Author: Corey
Race should never be a factor in prison sentences
Research Topic: Judicial reform in New York
I would like to begin by raising the most important point that this is a global issue as what is being done to the black man in the American prison system is being done around the world and oppression must be fought at any and every opportunity. This open letter to the mothers of over-sentenced misrepresented black men and this official letter to the mayor of New York City seek to shed light on a rampant issue as well as provide a solution to the escalating justice systemâs problem.
Dear Mr. De Blasio,
In 2010, the Commission published an analysis of federal sentencing data which examined whether the length of sentences imposed on federal offenders was correlated with demographic characteristics of those offenders.1 That analysis found that some demographic factors were associated with sentence length to a statistically significant extent during some of the time periods studied.2 Among other findings, the analysis showed that Black male offenders received longer sentences than White male offenders, and that the gap between the sentence lengths for Black and White male offenders was increasing. The system is flawed. Data has been compiled specifically for this disparity over the last ten years and several reports have been generated with no tangible results. Underprivileged communities of low socio-economic status are still feeling the effects of these harsher sentences and I am asking you to take a stand on this especially in the multicultural haven that you have sworn to provide service for.
New york is a leader to the rest of the United States on legal norms. In 1973, New Yorkâs legislature became the first to pass mandatory minimums for simple drug possession. The Rockefeller Drug Laws, (named after NY Governor Nelson Rockefeller) mandated extremely harsh prison terms for possession and sale of relatively small amounts of drugs. These laws became the national policy model for the drug war in a period when crack was destroying families. It was necessary then and those who were destroying communities were brought to justice. So why have there been no redress for those who are currently destroying families by condemning more black men than any other race? These judges are without liability and are given too much leeway in this matter.
The “statutory maximum” is the greatest sentence the judge can impose based solely on the jury’s fact finding. In a guidelines sentencing scheme that requires judges to impose a sentence within the guideline range, the jury-trial and reasonable-doubt requirements apply to the determination of any fact that exposes the defendant to punishment above the guideline range (conclusions of US v. Booker) however this guideline is in itself flawed as the guideline uses previous sentences for its basis. This allows judges to still do as they please. A guideline for a first time offender on drug charges ranges from probation up to 15 years. Imagine the same offense can have such a range in punishment and to a certain extent it is necessary to leave some things up to the discretion of the judge but they must not be allowed to believe they are Gods. They are simply a tool through which the law is upheld but to ensure servicing of this tool, I beg of you, Blasio, to seek a constant audit of judges to ensure that whether it be every sixth extreme âminimumâ sentence or any other prejudice be grounds for investigation.
These investigations must not be without bite and substance as a slap on the wrist cannot overcome deep-seated predisposed racist convictions. There must be risk of these offenses being criminal and these judges who distribute extreme âminimumâ âsentences without restraint should in turn feel those years and know what it means to miss out on a childâs birthday or family thanksgiving. Mr. de Blasio, this is not a vengeance request out of personal anger but a possible solution to the huge disparities still present. Just as in 1973, we radicalized the war on crime, let us now be the pioneers on judicial rehabilitation.
Sincerely,
Corevel Cova
Open Letter to the mothers of those serving harsh sentences to be published on FB and essence magazine:
Dear Mama,
I write to you to both apologize for the injustices you have suffered by a system that seeks to break your sons but more importantly to beg of you to stand up and demand what is rightfully yours- justice. America has failed you time and time again and although slavery was technically abolished, the chains of it still exist in the rationale of most white men to this day. The rationale that allows for a white man to be described as a troubled teen and gently escorted away after engaging in mass murder via a school shooting but describes your son as an aggressor that refused to comply when simply attempting to sell his CDâs. This is the same rationale that will give a white man community service for minimum possession as a first time offender but a black boy 3-4years-jail time. The same rationale that will justify this sentencing by saying three years is not a lot but refuse to see how that little black boy could have gotten his degree, seen his child take their first steps and most importantly lived in freedom for those years. This rationale refuses to see how over-sentencing is essentially creating a modern day slavery as it sometimes forever removes their rights to vote if deemed a federal offence while providing free labor in those private prisons under the disguise as âsomething useful for them to do with their handsâ.
I am sorry that this rationale has failed you and your children as this is the rationale that subconsciously allows for judges to create these disparities. These judges have a formal mandate whereby they must follow certain guidelines in sentencing but there is great leeway within the spectrum that allows for this clear disparity between your sons and offenders who share the same color as these judges. However we must not sit in despair and just as you would go up to any bully who threatened your son when they were mere babies, I ask of you to take a stand against the judicial system. We the people are behind you for these men are our fathers, our husbands and our sons and we must protect these positions. I believe only with your faces, your truths will there be change. Change in the judicial system whereby there are tangible punishments to those judges who allow prejudice to give harsher sentences to your sons. You can be the change. Right here. Right now. Let us sign a petition mandating internal review of judges and appropriate punishments. Let us force them to look at the issue and address not in another report but justice must be served and these judges must understand the impact their actions have on your sons.
Thank you for reading.
Corevel
1.https://www.sentencingproject.org/publications/un-report-on-racial-disparities/
4.https://www.governor.ny.gov/programs/criminal-justice-reform
5.http://www.drugpolicy.org/new-york/criminal-justice-reform
Reflection on Annotated Bibliography
Corevel Cova
ENG 1101
Prof. Jewelle
11.17.2019
Reflection on Annotated Bibliography
- Reggae music has changed the world in its own way and this is primarily dependent on the following four commonalities that the samples I selected share. The all delve into major topics of how to live your life. It provides a how to whether it be a good person, live authentically in your love or if to use marijuana. They also rely heavily on the âIâ perspective as in they sing and write from a place closest to the creative. This is what gives great reggae music that enduring quality. It resonates with its audience throughout decades because of this authenticity. The third is that of impact. Reggae music has a feel good quality to it, which is intended to leave its listener in a better space after its consumption. The fourth and interestingly most important one is that of its audience. Reggae music crosses barrier but majority of it speaks directly t the Caribbean mind as they are usually rooted in religion and unity. These two themes are foundational pillars in our community and can be seen in the way that artistes portray themselves. I learnt how across the Caribbean the value system rarely changes firmly rooted in Christianity and a love for oneâs neighbor. This is what makes reggae music so special because we know the songs as they reflect our lives. I want to learn more about the split of the wailers and how Bob Marley may have felt after the split upon the rise of Peter Tosh in his own right.
- I believe that I am strong at analyzing material and creating content. I can logically see pros and cons of a subject without becoming emotionally invested but understand the desired effect of the writer. Sometimes I think that this might also be a problem because the material doesnât affect me as it once did. I think its because life has made me jaded and in so doing immune to events that are intended to stir something within the reader. This in turn leads to what I believe is my major flaw as a writer. Without emotional attachment to the writing, I lack incentive and creativity about both method and initial idea because I tend to lack emotional connection to most if any written material. I think to fully achieve my true potential as a writer is to break down those mental barriers I have, I need to tap into issues that I know relate to me and make it extremely personal and not seek external validation. Iâve always written to this day for others and by this I mean my target audience has always been my sole motivation behind writing. I need to every week commit to writing for myself. This will provide me with an opportunity to reflect on myself as a person and tap into what are my deeper issues with writing.
Rhetorical analysis of one reggae song
Mcintosh, Winston Hubert, aka Peter Tosh. âLegalize Itâ, Legalize It. 1976.
Peter Tosh seeks to rally the public to legalize marijuana. He makes his lyrics relatable and by discussing the different professions, he speaks to each of his audience on a personal level to have both tolerance for those who do and to His song uses logos by emphasizing the already rampant presence and use by people across different walks of life. In its second verse, it categorically speaks to the health benefits of using the substance abuse and subsequently in the third paragraph, he elaborates upon its natural origins and how animals use it as well. In this catchy song, Peter Tosh, who had just left his singing group âThe Wailersâ , he has identified every argument that the naysayers use to continue the ban on weed usage. The stigma that only homeless or purposeless people engage with this substance is counteracted and the idea of it being a natural substance and thereby more deserving of legal status than the manmade substances such as alcohol and cigarettes was reinforced. His chorus reinforces his main ideal and in its catchy nature attempts to normalize the concept. He also uses ethos because as a user himself, and creator of the music, he shows the world that one can be creative and successful while using it. It even begs to the thought of if this increases performance.
Annotated Bibliographies of Reggae Lyrics
Corevel Cova
Annotated Bibliography
Prof. Jewelle
Due Date: 11/1/2019
Annotated Bibliography of Reggae Music Lyrics
Burrell, Orville Richard aka Shaggy. â Mr. Boombasticâ, Boombastic.1995
Shaggy made a feel-good song that inspires confidence in men and sets this ideal of what a man should be for his female audience. His lyrics are smooth, âWell you a d bun and me a di cheese…and if you be a rice then me a di peasâ and speaks to a natural synergy between him and the girl he speaks about. He is proclaiming that the girls call him Mr. Boombastic, which is a word he created himself about himself, alludes to his sexual prowess in bed. This entire song talks about how great he is as a âloverâ and is what women now expect their men to possess. He speaks to the male population by working both ethos and pathos as the men can both look up to him as sexual goal and a road map of how to become âMr. Lover Loversâ themselves.â Boombastic â is a song released by Jamaican-American musical artist Shaggy from his third studio album, Boombastic. Released in June 1995, the single achieved commercial success in many countries, including Ireland, UK, Sweden, New Zealand, and Australia, where it topped the singles charts. This is an important point of note because even though he uses Jamaican patois, the message of the lyrics is understood across all barriers because the song speaks to the very essence of human interaction. This human interaction is the need to find a significant other and shaggy talks about being the best lover, which in an era of heightened sexuality and awakening was well received.
Hammond, Hugh Beresford aka Beres Hammond. âShe loves me nowâ,Vinyl single. 1986
Beres Hammond is relaying the story of the woman who he fell in love with but more importantly, he is asking his listeners to live fully and go with your gut instinct. One can take the story of how the woman called him out of the blue and told him how she left her relationship just on the feeling she felt from their one dance but this is a story from the lovers perspective. Hammond ascribes to the pathos of humanity that there exists love so strong that you just know it is the only thing that makes sense. It gives listeners a dream to look forward to if they havenât found their âoneâ and it plays on the forgiveness of those already in love as they cannot see beyond their own feelings. Beres made a ballad that idolizes this perfect love story and created a song that had a fairytale ending while reinforcing woman empowerment because she made the call that made the entire relationship happen. This song was made in a time when women were still supposed to be seen and not heard in Caribbean culture and she was bold in her assertive decision to follow her heart. The singer wants his female audience to feel empowered to get the love they think they deserve and overall for people to be brave enough to live in their truth and thereby live their happiest lives.
Marley, Robert Nesta, aka Bob Marley. âOne Loveâ, Exodus. Bob Marley and the Wailers. 1977.
Bob Marleyâs âone loveâ is rooted in faith, forgiveness and unity. He is imploring his audience to see beyond themselves as individuals and consider their role in society. He effectively uses the children in his chorus to appeal to the innate emotions most adults who bear children acquire. âHear the children cryin’⌠Sayin’: let’s get together and feel all rightâ is the repeated twice within the chorus and the chorus resonates within the listener several times. By repetition of these phrases, he appeals to the pathos of the listener. Bob is trying to convey our individual need to unite and do better for our community before âHoly Armageddonâ or the end of all times. He chose to elaborate on these concepts of faith within his verses but kept his reference only to âLordâ in the chorus. This allows for greater connection across religions because a lot more people believe in some version of a higher being rather than limiting his audience to those of Christianity.
Mcintosh, Winston Hubert, aka Peter Tosh. âLegalize Itâ, Legalize It. 1976.
Peter Tosh seeks to rally the public to legalize marijuana. He makes his lyrics relatable and by discussing the different professions, he speaks to each of his audience on a personal level to have both tolerance for those who do and to His song uses logos by emphasizing the already rampant presence and use by people across different walks of life. In its second verse, it categorically speaks to the health benefits of using the substance abuse and subsequently in the third paragraph, he elaborates upon its natural origins and how animals use it as well. In this catchy song, Peter Tosh, who had just left his singing group âThe Wailersâ , he has identified every argument that the naysayers use to continue the ban on weed usage. The stigma that only homeless or purposeless people engage with this substance is counteracted and the idea of it being a natural substance and thereby more deserving of legal status than the manmade substances such as alcohol and cigarettes was reinforced. His chorus reinforces his main ideal and in its catchy nature attempts to normalize the concept. He also uses ethos because as a user himself, and creator of the music, he shows the world that one can be creative and successful while using it. It even begs to the thought of if this increases performance.
McNaughton, Jamal Roland aka Chronixx. âSkankinâ Sweetâ, Chronology. 2017.
In Skankin Sweet, Chronixx seeks to inspire and motivate his audience through his feel-good music and motivational words. He understands that there are difficulties that we are all facing in this path of life but everything in the song is centered around not giving up but to rally on and find the âupful vibes in his music. He presents relatable situations and gives instructions of how to deal with them. âUnder the pressures of life and it tough⌠Nuh stay down mama, time fi get up⌠When the bills dem, the rent and the mortgage due..When your best friends are gone and its only youâ are all situations that everyone has gone through growing up. His audienceâs pathos I severely affected because this music becomes their own life story. The chorus encourages you to put your struggles aside and in that moment, completely enjoy the âskankinâ sweetâ music. His chorus are instructions to feelâirieâ or good by forgetting oneâs troubles and rocking with him for this song. He said to never give up and these pieces of evidence all support the position that Chronixx has taken. This song is intended for both a distraction and instruction of how to get past difficult times in your life and he is effective in appealing to his audience which is anyone going through a rough time in their life. His tone is welcoming and casual and he is offering a solution to the real stresses of life through music and religion.
Simpson, Mikayla, aka Koffee. âToastâ, Rapture EP. 2019
Koffee makes an ode to âJahâ and is giving thanks for all that has happened to her life. This so ng was written after her instant fame and is a praise to who she believes to be the creator and only reasons for everything. In so doing, Koffee inspires the public and aims to make her audience not only remember all that Jah has already done for them but to remember with such a mighty person in your corner, anything is possible. âAnd say me fi tell you me story (Yeah)…Jah shower blessings upon meâ illustrates how she not only believes that Jah wants to use her as a prophet and example but that her success is deeply rooted in her faith. This is another song about how faith can have a positive effect on your life if one lives within that moment how Jah preaches. She promotes gratitude and all successes in your life are blessings and should be treated as such. She feeds the ethos of her audience because not only does she motivate with her own blessings but she gives evidence to those who are already deeply rooted in their faith of the existence of a higher being. She transcends cultures, languages and color as her music speaks to success and things of a higher nature.
Is America living the new age Animal Farm?
Make America Great Again
Also known as âfour legs good, two legs bad.â
I am a recent immigrant of America and I came in the year of election of the current sitting president. The importance of this time exponentially increases due to my exact location. I was a university student in the heart of the south, Tennessee. It was home to country music, good barbecue and most importantly, the confederate flag flying high alongside every American flag outside of each suburban household surrounding the campus. I was in the middle of rural predominantly white America and Trumpâs strongest base. I was a black foreign person living in a space that was not mine and I realized that I was living Animal Farm in my daily life.
Animal Farm, written by George Orwell, gives the view of the animals on a farm and in the beginning highlights the hard work and terrible living conditions they undergo while the farmer is âlazing aroundâ. The animals bond together and execute an uprising, thereby removing the apparent user. The changes in the power dynamics and the idea of who is deserving of power comes to the forefront and the way the book illustrates the new oppression resounded deeply in my spirit. I was twelve and my worldview of my countryâs class structures and communities that I existed in changed. I was twelve and I could see that words not only carry weight but creates emotion and every day one must actively choose to reject herd mentality that creates more oppression so when I continuously heard the mantra â Make America Great Againâ I instantly remembered Snowballâs intentional reduction of the Seven Commandments of Animalism.
âFour legs good, two legs bad.â
A phrase repeated several times until it was the only thing the sheep remembered from Old Majorâs speech on the need for animal unity in the face of human oppression and devolved into the simplicity of its very words. Orwell portrays this repeating example of how the elite class abuses language to control the lower classes. Although the slogan was at surface level helpful at first, enabling them to clarify the essential principles that they were fighting for, it soon becomes a meaningless sound bleated by the sheep (âtwo legs baa-dâ), serving no purpose other than to drown out dissenting opinion. By the end of the novel, the pigs changed the mantra to â four legs good, two legs betterâ in so doing, reverting to what the problem was once more. This was my issue with Make America great again. It was reductionist and incendiary and I could not do anything but exist in the farm.
I was boxer the horse, with my head down and since I was not personally affected by the issues African-Americans faced, I continued not noticing the issues with the community I lived in. this was until it directly affected me. The racism and unsheathed hatred that came with this mantra did not affect me within my micro ecosystem of my campus because I was foreign before I was black t those people but I was faced with this reality when I went hiking with my friends. We stopped at a gas station on our way to the hill and I didnât get out the car along with my Muslim and Spanish friend because as we pulled in a couple of men on a truck stopped washing their cars and went to stand in front the store. My two white female friends went in and got our supplies but the tension for those few minutes was thick with aggression.
âAll animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than othersâ perfectly describes what I experienced that day. There was a sense of entitlement and superiority laced with the aggression of these menâ actions. The word âequalâ becomes a relative term rather than an absolute one, meaning that there can be different degrees of âequalâ-ness. The small, almost imperceptible changes within the core ideals of Animal Farm allowed for gradual corruption. The speeches of trump allowed for this seeming uniqueness and self-appointed superiority of these men. This is our reality living in todayâs society. History repeats itself but itâs a shame that there will be an animal farm part two.
personal experience
Have you ever read Animal Farm?
I believe if the first time youâve done it was at a point in your life whereby you understand human nature, you would become forever changed by the contents of that book. I read this book in one day the first time I read it and to this day, Iâm not sure if I ate that day. I was so consumed by the storyline and the character development that understanding this book became my most important task. I needed to isolate each character in my head and understand why they did what they did as the story made me not only question my morality but definitely made me question society and what leads to what is normal and accepted. The pigs were responsible for the creation of a power dynamic and the reduction of the original ideologies of the animals after using the masses for their personal intent. Animal Farm gives the view of the animals on a farm and in the beginning highlights the hard work and terrible living conditions they undergo while the farmer is âlazing aroundâ. The animals bond together and execute an uprising, thereby removing the apparent user. The changes in the power dynamics and the idea of who is deserving of power comes to the forefront and the way the book illustrates the new oppression resounded deeply in my spirit. I was twelve and my worldview of my countryâs class structures and communities that I existed in changed.
