Blogger #5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIPURPnqaAY

[Verse 1: Jussie Smollett:] People been talking about it we won't just stand here in silence can't stop the fire from rising from rising Ooh Ooh (Racism has become a topic that is spiraling put of control and it seems there is no stopping it)

[Verse 2: Alicia Keys] People don't you be afraid so many innocent's slain this is an era for change change (Innocents are dying but do not fear because change is on its way)

[Verse 1: Jussie Smollett] And Malcolm's probably turning in his grave, aye, ave, ave (Malcolm X is upset because he fought for equal rights and that’s not happening)

[Verse 2: Alicia Keys] Every shade was beautifully made (Every skin color is beautiful)

[Chorus: Alicia Keys & Jussie Smollett] And Powerful, There's so much strength in you and me, Powerful, A breathe away from victory, I matter You matter We matter, All. (2x) Powerful. (2x) (We as people are so powerful not just one person matters we all matter and can make a difference)

[Verse 3: Alicia Keys] I see a colorful future Where skin don't define any human And stars are the only thing shooting Shooting Ooh. Ooh (There is a future ahead of us where innocents aren't slain and we are  treated as equals)[Verse 4: Jussie Smollett] Mothers that bury their child How can we sit there and hide Change comes when all take a stand now Stand up Stand up (In todays world many parents are burring their children due to violence and racism people are not doing anything about it we must stand up and take action or it will not change) 

[Verse 5: Jussie Smollett] Martin's speech still echoes in my brain. aye, ain, ain (He can hear Martin Luther King Jr’s speech in his head hoping whites and black’s will one day come together)

[Verse 6: Alicia Keys] Every shade was beautifully made (Every skin color is beautiful)

[Chorus: Alicia Keys & Jussie Smollett ]And Powerful There's so much strength in you and me Powerful A breathe away from victory I matter You matter We matter, All. (2x)Powerful. (2x) Oh  Oh, Oh  Oh, Oh .Oh.(3x)

[Verse 7: Jussie Smollett] Powerful

[Verse 8: Alicia Keys] There's so much strength in you and me Powerful A breathe away from victory (We are so powerful)

[Chorus: Alicia Keys & Jussie Smollett] I matter You matter We matter, All. (2x) (We all mean something)

Powerful. (2x)

Blogger #6

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/0B4z5p4qpI79WdHdCeXBtR1hHdWs

blogger 6

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B41_eiGiem_ybFBzT0pLeDEtcE0/view?usp=sharing

blogger 3

Christian Quintero

English A, 8am-10am

Ms. Amanda Reyes

17 October 2015

Connections Essay

The topic I decided to choose for my Multi-Genre Portfolio project was racism. Racism is still very alive in the United States and around the world. People suffer every day from being harassed, bullied, mistreated, and violated based on the belief that one race is superior to another. There are thousands of cases of men and women who are mistreated because their race or what they look like. I had read an article of these three male athletes who were arrested for disorderly conduct when they were simply waiting for a ride from their coach and nothing more. They were told they looked “suspicious” and “Out of place” but the reality of the situation was that they were judged and stereotyped to three black males that were up to no good. This story caught my attention because it is similar to what has happened to some of my teammates that I have grown up with. The two stories were very interesting because they contained the same situation, different state, different city, but the same race. Racism is threatening the lives of innocent people.

“Structural violence is one way of describing social arrangements that put individuals and populations in harm’s way” (Dr. Paul Farmer). Structural violence is an example that ties into race in the way that people are put in unfair situations that can involve police, society, employers, and even our hospitals. It isn’t fair that some are not given opportunities to succeed based on their appearance. It is also unfair that opportunities are taken away. For example, a negative perspective toward a group of people can threaten an entire race’s community. How is one supposed to succeed when their opportunity is being limited as soon as they step out their front door? Another article that was written had stated that structural violence may lead to death. That twenty years of study show that any person of color is less likely to receive treatment before anybody else (Paul Kivel). That race definitely plays a major role in our daily lives.

To help prove my points and help bring light to these issues I have included a police report, an interview, and a proposal in my portfolio. The police report was made from a template and a simply input the information that I took from some very common race involved cases. My interview was a real conversation I had with a friend of mine on Friday October 16th, 2015. I thought it was a perfect example and I just put our conversation in the format of an interview. Lastly, I used my proposal essay as one of my genres to show what can be done to help instead of another case or video regarding the same material of people being mistreated because of their color. I feel like my portfolio does a good job on showing the relationship between racism and structural violence in the way that I gave examples of articles I personally read and I gave real stories to show the points I was making. It definitely makes connections through the given examples throughout the portfolio.    

blogger 4

Racism Proposal

Racism is prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior. This belief and mind set is something that should be taken a little more seriously not only in America but around the world. Racism will take place through our sports, our police departments, and even our schools. There is no right or reason that gives someone the power to be cruel due to the thought of “superiority”. Given the money, I would aim to help this cause in a way that would bring more awareness through concerts, sporting events, and speeches. Also a campaign would be started similar to FIFA’s “Say No to Racism” campaign. This campaign would play its part through sporting events. Every sport nationwide would say no to racism and when people see their idols say no to racism they will too. Also this money would pay for charity events to further help the cause. The money would also help to spread awareness through the many issues that our police forces are racially profiling and harassing people just because of the their clothing and color of their skin. It would help bring out the silenced voices of people who have suffered for simply just being who they are and nothing else. If we get enough people to stand up and speak out the cause will grow and hopefully one day racism would not be an issue in our country and around the world.

Blogger #5

2pac- Dear Mama

(Verse 1)
    Even thought the crack fiend, mama you always was a black queen, mama I finally understand for a woman it ain't easy trying to raise a man. You always was committed. A poor single mother on welfare tell me how you did it? There's no way I could pay you back, but the plan to show you that I understand, you are appreciated, basically what the verse is saying that his mother was on drugs, but tupac she still was his queen and no matter what struggles they went through like being on welfare etc. She always had food on the table for him, and he appreciates her, for all she's done for him.

(Hook)
    Lady don'tcha  know we love ya? Sweet lady place no one above ya. Sweet lady, don'tcha we love ya? Basically this hook is trying to say is that this person which Tupac's mother, he's telling her that him and his sister love her very much and that no one would be placed above her because she is special to them.
(Verse2)
    Now ain't nobody tell us it was fair no love from my daddy cause the coward wasn't there. He passed away and I didn't cry, cause my anger, wouldn't let me feel for a stranger. They say I'm wrong and I'm heartless, but all along I was looking for a father he was gone. Now this was Tupac's deepest verses talking about how his father wasn't there to love him like he should, he resented him and when Tupac's father died, he had no emotions he didn't know who he was, basically he was a stranger to him.

Blogger #1

Christian Quintero
Professor Reyes
English A
1 November 2015

Homelessness Article

Homelessness in California has been a growing issue in the United States. So much in fact that the state of California is now in a “State of Emergency” due to the issue of the homeless population in our California cities. The time to help these people is now. Every day we see an individual that is homeless but are afraid to reach out or afraid to approach because of some of the stereotypes that society has placed on the homeless. Some of the stereotypes include that they are alcoholics, criminals, drug abusers, or they are mentally ill. All of these are stereotype threats towards the homeless in the way that they falsely label all of the homeless to be one or more than one of those stereotypes. It creates an unknown fear towards them for the reason that society has made them out to be a certain way. They are people just like you and I but how many times do we walk past a homeless person and not even acknowledge them. Does anybody really deserve to be treated that way?
According to a 2011 count, the homeless population in just the city of Los Angeles was an estimated 26,000. That includes men, woman, teens, senior citizens, veterans, and even some children. Only about two thirds are actually sheltered. That leaves about another 8,000 people that do not have a home and are barely getting enough in life to get by. The city of Los Angeles has declared its state of emergency. Since 2013 the homeless population has grown 12% and seems to not be slowing down anytime soon. Local Los Angeles leaders have committed to contribute $100 Million to shelter and give other basic needs of living to the homeless (Stewart, LA Times). It’s good to see that people are taking action to help the issue instead of going around it and coming up with a way to get rid of them.
In my opinion, I feel that this type of action should have happened sooner when the population of the homeless was not so large. Now that it is at its worst the city of Los Angeles has decided to help minimize the issue. It is ridiculous that roughly 26,000 people are on the streets. They aren’t all criminals or bad people with a bad habit either. The way I look at it is that they have had an unfortunate amount of luck that put them where they are in life. For example, I was grocery shopping with my mother when I was about 14 and we saw this homeless man outside a supermarket. We had decided to help and we bought him some food, water, deodorant, and shampoo. He was so thankful and told us he had been outside the store the whole day and only received about 4 dollars in change. He mentioned he was not asking much but that there was a few generous people helped him out but by far the best thing was the food and supplies we gave him. We talked for a bit and he told my mother he worked for a small insurance company that had went under and as time went on he slowly lost everything. This man wasn’t an alcoholic or a druggy or mentally ill. He was just unlucky in his life. This goes to show that my first thoughts of this intimidating man were completely wrong. He was actually a kind hearted and humble person trying to get by. I have to think that there a lot of stories are just like his and should be considered when seeing a homeless person because the majority of them are not what they are made out to be.