Fatherhood and the Unmarried Adolescent African-American Male Essay

Just about a quarter of all children are now born out of wedlock.... Add to that the substantial fraction of children born into marriages that will not survive.... What do these high rates of marital instability imply for patterns of childbearing, and especially for fathers’ involvement with their children? (Furstenberg & Harris, 1992, p. 199) The vast amount of research on the topic of adolescent pregnancies has historically focused on the female (such as Furstenberg, 1976 and Stack, 1974). Social scientists have tried to understand the problem and also help the adolescent mother following her decision to give birth to a child. In some places, such as Oakland, California, 73% of adolescents giving birth are African American (Smith, 1988, p.269; Massey, 1991, p. 117). With this in mind, social workers have spent most of their efforts helping adolescent African-American women. The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and Aid to Families of Dependent Children (AFDC) offer help for many women and their children. Unfortunately, the social workers usually â€Å"viewed Black adolescent fathers either as a cause of the problem of adolescent parenthood or as a partial solution in their assigned role of financial provider† (Smith, 1988, p. 269). Introductory quote focuses on an important public conversation about children born out of wedlock and fathers' involvement with their children. Furtstenburg is considered an expert on the topic of pregnancy among adolescents and the changing American family. The writer further identifies the context for the research as the social sciences and suggests how this research has influenced social workers. Sources provide general background information, sp... ...ing American family: Sociological and demographic perspectives (pp. 197-223). Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press. Furstenberg, F. (1976). Unplanned parenthood: The social consequences of teenage childbearing. New York: Free Press. Hendricks, L. E. (1988). A preliminary report on three ethnic groups. Adolescence, 91, 711-720 Horton, C. P. & Smith, J. C. (Eds.) (1990). Statistical record of Black America. Detroit: Gale Research, Inc. Massey, G. (1991). The flip side of teen mothers: A look at teen fathers. In B. P. Bowser. (Ed.), Black male adolescents: Parenting and education in community context (pp. 117-128). New York: University Press of America. Smith, L. A. (1988). Black adolescent fathers: Issues for service provision. Social Work, 33. 269-272. Stack, C. B. (1974). All our kin: Strategies for survival in a black community. New York: Harper & Row.

Charles Dickens Essay

Thomas Hardy was a 19th century novelist and a 20th century poet. As a novelist, he was last of the great Victorian novelists such as William Thackeray, Charlotte and Emily Bronte, Charles Dickens and George Eliot. The last decade of the 19th century was dominated by Thomas Hardy. He wrote 14 novels and almost 900 poems. Hardy’s reputation as a novelist grew during the last decades of of his life and his poetry was relatively neglected. His novels share a pessimist view of the human condition and life. Pessimism is derived from the Latin word ‘Pessimism’ (worst). It is based on a belief that the world is the worst possible and that things are bad and tend to become worse. Thomas Hardy worked out a pessimist theory of his own according to which man is just a puppet in the hands of an inscrutable and malicious force which governs the world and seems to enjoy inflicting endless sufferings. The fact that Hardy resented being called a pessimist is no reason why should not be thus described. Hardy was the painter of darker side of life as it was no wonder if people charge him of ‘pessimist’. The opinion is both right and wrong in this context. In fact, there are some factors that compel us to believe him a pessimist. He was hyper-sensitive, his own life was tragic and gloomy. For a speculative soul, this world is a thorny field. Thomas Hardy captured the heartbeat of the rural English people against the looming backdrop of encroaching industrialism. His novels have a genuine, almost autobiographical feel because he used many personal experiences, acquaintances, settings and opinions in his fiction. Thomas Hardy’s pessimism also represents actual events. Relationships and social issues of Hardy’s life. Hardy’s fatalism and pessimism began to manifest itself in his early childhood, as he was the result of an unplanned pregnancy, and then later in his youth, when his family could not afford to fund a full education. As he grew into adulthood, Hardy began to feel acutely the line drawn between him and those of a higher class. His despairing relationships with two women, his cousin Tryphena Sparksand his first wife, Emma Lavinia Gifford, were the inspiration for the futile plotlines of his three novels. Because of the harsh society in which he lived, his lack of money, two unhappy relationships, and the failure of his last two novels to be accepted by his readers; (due to their anti-marriage, anti-social and anti-religious material), Thomas Hardy emerged as a pessimistic novelist and poet of the 19th century. Because of autobiographical touch in his novels, some of the Hardy’s heroes and even heroines adopt his personal qualities and go through some of the same life situations that he did. Additionally, many of the Hardy’s female characters are extremely similar to the lovers and friends he had throughout his life. Hardy personally felt the crushing pressure of the Victorian society, namely its rules and regulations concerning love and marriage. Hardy, and therefore, his characters often rebel against this society, making decisions that contradict the expectation of their society. Many times, Hardy felt that he was an outcast in his society, partly because his religious beliefs did not match up with the church’s, but also because his social thoughts and actions were more progressive than his counterparts. After experiencing years of disagreement with the England of the 1800 s and having a marked desire for progression, Hardy became understandably morose. His novels became increasingly dismal and pessimistic and it is for this fatalistic tone that he is greatly remembered. The Victorian age was an age of doubt, of contradictions and conflicts. This fact too shows its impact on the writing of Hardy. People were to live by the Bible but many took it in the strict sense and followed the literal words strictly we see in ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’ how Tess is treated unjustly by the society, which followed the law in words and not in spirit. The gloomy effect of his age plays an important role in his writings. Doubts, despair, disbelief, frustration, industrial revolution, disintegration of old social and economic structure, Darwin’s theory of evolution were gthe chief characteristics of that age. All these factors probe deep into his writings, and heighten the somber , melancholic and tragic vision. His pessimism is also the outcome of the impressions that he receives from villager’s life. There were plenty of tragedies in the life of the poverty stricken Wessen folk, as shown in this novel ‘Tess of D’Urbervilles’. Hardy’s philosophy of the human condition is determined by his natural temper and disposition, He says: â€Å"A man’s Philosophy of life is an instinctive, temperamental matter. † Hardy, practically, excludes from his writings the sense of splendour and beauty of human life completely. Tess’ life is totally devoid of even a single moment of happiness.

Poetry Essay: ”Peaches and cream” by Mudrooroo Essay

In this poem I shall compare and analysis two poems †peaches and cream† by mudrooroo and †last of his tribe † by oodgeroo noonuccal. The need for analyzing both poems is that they are dedicated to people who fought for the Aboriginals; only an in-depth analysis can give a clear understanding of their poems. Analysis The Last of His Tribe by Oodgeroo Noonuccal is a true example of the period of Australian poetry it consist of the paternalistic manner that is was commonly found in the Australian colonists of the 19th century , Oodgeroo Noonuccal gives emphasizes to the loneliness of an Aboriginal tribe ‘s last member. The poet’s complete focus is on the individual’s ambiguity, his suffering and his abhorrent fate. He detailed dramatization the of the thoughts which the tribe men had, he further dramatizes the memories of hunts of yore and of fights he fought. The poem carries a elegiac mood as the poet invokes a sad and bleak image of Willie Mackenzie, who is the last existing member of his tribe he pictures him as if someone were re kindling the fire of memory in the poet . The poet uses Willie Mackenzie as a symbol of the tribes that disappeared ad the culture and times that are disappearing with them (Derek p24). The poet emphasizes on elements of fauna as well as the tribe’s cultural artefact such as â€Å"boomerangs, nullah, sling as well as spear† abide with wallaroos, rocks as well as thunder. Oodgeroo Noonuccal’s memory of is the most wonderful part about the poem as it helps the poet in describing the past quite clearly: the poet gives an clear illustration of the happy hunts that this tribe experienced prior to the invasion of the white in the twentieth century era. The poem consists of thirty five lines. It is divided into seven formal verses and consists of ababb rhyming. Oodgeroo Noonuccal was expressive and assertive so much so that she was successful in drawing the reader to her persona. Due to this the reader sympathizes for Willie, exactly like the poet is particular in the line â€Å"All gone, all gone. And I feel The sudden sting of tears†. The kind of verse the poet has made use of is a formal  verse. The poet tries to give a clear picture of the Australian landscape in verse is exemplified here. Due to her tone and emotions she is successful in portraying the unique proceedings of the Australian scenery as well as their history in a regretful and sympathetic manner. Noonuccal presents, the environmental destruction which we can imagine just by reading the poem and by using the twentieth century style she shows the sad irony of their circumstances. Whereas Mudrooroo in his poems peaches and cream seems to be talking about a time when the Aboriginal people were fighting for their freedom. His tone is very a strong sad tone, a tone full of hopelessness. His poem is based a on a person who fought for their freedom, till he feel sick and his people did not support him. The way the poet highlights the likes and dislikes of this person symbolizes that he was an ordinary person who just wanted freedom for his people. The reason behind him naming the poem peaches and cream is that’s what this mans; intentions were as sweet and good as peaches and cream is. The ending of the poem is, similarly to the beginning, ambiguous. It is unclear whom the poet is referring to when he states in the first verse you like peaches and cream, And white bodies made urgent â€Å", also following with the conversional tone established in the last line. One interpretation of this is that he is expressing the realization that if things are going to progress then there is a definite need for greater unity and understanding among all Australian people, without racial division. The utilization of unique kind of rhyming makes the it a wonderful poem. The poem highlights the fact that there were people who were fighting for them so that Aborigines could also be known as â€Å"Australian† as White Australians, and the likelihood to unite the two cultures as one so that they might progress together. The use of the following lines:Perhaps one day I’ll understand,Though many didn’t and called you hypocrite;But they didn’t knowThat even Christian peaches and creamMay be sweet with a taste of injustice,And try to sweeten it more with you. (www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/assessment/see_english_sub_notice_mar_08.)The above mentioned verse illustrates the fact that the composer is experiencing an inner journey as he is experiencing an internal battle. The poem consists of the poet’s strong emotional feelings for the cause which this person was fighting for, and his control to suppress this anger does not actually diminish the anger. These lines also exhibit the anger he has for people who called this freedom fighter a hypocrite; he further uses the peaches and cream as symbols of sweetness and richness that he brought to his people. The line in the last stanza shows confusion:Last night I saw you on the telly,Projecting Jesus and his message,Perhaps one day I’ll understand(www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/assessment/see_english_sub_notice_mar_08.)At the beginning he states that the person he is referring to was a religious person and fought for their freedom while keeping Jesus’s message in mind. But the fact that he says that perhaps one day he will understand could mean that he does not understand the message given by the person who he is referring to , which seems very strange since throughout the poem he is clearly describing his likes and dislikes., and praising him and his efforts. Conclusion Undoubtedly then these poems clearly illustrate the eras in which they were written. Themes, craft as well as points of view reflect diverse periods the history of Australia. The enjoyable part of these poems is that they express different emotions and approach so efficiently to us nowadays when we need personal faithfulness, tribal unity and economic certainty. Work Cited: Derek Lewis; Poetry Workbook, Pascal press 2006 p24www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/assessment/see_english_sub_notice_mar_08.pdf retrieved on 13 July 2008

rap kills the brain essays

rap kills the brain essays "ROCK MUSIC AND RAP MUSIC IS SUPPOSED TO DESTROY THE MIND" An idea believed by many people is that music has a significant effect on the way people think. Professional psychologists say that the lyrics used in music today has a brain washing effect. This brain washing effect is supposed to make the listener become so overwhelmed with the lyrics of the song, that the person feels that they have to act on what was heard. Act on what they heard means, that they do what the music tells them to do. Whether whatever they do is accepted or not, the music did not cause this to occur. When we hear about this effect music has, we immediately think of negative effects. It is common to believe that the type of music that provides unacceptable content is rap (hip-hop) music, or rock-n-roll (head-banger) music. The reason people have this presumption is rap and rock-n-roll both have a reputations of having or using inappropriate lyrics. With both types of music you tend to hear profanity, artists who degrade women, and talk negatively about other people. When people listen to either type of music over a period of time, they are supposed to have the feeling that they need to do what these inappropriate lyrics say or do. Saying music has the power to control human beings is rather extreme. That is like saying that we humans have no responsibility for our actions. It is understandable that some people are foul, and, they do foul things. Using rap music and rock music as a scapegoat is not right. When we do listen to either rap or rock music, we hear lyrics that are unpleasant to hear, for some people. Usually the artists are speaking about things that happened to them or about things that they are directly involved with. More often than not, they are not trying to advocate such action. They are trying to stop what they are speaking about or make it known to listeners, to what is actually happening where they live or where they ...

The Dutch East India Company Profile

The Dutch East India Company Profile The Dutch East India Company, called the Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie or VOC in Dutch, was a company whose main purpose was trade, exploration, and colonization throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. It was created in 1602 and lasted until 1800. It is considered to be one of the first and most successful international corporations. At its height, the Dutch East India Company established headquarters in many different countries, had a monopoly over the spice trade and it had semi-governmental powers in that it was able to begin wars, prosecute convicts, negotiate treaties and establish colonies. History and Growth of the Dutch East India Company During the 16th century, the spice trade was growing throughout Europe but it was mostly dominated by the Portuguese. However, by the late 1500s, the Portuguese began to have trouble supplying enough spices to meet demand and prices rose. This, combined with the fact that Portugal united with Spain in 1580 motivated the Dutch to enter the spice trade because the Dutch Republic was at war with Spain at that time. By 1598 the Dutch were sending out numerous trading ships and in March 1599 Jacob van Necks fleet became the first to reach the Spice Islands (the Moluccas of Indonesia). In 1602 the Dutch government sponsored the creation of the United East Indies Company (known later as the Dutch East India Company) in an effort to stabilize profits in the Dutch spice trade and form a monopoly. At the time of its founding, the Dutch East India Company was given the power to build forts, keep armies and make treaties. The charter was to last 21 years.​ The first permanent Dutch trading post was established in 1603 in Banten, West Java, Indonesia. Today this area is Batavia, Indonesia. Following this initial settlement, the Dutch East India Company set up several more settlements throughout the early 1600s. Its early headquarters was in Ambon, Indonesia 1610-1619. From 1611 to 1617 the Dutch East India Company had severe competition in the spice trade from the English East India Company. In 1620 the two companies began a partnership that lasted until 1623 when the Amboyna massacre caused the English East India Company to move their trading posts from Indonesia to other areas in Asia. Throughout the 1620s the Dutch East India Company further colonized Indonesias islands and the presence of Dutch plantations growing cloves and nutmeg for export grew across the region. At this time the Dutch East India Company, like other European trading companies, used gold and silver to buy spices. To obtain the metals, the company had to create a trade surplus with other European countries. To get around only getting gold and silver from other European countries, the Governor-General of the Dutch East India Company, Jan Pieterszoon Coen, came up with a plan to create a trading system within Asia and those profits could finance the European spice trade. Eventually, the Dutch East India Company was trading throughout Asia. In 1640 the company expanded its reach to Ceylon. This area was previously dominated by the Portuguese and by 1659 the Dutch East India Company occupied nearly the entire Sri Lankan coast. In 1652 the Dutch East India Company also established an outpost at the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa to provide supplies to ships sailing to eastern Asia. Later this outpost became a colony called the Cape Colony. As the Dutch East India Company continued to expand, trading posts were established in places that include Persia, Bengal, Malacca, Siam, Formosa (Taiwan) and Malabar to name a few. By 1669 the Dutch East India Company was the richest company in the world. Decline of the Dutch East India Company Despite its achievements in the mid-1600s by 1670 the economic success and growth of the Dutch East India Company began to decline, starting with a decrease in trading with Japan and the loss of the silk trade with China after 1666. In 1672 the Third Anglo-Dutch War disrupted trade with Europe and in the 1680s, other European trading companies began to grow and increase the pressure on the Dutch East India Company. Furthermore, European demand for Asian spices and other goods began to change around the middle of the 18th century. Around the turn of the 18th century the Dutch East India Company had a short resurgence in power but in 1780 another war broke out with England and the company began to have serious financial troubles. During this time the company survived because of support from the Dutch government (Towards a New Age of Partnership). Despite its problems, the charter of the Dutch East India Company was renewed by the Dutch government until the end of 1798. Later it was again renewed until December 31, 1800. At this time though the powers of the company were greatly reduced and the company began to let go of employees and dismantle headquarters. Gradually it also lost its colonies and eventually, the Dutch East India Company disappeared. Organization of the Dutch East India Company In its heyday, the Dutch East India Company had a complex organizational structure. It consisted of two types of shareholders. The two were known as the participanten and the bewindhebbers. The participanten were non-managing partners, while the bewindhebbers were managing partners. These shareholders were important to the success of the Dutch East India Company because their liability in the company consisted only of what was paid into it. In addition to its shareholders, the Dutch East India Companys organization also consisted of six chambers in the cities of Amsterdam, Delft, Rotterdam, Enkhuizen, Middleburg, and Hoorn. Each of the chambers had delegates that were chosen from the bewindhebbers and the chambers raised the beginning funds for the company. Importance of the Dutch East India Company Today The organization of the Dutch East India Company is important because it had a complex business model that has extended into businesses today. For example, its shareholders and their liability made the Dutch East India Company an early form of a limited-liability company. In addition, the company was also highly organized for the time and it was one of the first companies to establish a monopoly over the spice trade and it was the worlds first multinational corporation. The Dutch East India Company was also important in that it was active in bringing European ideas and technology to Asia. It also expanded European exploration and opened up new areas to colonization and trade. To learn more about the Dutch East India Company and to see a video lecture view, The Dutch East Indies Company - The First 100 Years from the United Kingdoms Gresham College. Also, visit Towards a New Age of Partnership for various articles and historical records.

Cultural Awareness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Cultural Awareness - Essay Example Understanding the Arab culture remains a fundamental element which could ensure that the entire world gains factual information regarding Arabic practices. Some of the misconceptions have resulted in the Arab world becoming associated with the elements of terrorism occurring around the world. The human terrain system which has been adopted by the United States’ military seeks to utilise social science practices in understanding the cultural practices of Arabs4. The implementation of this programme could be essential in enabling the western world to change the common misconceptions held by the populations regarding the Arab world. The growing political tension between the western and Arab world could become eased through the findings of these anthropological researches. The concept plays a fundamental role in increasing Arab cultural awareness through enhanced cultural knowledge of the populations residing in the Arab world5. Involvement of anthropologists within the programme can also enhance the understanding of the western culture by the

Evaluate the recent performance of the uk economy Essay

Evaluate the recent performance of the uk economy - Essay Example Currently, the GDP of France is at $2,734.95 billion, a rise from 2,611.22 the previous year (Trading Economics 2015). The rate of inflation in the U.K. was at -0.10 percent during the first quarter of 2015. Between 1989 and 2015, it has averaged 2.72 percent, reaching highest at 8.5 percent in 1991 and lowest at –0.10 percent in 2015. In the United States, the inflation rate witnessed during the first quarter of 2015 was -0.2 percent. For France, the country witnessed at the inflation rate of 0.1 percent in the first quarter of 2015 (Trading Economics 2015). During the first three months of 2015, the level of unemployment in the U.K. has gone down to 5.50 percent from 5.60 percent the previous year. The between 1971 and 2015, the level of unemployment averaged 7.24 percent, with highest at 12 percent in 1984 and lowest at 3.40 percent in 1973. In the United States, the rate of unemployment was at 5.50 percent during the first quarter of 2015. The average rate of unemployment in the U.S. has averaged 5.83 percent between 1982 and 2015, with highest levels at 10.8 percent in 1982 and lowest at 2.5 percent in 1953. In the case of France, the rate of unemployment went down to 10 percent during the first three months of 2015 from 10.40 percent in last quarter of 2014. The average rate of unemployment between 1996 and 2015 has averaged 9.20 percent, with highest levels at 10.80 percent in 1997 and lowest at 7.20 percent in 2008 (Trading Economics 2015). With regard to the government budget, United Kingdom has a government budget deficit, which is representative of 5.70 percent of the country’s GDP. In the United States, government budget deficit accounts for 2.80 percent of the country’s GDP. In the case of France, the budget deficit represents about 4 percent of the country’s GDP (Trading Economics 2015). To determine income distribution, the GNI index is appropriate as it reveals the extent