Question
How does preconceived notions of blacks leads towards their killings in the hands of police and what can we do to change this when it comes to police brutality ?
Resources
https://www.ferris.edu/htmls/news/jimcrow/links/essays/vcu.htm
Author: Princess Aisse
Reread Declaration of Independence
Aisse Tounkara
10/16/2019
Professor Hall
From rereading this time I actually learned a lot. I’ve foreseen a lot of important stuff the first time I read it. Thomas Jefferson and the founding fathers all signed the Declaration of Independence. Out of all the founding fathers Jefferson himself held the most slaves. In the Declaration of Independence it states that all men are created equally. According to the Declaration it states “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness”. This is interesting to me because I skipped past this part. To me this is saying that these are rights for all people. This can relate back to when Slavery was being abolished. Thomas Jefferson included this in the Declaration so the people who were enslaved now have rights and etc. It also says something about Justice. This idea of Justice can mean a lot of different things.
Difficulty Paper
Aisse Tounkara
Difficulty Paper
10/12/2019
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a document written by Thomas Jefferson and our founding fathers on July 4th 1776. Pushing for Independence wasn’t easy but they found a way to do so.Sometimes reading a text may be complex. Especially when there is something that you don’t understand or are knowledgeable on. In the first draft of the Declaration of Independence it states “He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly and continually for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. I don’t understand what Thomas Jefferson necessarily means by that when he adds that to the Declaration. It is very mysterious and unfamiliar to me. He’s talking about the rights of people but he himself had over 200+ slaves. So when you say right of people what are you specifically referring too by that. The Declaration of Independence starts of with details of Great Britain and etc. In the first draft of the Declaration slavery is described in a formal way but as you get to the final version it is no longer there anymore.
Great Britain have caused a lot of damage. What slows me down is the fact that the Declaration of Independence was designed to get slaves free but to also get their independence from Great Britain. It also states “ He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt out towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. This is something that I understand because when it comes to war, this is what usually occurs. The founding fathers did a lot of work when it came down to the nation.
Revision
Aisse Tounkara
Professor Hall
10/10/2019
Money Please
As a young child I always knew I’d be attending college right after Highschool. With education it will allow me to stay away from a lot of the violence that was going on in my neighborhood. Education allowed me to become very hopeful. One particular moment that I experienced changed my entire view on education forever. I remember it like it was just yesterday. It was junior year and it was time to start looking into colleges. I remember telling my counselor, I would like to attend St John’s University. She looked at me and stated “that school is expensive your family can’t really afford it”. In my head im like “bitch bye”. Why are you telling me this. But deep down I wondered hmmmm why is that. As a counselor, it’s your job not to discourage me, and keep me on the right path. Here I am having hope that my future would be so bright but I have someone who was supposed to be guiding me help me look for schools and encourage me to keep going in life say “your family can’t really afford that. No matter what that shouldn’t stand in the way of your education.
Financial barriers are a big issue when it comes to college. Often people get into these really good schools and when the time comes they never end up going because of financial situations standing in their way. That’s a huge issue. A couple months ago I was honored to be apart of Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Initiative program. Out of 200 students only 10 highschool seniors were selected to be apart of this Conference at Howard University in Washington D.C. This conference was mainly for first generation college students and all the obstacles it took us to get to the place we’re at now. At the program in Washington D.C I met other amazing college graduates, and an author named Wes Moore. Wes Moore was telling us his story on education and what education meant to him. It taught me to never give up, to keep beating the odds, and strive against everything. One thing in particular that stuck with me was when Mrs Obama was a highschool student, her counselor said to her, “Your reaching too high, You should look into other schools because you are not Princeton material”. From there on forward she knew she could do anything she wanted to achieve despite what people would say. Being apart of this reach higher summit changed my life for the better. I would’ve never expected going to Washington D.C and meeting with the First Lady who paved the way for people with education, especially for minorities. She was just like me when she was my age but did not stop her. After this talk with Michelle Obama I realized I have more potential and said to myself ‘I can apply to St Johns for a transfer admission, get a scholarship, and do whatever it is that allows me to succeed.
As you maneuver on in life people will always try to discourage you with their negative comments. They will always put their fears onto you. But you have to rise above that and not let no counselor stand in your way, no financial barriers, not anybody. If you allow people to project their fears onto you, you won’t live. I’ve had jobs throughout highschool that didn’t mean very much but I said to myself “education is going to be essential for my success, my future, and the people who love me. I can’t go the rest of my life living paycheck to paycheck. So that allowed me to put my education first before anything. As the years went by, I realized that education was important to me and that it always will be. I’ve struggled a lot and I’ve seen the struggle right in front of me. I did not allow that moment with my counselor define who I was, who I am, or who I will become. I knew I would redefine success by pursuing higher education. Attending law school was something I knew I’d be interested in pursuing as I was young.
Even as a youngin I did college programs, started networking with people, enrolled in internships, and did everything possible to be successful in life. I also remember entering City Tech the first day of July to discuss my financial aid. The lady at the financial aid desk would send me back every day for a whole month. “Your missing this, your missing that”. This kept going on until the second week of the fall semester. She said to me “If your financial aid is not processed you will be forced to drop your classes, or pay out of pocket for your tuition”. I reached a breaking point because I was so overwhelmed. I had to endure so much just because I wanted to pursue higher education. I managed to save enough money for textbooks, and transportation fees until my financial aid was processed. In highschool I learned that financial barriers were a major problem in why most of the people in my community never reached college, or had no other choice but to drop out of college. I Aisse Tounkara was never going to let financial situation get in the way of what’s dearest to me. I’m sending a message for people to understand that financial barriers are a major problem when it comes to pursuing higher education. Financial barriers suck. It should be addressed more often. It makes you not want to attend college because it’s a lot to deal with. But you have to have patience. Now imagine a young girl from the Bronx who did not let financial situations stop her from dreaming, and achieving.
Plan For Revising Essay
In my essay/story I discussed a lot of things. I talked about my counselor telling me I couldn’t afford the college that I wanted to attend and etc etc. I felt like I was only elaborating on one part and added t0o much extra information. I may have been confusing the readers a little bit too much. By the end of my essay I want people to know what exactly I mean when I wrote my education story and what the obstacles are with education. There are a majority of problems with education but the financial part of education is overlooked. Yeah we can get Into elementary, middle, and high school for free but we have to pay for college. There are so much obstacles we face with the financial part of education. You have to put your higher education on hold because you don’t have enough money to pay for your school, your books, and etc. Or some people even take out loans. Those loans may be around $90,000.00 by the time you graduate with your bachelors and not to mention interest on top of that. That brings you to about let just say $120,000.00. Here you are in debt and some careers require at least a masters degree and that’s an additional 2 years so you’re paying $160,000.00. How are you supposed to live off a $80,000 salary when you owe $160,000.00 in just student loans because you choose to further your education. No to mention day to day living is very expensive. I will elaborate on some of this and fix the structure. More paragraphs, not just jumping from topic to topic within. AND AS ALWAYS NO PROCRASTINATION !!!
Difficulty Paper
In the article by James Baldwin, a lot of things were mentioned. What I found confusing was how it talked about education then went straight to racism. It was hard for me to find the connection. I feel like the connection was not learning racism in school. It talks about depression as well. It’s kind of boring as well. What makes it boring is the fact that it jumps from one idea to another and as soon as you try to make a connection then boom it jumps into another topic. When I was reading the section where it stated
I was not a “nigger” even though you called me one. But if I was a “nigger” in your eyes, there was something about you-there was something you needed. I had to realize when I was very young that I was none of those things I was told I was”. This hits home for me because I can relate. We we’re all told something we’re not. Someone always said you can’t do this you can’t do that. But like the author said he never payed any attention to those people. If you pay attention to nay sayers you won’t live.
Although I found this boring and confusing for the most part it was alright.
250 Word BLOG POST
In the education system we’ve seen a lot and still continue to see a lot. Not any drastic change has really happened. What ties to all of our chapters together is the fact that we have all had a specific person in our life that tells us something. Some may have motivated us and encouraged us, some may have just discouraged us, humiliated, and never seen any potential in us. But above all that like Maya Angelou said “I still rise”. I can relate when Denise’s teacher told her some very negative words. She used that as a motivation. One problem about education in the United States specifically is that it’s set up like a prison. It’s a system with rules that you have to follow. You cannot think for yourself. You have to follow standards and guidelines. Thinking freely does not exist in the American education system that we have here. This idea of going to college, getting a degree, to Get a job is also apart of it. Growing up I was told you have to go to college to be successful. Getting an education does not guarantee you a job, but it also with no education means less income. Schools are turning children into robots. Controlling the mind. Sit up, do this, do that. Nothing has changed in the education system from back in the day til this very 21st century. One thing we can all relate on is that education saved all of us. We all had that one person.
Final
Aisse Tounkara
Professor Hall
09/02/2019
Unit One Essay
As a young child I knew education would be my way out. My way to escape my environment and become something/ somebody in life. Education saved me from a lot of the violence that was going on in my neighborhood. Education allowed me to stay hopeful. One particular moment that I experienced changed my entire view on education forever. I remember it like it was just yesterday. It was junior year and it was time to start looking into colleges. I remember telling my counselor, I would like to attend St John’s University. She looked at me and stated “that school is expensive your family can’t really afford it”. In my head im like “bitch bye”It really brought me into a deep depression. Here I am having hope that my future would be so bright but I have someone who was supposed to be guiding me help me look for schools and encourage me to keep going in life say “your family can’t really afford that. I went home later that day and spoke to my mother. I said to my mother “Mami my counselor ruined my hopes of attending the school that I dreamed of always attending. My mother looked at me and said never let anyone stop you from doing and going places where you always dreamed of going. That taught me to never let financial barriers get in your way.
Financial barriers are a big issue when it comes to college. Often people get into these really good schools and when the time comes they never end up going because of financial situations standing in their way. That’s a huge issue. A couple months ago I was honored to be apart of Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Initiative program. Out of 200 students only 10 highschool seniors were selected to be apart of this Conference at Howard University in Washington D.C. This conference was mainly for first generation college students and all the obstacles it took us to get to the place we’re at now. It taught me to never give up, to keep beating the odds, and strive against everything. One thing in particular that stuck with me was when Mrs Obama was a highschool student, her counselor said to her, “Your reaching too high, You should look into other schools because you are not Princeton material”. From there on forward she knew she could do anything she wanted to achieve despite what people would say.
As you maneuver on in life people will always try to discourage you with their negative comments. They will always put their fears onto you. But you have to rise above that and not let no counselor stand in your way, no financial barriers, not anybody. If you allow people to project their fears onto you, you won’t live. I’ve had jobs throughout highschool but I said to myself “education is going to be essential for my success, my future, and the people who love me. As the years went by, I realized that education was important to me and that it always will be. I’ve struggled a lot and I’ve seen the struggle right in front of me. But I knew with education I’d be able to change that struggle my struggle. I did not allow that moment with my counselor define who I was, who I am, and who I will become. I knew I would redefine success by pursuing higher education. Attending law school was something I knew I’d be interested in pursuing.
Even as a youngin I did college programs, started networking with people, enrolled in internships, and did everything possible to be successful in life. I also remember entering City Tech the first day of July to discuss my financial aid. The lady at the financial aid desk would send me back every day for a whole month. “Your missing this, your missing that”. This kept going on until the second week of the fall semester. She said to me “If your financial aid is not processed you will be forced to drop your classes, or pay out of pocket for your tuition”. I reached a breaking point because I was so overwhelmed. I had to endure so much just because I wanted to pursue higher education. I managed to save enough money for textbooks, and transportation fees until my financial aid was processed. In highschool I learned that financial barriers were a major problem in why most of the people in my community never reached college, or had no other choice but to drop out of college. I Aisse Tounkara was never going to let financial situation get in the way of what’s dearest to me. I’m sending a message for people to understand that financial barriers are a major problem when it comes to pursuing higher education. Financial barriers suck. It should be addressed more often. It makes you not want to attend college because it’s a lot to deal with. But you have to have patience. Now imagine a young girl from the Bronx who did not let financial situations stop her from dreaming, and achieving.
Rough Draft Aisse Tounkara
Aisse Tounkara
Professor Hall
09/02/2019
Unit One Essay
As a young child I knew education would be my way out. My way to escape my environment and become something/ somebody in life. Education saved me from a lot of the violence that was going on in my neighborhood. Education allowed me to stay hopeful. One particular moment that I experienced changed my entire view on education forever. I remember it like it was just yesterday. It was junior year and it was time to start looking into colleges. I remember telling my counselor, I would like to attend St John’s University. She looked at me and stated “that school is expensive your family can’t really afford it”. It really brought me into a deep depression. Here I am having hope that my future would be so bright but I have someone who was supposed to be guiding me help me look for schools and encourage me to keep going in life say “your family can’t really afford that. I went home later that day and spoke to my mother. I said to my mother “Mami my counselor ruined my hopes of attending the school that I dreamed of always attending. My mother looked at me and said never let anyone stop you from doing and going places where you always dreamed of going. That taught me to never let financial barriers get in your way. Financial barriers are a big issue when it comes to college. Often people get into these really good schools and when the time comes they never end up going because of financial situations standing in their way. That’s a huge issue. A couple months ago I was honored to be apart of Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Initiative program. Out of 200 students only 10 highschool seniors were selected to be apart of this Conference at Howard University in Washington D.C. This conference was mainly for first generation college students and all the obstacles it took us to get to the place we’re at now. It taught me to never give up, to keep beating the odds, and strive against everything. One thing in particular that stuck with me was when Mrs Obama was a highschool student, her counselor said to her, “You should look into other schools because you are not Princeton material”. From there on forward she knew she could do anything she wanted to achieve despite what people would say. As you maneuver on in life people will always try to discourage you with their negative comments. They will always put their fears onto you. But you have to rise above that and not let no counselor stand in your way, no financial barriers. If you allow people to project their fears onto you, you won’t live. I’ve had jobs throughout highschool but I said to myself “education is going to be essential for my success, my future, and the people who love me. Over the years I realized that education was important to me and that it always will be. I’ve struggled a lot and I’ve seen the struggle right in front of me. But I knew with education I’d be able to change that struggle. I did not allow that moment with my counselor define who I was, who I am, and who I will become. I knew I would redefine success by pursuing higher education. Attending law school was something I knew I’d be interested in pursuing. Even as a youngin I did college programs, started networking with people, enrolled in internships, and did everything possible to be successful in life. I also remember entering city tech the first day of July to discuss my financial aid. The lady at the financial aid desk would send me back every day for a whole month. “Your missing this, your missing that”. This kept going on until the second week of the fall semester. She said to me “If your financial aid is not processed you will be forced to drop your classes, or pay out of pocket for your tuition”. I reached a breaking point because I was so overwhelmed. I had to endure so much just because I wanted to pursue higher education. I managed to save enough money for textbooks, and transportation fees until my financial aid was processed. In highschool I learned that financial barriers were a major problem in why most of the people in my community never got to college, or dropped out of college. I was never going to let financial situation get in the way of what’s dearest to me. I’m sending a message for people to understand that financial barriers are a major problem when it comes to pursuing higher education. Financial barriers suck. It makes you not want to attend college because it’s a lot to deal with. But you have to have patience. Now imagine a young girl from the Bronx who did not let financial situations stop her from dreaming, and achieving.
