Black Power Mix Tape

These ideas (civil rights, black power) are further described in the flim Black Power Mix Tape. The Black Power Mix tape is a documentary that explores the black community made by swedish filmers in the years 1967 to 1975 by showing commentary and footage from and about these years. The main ideas of this film are the

Summary of Workin on the Chain Gang

Blog #1

In this blog I will be discussing the introduction to Walter Mosley’s Workin on the Chain Gang. In this introduction Mosley states that he realized as he wrote the words that he did not want to just focus on racism as an issue in our country (Mosley 15). He wanted to address the main underlying problems in our society that affect us all as a whole. The economic struggle, such as unemployment or health benefits are something that affects all Americans equally regardless of race.

Mosley writes in Workin on the Chain Gang that government decisions are based on nothing more than to benefit profit and power (Mosley 5). He brings up the fact that this profit or money is something we all need. It is our one vice and we are completely dependent upon it. Even if we wanted to walk away we couldn’t because the result would be devastating (Mosley 6). We have seen advancement in so many areas of society over the years such as mankind reaching the moon. Yet the man, whether black or white, in the slums of America still waits for his piece of the ‘American dream’ something he may or may not reach. Despite these advancements people are still suffering.

Mosley continues on to say that “we are all part of an economic machine…it is the machine, not race or gender or even nationality that drives us” (Mosley 12). In a society where capitalism reigns over society Americans are no longer just people but instead units of labor (Mosley 14). This is something we must come to understand before any change can be made. Americans are bound by chains that once may have only pertained to Blacks but now also restraint whites in the same way. “The different races have become neighbors, co-workers, and cousins” (Mosley 10). This is exactly what Mosley has chosen to give his attention to, America and its society in its entirety.  Yes, racism plays a big role in it all but it is not the only problem America faces.

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Blog Assignment Two, Archives Visit.

Yesterday we visited the La Guardia and Wagner Archives, which is a place where many old and important items are kept and preserved. In these archives you can find artifacts, stories, speeches, or photographs pertaining to some important times in our history. During our visit there we went over what could be some of the different types of sources and what that may include. Things such as diary's/journals, video footage, or recorded speeches qualify as primary sources. We discussed how one may approach such documents, first noting whether it is a primary, secondary, or tertiary perspective being given or when and where this piece took place.

The document we looked at while at the La Guardia and Wagner Archives was a speech given by Mayor Robert F. Wagner on Wednesday July 22, 1964 at 6:45 pm on CBS-TV channel 2. This speech was in regards to the riots that had taken place in Harlem and other parts of the city a few days prior. Mayor Wagner starts by explaining that although he was away he was quickly informed of the riots and returned home. Upon his return he himself went to the streets to see firsthand what happened and the results of the riots. The evidence of the immense violence that had taken place was still evident although some of it had already been cleaned. He quickly establishes his stance on the riots being that law and order is what is of utmost importance and beneficial to all those involved. Mayor Wagner says how far the African American community has come due to law and order mentioning things such as the Supreme Court decision of ’54 in Brown v. Board of Ed and the recent passing of the Civil Rights Bill. He also goes on to say that without law and order not only would society not be where it is now but would be much worse. He also states that such acts of violence and chaos, such as the riots that had taken place, will not be tolerated and participants will face consequences.

Mayor Wagner ends his speech by speaking to those in the affected communities, the ghettos and low income areas. While visiting these communities he saw both the faces of the people he has tried to help and also those of the children of broken homes ready to fight, full of anger. He explains that he understands the perils of what these communities face and what may be the “..inevitable conflict between black and white.” Although law and order is an important part of today’s civilization, I think it may be a little naïve of the Mayor to think that will be the ultimate solution to this conflict. One may ask how much hope and tolerance can anyone be expected to have when they are plagued by the same hardships everyday with no end in sight? Yes the African American community has seen advancement by the hands of law and order but it has also seen disappointment at the hands of the same system.