Peter Tosh: a Pioneer of Reggae and Trailblazing Rastafarian

Peter Tosh: A Pioneer of Reggae and Trailblazing Rastafarian Peter Tosh was not only an incredible Reggae musician, but an incredible person as well. He had a history of doing his part to help those in need of help, fighting for those who were unable to fight for themselves. Tosh, a pioneer of the Rastafari movement, would lead the people of Jamaica through his selfless actions and his music. Peter Tosh, born Winston Hubert McIntosh, was born in Westmoreland, Jamaica on October 9, 1944 to parents, Alvera Coke and James McIntosh. Tosh’s father would have nothing to do with his upbringing or even acknowledge that Tosh was his son.In fact, they would not even meet until Tosh was ten years old. His mother, unable to care for Tosh herself, asked her sister to raise him, which she did in Savanna-la-Mar, Jamaica. Due to the feeling of rejection that this placed inside of him, Tosh grew up extremely self-reliant and independent, which would help him later on in his fight for his peopl e. During the time of his upbringing, life in Jamaica was extremely difficult. Jobs were scarce and money even more so. The majority of families were struggling to make ends meet, scrounging for money and building supply scraps to keep roofs over their heads.Jamaica’s government was extremely corrupt and the wealthier, land-owning class was taking advantage of those less fortunate. Tosh recognized this and would later become a modern day Robin Hood, using his presence in the public eye to his advantage by speaking on behalf of his fellow Jamaicans to raise awareness on the issue. Tosh began playing music at a very young age, keeping him away from gang life. He had no formal training of any instrument, aside from six months of piano lessons when he was in fifth grade. Music was his passion and he excelled in it.Tosh moved to Trenchtown with his uncle after his aunt grew very ill and nearly died. It was here that Tosh would develop his musical talents and go on to form the most influential band in reggae history. Trenchtown, named because of the many trenches that ran through it carrying sewage waste away from Kingston, was filled with music. While walking through town one day, Tosh came across a guitarist by the name of Joe Higgs, among others, singing and playing in the street. During the jam session, he met a couple who were looking for other vocalists to join a group. The couple was impressed by Tosh’s guitar playing and his baritone voice. Johnson) The couple, Bob Marley and Bunny Livingston, and Tosh, who taught Bob Marley how to play guitar, would hold jam sessions in Higgs’ backyard. These sessions became more and more serious and would eventually lead to the forming of the influential ska-style band called the Wailing Wailers in 1964. The Wailers went on to record twelve albums including One Love, When the Well Runs Dry, and Simmer Down and released groundbreaking singles including ‘Stir it Up’, ‘Get Up, Stand Upà ¢â‚¬â„¢, and ‘Trenchtown Rock’. (http://reggaediscography. blogspot. com/2009/10/peter-tosh-discography. html) By 1966, the band began to fall apart.Marley had moved from Jamaica to the United States to pursue a solo career and Tosh was arrested and served a short stint in jail. By 1972, the Wailers would slowly diminish until they finally broke up. It would be absurd to speak of Peter Tosh and not mention the Rastafari movement, which he had begun to get heavily involved in by this time. The movement was founded in the slums of Kingston, Jamaica in the 1920’s and 1930’s by a man by the name of Marcus Garvey. (www. religionfacts. com) Garvey taught that Africans are the true Israelis and that Ethiopia, referred to as Zion, is the real holy land.He further proclaimed that Africans were exiled to Jamaica and other parts of the world outside of Africa (the America’s and Europe are referred to as Babylon) as a form of divine punishment. (ww. religionfac ts. com) In the 1930’s, peaceful communities had begun popping up in Kingston and Rastafarians began to adopt their own culture to include a distinctive dialect and hair style, and developed their own style of art and music. It was their music that would help spread the ideology of the Rastafari movement across the globe. The music of Bob Marley and Peter Tosh would become messengers of Jah (God) spreading the word throughout the world.After the Wailers went their separate ways, Tosh focused on a solo career. His first album, Legalize It, went public in 1976. The name of the album, as well as the title track, refers to his stance on the legalization of marijuana. Tosh believed that smoking marijuana was a path to enlightenment. It was a way for the working class of Jamaica to get relief from the stresses of life. He further believed that the government made marijuana illegal as a way of oppressing Jamaicans and keeping them in order. Tosh only wrote songs after he had smoked marijuana because he felt he could see clearly. (www. thetalkingdrum. com)By the time of the One Love Peace Concert of 1978, Jamaica was in the midst of a political civil war. The concert was held in an effort to set aside the differences of Jamaicans and promote peace, love, and harmony. Tosh took this concert, at which Bob Marley and the Wailers were headlining, as an opportunity to speak to the audience. Tosh bluntly put the government down, accusing them of using Jamaica and the people that lived there for their resources with little regard as to what would happen to them. He spoke his mind, as always, without caring who would hear. He spoke for the rights of his brothers and sisters of Jamaica.That concert was the first time that a person held in such high regards amongst the public had spoken out against the Jamaican government. It was at this moment that Peter Tosh became a heroic figure and a public rights leader. The high regard in which he was held by his peers would turn out to be a blessing and a curse. Four months after the One Love Peace Concert and his lecture against the Jamaican government, Tosh was brutally attacked by up to ten police officers and nearly died. This was the first of many attacks, both verbal and physical, but this is where Tosh wanted to be.He wanted to be the center of attention, not for his own ego but to be in a position to speak on behalf of his people. It was a way for him to voice their concerns and demand corrective action. The One Love Peace Concert not only boosted Tosh in the political eye, but would end up boosting his American musical career as well. Mick Jagger, of the Rolling Stones, was in the audience at the concert and would go on to sign Tosh under the Rolling Stones’ record label. Tosh would go on to release two albums under the label, Bush Doctor and Mystic Man. The short life of this relationship ended when Tosh felt he was not being promoted properly. www. talkingdrum. com) Two years after releasi ng Wanted Dread or Alive, Tosh had hit the pinnacle of his career in 1983, which was the time of his European tour promoting Mama Africa. These two albums would go on to become known as Tosh’s best work. (www. talkingdrum. com) While on this tour, Tosh appeared on stage with his signature M-16 [military assault rifle] guitar. The guitar was significant in the fact that it was a symbol for Tosh’s music being his weapon against the corrupt politicians and evils in the world. (www. talkingdrum. com) His concerts were more than just music. They were spiritually enlightening and informative.It was not uncommon for Tosh to set aside some time during a show to talk to the audience about his views on the evils of the world. Despite the public being supportive of Tosh and his cause, he was murdered by three assailants on September 11, 1987. Record has it that three men, one of whom Tosh knew and tried to help find work after a term in jail, had approached him at his home demand ing money. When Tosh replied that he had none, he was shot three times. The assailant that Tosh knew turned himself in to the authorities, while the other two were never found. The story of the robbery, however, remains under scrutiny.According to reports, nothing from Tosh’s home was missing. The three men who went there to rob him took nothing. Many speculate that it was a hit to forever silence Tosh and his outspoken ways. From the moment he was born, it seems Peter Tosh was destined to live the life he did. He was a man with many admirable qualities, most importantly the courage to speak up for those who were not in a position to do it themselves in effort to better the lives of his fellow Jamaicans. He was a pioneer for the Rastafari movement and a prominent figure in the development of Reggae music, forming it into the shape it holds today.  

The Changing US Political Symbolism of Blue and Red

The Changing US Political Symbolism of Blue and Red The Changing US Political Symbolism of Blue and Red The Changing US Political Symbolism of Blue and Red By Maeve Maddox In British politics, blue is associated with Britain’s conservative party, the Tories, whereas red is associated with the Labour Party. The same association of blue with political conservatism was once common in US politics, but now red is associated with the conservative party. This change became fixed following the presidential election of 2000. The reversal was driven by the use of colored maps to track election returns in the media. The first giant election map was introduced by NBC television in 1976. States in which the majority voted for the Republican candidate (Gerald Ford) were lighted in blue. States in which the vote went to the Democratic candidate (Jimmy Carter) were lighted in red. In 1980, both NBC and CBS used red for Carter (D) and blue for Reagan (R), but ABC, to the confusion of channel-switching viewers, used blue for Carter and red for Reagan. In 1984, ABC and CBS used red for Republicans and blue for Democrats, but NBC retained blue for Republicans and red for Democrats. NBC consistently used blue for Republicans and red for Democrats from 1976 to 1988, the period during which Roy Wetzel was the general manager of NBC’s election unit. Whereas the other networks seemed to have used the colors arbitrarily, Wetzel gave a reason for his consistency: â€Å"Without giving it a second thought, we said blue for conservatives, because that’s what the parliamentary system in London is, red for the more liberal party. And that settled it.† - â€Å"When Republicans Were Blue and Democrats Were Red,† Smithsonian Magazine, Oct. 31, 2012. Note: Graphics in British newspapers usually assign blue to Conservatives, red to Labour, and yellow to Liberal Democrats. In 2000, two of the networks, ABC and NBC, used red for Republicans and blue for Democrats on their election maps. NBC’s election chief, Tim Russert, is credited with popularizing the phrases â€Å"red states† and â€Å"blue states.† Reinforcing the red/blue associations in 2000 were two newspaper maps that came out two days after the disputed election. The New York Times and USA Today both published color-coded maps that assigned red to Bush and blue to Gore. By the time the next presidential election rolled around in 2004, all three networks had adopted the imagery of red for Republican and blue for Democrat. The terms â€Å"red states† and â€Å"blue states† are now common in American political discourse: While the Republican Party is poised to make major gains in red states in the battle for the U.S. Senate, the situation is flipped in governors’ races, where Republicans are facing a tough time defending chief executives who won office in blue states in the Obama backlash of 2010.- The Washington Times. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Creative Writing 101What is the Difference Between Metaphor and Simile?7 Other Types of Pronouns

Duties of Corporate people

Duties of Corporate people Introduction A corporation is a legal body created according to the laws of a particular state or country (Emerson, 2009). Today, corporations are formed through registration unlike in the past when they were established through charters. There are different forms of corporations but most companies are public held corporations (Emerson, 2009).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Duties of Corporate people specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Public held corporation is â€Å"a public traded corporation† and the shares of this corporation are traded on the public stock market (Emerson, 2009). The other type of corporation is the close corporation, which is the easiest to form; it is the simplest form of business ownership and many businesspersons prefer this form of corporation (Emerson, 2009). Small and medium enterprises fall in this category. The main difference between public held corporation and close corporation i s that, public held corporations are strictly managed; they have tight securities laws, require periodic disclosure, and have additional procedures requirements for business transactions compared to close held corporations (Emerson, 2009). Discussion Organizations have directors, officers, and shareholders and all of them perform different duties in the corporation. Directors in a corporation have a major responsibility to create and sustain long-term shareholders interest (Mallor, Barnes, Bowers, and Langvardt, 2010). As such, corporate directors provide oversight of the organization’s progress in terms of development. Mostly, they ensure that all plans and projects recommended by the management are enacted through enough funding and they approve recommendations made by the management (Mallor, et al, 2010). Corporation’s directors have a duty to understand the risks in any organization so that they can be able to plan adequately to ensure success of the company. Gener ally, corporation directors provide their services to the company in areas of management, decision-making, and leadership (Mallor, et al, 2010). In summary, they appoint CEO and other executive officers, implement plans, manage corporations, monitor finances, and approve major changes in a company (Mallor, et al, 2010). On the other hand, corporation officers are responsible for management of daily activities in an organization. They are responsible for creating sales, maximizing customer services, and driving all financial matters in an organization (Emerson, 2009). Generally, corporation officers implement projects, appoints key managers, set standards for the managers, and they design the company (Emerson, 2009).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Because corporation officers are many, they have different responsibilities. For example, CEO signs all legal documents , attends board meetings, and oversees daily activities in the organization while the vice president fills in when the CEO is absent (Bhabatosh, 2004). Chief Financial Officer is responsible in managing all financial matters and maintains financial records while the secretary has a responsibility to maintain and update all company records. The shareholders are also entitled to participate in issues of corporate governance. Although shareholder are not involved directly, they have made financial investment in a corporation and therefore they are entitled to elect directors in the organization and therefore directors are accountable to the shareholders at all times (Bhabatosh, 2004). Since corporation directors are responsible for the management of the company, some issues require shareholders approval within the organization. As such, shareholders are responsible for approval of restructuring or reorganization of the company, selling of the company’s asset, increasing or reduc ing numbers of directors in a company, amendments of the corporation share capital, and changing laws concerning shares ownership (Bhabatosh, 2004). Conclusion As observed, corporation directors, corporation officers, and shareholders all have unique responsibilities in an organization. It is necessary to understand that each role is very important and must be performed well to ensure that the company achieves the set goals to be successful. References Bhabatosh, B. (2004). Fundamental of financial management. Dewai: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. Emerson, R. (2009). Business Law. New York: Barrons Educational Series. Mallor, J. P., Barnes, A. J., Bowers, T., Langvardt, A. W. (2010). Business Law: The  Ethical, global and ecommerce environment. (14th Ed). New York: McGraw Hill.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Duties of Corporate people specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More

Workers Compensation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Workers Compensation - Essay Example Indeed who would pray for such misfortune occurring to least of all, a worker whose only means of income arises from the fruit of his toil --The dream of longevity is owed to the chance of continuity of life and one's job. The Federal Employment Compensation Act made available the protection for disabilities of workers while on duty, and the State Laws on Compensation covers a wider framework beneficial for the working class and their families. Injuries and disabilities incurred while doing one's work becomes highly compensable without numerous demands for presentment or litigation. Injured employees may claim reimbursements of his medical expense during a disability. He may also claim 2/3 of his normal monthly salary during his illness and more if he has dependents. Survivors of deceased workers who are killed while on the job may claim under this law with the proper agencies. Soldiers in battle die as heroes and are remembered for their courage and bravery. Leaving the families to fend for themselves adds insult to the family's injury and creates a sense of dread among the military. The Worker's Compensation Law has now made it ultra-possible for families to refrain from suffering such neglect and hardship. Burn-outs will be minimized due to the knowledge that no matter what happens; life still goes on for the living. .

Personal Profile Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Personal Profile Paper - Essay Example eflection and friendliness, enjoy a low profile as well as quiet independence, are independent, dislike being controlled and are motivated by the desires of other people. Contrariwise, Reds tend to be hungry for power, seek to be engaged productively, want approval ratings from others, enjoy a good power play and pursue leadership opportunities. As a White, I tend to be a peace keeper, always staying calm and balanced even in the context of conflict; I am generally tolerant, kind, adaptable and good at listening. Red personality type, my roommate is motivated by the need to get things done and he is endowed with leadership vision, apart from being responsible, decisive, as well as hands-on and self-assured. There are great differences between my roommate and me; firstly, whereas I can accommodate other people’s ideas, my roommate is a control freak and always wants to be in control. Similarly, while I am patient and tolerant, that I would do anything including compromise to avoid confrontation, my roommate is often impatient and strong-willed, thus, always confrontational. Part from that, my roommate always craves approval for intelligence and insights while I prefer to keep a low profile and would not easily volunteer opinions unless I am coaxed to talk about my hobbies or interests. My roommate and I have something in common, despite the main differences in our personality types; precisely, both of us are independent and do not like being controlled by others; we like to be independent in our work and do not like to be pushed around. Our different and nearly opposed personality types have greatly influenced communication between us, and our relationship has often been riddled by numerous misunderstandings. Nonetheless, with the knowledge of our different personality types and personality characteristics, my roommate and I have learnt to by-pass our misunderstandings thereby avoiding conflicts. As a white, I am motivated by peace, even if it means

CRM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

CRM - Essay Example 1. Introduction Is the customer always right? The customer may be the king, but is it worth pursuing to retain all the customer accounts? These are some of the dilemmas an organisation face, especially when a customer relationship have entered a cul-de-sac. The basic premise of customer relationship management is about attracting, developing, maintaining and retaining profitable customers over a period of time (Massey et al., 2001). Figure 1: The basic premise of customer relationship management Adapted from source: Massey et al., (2001) 2.Theoretical underpinning Payne and Frow (2005) delineate functional dimension of CRM and stated that it concerns with creating improved shareholder value through development of appropriate relationships with key customers and customer segments by making a fusion of the potential of relation marketing strategies with IT to create profitable, long-term relationships with customers and other key stakeholders. ... re 2: The service profit model suggested by Bentum and Stone (2005) Source: (Hussain et al., 2009, p.120) From the figure above, the service profit chain (SPC) is evident and urges that the value creation process is indeed a horizontal cross-functional process, rather than standalone views contained within each function (Heskett et al., 1994). Behind the theoretical underpinning of CRM, a major vector is to be able to fight competition; and an enterprise after implementing the CRM system should be profitable and add to shareholder’s value. However, at the core of the CRM remains the customer which must be attracted, developed, maintained, and retained in a profitable way. But does it mean that all the customers to be retained for as long as possible? Should the organisation pursue it with obsession? Saubert’s (2011) case study on â€Å"Which accounts are worth keeping?† provides a clue to this question. Saubert suggests that there should be a fruitful communion o f attrition propensity and profitability models (Saubert, 2011). Studying in the context of Australian Banks for credit card holders, Saubert opine that while devising customer retention strategies, firms should weigh the value earned from each customer. The firm’s CRM strategy needs to be guided by answer to two fundamental questions: Figure 3: Two fundamental question that must guide a firm's CRM strategy Adapted from source: (Saubert, 2011) Saubert (2011) opines that while firms usually strive to increase customer loyalty and reduce attrition but tend to overlook these two questions. The Performance Improvement Council (2008) states that in an ideal world, loyal long term customer relationships would eventually evolve towards partnerships and quotes Michael LeBoeuf, author of How to Win Customers & Keep

African Americans Essay Example for Free

African Americans Essay The African American journey has been one of trials and tribulations which they suffered greatly to achieve freedom and success. The battle has led the citizens of this nation to have witnessed the first African American President of the United States. The journey that has brought African Americans to the present situation has seen intermittent successes and numerous setbacks. Perseverance from many generations has brought about a gradual but progressive change. The journey begun in a state of slavery, through the act of slavery racism was seen in its rarest forms. The long journey emerged from African Americans being sold to white traders and transported across the Atlantic Ocean. Slaves were auctioned off and sold to the highest bidders. African Americans were considered personal property of the white man and viewed as economic commodity. Their strength and endurance was formed as a result of working in the fields and kitchens from sunrise to sunset. The slaves lived off of the bare necessities in life. This act of slavery existed for decades and helped to shape the course of American history. From slavery to the March on Washington and many other events, African Americans have fought for their rights in United States, and have achieved their identity through many historical movements. The 13th Amendment to the US Constitution officially abolished slavery and freed the slaves to make a life for themselves as the Reconstruction Period. During the Reconstruction Era (1867) African Americans still suffered hardships under the leadership of Andrew Johnson who became president after Lincoln had got assassinated in 1865. Andrew Johnson had no intention of helping the African Americans he wanted to punish the slaveholders in the South. Andrew Jackson opposed giving African Americans the freedom to vote or equal rights. 1870 the 15th Amendment was ratified and became a law that specified African Americans: Historical Journey from 1865 to the Present 3 African American men had the right to vote. Voting was part of African Americans receiving civil liberties. The Civil Rights Movement and racial oppression were very significant moments in the American history. Exploitation was seen based on the color of one’s skin. Oppression was the way to keep the African American’s voice unheard. The dominant race manipulated America and shaped it according to the value of one race in society. Gaining equality was the essence of the struggle for African Americans in which white society pushed to prohibit African Americans from gaining any form of equality. Americans were uninformed and unaware of how corrupt the government officials were. During the historical journey of the African Americans the government failed to have all humans’ best interest in mind. The African American Journey Devastation of trials and tribulations were prevalent among the African Americans before 1865. The Civil War put a new twist on how society tuned into a racist world. Racism was very powerful and demanding during this period in life. Racism still prevails in the present tense only in more subtle ways. Before 1865 issues with slavery depicted lynching, segregation, low wages for job performances and derogatory defamation of character within a race due to skin pigmentation. Slavery and degradation never killed the desire of freedom and a promising future for African Americans. This was one of the foremost occurrences of hatred and dehumanizing of man because of the color of their skin. This exemplified the state of condition the African Americans were placed and recognized that another race was superior or had power over another race. African Americans were considered powerless over their own lives. The Emancipation African Americans: Historical Journey from 1865 to the Present 4 Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment were passed by a strong leader named Abraham Lincoln, which declared all of America’s slaves were free by 1865. In 1865, African Americans were finally feeling like human beings and not like property that endured brutality, harsh whippings, no rights as humans and cruel punishment. The passing of various civil liberty movements’, education, employment and voting privileges improved. Fox (2014) stated that southern blacks were impatient in seeking voting privileges. The U. S. Constitution gave all blacks a nominal right to vote, but southern blacks were often blocked at the polls, and racial apartheid was the foundation of a rigid caste system. The Thirteenth and Fifteenth Amendment abolished slavery and Americans were making strides to work things out. After the release of slaves the black codes of law were passed laws, statues, and rules enacted by southern states after the Civil War to gain control over the slaves again and protect the white man’s property from retaliation. The slave owners were worried that they had to do the Plantation work themselves after the slaves were freed, and blacks would want revenge on them because of the hardships of oppression over hundreds of years. Progression of African Americans throughout the 18th and 19th centuries was a struggle. The relationships between blacks and whites were, frustrating and intense, primarily because the concept of reigning in superior positions over African Americans lives in respect to finances, social activities, cultural values or political affiliations has not changed significantly. African Americans fought for equal opportunity and their rights as a human race. They struggled to fit in with society. Despite the developments and changes, many fiscal and visual (how they were perceived) characteristics of African Americans at the end of the nineteenth century did not African Americans: Historical Journey from 1865 to the Present 5 differ from that of the mid-1800s. 1865-1876 was considered a time of change for African Americans but racism continued to cause much pain and despair for African Americans. Two significant events that surfaced to support the emergence of African Americans was the Harlem Renaissance Movement (1920) and the Civil Rights Movement. The Harlem Renaissance contributed to the talents and cultural beliefs of African Americans. They were able to bring perspective and pride to their lives. Harlem Renaissance was defined as: The Harlem Renaissance was the name given to the cultural, social, and artistic explosion that took place in Harlem between the end of World War I and the middle of the 1930s. During this period Harlem was a cultural center, drawing black writers, artists, musicians, photographers, poets, and scholars. Many had come from the South, fleeing its oppressive caste system in order to find a place where they could freely express their talents (Educational Broadcasting Corporation, 2002, p. 1). African Americans felt they were able to make specific contributions to society and start communicating their feelings, beliefs and values to others. The Harlem Renaissance Movement brought different racial groups together in appreciation of the music and poetry but did not have much success in breaking the racial divide between the races that were expressed in the Jim Crow excerpts. â€Å"The Renaissance incorporated jazz and the blues, attracting whites to Harlem speakeasies, where interracial couples danced. It contributed to a certain relaxation of racial attitudes among young whites, but its greatest impact was to reinforce race pride among blacks† (Educational Broadcasting Corporation, 2002, p. 1). The 1964 Civil Rights Movement gave African Americans the right to take a stand against racism. Racial discrimination was a major problem that caused havoc in the lives of African Americans. Several events emerged from the Civil Rights African Americans: Historical Journey from 1865 to the Present 6 movement that made a significant impact on the lives of African Americans- the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Black Power Movement. The events above promoted a means of outlawing racial discrimination. Segregation was protested through political and social protest rallies and campaigns. The Black Power Movement gave African Americans a voice to be heard. Political and religious reasons were heard as their voices resonated throughout society. â€Å"The African American movement gained political legitimacy because it politicized the grievances of collective memory and appealed to a common ancestry to regain for this people cultural, political, and economic rights by rejecting subordination and White cultural supremacy or hegemony† (Jalata, 2002, p. 1). Before the Civil Rights Movement America was considered in the realms of practicing apartheid. All African Americans were humiliated, denied their civil rights and liberties, dehumanized and suffered tremendous hardships. Several movements initiated progress for African Americans. They were finally gaining their rights to live as human beings and become a part of society. â€Å"But the awkward truth is that when it comes to the goals laid down by the civil rights movement in general and Brown in particular, America is actually going backward† (Younge, 2014, p. 10). A school in Little Rock marked a turn in events for African Americans. This was in 1957 when the governor issued an order to the National Guard troops to stop the nine black children from entering the school. The order was denied and a mob of white students intimidated the black students. Federal soldiers escorted the black students into the school and were protected by the armed guards. The governor, African Americans: Historical Journey from 1865 to the Present 7 Faubus, closed all of the city’s schools to prevent integration. The African Americans prevailed regardless of the circumstances. According to Pearson Education (2000) other events that marked a period of setbacks and progression in the lives of African Americans are: †¢1931 NINE BLACK YOUTHS ARE INDICTED IN SCOTTSBORO, ALA., ON CHARGES OF HAVING raped two white women. †¢1947 JACKIE ROBINSON BREAKS MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALLS COLOR BARRIER WHEN HE IS signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers by Branch Rickey. †¢1952 MALCOLM X BECOMES A MINISTER OF THE NATION OF ISLAM. OVER THE NEXT several years his influence increases until he is one of the two most powerful members of the Black Muslims. †¢1963 MARTIN LUTHER KING WAS ARRESTED FOR MARCHING AGAINST ANTI-SEGREGATION. †¢1966 THE BLACK PANTHERS WAS FOUNDED. †¢1967 THURGOOD MARSHALL WAS APPOINTED TO THE SUPREME COURT. †¢2002 HALLE BERRY AND DENZEL WASHINGTON RECEIVED OSCARS FOR BEST ACTORS. †¢1992 RACIAL RIOTS ARE SEEN IN LOS ANGELES AFTER ACQUITTING FOUR WHITE BOYS FOR beating Rodney King. African Americans: Historical Journey from 1865 to the Present 8 †¢2005 CONDOLEEZZA RICE BECOMES THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE U. S. SECRETARY OF STATE. †¢2009 BARACK OBAMA BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT. Many problems that exist today seem to be repeating themselves. America seems to be making an upturn and the ugly faces of racism are reappearing. Younge (2014) stated that schools are re-segregating, legislation is being gutted, it’s getting harder to vote, large numbers are being deprived of their basic rights through incarceration, and the economic disparities between black and white are growing. In many areas, America is becoming more separate and less equal. Overcoming hurdles was nothing new to Obama and Colin Powell. Both men achieved success in American society. Obama became the first black president and Colin Powell became Secretary of State and served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Barack Obama is the first African American President of the United States and that is considered a very important step forward in this country. His administration has been one of struggle and plight to succeed because of the turmoil going on in the nation. Obama has succeeded in great ways without the support of many Republicans in the house. Asked So, how has being Black affected your ability to govern? , Obama replied in part: By virtue of being African-American, Im attuned to how throughout this countrys history there have been times when folks have been locked out of opportunity, and because of the hard work of people of all races† (Cooper, 2012, p. 11). Obama has been successful in making equal opportunity a solution to African Americans: Historical Journey from 1865 to the Present 9 many problems. He has slowly opened the doors to more people and made equal opportunity happen through vigilance and determination. A great historical event occurred when Obama was elected as President. This surprised many Americans in the world. This symbolized a step forward towards racial equality in the history of African Americans. This election captured several important turn of events that said we have made great accomplishments. This completed the Civil Rights Movement and what it stood for, an emergence of a post-racial society, the elimination of multiculturalism and the possibility of ending the black struggle. There were several activist that would not have concluded that the black struggle has ended. Those people were Marcus Garvey, Ella Baker and Huey P. Newton. Their beliefs were based on specific facts that unifying scattered people of African descent, inspiring racial pride, and ultimately creating a separate, independent country should be the goals of racial uplift. Garvey thought black people were oppressed and divided as a race. Because they were ‘scattered as an unmixed and unrecognized part’ in numerous nations they were dependent upon the other races for kindness and sympathy. Many people have struggled to explain the plight of the African American race but the journey was one of hardship, courage and endurance that built character. The African American race has come a long way from cruelty and hardship inflicted during the 1800’s. The journey encompassed freedom, voting rights, civil liberties and equality. African Americans: Historical Journey from 1865 to the Present 10 References Blackpast. org. (2007). African American history timeline 1901-2000. Retrieved from http://www. blackpast. org/timelines/african-american-history-timeline-1900-2000 Cooper, K. J. (2012). The Presidents Report Card. Crisis (15591573), 119(4), 6. Retrieved from http://search. ebscohost. com. proxy-library. ashford. edu/login. aspx? direct=truedb=f5hAN=88314705site=eds-live Educational Broadcasting Corporation (2002). The Harlem Renaissance. Retrieved from http://www. pbs. org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_harlem. html Fox Piven, F. (2014). 50 and FIGHTING. Planning, 80(6), 10. Retrieved from http://search. ebscohost. com. proxy-library. ashford. edu/login. aspx? direct=truedb=f5hAN=96548704site=eds-live Jalata, A. (2002). Revisiting the black struggle: Lessons for the 21st century. Journal of Black Studies, 33(1). Retrieved from African Americans: Historical Journey from 1865 to the Present 11 http://search.ebscohost. com. proxy-library. ashford. edu/login. aspx? direct=truedb=edbAN=7268500site=eds-live Kirk, J. (2009). THE LONG ROAD TO EQUALITY. History Today, 59(2), 52-58. Retrieved from http://search. ebscohost. com. proxy-library. ashford. edu/login. aspx? direct=truedb=aphAN=36590274site=eds-live Pearson Education. (2000). African American history timeline. Retrieved from http://www. infoplease. com/spot/bhmtimeline. html Younge, G. (2014). The Awkward Truth about Race. Nation, 298(24), 10-11. Retrieved from http://search. ebscohost. com. proxy-library. ashford. edu/login. aspx? direct=truedb=aphAN=96204081site=eds-live.