Adaptation of Modern African-American Writers
Modern writers learn from the past by reading works written by authors of that particular era. Contemporary African-American writers gain knowledge and insight into the horrendous and sometimes harmonious conditions that plagued Africans during slavery and the slave trade. By reading the actual words, thoughts, and feelings of these enslaved Africans, modern writers receive information from the perspective of the victimized. Lucille Clifton's "slaveship" is a vivid example of a contemporary writer borrowing from the past to depict another account of the slave trade. The fact that Clifton's father told her stories about her family's struggle and she, herself, traced her lineage back to Dahomey, West Africa helped to impact the tone, ideas, and imagery used in her poem. Although "slaveship" is not written by someone who has experienced slavery herself, it does use similar elements found in Olaudah Equiano's Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano and Phillis Wheatley's "On Being Brought from Africa to America".
Clifton's "slaveship" begins with the image of people tightly packed and close together in the bottom of a ship. The narrator says that they were "loaded like spoons into the belly of Jesus" (lines 1-2). Later in the poem, the narrator describes being "chained to the heart of the Angel" (line 8). Equiano also speaks of the crowded conditions he faced on his journey to America. He states that he "was soon put down under the decks" (p 157) where "this wretched situation was again aggravated by the gallings of chains" (p 159). The human cargo on these slave ships endured weeks and months of dreadful and disgusting odors as a result of these cramped conditions. Clifton's slav...
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...Equiano at the end of Chapter Two. He says, "O, ye nominal Christians might not an African ask you, learned this from your God, who says unto you, Do unto men as you would men should do unto you" (p 161).
In order to give an accurate depiction of life during the Atlantic Slave Trade, contemporary African ‚American writers must research and read to find out exactly how life was for those enslaved. The opinions and thoughts of those who endured and survived this wretched time are valuable pieces of information about what was happening. Modern writers, such as Lucille Clifton, adapt from previous writers. Without having lived during that particular time, modern African-American writers must rely on past authors and their knowledge of human nature to put forth accurate stories with the purpose of educating and informing today's readers about America's ugly history.
Weitzer, Ronald. "Prostitution: Facts and Fiction." Gwu.edu. George Washington University, 2007. Web. 08 Apr. 2014.
“There is no difference in work in which a women sells her hands, such as a typist, and a work in which a women sells her vagina, as in sex work.” Claims author Lacy Sloan. In today’s society, many people believe that prostitution is an immoral act. It is the world’s oldest profession and because it has been long condemned, sex workers are stigmatized from mainstream society (ProQuest Staff). However, the act of purchasing sex between consenting adults should not be prohibited by the government, but regulated for society's overall best interests. Prostitution is illegal and as a consequence prostitutes are often victims of violence and sexual assault; therefore, prostitution should be legalized and regulated to ensure the safety of sex workers.
Author Lacy Sloan claims, “There is no difference in work in which a women sells her hands, such as a typist, and a work in which a women sells her vagina, as in sex work.” In today’s society many people believe that prostitution is an immoral act. It is the world’s oldest profession and due to the social construction of reality it has been long condemned causing sex workers to be stigmatized from mainstream society. The act of purchasing sex between consenting adults should not be prohibited by the government, but regulated for society's overall best interests. Prostitution is illegal and as a consequence prostitutes are often victims of violence and sexual assault; nevertheless, prostitution should be legalized and regulated to ensure the safety of sex workers.
The truth is, though, that prostitution is not as harmless or victimless as it seems. In fact, all too often the women involved in the trade are not even working out of their own free will. Aside from the brutal realities of forced prostitution, other problems lurk beneath the surface, as well; but could the harm associated with prostitution be alleviated through decriminalization? It is impossible to know for certain exactly what would happen were legal prostitution a reality, but in order to effectively evaluate the consequences of such a change, the potential dangers and benefits must be considered.
Sexton, JenniferCushman, C. Ames. "Prostitution : An Overview." Points Of View: Prostitution (2013): 1. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 21 Oct. 2013
Proponents of spanking bans have a tendency to label spanking as corporal punishment. They then categorize it along with many abusive activities. Psychologist Kerby Alvy explains corporal punishment as, “pinching, pulling ears and hair, shaking, slapping, smacking, spanking, swatting, hitting, kicking, punching, paddling, using switches, hair brushes, belts and ironing cords, and having children kneel on gravel or ...
There have been several cases when parents/guardians have been arrested for “child abuse”. Although there are cases where it is apparent that the child/children have been abused; but there are also some that is just parent-child spanking. So what does the state of Texas law say about spanking? It states: “It’s legal for parents to discipline their children however they desire as long as it clearly isn’t causing any major damage or lasting marks to the child’s physical body or health. For example, in 2009 a mother, Elmendorf, was arrested and charged with felony injury to her ten year-old son, Christopher, when he refused to clean his room. The next day at school, the school nurse, Smith, noticed red marks on the child’s face and neck. There have been many cases like these which make people question; Is spanking really against the law?
Parents should never spank their children in anger but always in love. Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do no provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” When a child is spanked out of anger, I feel that it is abusive. Children must learn what is right and what is wrong. If parents spank their children out of anger, their children will fear them.
Many authorities and psychologists believe that spanking breaks a child's spirit and only leads to violence. They think that it causes the child to become depressed, angry or hostile and they have conducted many studies to prove these things. This type of harsh punishment occurs often, but it is called child abuse. There is a great difference between abusing a child and properly disciplining a child. "One is an act of love; the other is an act of hostility, and they are as different as night and day" (Dobson 35).
When describing a physical altercation between two adults, the term is assault and battery. Assault on an individual has more than immediate effects; the effects can last a lifetime in severe cases. In all fifty states, it is a crime to hit, strike or use corporal punishment in any deliberate manner towards any person over the age of eighteen. However, this law does not apply to physical force being used on minors. Spanking, whipping, and paddling are among a few common references to this form of punishment. Physically disciplining children has had many names over the years. No matter which term is used, corporal punishment has a negative impact on every party involved. It is a widely used, socially accepted method of discipline. “Approximately 94% of three and four-year old children have been spanked in the past year (Slade & Winssow 1321). Although spanking is a widespread practice, it is becoming more controversial. The negative effects of spanking greatly outweigh the benefits. Spanking is a socially tolerated view promoting abusive patterns, and has a negative psychological impact in teaching children that pain, fear, and confusion promote conformability.
The use of this form of punishment of spanking has been used for the longest time. Many parents have this form of punishment towards their children to help control their child in some cases. Like in the article “Spanking” by John A Addleman he adds to this argument of how there are many parents who strongly follow this form of punishment for their children. He added that there are parents who also believe that this form of corporal punishment is not abuse “ data regarding attitudes about spanking, have found that most parents believe that corporal punishment is a non abusive manner is an acceptable form of discipline” (Addleman 1). Many may ask what kind of corporal punishment exactly is acceptable to use towards your child. The form of punishment
“As I stare through the floor of an unknown vessel into an everlasting sea of clouds I ponder on what I had did to be in this situation or would I ever reunite with my family or will the gentleman beside me make it through the night.” The realization that slavery caused many families, lives, and individuals to be destroyed is gruesome. Through the memoir of Olaudah Equiano, the first-person accounts of the treatment of enslaved and free Africans is revealed, which helps him in the battle against African enslavement.
Spanking of a child as a form of discipline and parenting style is a subject that has been debated for many years now. There are some people who believe that spanking is a good form of punishment and will make the child no longer perform the bad behavior that the child is displaying. There are also people who believe that spanking a child will cause negative results to the child’s behavior in the future. There are many arguments to support each side. The side that I feel is most accurate to my beliefs is that spanking puts a child at higher risk for negative behavioral actions.
Throughout the years, the image of the African American culture has been portrayed in in a negative light. Many people look to African, and African American literature to gain knowledge about the African American culture. The true culture and image often goes unseen, or is tarnished because writers who have no true insight or experience, have proceeded to write about things in which they are uneducated.. For years the world has seen writers attempt to taint and damage the image of the African American. Through strength and determination, several African American writers have been able to portray the true image and struggle of the Negro through various writings and narratives. This has helped give a factual insight about the African and the African American. Three particular authors helped give detailed insight about the African and The African American. African American themes of tribal belief, slavery, and The black family were displayed in the works of Chinua Achebe, Fredrick Douglass, and Ann Petry.
"Spanking doesn 't work, and it just makes kids mistrustful and aggressive. What we 're teaching them is fear rather than responsibility and problem-solving." said Kimberly Sirl, a clinical psychologist at St. Louis Children 's Hospital (Blythe). This is important because parents need to understand spanking doesn 't work and it results that the child becomes aggressive and mistrustful. Parents are trying to teach their child a lesson but instead making them fearful. Children will be aggressive and think violence is the answer to everything. The point of spanking is to teach the child what they did was wrong but kids don 't get that message when they get physically abused. It teaches them the wrong lesson and they think that it 's okay to spank kids so when they get older they will probably do the same thing. Corporal punishment of a child by a caregiver is legal in every state, but it crosses the line to abuse when a child is injured. Doctors and teachers are required to report to authorities any marks, bruises, cuts or other injuries inflicted on a child (Blythe). Anyone who is a caregiver of a child is legally allowed to hit the child. It only becomes an issue or problem when the child is left with bruises, marks, and injuries. If a doctor or teacher were to see any type of bruise on the child they are required to report it. There is spanking a