I laid my eyes on the shiny Longhorn’s Golden Ticket that I pulled out of the University of Texas at Austin envelope I received in the mail. In an archaic font, the letter read “Greetings to you, the lucky finder of this golden ticket. From the University of Texas at Austin! . . . This magical ticket will take you wherever you want to go–past, present, or future. Close your eyes, hold the ticket, and think about where you want to go. In your wildest dreams, you could not imagine the marvelous surprises that await you!”
Immediately, the first destination that came to my mind was Paterson, New Jersey, an impoverished and dangerous city. Ever since high school began, I have been going to Paterson to help out with the Relief Bus, an organization that works as a soup kitchen and a resource to help find jobs. Surrounded by crime, violence, poverty, Paterson is ranked the third worst place to live in the United States. However, these statistics fail to intimidate the vision I have–to change Paterson and help it become a city of potential where its recognized
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Instantaneously, I was brought to Rosa Parks Boulevard in front of the Relief Bus. Snow was falling and the sun had already set, as I looked inside the bus, employees and volunteers were packing up for the day. Coming towards the bus, a middle-aged African American man asked me for money. I told him I did not have any cash, and he walked right by me. Besides, I never give money to those who ask in this city because they often use it for drugs and alcohol. As I was making my way up the small stairs of the bus, something was pulling at my heart to go talk to him. My instincts took over my body and I turned around to chase after the man. When I finally got to him, I asked him if he was hungry and offered to buy him a meal. Thus, we made our way to Rosa Park’s Chicken, which was just around the
The book “My soul is rested”, by Howell Raines takes place during the civil rights movement in the South. Howell Raines was a white southern journalist who interviewed many people like activist, lawyers, and many other people in the states of Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi that were involved in the civil rights movement. As known, Rosa Parks was the person who sparked the civil rights movement by refusing to give up her seat and move to the back of the bus for the one white citizen that was left standing on the bus. Unfortunately she was arrested, fingerprinted, incarcerated, and trialed over this situation. Because of Rosa Parks’ courage on December 1, 1955 people are now able to ride, sit, and coexists with other nonblack people. Just like two of the many activists, Horton (white) and Malone Jones (black), were two important characters in the civil rights movements. The Civil Rights Movement was a social movement in the U.S. to end racial segregation and discrimination against blacks. Raines wrote this book in order for people to tell their side of their story in the civil rights movement. This book is about political and social history. It’s also a tribute to everyone that made history happen.
Rosa Parks was a normal young black woman,she was heading home but was caught in the civil rights movement in the country. Racial discrimination was being condemned as a stiff and unlawful system. African Americans were mandatory to depart their seats in the back of the bus for any white passenger who couldn’t find a seat at the front of the bus. While Rosa Parks headed home that day,sitting at
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks, one of the leaders of the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People [NAACP] refused to give up her seat to a white person on a segregated city bus in Montgomery, Alabama, despite being reprimanded by the driver (Schulke 166). Montgomery, Alabama was known for its terrible treatment of blacks. The buses in particular had been a source of tension between the city and black citizens for many years (Schulke, 167). As a result of refusing to give up her seat, Rosa Parks was arrested. Rosa Parks' popularity among the black community, proved to be the spark that ignited the non-violent Civil Rights Movement (Norrell 2).
A growing amount of American people began to speak out about inequality and injustice during the 1950’s and the Rosa Parks bus incident is a perfect example. On December 1, 1955, a 42 year old African American woman who worked as a seamstress
Many people struggle with the decision of where they want to go to college and what they would like to do for the rest of my life. For me, this choice was made easier with this ticket. This ticket was to a Texas A&M football game, but in a broader sense it was a ticket to much more than just a football game; it was a ticket to the Aggie experience and what it means to be a Texas Aggie.
As the trip started the first two days were uneventful and in fact pretty easy. One rider said if it says the same then will have accomplished what we came to do. Martin Luther King Jr. was an icon for these riders and some of the riders were pulled aside to talk with him. As they are heading into the most dangerous location of the trip many are becoming fearful. Upon arriving to Alabama, there were about 200 people around the bus stay screaming at them and calling them names. Some of those were: “ let’s kill these niggers these nigger lovers”(Freedom Riders). They stood around the bus to make sure that the bus could not move. One rider said, “we sat there for about 10-15 minutes but it felt like hours”. Once, the driver was able to drive out of the bus stop there was a car diving in front of him that was making it difficult to get by. Just as they thought things could not get any worse the bus gets a flat tire and the bus drivers tries to fix it but couldn’t so he walk away and leaves the riders on the bus to fend for themselves. As the bus is sitting there a
I surely do not know the author’s thesis on civil rights, I just understand that he knows Rosa Park's thesis and view on civil rights and how she contributed to creating them. The author tells the reader how Rosa Parks was always modest about her role in the civil rights movement, giving credit to a higher power for her decision not to give up her seat. the author ends with Rosa Park quoting, “I was fortunate God provided me with the strength needed at the precise time conditions were ripe for change. I am thankful to him every day that he gave me the strength not to move.” An article in the New York Times explains that: For Rosa Parks, her decision not to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery Alabama, bus on Dec. 1, 1955 wasn't the first time the seamstress had chosen not to give in. They also explain how Parks had been an active member of the local NAACP chapter since 1943 and how they had marched on behalf of the Scottsboro boys, who were arrested in Alabama in 1931 for raping two white women. It goes on to say with a simple act of refusal, a move which landed Parks in prison, a motion like the Montgomery Bus Boycott who set off to start the Civil Rights Movement. They end the article by saying when the bulldogs and water hoses were unleashed a decade later, in the streets of
Douglas argues that fifty years after Parks made history by refusing to give up her seat on a bus, Rosa Parks at last gets the biography she deserves. Douglas Brinkley follows this incredible woman from her childhood through her early involvement in the NAACP, “In 1949, She became advisor to the informal NAACP Youth group that grew into the organization's official youth council in 1953.” Her moment of courage during the bus boycott has made her both a beloved and resented image of the civil rights movement. Douglas talks about Parks as an American heroine and how she got through the tumultuous times of her life.
The up to date dying of Rosa Parks refocused countrywide attention on one of the crucial beloved figures of the civil rights movement. However without the heroism of hundreds of unsung grass-roots activists, the action would not ever have complete what it did. In "Freedom Riders," Raymond Arsenault, a professor of history at the university of South Florida, rescues from obscurity the guys and women who, at high-quality individual threat, rode public buses into the South as a way to venture segregation in interstate travel. Drawing on individual papers, F.B.I. Documents and interviews with more than 200 contributors within the rides, Arsenault brings vividly to life a defining moment in modern American history.
The academic environment of the Governor’s School is a sturdy foundation for intellectual prosperity. It sets students on a path with endless opportunities for their future. By attending the Governor’s School I would be able to further myself academically in a way I simply cannot without the advanced classes, better environment, and abundance of opportunities that the Governor’s School has to offer. I have decided to pursue these opportunities by applying to the Governor’s School. The illusion of staying on a college campus creates an experience that would help me further my academic interests, talents, and abilities.
Rosa Parks is known for her pride, stubbornness, and her refusal to give up her seat to a white male. In the early 1900’s, African Americans were treated different than other races. Like trash. They had to serve the “white man” and live their lives completing actions in the Caucasians liking, and dealing with extreme racism. At the time of this incident, many African Americans were searching for the same freedom, respect, and fairness that the whites received. Rosa Parks gave many blacks the sense of pride they were looking for. On December 1st, 1955 the section of seats for the whites’ on the bus were filled. Rosa Parks sat in the row behind the white section with 3 other African American individuals. Many have the misconception that she was
Hayward, California, near San Francisco, a modern city with the latest technologies, clean streets, and a busy academic and business life. A complete paradox of the popular image of San Francisco, South Hayward from what I experienced, had an increasing amount of poverty, drop-outs, and littered streets. The stain of poverty and seemingly unmotivated people in my native city, encouraged me to take action by volunteering to feed the homeless, struggling families, and the people in power wanting to better Hayward as well. Through TRIO, I became a mentor to encourage the youth to pursue college and have a perspective on their future career life. Besides the people of Hayward, I also cared about the animals, I became a volunteer in the Hayward
Similarly to Green (2015), we were able to use maps to assist us in determining the assets of East Harlem. We focused on a five-block radius from 120th St. to 125th St. It is important to understand the geographic opportunities that lie within the neighborhood as a way to define patterns of spatial inequality. In other words, the location where people live can impact their access to opportunities (Green 2015). We were able to assess the strengths of the community by using Google Earth. While using Google Earth we were able to get a bird’s eye view of some useful agencies in the community. The map showed the local FDR Bridge that connects community members to Randal’s Island. Randal’s Island hosts the Fire Department Academy, sports fields, and a job recruitment center amongst other resources. The map also shows the local trains connecting East Harlem to outside neighborhoods which will benefit residents who work or travel to other areas of New York
Violence, unemployment, and the polluted environment are some of the most concerning issues in Paterson. There’s violence on every street and it jeopardizes the safety of Paterson residents. In your community you should feel safe, not worried about getting attacked when walking down the streets. Unemployment is another huge issue because not only does it hurt the individual but also has a negative effect on society and the economy. Unemployment hurts the mental and physical health of the person, causes tension at home, stigma of being unemployment and causes crime rates to up because people turn to crimes to satisfy their economic needs. The spending power of an unemployed person and their family decreases because they would rather save than
Rosa Parks decided to sit in the “White” section of a bus on her way home. When all of the “White” seats were taken the African American passengers were asked to move back and Rosa Parks refused. She did not turn to violence, she simply just sat there. Rosa Parks sparked and added