Category: Unit 3

Unit 1 Essay

Christian Parris

 

Jessica Parker is a reporter for the daily news she was assigned the task of writing an article on the increasing rate of young people under the age of 20 being in prison. For her report, she interviewed a prisoner who is serving a twenty-year sentence Jeremy Thomas for assault and battery. 

Act I

Report: Mr. Thomas I was wondering if we could speak to you about what happened. We all know how you ended up in jail? What got you here for half of your life? What caused this you were still in middle school you had your whole life ahead of you.

 

Jeremy: Well this is a long story where should I start. Maybe with the case or maybe the middle school experience itself. 

 

Jeremy: I was a young kid from Houston he lives with his mom and dad in their apartment in a low-income neighborhood. I had just started middle school with my best friend Tyler. I lived next door to him since there early years. This is the story on how I end up not only friendless but in prison. 

Act II

 Jeremy: I woke up excited but also nervous for my first day of school of my  middle school.  I got dressed for school both my parents have left for work already and I was the last one to leave but before I went to the kitchen to find something to eat. When suddenly I hears a knock on the door. It is Tyler he was my best friend from when we  met when we were still in kindergarten. Now  Both him and I where going to the same middle school unlike me, Tyler is outgoing and mischievous you could never know what he was going to do next.

 

Tyler: Yo you ready to go it’s our first day of school we gotta get their early. 

 

Jeremy: What’s the rush we got so much time school starts in like the next 30 minutes. Let’s take our time it’s not that far.

 

Tyler: Yeah but don’t you know in middle school everyone starts to group into different areas. This is where we make our names I don’t want to be known as the social loser of the school. 

 

Jeremy: Relax there is no way with your outgoing attitude that you become a social outcast.

 

Tyler: Yeah but this is a different ball game from our old school it was easy because everyone was friends with everyone. This..this is middle school the group you hang about with here will affect your social status all the way till college. 

 

Jeremy: Yeah we’ll make sure in your plan to fit in you don’t do anything stupid that can get you into trouble.

 

Tyler: Please what’s the worst the can do give us a slap on the wrist and send us home, I ain’t scared 

 

Jeremy: Right just don’t do anything that I would get you into danger.  I don’t feel like save you from things like fights or drugs 

 

Tyler: Sure I promise I won’t do anything come on bro trust me I ain’t that stupid. Now hurry up and let’s go where on the clock 

 

Jeremy:Fine, let me grab something to eat out of the kitchen before we leave. Alright, let’s head out.

Narrator: They  leave the house and walk to their new school and reach their 5 minutes before class starts. Both of them go to get their schedules realizing they are not in the same class.  

 

Tyler: Dang it well this sucks we not in the same class 

 

Tyler: Well at least we will be able to see each other at lunch and we can go to the arcade after school. 

 

Jeremy: True well we better get to class before the bell rings. See you at lunch 

 

Jeremy is a kid who has always had good grades so he was put in the exiled class. While his friend Tyler a little below average in all his classes so he was put into a regular class. As time when by both of them got used to their new school 2 months have now passed.  

 

Tyler: Bro you heard that tryouts for the basketball team are next week you and me  should tryouts .

 

Jeremy: Really sure I probably would have done it even before asked me but now we a Duo like Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. 

 

Tyler: I better be Curry cause you know I got better handles than you .

 

Jeremy: Sure dude keep dreaming. Let’s go to the park if your serious we got to keep training to be ready. 

 

Tyler: Remember who beat you in a one v one. That was a while ago, bet you can’t beat me now. 

Act III

As they walk to the park they run into kids from school one especially Anthony he’s known to be wild and gets into fights but he is a cool guy at school popular and everyone likes him.

 

Anthony: what’s up guys want to go to a party at my house around the corner come on man it will be fun.

 

Jeremy: No thanks we’re good we were just on our way to the park to play some ball.

 

Anthony: Dang dude why you have to be such a drag in the mud. Whatever you two pansies go play basketball or whatever me and my friends are going to a party.

 

They kept walking to the park once they got there they trained all the way to the night and day every day till the day of tryouts. They got to the tryouts early there they met the coach and got to practice before the tryouts. 

Act IV

Coach: You both have great potential and are hardworking I would love to see you two join the team. 

 

Jeremy: Really thanks coach we both work very hard and would be a great addition to the team.

 

Tyler: Yeah you know it.

 

The tryouts began and everything went well they were both doing great as the tryouts went on both of them showed how hard they worked In the end both were happy to know they made the team. 

 

Tyler: Yes, we did it. 

 

Jeremy: Yep I told you all the hard work would pay off.  

 

Tyler: heck yeah  to celebrate this occasion we should party tonight .

 

Jeremy: Can’t I got to study for a test my class is taking tomorrow. Don’t you have any studying to do as well .

 

Tyler: Come on man light up. I don’t know about you but I got to party

 

Jeremy: bro I think you should study instead but it’s not my choice.

Act V

A few days passed since the tryouts and team practice started the coach pulled Tyler aside and was talking to him. Then out of nowhere, Tyler left Jeremy asked the coach why Tyler left. 

 

Jeremy: Hey Coach asked him why did Tyler leave?

 

Coach: Sadly I had to cut him from the team. 

 

Jeremy: What. Why?

 

Coach: His grades were slipping lately and he wasn’t passing his test he left me no choice. Now come on let’s get back to practice.

 

Later on that night on his way home Jeremy stopped by Tyler House. 

 

Jeremy: Yo bro you good I heard what happened 

 

Tyler:(Angerly) It’s not fear man just cause I scored low on one stupid test I can’t even play anymore it’s not everyone far the stuff on that test was like rocket science. 

 

Jeremy: Bro I told you you should have studied instead of going off partying 

 

Tyler: I didn’t even go I took your advice for once and I studied my hardest and that still wasn’t enough. 

 

Jeremy: well maybe you could get a tutor and if you do well on the next test I could ask the coach to give you a second chance. 

 

Tyler: don’t bother like I have the money for a tutor. Besides it’s too late by the time my grades get up to that level they would have already given away my spot on the team. 

 

Jeremy: bro come on at least we can try

 

Tyler: Thanks for coming but l need some time to myself 

 

(He closes the door)

 

Days pass by Jeremy are hard at work trying to juggle school and basketball he hasn’t heard from Tyler since the last time they talk. He is worried that he would do something stupid and his sesspitions were correct. While that’s happening Tyler runs into Anthony while sitting by the basketball court at the park by himself. 

Act VI

Anthony: If it isn’t the basketball stars where’s your friend is he not hear to protect you. 

 

Tyler: No he is at basketball practice. 

 

Anthony: Really wasn’t you supposed to be on the team as well. 

 

Tyler: I was on the team but I got kicked of cause my grades weren’t high enough.

 

Anthony: Really such a shame so your friend is on the team but you aren’t. Dang, he’s lucky he’s probably of making new friends with everyone while you’re still alone. He will probably forget about you altogether 

 

Tyler: No he won’t we have been friends since we were little he’s my best friend. 

 

Anthony: Oh really, then how come he hasn’t reached To you since he joined the team. You think it’s because he’s busy no it’s because he is moving on, which is what you should be doing. 

 

Tyler: How can I do that? 

 

Anthony: Join me and my friends it will be fun and you could be part of the most popular group in school. What do you say? 

 

Tyler: Well, Sure yeah let’s do it. 

 

Anthony: I was hoping you would say that. 

 

A few week Jeremy realizes he see less of his best friend Tyler and gets the idea to call him and as if he wanted to see his next game and after the game they can go hang out.

Jeremy: Yo bro what’s good.

 

Tyler: Nothing how you been. 

 

Jeremy: I’ve been good. So I was wondering if you would want to go to my next game it will be a big game. Coach is letting me start so what do you say. 

 

Tyler: nah man I’m really busy maybe next time.

 

Jeremy: Ok man by I was wondering if we could hang out on the weekend or something.

 

Tyler : nah man this week isn’t a great time for me 

 

Jeremy: really dang. Well let me know when it’s a great time 

 

Tyler: Alright. 

Act VII

While Tyler grew colder he started not only to engorging Jeremy but became jealous. Jealous on how he was on the basketball team. Jealous how he was able to make new friends and become popular without even trying like  how Jeremy did. It hit the climax with Antoine instigating the problem.

 

Anthony: WOW. Really it took him this long to reach out to you. He must not think of you now that he got his new friends on the basketball team .

 

Tyler: Really you think so? Nah it ain’t like that he probably just been tried, you know from basketball practice and school. 

 

Anthony: You know once I heard him talking with some kids from school them hangout and I thought I saw him with them. But it probably wasn’t him unless he thought you were going to cramp his style. I don’t know I must be going crazy.

 

Tyler: Yeah you’re right you must be cause I know him he would never do that. 

 

Anthony: Hey man don’t get mad at me. I’m just saying. Anyway me and the boys want to hangout and I need you to do us a favor. You could start making a lot of money. 

 

A few days pass Tyler is waking in the stairwell up to his next class but before he gets there he see Tyler with a nervous face like something was wrong. 

 

Jermey: Yo bro it’s been a while. 

 

Tyler: (nervously)Yeah man it has.

 

Jermey: How have you been.

 

Tyler: Fine 

 

Jermey: It’s been crazy how busy I’ve been we gotta find sometime when we can hangout .

 

Tyler: Yeah. Well I got to do something Catch you later. 

 

He runs off Jeremy continue walking when he hears two people talking. Dude it’s so funny we got that guy under the pam of our hand and if we get caught selling test answers we can just say we never knew and get off Scot easy. Anthony was right this was going to be so easy and that dude is so gullible. Yeah I know right (laughter)

Act VIII

Jermey runs to find Anthony in the lunchroom with his group of friends. Tyler is their with them when Jermey walks up to them . 

 

Jermey: I want you to tell the truth.  

 

Anthony: The truth about what? 

 

Tyler: Jermey, Anthony what’s going on here.

 

Jermey: Tell him, tell him your plans on how 

If your illegal business fail you would pine everything on him.

 

Anthony: I don’t know what your talking about 

 

Jeremy:  Yes you do. Quit playing dum 

 

Anthony: Seriously I don’t know.  Now quit bothering me before we have a really problem.

 

Tyler just sits there in silence as Anthony friends surround Jermey. 

 

Jermey: ok I get it.

 

Later on that day Jermey was called into the principal’s office not knowing what he did wrong. To his shock he saw both the principal and vice principal. 

Act IX

Principal: Young man I hope you have a good explanation for this .

She pullout a stack of sheets with with test answers for the school midterm.

Vice Principal: We found this.

Jermey: What is this? I don’t know what your talking about. 

 

Vice principal: oh so your playing dum. We were tipped off by one of your friends on how you were cheating on your test and how you started selling answers. So went and check your gym locker and what do we find.

 

Jermey: miss I swear that isn’t mine. 

 

Principal: I’m sorry but your in deep trouble 

 

Jermey: Can you at least tell me who told you his . 

 

Principal: I’m sorry we can’t 

 

Vice Principal: As I  punishment not only are you going to be suspended but you also are cut from all school activities. 

 

Jermey: what that’s not far. I did nothing 

 

Vice Principal: That’s all your dismissed. We have already contacted your parents. 

 

He leaves to he leave to collect his things when he walks down the stairs he see Tyler 

 

Jermey: Hey Tyler you won’t believe it I think Anthony frame me he planned evidence in my locker and told the principals. I swear if I see him I’ll. 

 

Tyler: It wasn’t him, It was me. 

 

Jermey: What. What do you mean 

 

Tyler: I mean I was the one who planned the answers to the test and told on you. 

 

Jermey: Why would you do that ? 

 

Tyler: Anthony told me how you where a danger to what we were doing and how you might snitch, so I bet you to it. You where handed everything on a silver plate, know your finally back down to earth  

 

Jermey: You were supposed to be my friend how could you.

 

Tyler: Friend? Friend you never had time for me after joining the team and started hanging out with your new friends new friends. Our  friendship went through a rough patch and you lift all together. 

 

Jermey: Your crazy. Did you know your stunt not only got me suspended but kick off the team.

 

Tyler: I’m glad for once you’re the loser in a situation, Not so perfect now.

 

(Back to present)
Act X

Jermey: And at that moment out of anger I pushed him. I pushed him so hard that he fell down the stairs and he got hurt so bad that they said he would never walk again. Police were called and I was put in handcuffs and the rest is history I was put in juvenile detention center. It’s been three years since and I look back on the situation everyday wondering what I could have done differently.  I could have started high school by now, wow time has passed.

 

Reporter: So from what I understand it’s your friends fault? 

 

Jeremy: Nah I don’t blame him anymore I blame the school system. The school to prison pipeline that’s what I’m apart of the school to prison pipeline. In steady of my friend relying on cheating you know what they could have done changed standardized test and maybe just maybe.  On my part instead of pushing him I could have talked out our differences when they started but I couldn’t do it alone schools should offer help in a situation like that. But at the end of the day here doesn’t feel differently from school except I can go home. The same process just like school, prison is just another way to break your spirits.

 

Reporter: final question if you don’t mind. Did you ever hear from Tyler again?

 

Jeremy: No I never heard from him but if I did I would tell him I’m sorry and I that I forgave him . If I could change anything  I would have found someway  to help kids just like Tyler so they don’t go down that path. Instead  of pushing him I should  have talked out our differences but yet I didn’t and now I will regret that for the rest of my life.

 

Neil Duran

English

 

As I look at each and every one of you I see the future, a future encased in a dense layer of ignorance. I implore you to attempt to break the habit of monotony, deviate from the path society has conditioned your brain to follow, create your own truth. There is an inherent diversity in all living beings: but a critical question stand does this diversity constitute a difference? We’re taught that certain physical characteristics and genealogy define your race, this concept of race is widely accepted by the population. What many of us don’t know is that race isn’t something as simple as the color of your skin or your chemical make up. What is the difference between me and you? What makes your skin darker than mine? What makes your hair fairer? What makes your eyes lighter? It’s the result of environmental stimuli that your predecessors underwent, this insinuates that at some point us as people as humans, we intersected and were a unified “Race”. I’m old my idea of race has already been cemented into my brain, even as I educate myself on the topic I still find it difficult to grasp. Your young you have the room for objectivity, the burden of ignorance is replaced by innocence. But how can you understand such a foreign concept, when your elders struggle with it themselves, alienating themselves into stagnant groups. The wisdom we have as adults are plagued by bias, we pass on information but in our own unique ways. We pass on our mannerisms and prejudices creating reflections of ourselves in the youth. We create the bias, we create the race, we create the exclusion when we should create unison. These are all premises that fall into the category of “racial skepticism”, what is racial skepticism you may ask? It’s a philosophical theory which suggests that Race isn’t a real concept, Naomi Zack a racial skeptic summarizes their argument like this “A summary of the racial skeptic’s argument against the biological foundations for race, sequentially summarizing the scientific rejection of essences, geography, phenotypes, post-Mendelian transmission genetics, and genealogies as possible foundations for races. Aristotelian essences, thought to ground the common characteristics of distinct species, were correctly rejected by early modern philosophers.” To summarize the summarization to be a racial skeptic is to challenge the validity of a long-held belief. I wanted to talk about this as a belief since in my opinion, most racial barriers are a result of faulty logic. One example of this is the self-segregation of people globally, there have been constant instances of people unconsciously dividing themselves on the bases of race. A prime is an example is Europeans and Africans, Europeans believed themselves to be above Africans because of their belief in Manifest Destiny or the white man’s burden. The superiority that they held in high regard lead to 400 years of oppression on their fellow man. Would the same situation play out if the Europeans were racial skeptics? Most likely, but at least it won’t be a race issue anymore. Racial skepticism isn’t a fix-all that’ll magically whisk away all the problems or tensions between people in this society. Racial skepticism, in my opinion, can be an effective tool in dispelling stereotypes and other situations along those lines, it isn’t going to prevent large scale acts such as slavery. But maybe with this ideology all black people won’t be seen as criminals, all Mexicans won’t be seen as immigrants, all these microaggressions that are present in everyday life will slowly fade out of existence. Imagine the good we can do if we acknowledge that we aren’t separate, more job opportunities, more diverse communities, more potential to grow! The boundaries that have been established over centuries of oppression and disdain can easily collapse through the spreading of tolerance. Prejudice is inevitable but only when those ideas are already cemented into your way of life. The only way to break this cycle of prejudice is to teach students these values, philosophy isn’t touched upon in-depth in high schools. Introducing kids to philosophies like racial skepticism can help kids make a decision on what they want to believe instead of playing into a narrative. Through education, these prejudicial values can be stopped in their tracks and a more open mind can be created. Individuality is built through experience, giving kids the ability to learn about these values will result in more free thinkers. Children who are given the chance to attain this knowledge will grow up to pass the same ideologies to their kids creating a new cycle of intelluatilism aimed at dismantling the bias in everyday life.

Shania Romain 

 

Professor Hall 

 

English 

 

December  2019 

 

Rebuild Renew Change 

 

Hello ! Hello ! All ! 

 

If you are sitting here at Bridgetown Hall tonight it means you want answers you want change and you have had enough and it means that you believe in me and want to see better for our society for our millennials coming up .You want to see a better outcome a change and I thank you . Thank you for coming out in the cold .Have you talked and started seeing the wind yet ? You know the white air that you see as soon as you speak?   That’s how you know winter is here ! I told my husband that I needed all the heat today literally,and when I say all the heat I mean for everyone to show out and that is exactly what happened .All the seats are filled in this room. So now I feel extremely warm and I thank you.Today we are discussing the need for change in our justice systems . You’re clapping because you have had enough.You’ve had enough of the unsolved issues .You’ve had enough of the broken systems .We need to Rebuild Renew and finally Change .Rebuild our communities Renew our systems and Change the way our government persecuted .This is the solution. Rebuild Renew and Change a system that has been broken for so long.Our communities is so broken .The society we live in needs to mature . America has grown but not in a good way.At this very moment right now,there are two things America is known for. These may be the things the other countries are laughing at us for .One we have the most arrogant unfiltered immature President in office and second our incarceration system .We have the highest!  A staggering 2.2 million to be exact and they are filled with black men . Why haven’t America finally got past the stigma that black men are so cruel and dangerous.Black men are so vindictive and arrogant.Dumb and stupid.They have nothing to offer to society . They do nothing but get themselves in trouble.In truth have you seen the amount of black men who graduated from Ivy League Schools .Yale, Harvard , Princeton .They don’t talk about that though . Haven’t you you had enough ? Did anyone hear about the man who has been on death row for 21years. Rodney Reed brought an uproar to Texas’s cruel and unjust justice system which is notorious for the death penalty. Rodney Reed who was 28 when falsely convicted has been incarcerated for something dna has not proven. Rodney Reeds’s sentence is controversial because after many pages of evidence he still remained on death row . This particular case is troubling because of so many different factors such as police misconduct missed DNA samples prosecutorial misconduct and Rodney Reed’s poor counsel . Rodney Reed was convicted  based on semen sample.This is the ONLY piece of evidence brought against him. Now Rodney did have a legal relation with the deceased Stacey Stites. Does that mean that he killed Stacey .A black man dating caucasian a woman still intimidated a lot of folks back then it seemed .I mean it is Texas right ? No other evidence connected Rodney to this death not DNA from clothes or who knows her body that day but just semen . He was set for execution for November 20th.Thank God they delayed his execution and they are giving him a new trial . Our mission continues . I say our mission continues we need to Rebuild Renew and Change .Our system is broken for penalising an innocent African American man and basically framing him for something he did not go .At this point they still have not incriminated Jimmy Fennell when he is the one who has a past .We are moving into 2020 a new decade this cannot continue . I applaud you guys because you guys understand the need for a new start.This should not be happening . The system should not be biased . However the system was biased because Jimmy Fennell is at home in his house while Rodney Reed is serving time living in a hell hole for something he did not do . He is sitting behind bars for a crime he did not commit! Why does an affair with a black woman intimidate Mr Fennell to  go out in the morning to kill a woman who he is supposed to be marrying . Stacey Stites was his fiancé ! An innocent woman is now dead because of man who was was supposed to be law enforcement . Jimmy Fennel was a ex cop at the time. This same police officer pleaded guilty to kidnapping a woman in 2008 and he was released in 2018 The woman did say that Mr Fennel also raped her To top it off did you know that an inmate who served time with Mr Fennell signed a sworn affidavit swearing that he overheard Mr Fennell saying that he did in fact kill his ex wife for sleeping with a black man .This man deserves to be on death row . This man needs to be behind bars .Do You see the problem here now . When a black man is accused of doing a crime accused he immediately gets sentenced to long periods of time in prison .However a Caucasian guy doesn’t get questioned until years pass by and he is still not suspected of doing a thing . That can cost you one African American but the system does not care though right ?Would you look at that Not only are black people shot for walking or stopped and frisked or pinned on the ground for not swiping a metro card their lives are being framed and taken from them .This is not right .This is a continuing cycle that needs to be stopped .The big picture here is that the justice e system needs to be fixed and the justice system needs to stop taking advantage of black men .It needs to be stopped .It needs to be changed .The Justice system needs to be Rebuilded Renewed and Changed . America You have to do better . STOP THROWING AWAY THE BLACK MEN .Stop stealing their life . I say this because this is a great epidemic . This should have never been Hopelessness did not manifest .Thank God you guys stopped the process and voiced your opinions and used your phones for something positive . You guys channeled that energy to move the process along for a better outcome of mankind and we thank you . . You ! .Each one of you 5000,000 signatures got this innocent man case delayed .His case got delayed so that he may at least be heard .He deserves to be heard . He needs to be heard .You put your voices toward something as one people .In America unfortunately the prison system is failing our black men.Degrading our black men. Abusing our black men. We cannot sit around on this any longer . This needs to be changed . Our journey as black people has already been hard .The task of protecting our black men has been  moved forward even more .The best is yet to come. . I want to thank everyone for using their voice for something . Every celebrity ,every news outlet ,every signature mattered and we are here now .We are here now to make sure this does not happen again. How many of us have an uncle or brother incarcerated for something they did not do .Being beaten behind bars by CO’s .Being abused .This needs to change . I have an uncle who served 10 years in prison for a marijuana charge something small as marijuana ! He served time in Upstate Correctional Prison. Meanwhile there are real rapists real murders real killers out there .Not people like Rodney Reed who at a tender age had to serve more than half his life in prison for something he did not do ! They looked at the facts and they still kept him hostage . The fiance told the truth and they still kept a black innocent man captive under the hostilities of the worst conditions . We have to fix this in our nation . The prison epidemic is becoming to big too known it should not be something that is common to us once in a while but everyday ? Let’s fix this America ! I will fix this !!

This video is part of my YT video, I just couldn’t include it in the editing:
https://www.nbcnews.com/video/why-can-t-third-party-candidates-win-1348512835713

                                                          Health

                   Are you being stereotypical when it comes to mental                  

                   disorders ?

               

                 “These stereotypes happen more often than you think.”

                                            By Elayne Susana Matos

                                                 December 3, 2019

 

   Most people just assume things all the time about anything. Imagine something complicated like a mental disorder. Let’s focus on autism, “ people with autism are retards”.  This is one of the most common stereotypes I’ve heard followed by “They don’t feel emotions”. There is always a stereotype for every group of people. It’s wrong but hey it’s true. Now how would you if you’re being stereotypical? Well, you would have to know the facts first. 

 

 The facts

   People with autism have trouble with acknowledging people’s feelings. According to the National Autistic Society, “ Autistic people often have difficulty ‘reading’ other people”. This means that they will know if you’re sad or happy eventually. It would just take them longer to process that you are feeling this way. Not knowing this information when interacting with a person with autism waiting for a quick reaction might be awkward and might make you assume things that are not true.

 

   Autism first and foremost has 4 different spectrums. Yes, there’s 4 different types of autism! According to Autism speaks,”In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association merged four distinct autism diagnoses into one umbrella diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder” (What is autism?). The different types are autistic disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome. During my research I read about an autistic child who used typing as a way of communicating. I’ve also seen and read about others with photographic memory. Autistic people can range from solving the quadratic formula in seconds to struggling with just 2+2. They do not fall under one category. They come in many different shapes and sizes just like the majority of the population with no mental disabilities.

 

   Something interesting that most people don’t know about autistic people is that they carry a certain interest with them all the time. What do I mean by this? Okay so, as seen on the netflix show Atypical by Robvia Rashid the main character is let’s say obsessed with penguins. The penguins are his main interest. Now how does he carry this interest with him? When in a situation or before a situation happens in his regular life he thinks what would penguins do?When he developed a crush on his therapist. The main character followed the steps penguins make when finding a mate. These interests help them understand and deal with what is going on around them. 

  

    After reading these facts did you find yourself stereotypical to this group of people? Did one of these facts clear up something you had in your head about autistic people? When we read the facts we find our faults to the stereotypes in our heads.Next time please just even look up online instead of assuming. When interacting with someone with autism please remember these they have feelings too!

 

https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism

 

 What should be the limitations on American intervention or foreign policy?

This is generally on the minds on some experts ,but this topic is something to keep in mind of what’s going around the globe . People can agree that the limitations is simply for America to not get involved in foreign affairs that America doesn’t necessarily belong in and many people believe that . But at this point in time we understand of why we get involve and that is to protect national interest abroad and  stopping a conflict from growing into a bigger one that could ultimately bring severe consequences . If were going to do something about it we have to act now before anything could happen we really don’t want history to repeat itself. We know we can we have the ability and capability to make a change in foreign policy f we are going to act we need to act now for the better than just waiting for an outcome to happen.

Aisse Tounkara`

TED TALK Speech

Unit 3 

       Implicit Bias towards African Americans  in our Police What is It, What can we do to change it ?

   Do you know how many people like you are killed by police every year ? Do you know that officers have an implicit bias towards you as soon as you blink their way. OK. You may be wondering why your sitting here today when you could be somewhere else but I’m here to tell you why. Hello Everyone. My Name is Aisse Tounkara, and I am here today to talk to you about something very important as well as teaching you something. Hopefully by the end of today your mindset will change, and you will learn a few things that you never knew about yourself. Todays TED TALK will be on implicit bias in the police. So let’s do a quick exercise here before I go deep into my speech. I’m going to say a few words and you guys will have to reflect on the association you make with those words and what you believe the broader society like police makes with those words. Criminals (PAUSE) Low Income Neighborhoods, (PAUSE)  Jail (PAUSE).

   Now let me tell you what implicit bias is. Implicit bias is the conscious attribution of particular qualities to a member of a certain social group, or a group of people. We all have an implicit bias in our own ways. Implicit biases are triggered through rapid and automatic mental associations that we as humans make between people, ideas, objects, and the attitudes and stereotypes that we hold about those people, ideas, and objects.

   Implicit bias in police is something that is a major problem in today’s society. Over the years Policing has evolved but the same ideas remain. Police officers have a very strong implicit bias towards African Americans. They make judgements based on preconceived notions of African Americans and then the worst happens. I concluded a research and became an expert on implicit bias. In my research I found that Police officers are often told to police differently in these low income neighborhoods compared to the other neighborhoods. You can walk into a predominantly white neighborhood and see for yourself how the police are in that neighborhood and come into an African American neighborhood and see the difference.  This is because the norm that has been created is that African Americans are criminals, and are dangerous. It’s crazy how the police mantra is “protect and serve” but when implicit bias is put into place it contradicts the whole idea. Studies have shown that “the tendency for police to shoot an unarmed African American suspects more than white ones is at 85%. It’s not just shootings it also stop and frisks, and consistent arrests that are made. Would you just take a look at that number. 85% That’s a very large number especially when African Americans only make up 13% of the population. Now look here, let’s take a look at Eric Garner, an African American male who was a victim of Police officers implicit bias. On July 14th, 2014 Eric Garner died in an apparent chokehold after Police officer Daniel Pantaleo slammed him on the ground in an attempt to arrest him. At that time they thought he was selling loose cigarettes at the time when he wasn’t. It raised concerns after his death leading to the citizens saying that his death was a form of an officers implicit bias towards him. Had that been someone else of Non African-American descent the approach would have been done very differently but since Garner was African American this ended the way that it did. Another example is when Ferguson Missouri, grand jury declined to indict a police officer who shot and killed Michael Brown despite evidence proving that he was innocent and that the police officers implicit bias led to his death. The officer led his implicit bias to cloud his judgement and get in the way of proper conduct. This event meant so much to people because it struck a nerve throughout the country. People were angry, aggravated, and were sick of it. This is a continuing cycle. Almost every African American that has been a victim of police violence was a victim because of police implicit bias. You get the big picture here right ?

   Now let’s get into the bigger picture here. We talked about implicit bias, and how we all have an implicit bias of some kind. Police officers are now taking implicit bias training. Implicit bias training is when training programs are designed to expose people to their unconscious biases, provide the tools to get them to adjust patterns of thinking, and is aimed forward to eliminate discriminating behavior. This is what we call confronting implicit bias. In my research I found out that the New Jersey attorney general issued a directive requiring mandatory classes in racial bias for police officers in the state. The mayor is requiring that mandatory implicit bias training classes be taken. This implicit bias training is going to teach officers not to associate stereotypes and characteristics with racial groups, more directed towards Americans. You know what this is saying ? This is saying that they see the amount of harm being done in the African American communities to step up and take action. Implicit bias trainings are very beneficial nowadays because we have seen a significant decrease in police approach when it comes to African Americans, and how every encounter turns out. Although implicit bias still exists today we don’t see much of it happening because of a change in policing and systems that are used to help implicit bias training.

BROOKS SHOW  

Domestic Violence episode

 

 Maya   Hey my name is Amaya Brooks you are here watching from your couch and your television of the Brooks Show where we leave the bullshit at the door and only speak facts as you know on the show we always have guest host every thursday so give a round of applause to Shania Romain 

 

  Shania walks on the set and the  audience applause shania smiles and waves at the fans and hugs amaya and sit in the chair next to her 

 

Shania  Hey girl how are you 

 

Amaya  I’m good girl for some of you that dont know shania and I go back 

 

Shania  Wayyyy back from freshman in college back 

 

Maya  (starts laughing ) Well are you ready to have girl chat so those that don’t know what is it but girl chat is we go through our social media ask our followers on questions that they want us to answer we have to keep it real and keep it honest as possible are you ready ?

 

Shania  Yes girl born ready 

 

Maya   So we have a tweet from anniesocrazy5261 saying hey ladies, I need some sisterly advice on what I should do with regard to my best friend. She has been married for 5 years and I notice a shift in her behaviors we go to the mall and we see some oh so fab shoes  she was so in love I just knew she was going to buy them but instead she told me she can’t her husband said to her she is not allowed to buy anything without his permission because he says that’s his money also notice that she has been very jumpy around girls and I,  we notice that she always has bruises on her body there always new one not old ones so the question is this okay to do in a relationship? Should I ask her what’s going on or is this overstepping my boundaries as a friend 

  

Maya (look over to shania ) What you think Shania 

 

Shania  Well Maya I don’t think this okay I wish my man tells me what and what not to spend, I mean I thought when your married you share funds between both of y’all ?

 

Maya  Don’t get me started girl I’m not married I’m single (wink into the camera ) as Pringle I’m too busy waiting on Trey Songz to scoop me 

 

Shania  I don’t think this okay at all this seems very controlling in my eyes seems like domestic violence to me if you are her friend you should help her but ask first when she is not around her man so she can feel like its a safe enough zone for her to vent to you 

 

Maya  Well Shania I couldn’t agree with you anymore this sounds exactly like domestic violence and you should ask her if she even wants help because some do not and some are also so unaware of the problem at hand they want to leave when it’s too late 

 

Maya   According to the domestic violence hotline  domestic violence is a pattern of behavior used by one partner to maintain power control over another partner in an intimate relationship many people think domestic violence is only physical like choking punching hitting or even slapping  but there is many more that people are not aware of such as sexual abuse emotional reproductive and financial abuse people don’t know that therer is even a such thing exist all these type of abuse are the first step 3 to 4 steps before the abuser even hits you in first place 

 

Shania  Wow that’s crazy 

 

Maya   Many victims are scared to leave this abusive relationship for reason like they share children together they don’t know how to be independent without spouse  they believe that the abusers actions are on the bases of love lastly victim is afraid no one will believe their story or just plain fearful or abuser actions overall 

 

Shania  Girl didn’t I tell you I learn something new everyday, thats crazy I mean who wouldn’t believe someone if they were saying something like that ? I mean that’s nothing to play with at all it’s a serious matter 

 

Maya  I totally agree with you 

 

Shania  I mean that’s going to create larger problems in the long run of things that’s how you can possibly create a killer 

 

Maya   No , come on you are dragging it right now I think it would get that far 

 

Shania  Come girl you the story about francine hughes and her husband she literally tied her husband too the bed and set the bed on fire while her three children were in the car looking from the outside she snapped and she just didn’t do that out of nowhere she was pushed when she told someone her story no one believed her and no one saw him abuse her what happened she gets locked up  for losing her shit and pleads guilty under the notion of victim insanity it lowers her jail time but she was still having to do the time nevertheless 

 

Maya   Oh yeah I completely forgot about that cases, that case changed a lot stuff regards to spousal abuse and domestic violence which all falls under the same umbrella but gets different penalties in the courts. I mean it changed lots of laws far as I know I think as a people we should just catch the signs early  

 

Shania  Yes I agree being aware of the fact that your friend is being Isolated by her spouse or she not herself when she around her ? Is she happy around in this relationship or marriage one sided etc 

 

Maya   Well you are completely right shania  if you have anymore questions you can look on our website www.brooksshow.com/ domestic violence awareness that’s all the time we have today thank you shania for stopping by for some girls chat  ( lean in ands hugs shania )

 

Shania  No thank you for inviting me it’s always cool sitting and talking to you don’t forget to invite me again 

  

Maya  Ofc Shania anyways remember be true and be you see you next time on the brooks show have a fabulous night