the blogs that I commented on

1.http://houstontx11.blogspot.com/2010/11/mass-incorrectness.html?showComment=1291185538445_AIe9_BEw4Bq47fL4VZf0rLnaOaHrsRL-_dnLnJAbbJlw1tXZrxnNvAtOt7v-ObqzDC

2.http://honest-and-able.blogspot.com/2010/10/environmental-racism.html


3.http://ayetuneinn.blogspot.com/2010/10/self-assesment.html?showComment=1291185953766_AIe9_BEqjWjUfthr4oSmlD9Uf5e3QJcoYeCvX5RCnBVOiI4LuyFgfkZt4Gso4xQkrvM

4.http://e-ademuwagun.blogspot.com/2010/11/letter-to-raise-awareness.html?showComment=1291186083023_AIe9_BG1UhtqjzZc6zk8hcAd52j4Hpd_w3Z61G0xO82wxB_aNIipfF8JV9TQeMM96sbFtabGyNFpftuYpac51HGTDgR-epNSBBVt6Whwt3B457BQxewxzSqb17cQdiuN4tlfGFVvBZ8bSJyKRMbtKXtq5jEzL9WKF4giF1S5opxZuM0_dFwCHOY-sy2mSvrADsYxeYW3uSejKzr7PPsRISLvhda9iEJYzY6ACCyb17dJrevUonbxsvJbr6geuFUGAzMmJ6RBQTZL4D6PCgAD4sqXf5ydgbt_5CibCe_TEhDjydDH7FF5NU2Hk3rDF85j8Y17yFNaqWQo-RSycKcv8AOhCBRmzeVx_OLwjjF2npHSIKol0-CnRktkM9WEoN_wksnLymEVyZL1uWfIWCB5ufwPhVFgSHuSibR24HCb8BK8d6ctTTe5LUyIyfXsG-qtqFCRBfrK1LkCOIgV_GDkC6O5gRqvCR9wyw3kxUOqoHY6Zfmzssvky-A#c4059965609426449629

5.http://nestorkimbo.blogspot.com/2010/11/single-or-double-families-in-us.html

6.http://radiahshabazz.blogspot.com/2010/11/multimedia-project.html

My Final Project

When it came time to prepare a final presentation in Freshman Composition, William and I created a video highlighting the negative effects of environmental racism in the U.S. we brought the presentation into a more personal perspective by taking photographs of a local garden near our campus. we compared the outside world to the world we're living in at Howard University. The photographs captured the essence of our surroundings perfectly and our message was clear.

Awareness Letter

To Whom It May Concern:

I am concerned about the current state of the environment conditions in the neighborhoods surrounding Howard University. Communities-especially those of minorities-are sometimes at fault for not keeping a clean space because the resources are scarce. However, these minority communities shouldn't be neglected of greenfriendly alternatives such as: personal recycling, more efficient trash pick up, street-sweeps, and community service green projects. These simple activities could potentially transform an entire community from a slum to a safe and clean "green zone".

Some steps taken to ensure the ability for a greener environment would be to have trash companies suply each home with a recycling bin so that families have the option of recycling recyclable goods. In addition, street sweeps should be necessary in order to keep the roads and sidewalks clean and presentable. Community service issue projects could also be taken into consideration. As a suggestion, preferably once or twice a month, community service projects should be mandatory by local officials. In large families, containing four or more members, two family members of one adult and one child should be expected to volunteer, thus setting a greater example for the youth and thier duties in the future to keep a green earth alive.

I thank you for your time and opportunity to share my opinions on how to effectively keep our communities healthy and long lived in. I hope to see  a few if not all of the changes I've listed come to life.

Sincerely,
Nicolette Gordon

Non-violence

The other day I was reading an article online about world peace groups that work hard to promote non-violence. There were pages and pages of these world peace groups, the one that caught my attention was DUO for world peace, standing for Do Unto Others. The group Duo strives to amplify peace, and they require that all members follow certain rules, the golden and silver rules. This group made me think about Martin Luther King Jr. and his effort throughout the civil rights movement to effectively promote non-violence. King studied Gandhi's non-violence method, and tried to use it to positively lead our divided nation towards a unified one. King built the foundation for the non-violence groups that exist today, if it weren't for King we wouldn't have these positive groups to look up to.


Sources:
http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/DUO

D.C: a flourishing metropolis or an environmental mess?

When people think about D.C. they picture The White House, The Capitol, The Potomac River, and many other monuments and museums. Of course D.C. is a flourishing metropolis, as well as the capital of the American nation, but this is just one side of D.C. People fail to realize that just like any other any city, D.C. has its negatives. The Anacostia River, which is often called the "forgotten river" when compared to the renewed Potomac. Behind the beautiful scenery of our nation's capital, is the Anacostia River, the most polluted river in our nation. The river contains tons of trash and sewage floating along the edges. Neighborhoods that lie along the riverside reflect the state of the river. Abandoned and rundown buildings, trash sites, tragic poverty and the unemployment rate in these neighborhoods characterize the challenges within the real D.C.


Sources:
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/anacostia/
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1761270

         Professor Daniel Faber at Northeastern University told us that Environmental Racism is "a process by which communities of color are intentionally and systematically targeted for the siting of ecologically hazardous industrial facilities, toxic waste sites, incinerators, and other types of facilities that cause harm to its local residents as well as the surrounding environment." Frankly, the entire idea of environmental racism puzzles me and I cannot wrap my brain around the issue. Why would our government intentionally place hazardous facilities in minority neighborhoods? The towns targeted are the towns that have very little resources,or little to no prior knowledge as to the long term effects of the pollution leaked into the air that is breathed in. Minorities who reside in these ill-stricken towns are dying not because of old age, but because of cancer or other diseases brought about by these potent chemicals. The pollution is killing off people, and causing younger children to suffer from respiratory problems, such as asthma. I've just began my study as an architect, and I am so glad to have become a bit more informed about this subject. This brief intro about environmental racism has inspired me. You might see me in the future: Nicolette Gordon, the "green friendly" architect.

Source: personal interview: Daniel Faber, Northwestern University.

Upon reading my blogs, I noticed that my entries all share a common theme in the way I write them. I start off choosing a topic that interests me, and then I conduct a little research on the topic in order to better inform myself. I'm interested in what other people have to say about the issues that I discuss, so quotes are in all of my blog entries. I like to weave my personal opinion into each entry that I write. Usually I write my opinion as the last sentence of the blog so that viewers are left with something to think about. My ideas are important because I have a voice. I want my voice to be heard. I want people to know what I believe in, my platform on certain issues. My weekly blogging activity gives me a break from my daily routine of running back and forth to my classes, studying, etc. Blogging helps me clear my head, and write. Blogging has changed my outlook on writing because I am able to use writing as a way to express myself. Before blogging, I never felt like my writing was really impacting anyone, because most of my writing was turned in for a grade. Now not only is a professor reading my blog, but now peers and other people around the world are reading what I have to say.

       My experience on writing research papers in this class has overall been a productive one. My improvements have surfaced in my diction and sentence structure. The way I organize my writing has seemed to help in the long run as well. My weakness remains in formation of the concluding paragraphs of my writing. I have a hard time forming a clear and concise conclusion; one that also creates new ideas. I'm confident that the lessons that I've learned about the the different types of essays have better prepared me for writing research papers in the future. I've always been comfortable using technology, and now more than ever I am using my computer to perfect my writing. I like to believe that whatever I am writing can affect the person next to me, and I like to challenge myself by putting myself in someone else's shoes when my writing pertains to people of different backgrounds.

Howard University Convocation 2010

On September 24, 2010, Ben Carson-world renowned neurologist-delivered a speech at Howard University's annual convocation ceremony. As the seats of Crampton Auditorium filled, its as if students   could feel the wave of energy that would soon change their lives as college students, as individuals in this society. After welcoming the class of 2014, and graciously thanking attendees of the speech, Carson opened his speech with a brief intro of his childhood, his struggle to make something of himself after being brought up in a single-parent household. Ill stricken with poverty, poor grades, indecent temper, and a low self esteem, somehow Carson still managed to make it to the top, and he used his life story to help motivate others. What Carson had to say about his own life was surprisingly significant to me, because I can relate to him. His story captivated the student body and facukty members, which is important because what he had to say is real. We all go through the same struggles that Carson endured. In the delivery of Carson's speech he stressed that students must take their "God-given talent to elevate other people." Carson's words of wisdom not only inspired many students, but many students walked away with a greater appreciation of the education that they will receive at Howard University. Carson couldn't have come at a better time, especially as we, the class of 2014 begin our lives as young adults and venture into new directions.

Source: Speech, Carson, Ben. Convocation. September 24, 2010.Cramton Auditorium, Howard University

You are not your skin

It seems like people of color, especially African Americans have a hard time embracing their roots and their culture. Our society makes it appear like skin color defines who you are...it doesn't. In the African American community, the younger generation appears to put African Americans with lighter skin color above African Americans with darker skin colors. Why is it that the color of our skin has to equal the definition of who we
are? Even though we've all derived from the same ancestors I feel like black people still feel the need to point out the differences between one another. Its turned into a hysteria where if you're light-skinned you're favored over someone with darker skin. for example in hip hop music, you might hear a rapper rapping about cars, sex, drugs, and of course women. The women that are described in their songs are usually "redbones" which is a  slang for light-skinned women. When young girls view these music videos, they latch onto the idea that light skin is better, nicer, prettier. While reading an article online at associated content.com, I came across an article about black on black racism: a story about light skinned versus dark skinned African Americans. In the 1984 Miss America Contest, Vanessa Williams, the now famous actress and singer, won as the first African American. Later on, when people found out that she was black, they were shocked because she shares similar features of a white or mixed race person. I think that people in the African American community need to take a step back, look at the bigger picture, and realize that no matter what color we are, we are all the same people period.


Source:  Clark-Copeland, Judi "Lightskinned vs Darkskinned" Associated Content News, Published: October 24, 2009

Muslims facing bias in the workplace

  Recent studies have surfaced showing that ever since 9/11/01, Muslims have faced bias in their place of work. Mary Jo O'neill, a regional attorney for the Equal Employment Opportunuity Commission in Phoenix, Arizona has stated that "There is a hatred, an open hatred, and a lack of tolerance for people who are muslim. The midwestern region of the US including Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico is facing more and more bias each year. Why have muslims become the scapegoat because of a terrorism attack that happened nearly nine years ago? Even though only a small group of muslim terrorists were involved in carrying out the attacks nine years ago, muslims have become branded with an image. This image, which is negative, has transfered into their workplace and has caused an increasing prejudice.

Source:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39081887/ns/business-careers/

"A More Perfect Union"

In Barack Obama's speech, "A More Perfect Union", delivered in March 18 2008, Obama addresses everyone's responsibility to move on from the past. America's past holds many negative images, especially for African Americans who are aware of the many decades of suffering that our people had to endure. Obama's speech raises new possibilities for change in the American public, allowing our citizens to become enlightened with the hope for new beginnings. Obama's want for change is re-iterated throughout his speech several times as he describes the importance of moving forward. "I chose to run for president at this moment in history because I believe deeply that we cannot solve them together...but we all want to move in the same direction : towards a better future for our children and grandchildren." The means by which we as African American citizens in the U.S. can improve race relations is by becoming a more tight-knit community. Putting unity before any other task, eventually breaking the cycle of any discrimination's or prejudices. We must educate ourselves together. We must volunteer together. We must replace jealousy with respect for one another. If we as African Americans could educate ourselves about our past, I believe that the importance of making unity a priority would illuminate itself. Volunteering together as one community could help our bond as one people grow. In order to replace jealousy with respect, African Americans need to embrace their diverse culture and realize that they all originated from the same roots. Ultimately if we can learn from our burdens of the past we can create a positive present day, and a united future.

Source:
Speech "A More Perfect Union" Obama, Barack. March, 18, 2008. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.