming from a family of all aunts and really no uncles. It hurts me to hear that because that is how they refer to all women, and I wouldn't want anyone calling my sister, mom, grandma, or aunts that word. I can't say that I haven't called it how I see it though. I sometimes must say I have looked at a girl and off that back called her a bussa. A bussa is a girl that will have sex with anyone, and I feel like if you dress yourself to look like that and carry yourself like it then that is what you lable yourself as. If I know you are a hoe, then I will call you a hoe. I don't just go out and call our black women names that is not deserved for them. My names don't refer to just blacks but can go to all nationalities. Even though I love rap music, I feel that they have made alot of people comfortable to call our black women what they want to, but the black girls love the music so the males feel its alrite and they let us. I don't agree with all the stuff said in the Collins book because I don't here much of those words being referred to women. I do though agree on the way that people prefer lighterskinned girls now days. I myself even like lighskinned girls more then dark, I don't know why. I guess I just want a girl to look as far away different then my mom and sister I can. I have nothing against darker women thought because if you are beautiful then that is what you are. I was shocked to find out that a black girl that is lighter is more able to get the job from a darker girl. But the most name calling is women against women, so if they respect each other more I think that men will follow.

Is Barack Obama an African American?

A lot of people ask the question about is Obama black. I don't care what anyone says but to me he is. Though he has a white mother, his dad is a black african man. So he is just mixed, just like mostly every other light skinned person that we still call black is. If he was back in the day, he would be a slave because of his skin color. If he isn't black then what is he? If you have to question his race then obviously he is. If he isn't black then I really wonder why is he trying to help us so much. If he isn't black I wonder why the world feel this is such a big movement for him to become a president, because they say its history. It's history because he is the first black president. His wife is black, they made black kids, and their culture is those of black people. Many people even got mad when him and his wife dapped each other hands, something that blacks do. Its just to many things that they do that can't even make me think otherwise and neither should anyone else.

The HistoryMakers

I looked at a few history makers. Russel Simmons and Obama I feel had to make a transformation from the way that they were living their life. From the hardships they had in their younger days, to making out of their neighborhoods to get a chance at life. Russel didn't know that he was going to be who he was, Obama didn't know that he was going to be president. When they both found something going good for them they then stuck to it and kept striving to be better and better and it took them both to the top. Russel is over alot of organizations and people look up to him as a father figure in alot of businesses. Many men are trying to get their businesses to be as succssful as his. Obama has made African Americans everywhere feel like they have a chance to be and do what ever they want to do.

Beginning Considerations--Starting the Blog, Starting the Course

Reading the material in both books gets me curious about many things I must say. It makes me want to learn more about my culture as a African American. I would want to experience the way that we lived back in the day to really appreciate the things we got now, and it would probably make me work harder in whatever I do now. I take a lot of things for granted I feel, not thinking about the things that others went through to get me where I am today. It was interesting to find out about many of the black philosophers, many of the names I have never heard. I was surprised how Sojourner Truth who couldn't read or write became such a powerful speaker. I was shocked how many white students supported the move to establish Black studies programs at their school that was filled with whites in their colleges. Lastly, I am surprised at how women had barely no say so back in the day and now they are major in today's society with their ideas and almost been a president.

3 Questions:
1) Why are African American women and their ideas not known and not believed in?
2) Which woman do you think made the biggest impact for African American freedom today?
3) Which male do you feel made the biggest impact on African Americans?

What is the White Mainstream?

To me to identify certain cultural norms and values is basically to be raised up by a middle class family. When you are raised as a middle class citizen you then get to see the ups and downs of life and are able to adjust to daily situations like that. If you have lived upper class all your life and never really felt the downs of life, or the feelings of being broke and etc, many can't adjust to living a certain way for awhile and being able to bounce back. The world is basically a white world, the white man I feel is the people that have set the standards for the way life is today, what shouldn't and should be done is really the standards they have set for everyone else. Me as being black I feel I am just living in their world and just have to play the game to get to the top and get where I want to be. Values stop being white when you either over come certain norms or either under achieve them, and they stop being middle class and or western when you start to do things outside of the box, and making your own choices and going out on a limb to succeed.

Tell Me More

I hope to learn many things from this class. From the history of my culture, the people that have made big effects on it, and what the future may hold. I don't feel it will apply to my major but I do feel it will apply to my life. I will more appreciate the way the world is today and the freedom that I have. I will respect those that helped my culture get to where it is today, and won't be dumbfounded to things that I should know about my culture.

Introductions, For Real, Y'all

My major is communications. I was born in Chicago, Illinois and now live on the outer skirts of the city in a suburb called Matteson. I am currently a senior at UIS but will need a extra semester to graduate. I am an athlete for this school and play for the men's basketball team here. My future goals is to be a successful athlete playing basketball overseas for a little while to make money. Then I will use that money to make more by investing and my communication skills will help me with the people I will be meeting from all over, and getting along with them at businesses I will own. My plan is to live wealthy and not have to worry about living check to check, and I want to be able to give my kids the things that I've never had. Also, I would like to be able to take care of my grandmother, mom, and other family members if they need it. I want to make them proud!!!