Author: Charlie Shadek

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Reading and Film Presentations and Discussion

ERA #5: De Nadie

De Nadie, a documentary about the lives of Central American immigrants on their path to the U.S., speaks so many volumes as you see the real truths of what happens. This is the side of the story you don’t hear about. These immigrants leave their homes in hopes of living a better life. They have to face so many hurdles on the way to the border. The documentary followed several people, but in particular, a Honduran mother of four with a husband who was undergoing a surgery. Maria was her name. On her travels, she was taking the train with two of her friends. Mara Salvatrucha is a Mexican gang that controls the trains that go to the border. Immigrants are seen jumping onto the trains for a way to get to the border, but these gangs rob, beat, rape and kill people who do so. The police have no control over it whatsoever. Most of these immigrants say it is not hunger or dehydration or the cold that will kill them; it is Mara Salvatrucha. Mara Salvatrucha was able to catch Maria and her friends on the way to the border. They threatened to kill all three of them, and three of the gang members pined Maria down and raped her as they held a gun to her head. This is just one of the thousands of cases of harassment and abuse. Almost none of them are reported. 

The police are not much help and in fact they can be dangerous too. Some police forces have robbed and injured immigrants, and if you report it then you will be deported back to home country and nothing will be done. The four thousand kilometers to the border are unforgiving and only a few make it to the border. If you can take the bus rather than the train then you have a higher chance of living, but the bus is expensive and the majority of these people cannot afford it. Despite Mara Salvatrucha and the police, the trains are dangerous themselves. Immigrants die or lose limbs jumping on and off the trains. The documentary featured a young boy who had just lost one of his arms attempting to get onto a train. The immigrants experience little to no help on their travels. There was a community of women, La Patrona, who would hand out food to the travelers on the trains, but it is so dangerous because the trains are traveling so fast and many will do anything for food. So, some people fall off the trains and seriously hurt themselves while trying to grab the food from the women of La Patrona. It is sad that the stories and truths of these immigrants are not talked about enough. Myself, I had little knowledge of the journey that these immigrants go through just to get to the border. I hope something can be done to this terrible reality and awareness can be raised especially in the U.S.

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Uncategorized

ERA #4: We Wanted Workers Chapter 5

Assimilation is something that all immigrants deal with once they enter a new nation whether or not it works. In the case of economic assimilation, it differentiates for people; some might assimilate quicker than others. It is tough for a person to assimilate to something brand new when they have been accustomed to something totally different for so long. It comes down to the risk and reward. If the reward overweighs the risk, then it is plausible to take the risk, but if vice versus then it is where you truly need to think if it is worth it. 

The more recent immigrants have assimilated slower than earlier immigrants economically. The wages of earlier immigrants have shown a greater rate of increase than those of later immigrants. It is troubling to see that the improvement is lacking. Skills is one of the main factors for how quickly immigrants assimilate. Someone who is highly-educated will adapt to new skills easier thus assimilating faster. A lot of things can affect an immigrant’s assimilation. It can even be how often the newly acquired skills of an immigrant are used in daily life. It is one thing to arrive to the new desired country, but it is a totally different task when it comes to fitting in and adapting. It is basically starting a new life as if you were a child, but at an older age. In this given world, there are no handouts; so for an immigrant, they are already behind and catching up is something they may face for however long they live.

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Short Essays and Responses

Short Essay #2

The lives of the American blacks have endured a lot of hatred shortly after the establishment of America. It all began with slavery which officially ended in 1865, but it is something that has and will still continue to hold significance in the identity of American blacks. Laws were made to narrow the wide gap between the black race and the white race such as the end of public discrimination. Unfortunately, today there is still discrimination and unequal opportunities for the black community. The Anglo-Protestant cultural ideas that America was founded by, self-reliance, self-improvement, and the work ethic, is one that applies to the majority of America, but does not entirely apply to the American blacks. The blacks have experienced some of the Anglo-Protestant cultural ideas such as self-improvement through Affirmative Action, but the lack of equality and presence of discrimination outweighs the betterment that they have felt.  

The past is something that constantly affects the present and more so the future, so we ought not to forget about the past. In the lives of the American blacks, they are faced with the scary and sad truth of their race’s history. Many would think that if something harmful to society was taken away that society will return to peace and happiness shortly after. This can happen, but not at the magnitude of what the American blacks have gone through. Even with reforms such as the Fourteenth Amendment, “blacks remained nonetheless subject to extreme forms of segregation and discrimination, including denial of the right to vote, for another century” (Huntington, 55). This became a recurring pattern for the blacks just like when Affirmative Action was established, and companies and school administers still held American blacks to a lower standard. It hasn’t always been the case for blacks when they experienced positive reform; there has been improvement, but the point is that you cannot get completely rid of the past especially those with strong views so there continues to be a mistreatment of American blacks. 

American blacks cannot take full advantage of the Anglo-Protestant cultural ideas because ever since they stepped foot on American soil, they were never seen as equal to the white race. The hatred and out-right mistreatment has decreased, but it is still present. The fate of an American black is different than an American white, and it is important to understand that the Anglo-Protestant cultural ideas were put forth only for the American whites. Since the abolishment of slavery, America has been trying to even out the imbalance between blacks and whites, but once a race experiences such abuse then it is nearly impossible to change the views of others especially the ones who were in control. It is tough for a superior race to see a race that was inferior for so long as the same. That is what is happening in America today. “The overwhelming consensus is that current racial inequalities are the result of historical oppression” (Wax, 13). The matter of the fact is that we cannot change the past, but we can learn from it and do everything we can to better the future, so that such mistreatment of a race doesn’t happen again. 

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Reading and Film Presentations and Discussion

ERA #3: Race, Wrongs, and Remedies pg.1-33

Amy Wax argues that American blacks are treated unequally because of the long years of slavery and discrimination, making them victims. It is the idea that they have been oppressed for so long that they will be treated unequally for decades to come. But remedies are to happen, so that the oppressed can obtain the positions they deserve. It doesn’t sound easy and matter of fact I think it is quite impossible. You cannot forget about the past, and I believe the history repeats itself. For example, there is still discrimination today. The lives of blacks were hopeful after the work of MLK and 1960s during the civil rights movement, but today police brutality is at a high rate. Due to this, the publicity and response was huge as there was the creation and spread of movements like Black Lives Matter. Even though progress has been achieved, the black community in America still suffers from oppression. 

            The damage is done because of this blacks are succumbed to a pre-determined identity. It is unfortunate that it is this way. I think it is getting better, but there will not be totally equal opportunity. I think Wax’s theory could do some good, I just think it is matter of getting a majority of people on board, so progress can be made. Wax talks about three different accounts that are restricting equality: discrimination, structural barriers, and behavior. She makes good points and back these reasons well. I strongly agree with discrimination being a factor because it has been so prevalent in America’s history and it seems that will not go away.   

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Catch-All/Student Discussion Questions

All the Pretty Horses Pg.139-217

My imagine of the wild west is more confirmed after reading All the Pretty Horses. Not one character is short of being who I would think wild west people to be. The language they use is exactly what I would expect. For example, Rawlins was speaking to some young girls, “They aint goin to bring you no damn cigarette” (154). The broken English and specific emphasis screams out the distinctive southern accent. 

There are some key values that are represented over the course of the novel. The loyalty of John Grady and Rawlins to Blevins is one to look at. They had recently met him and soon they are all in trouble with some Mexican ranchers. Blevins’s horse is stolen and he steals it back, but in doing so kills three Mexican ranchers. John Grady and Rawlins go searching for Blevins to help him. The two only have known of Blevins for a short period of time, but are willing to risk their lives in order to help a friend. The passion of John Grady is something that can be influential to others. Any form of success needs passion. There needs to be care in order to reach success and that is shown in John Grady’s actions.