Karaun Jackson
Prof.Guthrie
English 1101
Imitating violent behaviors
03/15/15

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In this article I am going to prove that young adults are more likely than adults to imitate violent behavior seen in movies and Tv Shows. Some people become mentally over fascinated with these films and TV shows and inspired to actually do the things that goes on in these films and TV shows. Young adults grasp crime, violent behavior, love, money more than adults. . Of course we learn new things at any age but young adults are more curious than adults.
​The dynamics of films changed overtime and also how much they influence society as far as crime, violent behaviors, love and money. Films and TV shows is a visual communication which use moving pictures, actors, sound to tell stories or inform. Back around the 1800’s, before films there were just shows and plays. Shows and plays are still relevant today but now there are movies for everything. Almost every popular book has films for it such as Harry potter, Lord of the Ring, 50 shades of grey I mean I can go on forever. Films and TV shows back then were in black in white and the quality wasn’t that great so you can just imagine how many people would rather go see a Broadway play or show.
​ We have different genres of movies and TV shows such as Horror films, comedy, action, reality shows, love and romance, musicals, war, historical. All these genres are all different traits that make up us human beings. Of course the people that make these films and TV shows require great actors and a good story line to make it realistic as possible, that way everyone can relate to the film or TV show and actually enjoy it. Some films and TV shows can very inspiring but there are some that are appropriate and inappropriate to society to feel inspired about.
​ For me the film “The Pursuit of happiness” that stared the actor Will Smith and his son Jaden Smith is a film that inspires me. The pursuit of happiness is a 2006 American biographical drama film based on Chis gardeners’ one year struggle with homelessness. Will smith played as an intern at a prestigious brokerage firm which the position he held pays no money went through so many struggles as far as his financial situation, living situation and also providing for his son. Never did will smith give up trying find ways to provide for himself and his son. Every film and TV show has a negative effect and a positive effect that some people embrace.
​In Aurora, Colorado July 20, 2012, a man name James Holmes, 24 years of age, opened fire in the movie theater screening of the Batman film. He injured 58 people and killed 12, Witnesses stated that he was dressed up in body armor with red hair resembling a character named the joker in the batman film, in the film batman the joker kills people for fun and gets a thrill out of it. The joker smiles in every act of killing people and that’s what James Holmes did. In my opinion society would look at this man as insane of course but think about the message the movie batman sends to the viewers. I feel that movies and TV shows are like therapy for people. James Holmes probably disliked someone he knew that got all of the attention and wanted all the attention to himself so he was inspired by the role of the joker in the batman film. This proves that Young adults are more emotional and more likely to imitate violent behavior.
Conley was 17 years old in November 2009. He killed his brother Conner while they were wrestling in their home and dumped his brother’s body in a park. He randomly pleaded guilty in September 2010, averting a murder trial. During the court case jury said Conley acted as if nothing was wrong after the killing. Conley joked with his mother and watched football the day after he killed his brother Conner. Conley told police that he fantasized about killing people since eighth grade. Few weeks before the killing Conley had told his girlfriend that he wanted to be just like the TV serial killer in the show Dexter.
From comparing these two articles both young adults were highly fascinated with TV shows or films. They were eager to portray the actions these actors did in the shows or films.

Karaun Jackson
03/01/2015
English 1101

Becoming a Man
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What is the true image of being a man? Not many people can give you an in-depth response, their answers mostly refers to the outside of a man. The muscles, cars, and houses are what people would bring up in their responses. Transition, Responsibility, success, and failure all tie into growth. Part of being a man is not only realizing our success but also realizing our failures and taking the steps to turn our failures into success. As soon as we fail we point the finger at every one else accept for ourselves.
At the age of thirteen I had to transition quickly due to my parents separating and father got married. During that situation I was so confused. My parents were together for about eight years and my parents never got married, but as soon as my father was in a new relationship for six months he married someone else. My image of a true man stemmed from my mom because she played both roles. It sounds funny, but I’m telling the honest truth. My mother had me at the age of seventeen but never did she blame anyone for her decisions. My mother still accomplished getting her master’s degree, paying several bills, and taking care of me. Every step I take through life I think about my mother and the struggles she went through. My mother’s struggles and thing she went through is what motivates me to make no excuses.
All my life I dealt with Responsibilities, but as I got older they became more difficult to juggle. When I got hired at my first job, working as a cashier at Shoprite supermarket I was excited. I thought about all the things I can buy myself without asking my mother for and how I can buy her things to. I started to think how my mom worked so hard and never seen her dwell on the material things, She always make shore the bills are paid and food is provided for the both of us then all the unnecessary things came after. I followed that trait as well. Every pay check I made shore it was my responsibility to help my mom and show her that I’m growing up and becoming a man. I also had to maintain doing my homework as well. Going to school and working eight hour shift was a struggle for me. I also lived very far from my job so I wouldn’t get home until one at mid-night and would have to wake up at six in the morning for school.
In High school I went through so much Failures. My freshman year I was the only freshmen to make the Varsity basketball team. Everyone was talking so much trash about how I’m too short and they are older I have to wait my turn. I did well my freshmen year of Basketball. I didn’t play many games because I was freshmen but when I did play I averaged at least twelve points a game in one quarter. My sophomore year was devastating. During the playoffs I broke my right hand, my team needed me the most and there was nothing I could do about it. Seeing my team loose hurt me the most. Going into my junior year in high school that summer I decided I wanted to get a job and make money. I never had a real interview with my first job because my uncle was the manager. Going through the interview process at the other jobs was difficult for me. I felt like giving up several times but I thought about my mother and she never gave up in her struggles. A few weeks later I got a job working as a Delta agent at JFK Airport.
I always embraces my Success and remains humbled. Of course I was happy but I also had the mindset that there was always something better I can do. I thought about the setbacks and failures I had in life so I made shore I prepared myself for the ones in the future. Anything can happen at any time the only thing you can control is yourself and actions. Even though I broke my hand my sophomore year in high school, I worked out at riverbank recreation center with pee wee Kirkland so I can be prepared for college. When I was searching for jobs and failed on interviews, I went home and prepared myself and asked my mom to ask me several questions a manager would ask and I studied that every day.
Between Transition, responsibility, failures, and success there are the things that define a man. How you overcome your failures, and take care of your responsibilities, and remain humble about your success are the key factors. Transition is normal in life, but maintaining the key factors through your changes determines whether the outcome can be positive or negative.

Karaun Jackson
03/30/15
English1101

Police Brutality

Opener: How can we protect our self if the people who protect and serve our country are not trust worthy?

Thesis statement: The police job is to protect and serve the people of our country but is it fair that brute forces are being used and abused?In some cases police use u essay power and abuse it on harmless people.Th three factors that contribute to this result is racism, The Police Training and the abuse of Authority

Sub 1: Racism
1.area
2.race
3.activities

Sub 2: Police Training
1.police policies
2.location of training
3.how long training is

Sub 3: Abuse of Authority
1.eric Gardner
2.Trayvon Martin
3.Michael brown

Conclusion: In life of course we grow up following authorities and rules. Some people take there job too seriously and take advantage of the people that can’t obey them or consequences will be given. What makes the situations worst is when justice isn’t serve to everyone .

Karaun Jackson
04/13/15
English 1101
​​​​ Police Brutality

​“Freeze, Hands Up! Stop resisting! How can we protect our self if the people who protect and serve our country are not trust worthy? The police job is to protect and serve the people of our country but is it fair that brute forces are being used and abused? In some cases Police use power and abuse it on harmless people. The three factors that contribute to this result is racism, the training of police and the abuse of authority.
​Racism has a big factor on police brutality. Even though in the American society there is a lot of Black on Black crime, that doesn’t give any excuse to why a police man should take down and kill an unarmed black male. Even the recent case about Ferguson where a white policeman shot an unarmed man in November last year 2014 was caught on film and there was no justice. Our president Barack Obama stated “Nothing of significance, nothing of benefit, result from destructive acts.” Racism is real Obama said and he begged Americans to “mobilize,” “organize,” find the “best policies,” and “vote.” It’s a disgrace to the society, had that gunman been a black male killing a white young man unarmed justice would have been served. No matter the skin color or the amount of the Authority a person holds right is right and wrong is wrong.
Racism has been driving social policies for decades, policies and practices like Jim Crow Laws, Redlining and War on Drugs show how black people are not afforded fair opportunities in society. Despite the conditions that blacks experience, there are some blacks that beat the statistics and make it out. The Jim Crow Laws were racial segregation state and local laws reinforced after the reconstruction period in the south. Jim Crow Laws demanded the segregation of public places, public transportation, public schools, restrooms, drinking fountains and restaurants.
The training of Police is very critical. Dunkin Donuts usually symbolizes the police, eating donuts and drinking coffee. Unfortunately the physical training is not a piece of cake. Robe be hired by the Police Departments, You must pass the physical fitness exams. After you enter Police academies, the fitness challenge begin. While the recruits build their strength, they must learn how to properly use it. Hand cuffing and restraining people involved muscles and specific moves to disable people without hurting them. We have witness many police not follow the protocol but we have to think of the kind of circumstances the police are in.
For taming criminals, recruits learn self-defense tactics and how to use other tools such as pepper spray and buttons. Most States follow the same policies but all the recruits are trained differently depending on who the leaders are in their operation. Police officers have to know and understand how to accurately shoot to prevent unnecessary death or injuries. Marksmanship test is also required and recruits must have a percent accuracy of 90% and above using a variety of guns. Each course require a certain amount of hours. Academics require 230 hours, driving require 40 hours, firearms require 113 hours, physical training require 142 hours, human relations require 100 hours, tactics require 98 hours and law require 105 hours which is a total of 828 hours.
The question that remains is if this training is too short? A recruit can earn a 100% in every course but when they encounter real scenarios that’s when everything changes. The recruits have to be mentally strong in order to become a police officer. They have to know how to separate their personal feelings and their actual job. Even when the circumstances and the outcome are tough we have to think about what actually occurred and how much experience does that officer have.
A Primary example of abuse of authority is the Eric Garner case. The Eric Gardner incident was caught on video tape by a friend of Garner’s, and shows Garner who was a black male who weighed about 400 pounds. He was confronted by the police because he was distributing unlicensed cigarettes. The video shows Garner resisting his arrest not violently and he shouts at officers, “Every time yall see me yall want to arrest me, I’m sick and tired of this and this stops today I didn’t do nothing I’m minding my business, officer”. Officer Pantaleo comes up behind Garner and puts him in a choke hold. Garner raised his hands and falls backwards, at this point three other officers grab Garner physically. As he falls on the ground, Pantaleo is still hanging on his back with his arm still around Garner’s neck. The officers tell Garner to put his hands behind his head, and Garner complains that he can’t breathe. Pantaleo started forcing garners head to the cement as garner tries to scream and shout that he can’t breathe. At this point it is clear that he is not resisting and he is in danger but the officers didn’t see those circumstances. Garner died a few minutes after. When a person life is at risk, it is worthwhile to actually analyze the facts. If Garner was a family member of any of those police officers involved in the incident they would have stopped all of the physical hurt and considered that the person can’t breathe.
​Another example of the police abusing authority is the Trayvon Martin case. On February 26 2012 in Florida, Trayvon martin was fatally shot by George Zimmerman. Trayvon Martin was a seventeen year old high school student. George Zimmerman was the neighborhood watch coordinator for a gated community where martin was temporarily living. Trayvon martin was coming from the corner store and bought a bag of skittles and a Arizona beverage. Zimmerman felt that Trayvon was suspicious looking just because he had a black hoody on. Zimmerman followed Trayvon and when Trayvon noticed he was being followed he started running. Zimmerman tackled Trayvon down and during the altercation Zimmerman pulled out his gun and shot Trayvon. A innocent black teen that did nothing but go to the grocery store to get food and beverage, ran because he was frighten , was killed by a man that was never penalized for this unnecessary death.
​The incidents of Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner have led to the decisions to provide NYPD with body cameras. Mayor Bill De Blasio was cited in a New York Times article stating, “The cameras would provide a sense of accountability and transparency.” This is an example of how society can help end racial disparities in the criminal justice system so government say. Using body cameras can make cops be more mindful of how they go about their actions. Body cameras may minimize the amount of black deaths. Cops will also be more mindful of who they stop with using these body cameras. It’s obvious that video cameras and proof isn’t enough so why would government come with such a stupid and disrespectful idea. Justice needs to be served to the community. There was more than enough proof for both incidents and government did nothing.
In life of course we grow up following authorities and rules. Some people who take on these jobs aren’t mentally ready and take advantage of people that can’t obey them. The issue is we don’t have strong leaders in our government to actual handle these situation. When will the police brutality stop?

Work cite:
“Eric Garner: News, Pictures, & Videos of the NYPD Chokehold Case.” CBSNews. CBS Interactive, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2015.
Santora , Marc & Stewart , Nakita , “Police Body Camera Comes to New York Soon”New York Times December 3rd 2014

Karaun Jackson
04/27/15
English 1101

​​​​Peer Review

1) “We’ve chosen the path to equality, don’t let them turn us around” said Geraldine Ferraro.
2) Feminism is a crucial aspect in life that women face
3) Strong topic sentences and does have sub sub-topics
4) Uses transitional phrases in each paragraph
5) Uses quotes in each paragraph
6) Cited sources
7) Strong conclusion