Monday, August 19, 2019
BIG Brother and the Internet Essay -- Web security Internet Essays
'BIG Brother' and the Internet The Internet invention has most certainly opened many doors for a faster, more efficient educational medium. One can find information about almost everything, discussions range from daily issues to highly academic and scientific issues. It has indeed helped this generation to be much more productive and efficient. The vast web of electronic media that connects us is heralding a new age of communications. New digital networks offer a tremendous potential to empower individuals in an ever-overpowering world. However, these communications networks are also the subject of significant debate concerning governance and jurisdiction. While the free flow of information is generally a positive thing, serious problems arise when information flows free, problems such as: How to protect children and undesiring adults from exposure to sexually explicit or potentially offensive materials? How to protect intellectual property rights? How to determine which country's laws have jurisdiction over a medium that is nowhere and everywhere at the same time? How best to protect privacy and protect our values? How to ensure that legislators, access providers, and network users do not stifle disagreeable speech? While well-established legal principles and cultural norms give structure and coherence to uses of conventional media, the new digital media do not fit so easily into existing frameworks. The Internet might be helpful in making lives much more dynamic and resourceful, but we also hear hundreds of horror stories related to the Internet. Some people argue that it also has the potential of destroying our generation by exposing it to "pornography" and other "indecent" material readily available on the Intern... ...plamem.html>" (March 28, 97). 4: Biskupic Joan "Exploring the Frontiers of Internal Freedom" (March 17, 97) Document. "<http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/wplate/1997-03/17/037l-03179- idx.html>" (April7, 97). 5: Burton, Scott "The Indecency of the Communication Decency Act" Document."<http://www.isc.rit.edu/~sab0276/stv/cda.html>" (March 28, 97). 6: Fena, Lori , and Godwin, Mike. "Your Constitutional Rights have been Sacrificed for PoliticalExpediency" "<http:www.eff.org/pub/Alerts/cda_020296_eff.statement>" (March 28, 97). 7: Press Release. "Reno v. ACLU: The Road to the Supreme Court" (October 31, 96) Document. <http://www.aclu.org/news/n103196b.html>" (March 28, 97). 8: Webmaster. "ClariNet files suit over Communication Decency Law" Document. "<http://www.clarinet.com/suitepage.html>" (March 28, 97).
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Anthrax Essay -- essays research papers
Anthrax Vaccine: Safe and Effective, or Not? Intro: The Anthrax vaccine is a mandatory shot for military; while some people are willing to take the shot to save their lives, others believe if they take it, it will ruin theirs. I. The Anthrax Disease      A. Anthrax is a bacterial infection caused by Bacillus Anthracis.           1. It primarily affects livestock, but can occasionally spread humans.                a. The infection can be treated, but is almost always fatal.           2. The bacterium produces spores that lay dormant for years in soil and on                animal products.      B. There are three different ways to contract this disease.           1. Cutaneous anthrax is the mildest of the disease.                a. It is contracted through a cut on the skin.           2. Inhalation anthrax is a rare and fatal form of the disease.                a. This form of anthrax is usually fatal, even if treated, resulting in                fatality           3. Another rare and fatal form of the disease is intestinal anthrax.                a. It is caused by eating meat of an animal that has died of anthrax. Transition: Now that you know what causes the disease lets talk about the vaccine. II. The Anthrax Vaccination      A. The vaccine was developed in the 1950’s and 60’s and approved by the FDA in           the 1970’s.           1. The vaccine is a cell- free filtrate, produced from a strain of anthrax that              ... ...        evidence that it protects against inhaled anthrax.                B. I this case the vaccine cannot b given to service members                     without informed consent except during an emergency. Transition: Now that you have heard about the vaccine’s downfall, lets review everything Conclusion: We now know that anthrax is a fatal bacterium that can be contracted without your knowing. We also know that the vaccine can protect you. It has been tested since 1965, because it is the leading biological agent for germ warfare. We also know that it had a lower number of adverse effects in comparison with 3 other vaccines. Even with all that, there are still reasons why some won’t take the vaccine, like a lack of testing. It hasn’t been tested to see if it causes cancer, infertility, or even protects you from inhaled anthrax. Both arguments can end with the same statement, â€Å"I don’t want to get anthrax,†The question is what you are willing to risk to save yourself.
Saturday, August 17, 2019
The Fundamentals of Macroeconomics
Before being able to grasp what economics has to offer it is important to understand the terms and concepts that are frequently used in economic. This paper will consist of two parts, part one will explain six terms; gross domestic product (GDP), real GDP, nominal GDP, unemployment rate, inflation rate, and finally interest rate. Part two will consist of describing how three economic activities, such as purchasing of groceries, massive layoff of employees, and decrease in taxes. There will also be a few different examples that affect government, households, and businesses.(Part one)Start by describing the six economic terms.Gross domestic product (GDP) is the most used economic measure when it comes to determining the value of goods and services that are produced in a given year (Colander, 2010). There are four categories to GDP's consumption, government spending, investments, and net exports. The GDP reflects the total amount of both goods and services that were bought and sold, and there for can measure a country standard of living. It does not account for any goods or services that they may have in other countries.Real gross domestic product (RDP) is the final value that is given to a product or service based on the current economy. This type of GDP adjusts with the price levels in order to produce a more accurate number. Nominal gross domestic product (NDP) is the gross domestic product without taking into account inflation and can be misleading because appear to be higher than it really is because it has not been adjusted for inflation. Unemployment rate is the amount of people that are not employed and are looking for work. This reflects only the people who are ability to work, willing to work, and are looking for employment.Inflation rate is a level price of goods and services increasing. Inflation causes the value of the dollar to decrease meaning that people have less purchasing power. The increase in this rate is usually calculated annually, but can a lso be requested monthly.Interest rate is the percentage charged on loans and is charged annually. The higher the risk the borrower is the higher the interest rate this could be because of past experiences, late payments or not paying at all. If the borrower is low risk, then the interest rate will be low.(Part two)There are many activates that affect businesses, household, and government economies, here are three and examples of how purchasing of groceries, massive layoff of employees, and decrease in taxes. The purchasing of groceries by customers controls supply and demand. When the economy is good customers buy more there is greater chances of businesses making a profit, and when the economy is in a recession customer buying power is low. The recession and customers not buying groceries businesses will have to lay people off.The purchasing of groceries also affects the government because the government receives sales tax on the purchase of these items. A massive layoff of employ ees will cause the unemployment rate to go up, and when people have been layoff they purchase less and collect unemployment. This affects businesses because demand of products and services are down, and they are not making as mush product as they once did. The household is effect with no money coming in they cannot pay their bills, or supply what the family needs to live. The government is affected because the people that were laid off are collecting unemployment from the government.Decrease in taxes happens sometimes when the government has to intervene to slow down or try to reverse a recession. The government uses this policy to lower taxes to get people more money to spend so businesses can make products. When a business is producing products they are able to buy their workers and hopefully be able to hire more workers to help meet demand. With the decrease of taxes the government will have less money coming in for schools, to fix the streets, etc.Economics is a constant cycle p eople have to work to make money to buy things that the household needs. Businesses need workers to produce products or services, which they are paid to do. The government relies on the taxes from workers, and businesses. Whenever money is spent there is going to be someone at a loss and someone at a gain, but it seems to always to come around full circle.
Peak Oil and Global Warming Essay
There is now much debate regarding whether the remaining oil supply can last to realize the worst of the negative effects of global warming. According to one controversial analysis done by scientists at the University of Uppsala based in Sweden, all fuel will be burned even before temperature levels become exceedingly hot (Coghlan, 2003). Although estimates on the remaining oil reserves are not the same, it is believed that oil will reach its peak by as early as 2010. The scientists say that combined oil and gas reserves amount to only 3,500 barrels which is less than the very optimistic figures from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (Coghlan, 2003). On the other hand, IPCC scientists defended that even if the oil reserves is not enough to constitute the more devastating effects of global warming, the burning of coal will more than make up for the deficiency. Nonetheless, both sides agree that burning coal is even more harmful (Coghlan, 2003). In a worst-case scenario, it is depicted that there is still 18,000 billion barrels of oil left but according to University of Uppsala geologist Kjell Aleklett that claim is â€Å"completely unrealistic†and that even the expected 8,000 billion barrels is more than double the remaining amount estimated by Sweden. The IPCC, however still argues that their predictions still has grounds using â€Å"a much broader and internationally accepted range of oil and gas estimates†and even if reserves of oil and gas do run out, there is still huge reserves of coal that may be burned for fuel or be converted into gasoline notwithstanding the fact that coal is much more harmful to the environment because it produces more emissions and particulates (Coghlan, 2003). Peak oil and global warming are two related problems and solving these two problems requires the same measures which is by reducing reliance on fossil hydrocarbon fuels. For America, coal, oil, and natural should be eliminated as a primary source of energy (Holson, 2007). Aside from being an energy source, oil is also being used as feedstock, particularly for the manufacturing of â€Å"plastics, pharmaceuticals, synthetic rubber, asphalt, lubricants, nitrogenous fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides†. It is also an important resource for the military especially during periods of war (Holson, 2007). There are many other alternative sources of energy that produce basically no emissions and are renewable. Such energy sources include solar energy, wind energy, hydroelectric energy, and geothermal energy. These forms of energy sources have already proved efficient and effective yet many refuse to market it because of greater profit earned from oil and other exhaustible fossil fuels. Nuclear energy is another efficient energy source but this should be given much thought because nuclear power provides all sorts of other risks. The Kyoto Protocol is also a good recourse as it will aggregately reduce greenhouse gas emissions of countries that have committed to the protocol. Being one of the top producers of greenhouse gases, the US should also ratify the protocol, as currently, it is the only country that refuses to ratify the protocol after Australia agreed last year. US President George W. Bush that said reducing emissions would be bad for the US economy. However, failure of the US to do so will be bad for the rest of the world. Be it peak oil or global warming. The best recourse would be finding alternative energy sources. This would reduce oil consumption rate and oil will be available for a longer time avoiding the possibility of an extreme energy crisis. Alternative energy sources that literally produce no emissions would also be more beneficial to the environment.
Friday, August 16, 2019
Historical and Scientific Perspectives on Homosexuality Essay
Historical and scientific perspectives have molded homosexuality, and the way homosexuals are viewed by themselves and others. In past western society ancient Greece, homosexual teachings were performed by the Greek society, and were thought of as a societal norm Younger males were normally seen in a homosexual relationship with an older male, these types of relations were common in ancient Greece. The way Greek perceived life back in ancient times it is starting to ease up in our modern time, and homosexuality is beginning to be viewed as if we were in ancient times especially among western countries. In modern time homosexuals are learning to cope with their homosexuality, as it is beginning to be seen as something normal that has been here since ancient times for thousands of years. Homosexuality in the ancient Greek society shows that even back then people were aware of the different sexual behaviors and feelings certain people might have, and even back then they accepted people’s individual sexual choices. In modern day when a homosexual is first coming out and announcing his way of life he/she should be proud of what they are doing because it is something that has been going on for thousands of years, and is not something to be ashamed and secretive about. Homosexuals should not let judgmental people get to them by saying you were born that way or the environment influenced you to behave like that. The truth is the truth and you are who you are nothing can or will change that is if we stay true to our self. This means as long as we know where we came from and who we ar e why should we let peoples words bother us because we know the truth about our self. As we move along, back to ancient Greece and now also including the people of ancient Rome’s homosexuality. In both of the cities ancient Greece/Rome men would travel the streets of the city looking for someone to rock their world. On top of roaming the streets for some good quality male bonding they would dress and act as if they were not men, but female. This was look at in disapproval and unacceptable that is why when the religion of Christianity increased and started to grow the downfall of ancient Rome followed, and homosexual relations were banned. The new found law prohibited sexual behavior that was not found normal. Normal sexual behavior being male-female and marriage any other acts of sex, and the people would be punished for their actions. This law continued for many years to follow, and people were committed and punished if they broke the law. Unfortunately this did not stop homosexuals from expressing their homosexuality they just became more discrete about it, so they would not see punishment from their actions. Today, most modern religions still do not approve of homosexuality seeing it as a sin. Some countries are very religious, and prohibit homosexual activity; those that are found guilty will be severely punished. The view that is seen on homosexuality in the modern day has been seen for thousands of years. That is why some homosexuals are afraid to accept their sexuality because of religious reasons (punishment from god) and society (disapproval). The hatred that is forced upon gay individuals has made it very difficult for them to be accepted among society. In our society it is normal when found to be gay to be criticized for it, and deal with harsh treatment that a straight person accepted in society would not have to deal with. When found to be a gay individual they even may have to change their church to one that accepts the view of a homosexuality. When growing up we learn that homosexuality is unnatural and not the right way of life that is not the case it is completely natural. Unfortunately many times in the beginning a homosexual might not know what they are experiencing wondering why they are different, and if it is alright they could grow to hate them self for it thinking that they are not normal. In modern time many countries still punish homosexuals, while others are more accepting they just deny homosexuals the right to marry due to religious reasons. That is all slowly changing and I think in the future will be seen differently. The scientific views on homosexuality are homosexuals inborn or is it caused due to environmental influences. That is a question that have been asked and wondered for many years, but in modern days there is evidence directing us towards homosexuality developing as an inborn characteristic. Research done on both identical and fraternal twins, show that there are higher concordance rates of gay monozygotic twins. Rathus, Nevid, and Fichner-Rathus, (2005) report that about â€Å"52% of identical (MZ) twin pairs were found to be â€Å"concordant†(in agreement) for a gay male sexual orientation, compared with 22% of fraternal (DZ) twins and only 11% of adoptive brothers†(p. 312). Also, evidence has suggested that hormonal influences could be responsible for differences in sexual orientation. Rathus, Nevid, and Fichner-Rathus (2005) explain that prenatal sex hormones be responsible for tissues in the brain to think sexually one way, but for genital development to be the other way. Also, structural examinations on the brains of heterosexual and homosexual males have provided speculative evidence that a part of the hypothalamus in gay males is smaller than that region of the hypothalamus in heterosexual males. Developing an understanding from the scientific view point on homosexuality has helped homosexuals understand why they are the way they are. Before scientific studies provided the information that homosexuality could be due to inborn, many individuals believed that people decided to be homosexuals. After the scientific studies though that thought is seen as false, and the reason why people become homosexuals is because they are born that way. Homosexuals do not choose their sexual path they are born having sexual arousals from the same sex. Homosexual people do not hate them self as much knowing the facts from the scientific studies that they were born that way, rather than choose to be that way now they feel it is how god wanted they to be and they can accept them self’s. Out The Closet and Accepting Who they are The biggest goal to overcome when being a homosexual is when the perfect time to come out the closet, and admit to our family and friends (hey I’m a homosexual). Not only is finding the perfect time hard to find, but also finding the right words to use when telling them you are not just going to say hey I’s a homosexual. Another difficult obstacle to overcome is accepting the different view we will see from society when coming out. Many homosexuals are afraid to tell friends and family because they have not completely grasped the concept of what they are. This is especially seen in someone who is transformed from heterosexual to homosexual. Another thing that bobbles around their thoughts when coming out is that they will lose important people in their life or lose their job. Coming out or letting people into your homosexuality is a very challenging experience that is one of the most difficult task a homosexual will face. One of the most common deaths an early homosexual faces is suicide normally for one of two reasons understanding their new sexuality or the fear of coming out to other people about it. Once a homosexual takes control of their power and accepts the fact they are living a life of homosexuality they can adjust to what society expects from them. After they can accept what society thinks of them they can form a relationship with an intimate partner, and develop a perfect homosexual lifestyle. Historical and Scientific Views Reflected on Personal Sexuality One’s personal sexuality has been molded and determined by history and scientific views that are seen in one’s life culture or society. Historical and scientific views reflected the way people see their own personal sexuality for the better. It has helped homosexuals better understand why they are the way they are, and they are not different that throughout time there has been people of the same sexuality facing the same problems. In modern time the punishment might not be as harsh as back in ancient time, but it is still there and seen. Homosexuality is still frowned upon by many, and many also criticize and harass homosexuals because of their difference in behavior. In the future with homosexuality become more open and known about to the public I think that schools should teach about it at an earlier age to help the younger society better understand it. Homosexuality in most cases is misjudged and treated in the wrong way if people learned about it at an earlier age t hey could learn to have a kinder understanding, and be more accepted of homosexuals. Another benefit of teaching it at an earlier age is that it would give people the benefit of know why they are the way they are, and if they feel they are different.Homosexuality has been around for thousands of year before Christianity it was accepted freely, but after the religion started growing rules banned homosexuality from being free. Homosexuals had to live in the shadows hiding who they were afraid of society, and how they would be treated and the punishment they would receive if found to be homosexuals. Throughout time the harsh treatment homosexuals faced has not ended it is becoming more in the open, and they are beginning to be accepted for who they are. Homosexuality is not always chosen it is sometimes something we are born being we cannot help they way we feel, but that does not make us different. Our sexuality might not be the same as everyone else’s, but neither are their sexuality to ours. Reference Rathus, S.A., Nevid, J.S., and Fichner-Rathus, L. (2005). Human sexuality in a world of diversity. (6th ed.) Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Patient Falls
Preventing Patient Falls in Inpatient Hospital Settings Introduction For the most part, hospitals are places where one comes for healing and it is place where our clients should feel safe and away from harm. Nurses have an important role as a patient advocate and are to provide all clients with safe, compassionate, and quality care at all times. Nonetheless, the hospital can also be a dangerous place for inpatients. It is a foreign environment to clients and there may be alterations in their medical condition in regards to their physical and/or mental status.With this said, there is a need to improve upon how we care for our clients, especially those who are at most risk for various incidents. Background Certain facilities have dedicated efforts such as research and quality improvement teams to prevent incidents, yet patient falls still make up the largest category of reported incidents in hospitals (The Joint Commission, 2007). As nurses, we see fall prevention programs such as usin g fall risk assessment tools to determine how many our patients are at risk for falls.In the inpatient setting, nurses also implement bed alarms and encourage â€Å"fall risk†clients to use the call light especially while getting up and out of bed. Although these tools ensure some security for our clients, it is not enough as it does not fully protect our patient population. This problem is significant to nursing as it compromises the safety and well-being of our clients, affects the length of stay, and also affects finances for both the patient and the hospital. So the question is: how can we promote safer hospital stays and prevent inpatient falls? Method This exploratory study used a qualitative research design that was conducted in one acute, medical adult unit (32 beds) in a Michigan medical center. The clinical nurses who currently work in the study unit were recruited for interviews. †(Tzeng, 2008) These participants were asked for their input regarding how and why patient falls occur in the hospital setting according to their perspective, and to think of ways to implement new regulations and ways to prevent inpatient falls. (Tzeng, 2008) It would be ideal to create a fall prevention team that includes current staff who are directly involved n the care of clients. This team would include physicians, former or current staff nurses, assisting personnel, and other healthcare members since they all spend time at the patients’ bedside, and they may have insight into areas of improvement that others may not see. An interdisciplinary effort would be an overall better approach when dealing with precautions that would affect the facility’s policy and procedure changed in the facility. (Hughes, 2007) All of the members input about healthcare improvement may be highly constructive and would greatly benefit safety goals.The Joint Commission emphasizes that a better physical design of facilities may also lead to improved healthcare outco mes such as fewer patient falls. (Joint Commission, 2007) Results â€Å"The primary root causes of fatal falls as reported by healthcare organizations involved inadequate staff communication, incomplete orientation and training, incomplete patient assessment and reassessment, environmental issues, incomplete care planning, unavailable or delayed care provision, and inadequate organizational culture of safety. (Joint Commission, 2007) If a client is high-fall-risk, implementing continuous observation by bringing in a sitter for the patient would be best. If there are patients that are demented or confused, it may be ideal to inform and educate the family to visit and care for them as much as possible so that it provides the client with a familiar environment. If there are bed alarms set for certain patients, maybe it is best to group these patients closer to nurses station so the responsible nurse to could hear the alarms better and react faster.Other findings include communicating changes in the patients’ behavior and conditions to oncoming nurses during shift change. Educating the family is always beneficial, so that they know about details such as non-slip socks, the importance of keeping the side rails up, and using the call light in concerns. Considering all over-the-counter and prescription drugs the client is taking is important, as well as considering the physical environment and thoroughly assessing and re-assessing clients for any physical and mental changes.Ensuring that the client’s room and restroom are clean, dry, and free of clutter should also be a concern. For nurses especially, we should not also rely on housekeeping or the aides. If we could go out our way, just for a few minutes, this may just be enough sometimes to keep our patients out of harm’s way. Ethical Considerations People with autonomy have the freedom to choose between multitudes of options. (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2008) Autonomy is the ability to freely choo se amongst a variety of options that would have certain effects on a person’s life.Most of the clients that seek healthcare are independent in caring for themselves or formerly independent in self-care. At times, nurses encounter clients who seem to be stubborn or not enthused with the idea that now at a certain time of their life, they are not able to do things completely by themselves. Their autonomy has now been compromised by medical or other conditions they have. Nurses encounter problems with certain people who do not call for help or have healthcare personnel assist them when they really are at risk for falls and other injuries.If a problem such as this arises, clients should be made aware that nurses and aides are always willing to help even if it is just a trip to the restroom. Clients should be re-assured that they are not being bothersome and ask for assistance at any time during their patient stay. This is how nurses should promote beneficence and ensure trust amo ngst our patient population. Conclusion Ensuring client safety should be the main concern for nurses and healthcare professionals. Although the Joint Commission has addressed problems with client falls, there is always room for improvement.Nurses should be known as bedside leaders because out of the rest of the interdisciplinary team, we know our patients the best and they are our priority. References Burkhardt, M. A. , & Nathaniel, A. K. (2008). Ethics and Issues in Contemporary Nursing (3rd ed. , pp. 452-453). Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning. Hart-Hughes, S. , Quigley, P. , Palacios, P. , Bulat, T. , & Scott, S. (2007 ). An Interdisciplinary Approach to Reducing Fall Risks and Falls. Journal of Rehabilitation, 70(4), 46-51.Retrieved February 9, 2012, from CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Joint Commission, The. (2007). National Patient Safety Goals  Facts about the 2007 National Patient Safety Goals. Retrieved February 7, 2012, from http://www. jointcommission. org/ PatientSafety/NationalPatientSafetyGoals/07_npsg_facts. htm Tzeng, H. , & Yin, C. (2008, June). Nurses' Solutions to Prevent Inpatient FallsHospital Settings [Electronic version]. Nursing Economics, 26(3), 179-187. Retrieved February 9, 2012, from CINAHL Plus with Full Text.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Struggle for Individuality Essay
The autobiography, Black Boy, follows the life of Richard Wright and his experiences as a young African American teenager facing racism in the South. Throughout the novel, Wright focuses on the oppression society inflicts upon him. He finds difficulty in remaining employed because he does not act â€Å"black†or submissive enough. He is physically and emotionally attacked for being African American as the majority of the South contains an extremely racist culture. Wright does not even have his family to rely on for support because they criticize and beat him as well. Differences within his family along with incidences of violent attacks and disrespectful language plague Wright and try to deplete his confidence and identity. However, Wright simultaneously finds measures within these aspects to gain back his individuality and happiness. He fights back through violence to uphold his right of walking safely in Memphis; he uses all of his ability to avoid beatings from his family, and he finds joy and sense of worth when he writes stories. Ultimately, Wright struggles to keep his sense of identity in a society that degrades his persona, but manages to obtain his individuality in the end. Through violence, Wright begins to understand that society is laying out a persona for him to accept that is not initially his. In the South, he learns he must accept the role as the meek and respectful â€Å"nigger.†Wright experiences violence one day that teaches him how whites expect him to act in the South. Wright recounts, â€Å"The car stopped and the white men piled out and stood over me. ‘Nigger, ain’t you learned no better sense’n that yet?’ asked the man who hit me. ‘Ain’t you learned to say sir to a white man yet?’†(181). Wright is smashed between the eyes with a glass bottle when he does not answer a white man by â€Å"sir†. The repetition of questions from the white man illustrates the authority the white man feels over Wright. The white man questions Wright as if he is an uneducated child. His word choice of â€Å"sense†portrays that saying â€Å"sir†to a white man should be common sense. After this incident, Wright â€Å"[learns] rapidly how to watch white people, to observe their every move, every fleeting expression, how to interpret what was said and what left unsaid†(181). He treats and studies white people delicately to ensure that he does not upset the balance between the higher citizen and lower citizen, and thus does not have to suffer their brutal consequences. As Wright learns he is unable to act naturally, society gradually shapes him into what it thinks he should be. Wright recalls, â€Å"all the violent expressions of hate and hostility that had seeped into us from our surroundings, came now to the surface to guide our actions†(83). Wright’s utilization of the â€Å"h†alliteration in â€Å"hate†and â€Å"hostility†emphasizes a heavy â€Å"h†sound to reinforce the thickness and greatness of their conflict, that their differences were not just on the surface, but blood deep. The â€Å"s†alliteration in the word, â€Å"seeped,†â€Å"surroundings,†and â€Å"surface†creates a low, rattling â€Å"s†sound to create a sense of savagery in their actions. As Wright grows, he begins to experience the segregation between white and black. He also begins to accept the role of an angry African American that society casts him to play. He learns that he must act as a quiet and obedient â€Å"nigger†as he is constantly beaten whenever he acts otherwise. Wright’s family also takes away his freedom to be himself as they consistently beat him. In one incidence, he tells of the time his Uncle Tom was infuriated with the way he speaks. His uncle says, â€Å"I never heard a sassier black imp than you in all my life†(157). Wright does not understand what he said or what he did wrong; yet his uncle is persistent in beating him, believing that Wright does not know how to live with people. Wright asks â€Å"How long was I going to be beaten for trifles and less than trifles?†(158). Wright’s questioning of time illustrates the weariness he feels toward his family. He cannot endure any more beatings over trivial matters. Because of his family members, Wright is trapped in his grandmother’s home. He is unable to speak freely as his family members find him impolite. The one place that Richard Wright should feel comfortable, if nowhere else, is his own home, but he is so alienated by his family that he cannot. Wright feels that the only way he can escape his mental imprisonment is by moving to the North, thus creating the North as a symbol of hope. Language functions as a powerful device that portrays white women attacking Wright’s individuality. When Wright searches for jobs and interacts with white people for the first time, he experiences a double consciousness: how he views himself and how the white women view him. The language that white interviewers use is insulting and depicts how unintelligent they perceive him. After a few interviews Wright â€Å"quickly [learns] the reality- a Negro’s reality- of the white world†(148) as being thought of as dumb witted. The first woman illogically asks Wright if he steals to that white he thinks, â€Å"Only an idiot would have answered: Yes ma’am. I steal†(146). When Wright answers. â€Å"Lady, if I was a thief, I’d never tell anybody,†the lady bluntly states, â€Å"Now, look, we don’t want a sassy nigger around here†(145). The first interviewer seems to believe that black people do not have enough sense to lie abou t stealing, even when they are being interviewed for a job position. She considers a black person with common sense as a â€Å"sassy nigger.†The last interviewer finds it appalling that Wright cannot milk a cow as she mentions, â€Å"You mean to stand there, nigger, and tell me that you live in Jackson and don’t know how to milk a cow?†(149). She places Wright in the stereotype that all black boys from Jackson know how to milk a cow. The fact that she demanded an answer in surprise illustrates the disbelief she feels in finding one black person that cannot milk a cow. The white women stereotype Richard as an uneducated black boy with no level of intelligence and skill. They insult his knowledge and strip him of his individuality believing that all black boys are the same. The white women demean him causing him to leave every interview. The portrayal of the white women labeling Richard Wright as another dumb â€Å"nigger†illustrates how narrow-minded and similar they are to each other. Within Black Boy, language illustrates the racial resentment that the white women feel towards Wright for the color of his skin. Language acts as a device seizing Richard’s individuality and personal respect he obtains for himself. Although Richard Wright’s relationship with violence, family and language teach him that he was no power as an individual, Wright rebels and utilizes these same aspects in an effort to seek some sort of control. Wright’s mother is the first to offer him power through violence. Wright recalls, â€Å"I was baffled. My mother was telling me to fight, a thing that she had never done before†(17). After Wright fights off a group of boys with a stick and delivers his mother’s groceries he says, â€Å"on my way back I kept my stick poised for instant use, but there was not a single boy in sight. That night I won the right to the streets of Memphis†(18). Although violence acts as a method to teach him of his lower social stance in society, he is able to gain personal power though this same violence. After bearing those boys, he is able to walk freely by himself in peace. In addition, Wright gains power within his family as he refuses to be whipped. After his Aunt Addie whips him in class for walnuts that another boy had left he says, â€Å"I was sure of one thing: I would not be beaten by her again†(107). Many times throughout the novel Richard’s family relatives endeavor to beat him, but he refuses and with that gains power over them and individuality because he will not let them lay a single hand upon him. Wright recalls, â€Å"Aunt Addie took her defeat hard [†¦] I was conscious that she had descended to my own emotional level in her effort to rule me, and my respect for her sank†(110). After Aunt Addie tried to beat him for a fault he did not commit and fails, he begins to feel that he is on the same level of an adult. Furthermore, Wright is able to obtain power and individuality again through language. When Richard is younger he writes a passage about an Indian girl; he says, â€Å"I had never in my life done anything like it; I had made something, no matter how bad it was; and it was mine†(120). Afterwards, Richard shows his written passage to his neighbor and â€Å"her inability to grasp what [he] had done or was trying to somehow gratified [him]†(121). Being able to write gives Richard a strong sense of individuality since it is his creation. Writing the passage also gives Wright a surge of empowerment, as his neighbor cannot fathom why or how he did it. Throughout Black Boy, Richard Wright is inhibited as a person. He is expected to act as a subservient African American. He is insulted and degraded for merely possessing a different color of skin. Wright is restrained by society and learns this oppression when he is violently beaten by white people as well as his family. Wright quickly learns how white people view him as inferior when they insult his intelligence and stereotype him as a person that will never amount to anything. Richard Wright is constantly belittled as a person, but he uses these same aspects to gain back his power as an individual. He fights a range of people, from a gang of kids trying to take his money to his own family relatives, in order to keep his sense of power. He writes short stories that bring him happiness and confidence and respect. Black Boy offers the life story of Richard Wright’s battle against violence, family differences, and insulting language to uphold his individuality and freedom to be himself against all forces.
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