In Life without Chiefs Marvin Harris demonstrates human evolution from egalitarian existence to present day capitalist structure. He states that for 98% of human existence, our ancestors lived in small foraging communities (Harris, 2009). Where everyone knew each other and people gave things knowing when they needed something those same people would reciprocate. They lived in an egalitarian society where everyone is equal and had the same rights and opportunities. An interesting aspect of our ancestors was they didn’t say “thank you” to the giver, and it wasn’t because they didn’t appreciate it, but that same person who was the giver one day could be the receiver the next. To them “saying ‘thank you’ is very rude. It suggest, first that one has calculated the amount of a gift, and second, that one did not expect the donor to be so generous” (Harris, 274). And again the reason they do this is because everyone is equal, no matter who provides the goods it is evenly distributed so that no one is superior or think they that authority over the band. Harris gives an example from our previo...
How is the conflict in the story affected by the civil war? In the story Jayhawker by Patricia Beatty, a action story, the conflict is where Elijah Tulley is pulled to the fact where his father was killed and he wants his revenge. He goes as a Jayhawker to fight the bushwackers and he is put into a situation of war. He would have to go as a spy as a bushwhacker to understand. This is a affected by the civil war because one side wants slaves and the other doesn’t want slaves. They believe for freedom, so they will want to fight each other for one right.
Multi grammy winning, funk and soul artist, or better known as the “Prince of soul,” Marvin Gaye was born in Washington D.C., on April 2, 1939 as Marvin Pentz Gaye, Jr. He was born to, and named after, his father, Marvin Gay Sr. and mother Alberta Gay. Though he found many success in his later life as an international artist, Gaye (Marvin later place and “e” behind his name) grew up in hardships, abuse and rough living conditions. Father, Marvin Sr., was a minister for the local community church, his family consisted of four younger siblings and two half brothers. Early life for Marvin consisted of many hardships. Him and his family were residents of public housing areas and lived in some of the most rundown conditions one can fathom. Residents like Marvin were without running water and other proper living conditions- some people even lived in shacks in alleys. Marvin Gay, Sr. was often times cruel and abusive to young Marvin. Though life was moving forward, he constantly felt lost and trapped by his father’s
In Ain’t No Making It, Jay Macleod explains his theories and findings on social reproduction of inequality. He begins by telling us more about some authors and their theories. This helped me have a better understanding on what this book is really trying to portray. One author I found interesting was Bernstein who focused on language patterns and social reproduction. By bringing up issues like this one that most people usually don’t think about, I was able to look at the problems that the Brothers and Hallway Hangers faced from a whole new perspective. I would not have noticed this throughout the book if these issues were not mentioned right away. I come from a very traditional family that believes that success depends on how much work you
Recognition of contributions, and showing appreciation are ways for one to show others that they are held as respected members of a group. Arnold and Boggs (2011).
“You never know how the tough times you are going through today will inspire someone else tomorrow.” (Tebow, shaken). In his book, Tim Tebow talks about the struggles he's been though and how God has helped him through it all. He lives his life always honoring God and his decisions portray being a Christian. Tim Tebow is a great role model because he's athletic, he's a good leader and mentor and most important he loves God.
All blondes are dumb. Gingers have no soul. All Jews are greedy. All Asians are bad drivers. Imagine living in a world where people are put into a category simply because of their appearance, race, or religion. It limits a person’s chance of expressing individuality through categorization. Desmond Cole’s article, “The Skin I’m In” introduces the struggles faced by black people through racial stereotypes in Canada— a country known for its diversity. Cole reveals the experiences of black people who are stereotyped as dangerous; as a result, they are victimized with prejudice, discrimination, and injustice by society.
My attention was also drawn to several questions in this podcast, which made me eager to find the answers to these questions. For example, one interesting question I heard was “when you do see generosity how do you know it’s really generous” (Levy, 2010). This question stood out to me because it is one particular question I don’t think about often and made me wonder whether people help someone out because they see it as a duty. However, I believe the best answer to this question is the portrayal of the concept of norm of reciprocity, which indicates “the expectation that helping others will increase the likelihood that they will help us in the future” (Akert, Aronson, & Wilson, 2013, p.303). This is true because “generosity” happens when both persons are nice to each other and if an individual helps another person then it’s easy to assume that the person who was
Even forms of human beings preforming selfless acts derives from ones desire to help others, which in a way makes that person feel importance. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, better known as Mother Teresa, devoted her life to helping those in great need. To many these acts may appear as selfless and gallant acts that are not performed by anyone with any type of ego. Yet when taking a psychological look at why she performed such acts they may appear a somewhat more for herself. Every time anyone does anything, even when for someone else, they are doing it for some type of feeling that they experience. With the holiday season approaching, there will be a specific emphasis on giving unlike any other time of the year. We give yes to show gratitude for someone we love, but also to experience the joy in seeing someone enjoy something they them self-caused. Even while being selfless humans have the unique ability to still be doing something that involves caring for them self. This outlook toward the human condition completely debunks Wolf’s claim that “when caring about yourself you are living as if you are the center of the universe.” When choosing to do anything positive or negative, for others or for yourself, you are still taking your self-interest into consideration, making it
The systematic oppression of the underprivileged is an unescapable loop that keeps people chained. J Cole’s album, 4 Your Eyez Only, shows the difficulties of escaping a difficult lifestyle. J Cole, a young North Carolina based rapper, focuses on the consequences that come with choosing to live a life of crime. Although living this lifestyle is wrong, many are forced into this life and tend to glorify it because it is all they know. J. Cole challenges this notion while also realizing the oppression he is facing while trying to escape the life. He chooses to tell the album from the perspective of his dead friend, who chose this lifestyle. Although this album is dark, it has an underlying tone of hope.
“New Slaves” a rap, hip hop, song written, produced, and composed by Grammy award winning, hip hop mogul, Kanye West. Recording artist Kanye West, could possible be considered the most controversial rapper of all time. Kanye speaks on topics relating to him and his culture in his music. West grew up with a mother who was raised during the segregation era, meaning that he has many extreme views on fairness, and equality in America. In Kanye’s career, along with his amazing music and creative image, he is well known for his public outbursts, and his hatred for the media and the paparazzi. West stands up for what he believes in, and is sometimes selfish of his feelings. This track was included on his sixth studio album entitled “Yeezus” in 2013.
People perpetrate seemingly selfless acts almost daily. You see it all over the news; the man who saved that woman from a burning building, the mother who sacrificed herself to protect her children from the bomb blast. But how benevolent are these actions? Are these so-called “heroes” really sacrificing themselves to help others? Until recently, it was the common belief that altruism, or selfless and unconditional kindness, was limited primarily to the human race. However, within the last century, the works of several scientists, most prominently George Price, have provided substantial evidence concluding that altruism is nothing more than a survival technique, one that can be calculated with a simple equation.
Reciprocity; this is the mutual exchange of value or service. It has been proved that one is likely to respond positively to another based on the feeling of indebtedness to the previous favor he might have received earlier. It is like the “scratch my back I scratch yours” situation. Once this
There are many definitions for the term altruism, and each definition describes different ways individuals think about the relevance of one’s behavior. Some individuals have argued that altruism has nothing to do with an individual performing an act of kindness or good will toward others. In fact, there are many who argue that it is impossible for altruism to exist. The reason is because; they believe that when people perform an act of kindness they also have an alternative motive, whether it is to feel good about themselves, to receive something in return or ...
...esult, the more directly one sees their personal efforts impact someone else, the more happiness one can gain from the experience of giving. Sometimes generosity requires pushing past a feeling of reluctance because people all instinctively want to keep good things for themselves, but once one is over this feeling, they will feel satisfaction in knowing that they have made a difference in someone else’s life. However, if one lives without generosity but is not selfish, they can still have pleasure from other virtues.
Sherman, Amy L. “Expectant Giving.” The Christian Century 116.6 (1999): 206. Academic OneFile. Web. 1 Nov. 2013.