The Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance was a period of time when African-American art progressed and expanded. Many people began to listen to, watch and appreciate arts written and preformed by African-Americans. The Harlem Renaissance started after WWI and lasted until the middle of the Great Depression in the 1930s. There were a few main leaders of the Renaissance and they made great impacts on the way African-American arts were seen. Everyone, even Caucasians, began to listen and appreciate African-American arts.

Some of the main leaders of the Harlem Renaissance were Counter Cullen, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, James Weldon Johnson, Duke Ellington and Jack Johnson. All of these people changed the way that America saw African-Americans and their creativity in art. Each of the people that lead the Harlem Renaissance was not looking for someone to pity them, but someone to simply listen to them. Each of these people showed things about their emotions and feelings in their literature.

Langston Hughes' poetic works seemed to be designed with support for the African-American race and hope for the race's problems. Other poems of his were somewhat written with sadness and urgency for the African-American race to follow their individual dreams. The work of James Weldon Johnson showed people that no matter who you are, you might worship the same God as someone that you sincerely dislike. He showed people that religion might not have anything to do with race, if he meant to or not. Jack Johnson's work seemed to explain the point that everyone has emotions and anyone can write about then. His work showed that anyone can find a certain thing beautiful and that race, or any other factors, have nothing to do with that.

The leaders of the Renaissance changed the way that American Society saw African-Americans for the better and they would have not been able to do it if they were not united. The leaders of the Renaissance made success available for other African-American artists. The leaders of the Harlem Renaissance began preforming in underground clubs in front of both Caucasians and African-Americans. The few people that enspired all other African-Americans to show their creativity and true feelings really changed the way that African-Americans were seen. If it were not for these people the Harlem Renaissance would have never happened and some things might be different today. Anyone can express themselves some way or the other. The Harlem Renaissance was the event that broke through the wall holding African-American arts back.

A Dream Within a Dream:: Edgar Allan Poe

Take this kiss upon the brow!

And, in parting from you now,

Thus much let me avow

You are not wrong, who deem

That my days have been a dream;

Yet if hope has flown away

In a night, or in a day,

In a vision, or in none,

Is it therefore the less gone?

All that we see or seem

Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar

Of a surf-tormented shore,

And I hold within my hand

Grains of the golden sand

How few! yet how they creep

Through my fingers to the deep,

While I weep - while I weep!

O God! can I not grasp

Them with a tighter clasp?

O God! can I not save

One from the pitiless wave?

Is all that we see or seem

But a dream within a dream?

Politics. Ick. =(

So the assignment is to write about how I group myself between Liberals and Conservatives. Honestly, I didn't know any specific details about the two affiliations before today, and I am neither. Out of ten different issues, I was with the Conservative side for five and I was with the Liberals side for the other five. This is why I hate groups. I am neither Conservative or Liberal. I could be considered a little bit of both, but I don't want to be a part of either.

Conservationists apparently believe that abortion is wrong. In general, after weeks of research, I came to my personal conclusion that abortion is wrong, too. Liberals apparently think that abortion is fine, and should be supported. Conservationists apparently think that the death penalty is great. After watching videos and researching the death penalty a little bit myself, I believe that it is hypocritical and pointless. Liberals apparently think that the death penalty is wrong, so I side with them there.

Conservatives are supposedly aiming for a healthy environment and a clean world. I agree with them on this issue. I also agree with Conservatives on the issue of immigration. They apparently support LEGAL immigration, but do not support people that immigrate illegally. Conservatives apparently believe that taxes should stay at the rate they are and I agree with that. Anyone of age can get a job, unless disabled, which there are help programs for. The last thing that I agree with Conservatives on is there opinion on welfare issues. Conservatives apparently think that long-term welfare is unnecessary. I agree.

This is not all that I feel on the issue but I don't have access to a computer at home, so this will have to do until I get a chance to finish. All in all, I am independent. Not Conservative. Not Liberal. I am Heather and I believe what I think is right.

My Views on African Apartheid

The South African Apartheid reminds me of America before the Civil Rights Movement because of the segregation. There were many things that Colored people were unable to do in America that the South Africans were also unable to do. There were certain spots and businesses designated for a certain race only and if the colored people were to violate those designations they would be punished. The laws that were in place in South America were just in-human, as were the laws that were in place in America.

I think that segregation occurs naturally, but if the people doing it would have thought about what it causes and prevents they wouldn't do it. To be a good person and not segregate or abuse you must have a conscience, but some people obviously think they are too good for that. The South African Apartheid relates to America in the segregated state because the same type of people caused both of these events and unjust things to happen. Some people who thought they were better than everyone else decided to take action and show how they felt. Not only do I think that it is wrong for anyone to consider themselves better than another person, but I know that it is wrong to treat people the way that these people were treated during these times.

No one should be neglected, mistreated or abused. In every way possible, every person that was not Caucasian was treated horribly. This should have never happened and every part of me hopes that it never will again. Yes, people did these things in the past, but people have to stop living the past and the future and start living the present. Segregation will never be over because a lot of people still live in the past, and we have to get over that and become a global generation. We have to cooperate with every person on Earth.

My NEW old Self (again). =)

My New Year's resolution is to become my old self all over again. Over the past year and a half I let my life change course and I gave up most of the things I loved about life. It was a very stupid thing to let happen because I so easily could have stopped it. I was just afraid to. I wouldn't take the stand for myself that I needed to keep being who I really am. I let someone change me and finally I got sick of it. Now I am determined to become myself again.

Before I changed I was not only a very talkative and loving person, but I had about ten personalities. Slowly, but surely, I see everything about my old self starting to come back alive. Some things, like being a tree-hugger, stuck through the bad changes with me. I used to have a lot of friends, and I became very anti-social, but now I am getting all of my friends back without even trying and I absolutely love it.

I am becoming my old self again. I will let nobody stand in my way and if they try then I will stop being their friend. I am becoming more confident and talkative every day now. I surprised myself when I realized how I let one small thing corrupt me like it did. All in all I accept the fact that it is my fault and I understand that I HAVE to fix that. I will be any one's friend as long as they have qualities that I can trust and be sure of. I am becoming my old self all over again and the process is quite amusing.

Another New Year's Resolution for me is to become more collected and open-minded. I am growing up and I will allow my mind to go with me. I am organizing my brain and I highly encourage it for other people. These are my New Year's resolutions and I am going to accomplish them. I am who I want to be and no one will change that again.