You’ll have to be tough to live in your American skin
When we go to school or to our jobs we don’t have many worries. The worries we could have could be “Oh no, there’s a test today” or “Oh no, my boss wants me to do some paperwork” but what if we had to live in fear instead of worries? If in the morning we should fear to go to school or job because of the place we are living in, that we had to say properly goodbye to your family every day, what would that do to us?
”The Baddest Dog in Harlem” is writen by Walter Dean Myers and it is a fictional short story. The short story takes place in Harlem, at 145th street[1]. It could be in a year not far from the present, because of the technology used in the short story, such as cars[2] and
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The song “American Skin (41 shots)” by Bruce Springsteen also gives a good perspective of how it is in America. He sings “No secret my friend, you can get killed just for living in, your American Skin[9]” The similarities in the two texts is the theme. They are both trying to show how the world is every day for some people in America and to have an influence on us, make us think about those who aren’t as fortunate as we are and how we should appreciate our way of living.
I really think the short story and the song as well gives you something to think about. I believe the environment the narrator lives in makes him tough. When you’re living in a ghetto or an environment which is rough, you’ll have to be tough even though you on the inside is falling apart. And I think that’s what the narrator goes through. They are used to guns and crime, therefore are they not so afraid of the police and the situation and also the kids have it like this. But when the narrator sees the boy, he doesn’t want to speak about it. It’s sad and it seems like this happens too often and this are the moments were the environment have made you tough.
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[1] ”The Baddest Dog in Harlem” pp. 18, line 10.
[2] ”The Baddest Dog in Harlem” pp. 16, line 27.
[3] ”The Baddest Dog in Harlem” pp. 19, line 29.
[4] ”The baddest Dog in Harlem” pp. 15, line 30.
[5] ”The Baddest Dog in Harlem” pp. 18, line 14.
[6] “The Baddest Dog in Harlem” pp. 15, line 5.
[7]
In this TED talk video, the necessity of it is because in general public it is told to ignore fear instead of using it as a tool in life, which prompts us for not being well prepared with having something going on all around us. Additionally, our disposition to accept control and we compose more clear however nonsensical worries as opposed to the more honest yet sensible ones. Karen Thompson Walker uses cases of fear to portray this from standard society today, including critical instances of affairs the world appearances, for instance, moderate ecological change and coronary ailment, getting her point across to her group that she has identified as her audience, which is 21st century Americans.
Everybody has a different perspective on fear and everybody is affected differently. The Mental Health Foundation stated that, “Fear can last for a short time and then pass but it can also last much longer and stay with us. In some cases it can take over our lives, affecting appetite, sleep, and concentration for long periods of time. Fear stops us from travelling, going to work or school, or even leaving the house.” This quote shows that fear does not affect people as much as it does to others. Although, fear can affect people for a long time which can cause them to stay isolated from others. There are many types of fears and some examples of fears include: the fear of the number 13, the fear of spiders, the fear of heights, and many others. There are hundreds of fears and many people have these fears and everybody is affected differently.
This parallels real life and post-apocalyptic life because it shows the struggles of everyday life. At the beginning of the story, the four kids described the neighborhood as “cracked” roads that tanks rolled over when they were in town. After that, they run into this group of young men wearing “red rags around their biceps, making faces to make it clear they know how to kick a**.” They realize that parents are hiding out of sight, allowing their children to get some experience
Fear can cause our thinking processes to be distorted and irrational. It may create negative anticipation of things to come. It could cause excessive worrying of what others think or a fear of God’s wrath (Nichols, 2010). Fear sometimes makes the emotions of the individual get out of control with anger, anxiety, depression, and worrying (Nichols, 2010). In the book, all of these emotions are addressed and insight is given to help overcome them. It is important to do the necessary hard work to untie these knots in order to bring a person back to a healthy emotional state of mind. If the fear is not dealt with properly, it can also lead to negative physiological changes to the body as the immune system is weakened
.Not all living things go through the idea of fear; in fact, humans are the only creature capable of think about this concept in this way. Fear can makes us think of all the possibilities of the future to come. When we think about our destiny, our instinct tells us to start preparing and dreading what's to come. Humans visualize the worst possibility and usually over-prepare themselves and family.
Many people have it much worse than I do. For them their only way to survive is to stay positive, and I can learn so much from them. In the news story Picking up Butch I learn about Butch, a man with a devastating heart disease, and how Middlebury athletes pick him up to see football and basketball games, because he can't get there on his own. It teaches me that some people have it so much worse than I do that they can't even walk. Another example is in The Man in the Well I read about a man stuck in a well begging and pleading for help from these kids, but they lie and refuse to help him. This story shows how cruel some people can be when others are desperately needing their help. The children do eventually bring him food and water, but
On May 5, 2018, Donald Glover, or as most know him, “Childish Gambino” released a song titled “This is America” hitting 222,475,082 views in the last week. As a funk, hip-hop performer, performing a music video, dedicated to gun violence and segregation in 2018, was a big risk. Without this music video or song, our perspective on racism and gun violence, wouldn’t have change. The song begins with a chorus of a choir, singing a medley of old folk songs created by the African American Slaves while working in fields, or in the underground railroad.
Fear can make life intolerable, there is a variety of fears one person can have. For instance, fear of being alone, fear of dying, fear of being an disappointment, fear of animals, even fear of life itself and the lists goes
Redundant Fear Fear is an unpleasant emotion or feeling caused when someone or something is suspected to be harmful or dangerous. Fears come in all shapes and sizes, some keep one up all night, and some fears will prohibit one from doing simple tasks. In “Culture of Fear” by Barry Glassner the main topic discusses about fear and its impact on society.
Fear is one of the oldest,strongest, most uncontrollable and an unavoidable feelings. It can: make you sweat, make you cry, shake or even lose your appetite for food. It can also cause people to do stupid things that they never would do in ordinary circumstances. This can be seen in many different aspects of life. One place it can be seen is literature. It can also be seen in movies and t.v. The last place fear is shown is real life.
Change, the process of all growth and life, is greeted generally with a feeling of fear. Fears seem to sneak up on us, drenching us in sweat sending our heart rate rocketing, leaving us quaking and shivering. Some fears we see coming and our body and mind prepare to fight or flee. We understand those kinds of fears and can use rational thinking , stress reduction, and plan our actions to combat those fears. Various things help reduce our sense of helplessness, which is a common emotion experienced with fear.
The title itself implies that America is like a city on a hill, under the protection of God himself. It also implies that Americans are superior to other nations, as it is blessed by God. The lyrics, “If tomorrow all the things were gone….I’d thank my lucky stars to be living here today,” reflects on a starting a new life, and the good fortune of Americans. In those lines, the vision of America is that Americans are privileged. The lines, “I would proudly stand up, next to you, and defend her still today,” reinforce the unity of Americans, as well as the idea that America does no wrong. Lastly, the words “freedom” and “pride” are used throughout the song. These show the idea that Americans are nationalistic. The melody as well as the lyrics convey Greenwood’s patriotic vision of
In a poem called “I, Too, Sing America” a man gives his experience as African American in America he said “I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes,” (Hughes 1-3). He explains how he is treated lesser than some in America and how they send him to the kitchen to eat. Sadly, there are too many people who are not aware of the injustices happening in their own county. In another poem written by Walt Whitman he said “I hear America singing… Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs,” (1,18).
Early on in the novel, the reader begins to learn that the The Man and The Boy have a very close and intimate bond. Rather than causing a strain on the their relationship, the isolation that constantly follows the pair on The Road actually made their bond as father and son stronger . Traveling along The Road by themselves causes The Man and The Boy’s relationship to become extremely codependent. The Boy relies on The Man like any child would rely on their father. The Boy completely counts on The Man for everything, including food, shelter, clothes, and everything else that is needed to survive on The Road. The Man keeps them safe from the “bad guys” and keeps them alive and as healthy as he can. The Boy’s needs are always put before The Man’s needs. However, The Man depends upon The Boy just as much as The Boy depends on him. If it weren’t for The Boy, The Man would have been dead a long time ago. The only reason that he has survived this long is because of The Boy. Making sure The Boy survives is the only meaning that The Man has to his life. The Boy’s continued existence is the most influential motivation
Imagine an inner city kid having grown u in an environment where real life street violence is a way of life. His body, having survived personal experiences of violence, endured barely life sustained conditions, and many sleepless nights caused by the constant yet unpredictable call of death. His mind doubtful over where his next meal will come from, lost in search of some higher guidance, struggling through a world, not of innocent childish fantasies, but trapped in a forced reality. His only outlet is the loud blaring music coddling his already pent-up rage, an escape from these harsh realities, seducing him to a life of violence. In him is created a “me against the world” mentality that is manifested in