The Dirty South Essay Example For Students

The Dirty South Essay The Dirty SouthDuring the times of the Civil Rights Movement the black communities of Birmingham, Alabama suffered severely due to the notorious acts of racism geared towards them simply because they were black. They boldly endured beatings, lynching, bombings, and demeaning treatment from the white community and especially from the Clan. The September 15, 1963 racially motivated bombing of the Birminghams Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, which resulted in the deaths of four innocent black girls, was one of the darkest moments of the Civil Rights Movement and perhaps one of the darkest days in Birmingham, Alabamas history. Betty Blackman was born and raised in Birmingham. Her life was engulfed by the racism and left her with dramatically scaring memories of Birmingham. I grew up in the city of Birmingham, Alabama. I was born there December 11, 1947. Most of the memories I have of growing up there are the most painful memories that I have, which is strong racism and living in every da y fright. I remember not being able to drink out of the cleaner water fountains around town; they were for the white people. The water fountains that were available to us were few, far between and very filthy. The black people were treated like dogs in Birmingham. I remember having to enter of the all stores and restaurants in town through the back entrances. One place I remember so vividly was a restaurant called Stadium Grill. We ordered food there every week while we were doing the wash across the street at the Laundromat. We enter in the back door into a very tiny poorly lit room. There were no tables or chairs for us to sit and eat there, it wasnt allowed. There was only a small window to which we placed our orders and left. The front of the restaurant was large; it had tables with real cloth coverings and beautiful flowers sitting in the middle of the tables. I never once stepped foot inside the front of that restaurant. The way our communities were much different than they ar e now. Black people were not allowed to live among the white people. The white people lived in big lavish homes on the far east side of town and the blacks lived on the west side of town in small run down homes. There was, however, one subdivision that the wealthier black families lived. The name of it was the Goldwire Area and even now it never compares to the homes in which the poverty stricken families live now. The other less fortunate blacks lived in run down shack like homes farther west of town. We will write a custom essay on The Dirty South specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now I was sixteen years old when the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church took place. I remember it so well, because it was such a traumatic time and we tend to remember traumatic times more than the less traumatic. I remember sitting in a chair in our kitchen getting my hair pressed when my family got the news. The smell of freshly pressed hair takes my mind back to those times. My parents got a phone call and I remember hearing my mother scream the most horrible scream Id ever heard. She was weeping very hard when she told my siblings and me about it. I can still see the pain of that memory in her eyes today. A few days later, I heard some other adults around our neighborhood talking about it. They were saying this explosion wasnt very loud but it had a tremendous impact on the church. The bombings had become a way of life for us and well as the harassment from the Clan. Someones house was bombed almost every week, but until this point in time no one was killed. I remember an incident when the Clan set off a small bomb in the center of the black neighborhood. The plan was to draw a crowd, set off a much larger bomb, and kill a large majority of black people. Their plans were intervened by the FBI. They found the bomb, but I dont remember anyone being charged with anything because of it. When I found out about the girls being killed, my heart went out to them and their families. Although, I didnt know any of the girls personally, I did know one of the girls father, Mr. Chris Mc Nair. Mr. Mc Nair was a prominent black photographer in Birmingham. He took all of the school photos, wedding portraits, and all of the family portraits in the black community. Before the explosion and the death of his daughter, Mr. Mc Nair was a cheerful, happy, calm man, but even years later he was a cold, unconcerned and just an impatient man. This was the case among most of the black people in Birmingham after the bombing. We didnt have much, but we did take pride in family an d our community. After the bombing, the town went pretty much back to normal to a certain degree. I can say, however, that there was a stronger sense of fear in the black community and a stronger sense of resolve, because these kinds of tragedies had to be stopped. So, the bombing in a sense caused our community to pull together more and push harder to make the change. More black people than before began to participate in the Civil Rights movement. More of them showed up for the marches and more people attended the meetings. Most of all, people had more respect for the ministers that participated in the movement at Birmingham. They realized that any minister that participated life was literally in danger because they had such a big influence on the black community. Really, I think more people were also participating more because the lives that were lost were so innocent and precious, and it was in their own back yards. The children killed in that church could have been their own and because of these facts a change had to be made. I remember my mother saying that she believed that the bombing was geared at the church because Reverend Shadowsworth was a big supporter of the movement. Reverend Shadowsworth was the minister residing over the church at that time and he supported and participated in much of the movement. He and his wife had been beaten several times by the Clan and their house had been bombed more than once. I just couldnt understand what black people had done that was so awful to be treated this way. Lately, Ive been thinking about the racism and all of the bombings in Birmingham. I compare the terrorism we endured then to the terrorism the United States is enduring now. Then, we were living in constant fear for our lives and the lives of our loved ones. Now, the whole country is living that way today. Its funny how the Old South was always called the Bible Belt, when nothing was ran according to the teachings of the Bible. I often think of what my great aunt used to say, The white folks threw the rock and now they are trying to hide their hands. I am fifty-six now and I have two children of my own. I couldnt imagine them having to live in the conditions that we were forced to live. I am proud of the men and women that gave their sweat, blood, and lives to get us where we are today and I thank them for it everyday. I think mostly about those times around the month of February, because it is dedicated to black history and Birmingham has a lot of black history. I am a better person today than I was years ago in Birmingham. It took me a long while to get from that bitter place that I was in. I actually hated white people, because of the tragedies we witnessed and endured in Birmingham. Back then, I never could understand why Dr. King always preached for non-violence, while unnecessary violence was displayed on us on a daily basis, but now through the grace of God I understand. Nothing positive comes out of violence and because I had found the Lord, I know that vengeance is His. For these two reasons, I no longer feel hate toward any white person or my life in Birmingham. I can move along with my life and have love for all.

An Introduction to Akaikes Information Criterion (AIC)

An Introduction to Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) The Akaike Information Criterion (commonly referred to simply as AIC) is a criterion for selecting among nested statistical or  econometric models. The AIC is essentially an estimated measure of the quality of each of the available econometric models as they relate to one another for a certain set of data, making it an ideal method for model selection. Using AIC for Statistical and Econometric Model Selection The Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) was developed with a foundation in information theory. Information theory is a branch of applied mathematics concerning the quantification (the process of counting and measuring) of information. In using AIC to  attempt to measure the relative quality of econometric models for a given data set, AIC provides the researcher with an estimate of the information that would be lost if a particular model were to be employed to display the process that produced the data. As such, the AIC works to balance the trade-offs between the complexity of a given model and its goodness of fit, which is the statistical term to describe how well the model fits the data or set of observations. What AIC Will Not Do Because of what the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) can do with a set of statistical and econometric models and a given set of data, it is a useful tool in model selection. But even as a model selection tool, AIC has its limitations. For instance, AIC can only provide a relative test of model quality. That is to say that AIC does not and cannot provide a test of a model that results in information about the quality of the model in an absolute sense. So if each of the tested statistical models are equally unsatisfactory or ill-fit for the data, AIC would not provide any indication from the onset. AIC in Econometrics Terms The AIC is a number associated with each model: AICln (sm2) 2m/T Where m is the number of parameters in the model, and sm2  (in an AR(m) example) is the estimated residual variance: sm2 (sum of squared residuals for model m)/T. That is the average squared residual for model m. The criterion may be minimized over choices of m to form a trade-off between the fit of the model (which lowers the sum of squared residuals) and the models complexity, which is measured by m. Thus an AR(m) model versus an AR(m1) can be compared by this criterion for a given batch of data. An equivalent formulation is this one: AICT ln(RSS) 2K where K is the number of regressors, T the number of observations, and RSS the residual sum of squares; minimize over K to pick K. As such, provided a set of econometrics models, the preferred model in terms of relative quality will be the model with the minimum AIC value.

COMMUNICATION IN BUSINESS - case study format Essay - 1

COMMUNICATION IN BUSINESS - case study format - Essay Example IKEA is a European company and its business and organisational culture differs with Chinese culture. Hence, it has to face multiple hindrances in controlling the Chinese market. Besides, the government’s trade policies for MNCs are another major issue for IKEA in offering lower cost product and hence, it becomes difficult for the company to compete with other domestic furniture manufacturing companies. There are two major problems in IKEA for its China market that includes cross cultural communication gap and government policies. In this process, the primary aim of IKEA is to understand the core Chinese culture which must be blended with IKEA organisational culture. Understanding of local culture is inevitable for IKEA. Therefore, it should develop its internal organisation’s culture and communicational process by implementing integrated marketing communication model. It also needs to achieve higher efficiency of its multinational teams, and IKEA should try to increase the number of Chinese employees to understand and convince target consumer group. Besides, government’s support is also very essential for IKEA so it must increase its activities relating to corporate social responsibility. Introduction Globalization has brought significant changes in human activities and their lifestyles. It has led to accelerate the growth and development of entire world economies and societies. Trade and business activities are one of the most crucial areas that have experienced tremendous growth since last two decades. The increasing global exchanges enhanced the importance of international trade and policies. Besides, the business agreements and treaties have facilitated the international communication and business activities. These reasons have provided greater opportunities to business organisations and hence, they keep expanding their geographical boundaries i.e. in overseas market. However, in this process, multinational companies (MNC) have to count er certain hindrances that affect efficiency of management. Cross cultural diversities and communication gap are the major challenges for MNCs (DuBrin, 2008, p.66). This paper will attempt to analyse a case of a multinational company facing hindrances in managing its international division ion a culturally diversified country. This paper will analyse major factors behind such issues and will provide a relevant solutions and recommendations. Finally, the entire discussions, analyses and outcomes will be concluded. Terms of Reference This paper will provide a description and solutions of problems faced by IKEA in Chinese market due to political, social and business cultural differences. IKEA is a world renowned furniture manufacturing company and it has expanded its market in China. Currently, this multinational company is facing problems in its Chinese market and hence, it has asked to prepare a report addressing the major causes for such issues in China. The company also needs prope r strategic solutions and recommendations to counter these issues facing in Chinese market. Overview of the Situation Overview of Company IKEA (Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd) is a Sweden based, private holding multinational company and it is the largest furniture manufacturer in entire UK and Europe. The company was founded by Ingvar Kamprad during 1943. Initially, IKEA used to sell pens, tables, picture

Enviromental Factors Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Enviromental Factors Paper - Essay Example For Mazda, the most important factor in the current environment is technology since it directly impacts all aspects of the automobile industry. Technology can help a car go faster, be more fuel efficient, reduce the cost of production and even help the company sell more cars (Baki et. al, 2004). Since fuel prices are on the rise and the limited nature of natural resources will continually push the prices higher, being more fuel efficient is a key selling point for Mazda if they are able to get their message across to the customers (RBSC, 2006). Similarly, political and legal factors can also influence the marketing strategy of Mazda in the future as more governments push for cleaner running cars and more curbs on how much pollution can be created by an automobile (Baki et. al, 2004). Mazda may have to push hybrid cars or cars powered by alternative fuels such as hydrogen to the public. This would certainly change the marketing strategy of the company since instead of focusing on styling, comfort, or even the performance of the car, the company would have to focus on the technical aspects of the new engine and convince buyers that it is as good as (if not better than) conventional engines in all respects (Harbour, 2001). Technology also impacts Mazda’s marketing decisions in terms of how the message is to be delivered to the customer. For instance, Mazda participated in web based stories for some of their cars and used the process of viral marketing for the launch of a new car model. In both cases, the internet was used as a means for marketing and the technology was cutting edge since the company needed to have a fresh approach to traditional marketing (Mazda, 2005). In terms of social responsibility, the principles which are applicable to Mazda can easily be applied to the rest of the automobile industry since many of the cars produced by them are objects of

Personal Bankruptcy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Personal Bankruptcy - Essay Example Section 316 of the Act requires the creditors to mention any additional income such as those from family is expected in the following year. A petitioner whose bankruptcy case had been previously adjudicated will have to wait for 8 years before filing another claim. The new act also allows conversions of liquidation into wage earner plans and liquidation cases in which the debtor’s income falls under a certain level will only be considered. Petitioner can use the exemptions allowed by the state only if they have resided in the state for at least 730 days. With regard to their houses, the creditors are allowed to exempt the first $125,000 of the value only if the home was purchased within a period of 1215 days. In case a tenant, who is using the home for illegal purposes, files a bankruptcy against the owner, section 311 of the Act would still allow the owner to evict the tenant. Credit card charges made for purchase of luxury goods for a minimum of $500 should be paid within 90 days of the credit and the limits for cash advances are $750 and student loans are dischargeable according to section 310 of the Act. However, the Act still protects the $1,000,000 of a debtor’s retirement benefits. The education savings account is also exempted if the funds have been placed into the account one or two years prior to filing for bankruptcy. In case of auto loans, if a debtor files for bankruptcy, he would be expected to pay only a secured portion of the auto loan in order to retain the vehicle with him. In case of liquidation fillings the petitioner will have to pay the alimony and child support required from him before payment of any other non-secured debt according to section 212. Section 314 of the new act has also ruled that many unnecessary types of debts which fall under chapter 13 will no longer be applicable. The credit system was the center of the federal bankruptcy reform passed in 2005 and these

Nursing Theory And Philosophy Nursing Essay

Nursing Theory And Philosophy Nursing Essay Prior to the development of nursing theories, nursing practice was viewed as a series of tasks that required little to no rationale. The evolution of nursing theories and philosophies has facilitated the progression of nursing as a vocation to nursing as an academic discipline and profession. Nursing theory promotes autonomy when used as a guide for critical thinking and decision making. Ultimately nursing theory and philosophy has increased knowledge development and enriched the quality of nursing practice (McEwen Wills, 2011). Nursing philosophy and theory are two interchangeable terms. The philosophy a nurse has on nursing will determine the theory and model he or she uses. Nursing philosophy explains what nursing is and gives insight to why nurses practice the way they do. Nursing theory describes how nurses and patients are able to produce healing and good health, by using models to explain how beliefs and aspects of health are related. Theory is used to explain and analyze what nurses do as well as facilitate communication between nurses and guide research and education. Nursing theory encompasses the foundations of nursing practice past and present and provides direction for how nursing should develop in the future (Alligood Tomey, 2002). Nursing theory is a broad term, according to Marilyn Parker in Nursing Theories and Nursing Practice, which portrays and clarifies the phenomena of interest. Nursing theory provides understanding for the advanced practice nurse to use in actual practice and evidence based research. Nursing theory has many purposes, which imitate the multiples specialties in professional nursing. Ultimately the goal is to promote the delivery of the best quality of care. The functions of nursing theory are to guide thinking, define the place of nursing in health and illness care, and to provide organization for the development of nursing education (Parker, 2006). Nursing theory provides a format for professional nursing to practice and make decisions. There are three major types of nursing theory: grand theory, middle range theory, and nursing practice theory. Each of these theories helps the nurse to provide more proficient patient care (McEwen Willis, 2011). The purpose of nursing theories is guide encourage and increase autonomy of nursing. Nursing theory improves communication with other health professionals and develops ideas and words by building a common nursing terminology. Theories have become necessary for effective decision making and implementation because they provide a basis for collecting reliable and valid data. Nursing theory is key in the practice of nurses and advanced practice nurses because it serves as a guide to assessment, intervention, and evaluation of care. Theory provides a measurable way to evaluate the quality of nursing care (Colley, 2003). According to Meleis, there are many beneficial uses of nursing theory. Nursing theory provides a basis for research and a frame of reference for patient assessment, diagnosis and intervention. It makes nursing practice more competent and valuable. Nursing theory provides a common platform for communication between the advanced practice nurse and other disciplines involved in a patients care. It supports the professional autonomy, responsibility, and liability of the advanced practice nurse (Meleis, 2011). Benefits of theory based practice are structure and organization, a systematic, purposeful approach, focus, coordinated and less fragmented care, and identifiable and traceable goals and outcomes. While there are many benefits of nursing theory, there are some barriers to developing and applying nursing theory. Nurses are considered doers, not thinkers. A lot of people choose to pursue the nursing profession to be advocates and to help and assist people, not to think about philosophical or ethical issues. Financial stress and a focus on career advancement within the nursing profession is proven to be a major barrier to philosophical thinking about nursing and seeking out education and training. The biggest obstacle in trying to effectively apply a nursing theory, is trying to use the wrong type of theory, or model, in a specific nursing situation. One type of theory cannot be applied every patient stipulation. Also, many nurses do not have an sufficient understanding of the types of nursing theories to use them effectively (Meleis, 2011). Three popular nursing theorists are Florence Nightingale, Jean Watson, and Dorothea Orem. Florence Nightingale published, Notes on Nursing: What it is, What is not, in 1860. These notes became the true basis of nursing research and practice. Jean Watson developed the Theory of Human Caring between 1975 and 1979. This theory brings significance and focus to nursing as an up-and-coming discipline and separate health profession with its own distinctive ethics, knowledge, and traditions. Dorothea Orems Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory comes from her belief that people have the ability to care for themselves and their families. Her theory explains that nurse have to supply the care patients need when they cannot care for themselves (Im Ju Chang, 2012). Nursing philosophy represents the belief system of the profession that provides perspectives for practice, for scholarship, and for research. Nursing philosophy is the overview of the basic beliefs about nursing practice. It is the outline of the viewpoint regarding what nursing is, what it aims to be, and how that can be realized. Nursing philosophy examines the nature of nursing, the nurse-patient relationship, and the heart of nursing. It serves as a guide for nurses in learning and practice, and evaluates that practice. Nursing philosophy is as active picture of who we are, what and how we know; and of what we do within the discipline (Kikuchi Simmons, 1994). A nurses philosophy consists of the principles and approaches towards life that the nurse upholds and how it affects her outlook on nursing practice. Philosophy leads the nurse to act in a particular way. Ernestine Wiedenbach is credited with developing the conceptual model of nursing called The Helping Art of Clinical Nursing. Wiedenbach theorized that there are three essential parts of nursing philosophy. The first is the respect for life; the second is value for the pride, worth, independence and distinctiveness of every person; and the third is promise to act on personally and professionally held convictions (Wiedenbach, 1964). Virginia Henderson, best known for her Definition of Nursing, believed that the nurses main purpose is to take care of patients needs and to assist them with day to day activities. These are activities that the patients would have been proficient in doing had they not been sick or debilitated (Castledine, 1996). Many facets of nursing have changed since Florence Nightingale and Virginia Hendersons era. However, the necessity for truly understanding about overall patient care remains the same. It is because of these nurses and their interest and concern for the theoretical and philosophical aspect of nursing, the nurses and providers today are able to treat their patients Alligood, M. R., Tomey, A. M. (2010). Nursing theorists and their work. (7th ed.). Maryland Heights, MO: Mosby Elsevier. Castledine, G. (1996). Castledine column. virginia hendersons legacy. British Journal of Nursing, 5(8), 517-517. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.jproxy.lib.ecu.edu/ login.aspx?direct=truedb=c8hAN=1996038732site=ehost-live Colley, S. (2003). Nursing theory: Its importance to practice. Nursing Standard, 17(46), 33. Im, E., Ju Chang, Sun. (2012). Current trends in nursing theories. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 44(2), 156-164. doi: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2012.01440.x Kikuchi, J.F., Simmons, H. (1994). Developing a philosophy of nursing. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Lauzon, S. (1995). Gortners contribution to nursing knowledge development. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 27(2), 100-103. doi: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.1995.tb00830.x McEwen, M., Wills, E. (2011). Theoretical basis for nursing (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Lippincott Williams Wilkins. Meleis, A.I.(2011). Theoretical nursing: Development and progress (5th Ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams Wilkins. Parker, M. E. (2006). Nursing theories nursing practice. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis. Weidenbach, E. (1964). Clinical nursing: A helping art. New York: Springer.

Sleepy Hollow:Heads Will Roll Essay -- Art

Sleepy Hollow:Heads Will Roll Have you ever heard of The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow? It’s a wonderful story, written by Washington Irving in 1819. It was then made into a movie entitled Sleepy Hollow by the gothic film maker Tim Burton in 1999. Basically, it tells the story of a constable named Ichabod Crane sent to a small Dutch community called Sleepy Hollow in the state of New York to investigate the deaths of many people found with their heads cut off. The locals say that the murders have been committed by the legendary Headless Horseman and Ichabod does not believe this, but with the help of the fair Katrina Van Tassel, the daughter of the town’s richest man, and the young son of one of the victims, young Masbath, he finds out indeed that a horseman was the key to the murders, but that he was controlled by a person of flesh and blood that possessed his skull, Katrina’s evil stepmother! She killed everyone that made her family suffer in the past to avenge herself and she also assassinated everyone that stood in her path to steal the richest man in town’s fortune: her husband. So Ichabod then recuperates the skull, gives it back to the horseman who then takes Katrina’s mother into his bloody g rave with him. The story takes place in 1799, and the movie represents that time very well. For example, when they write, they use a feather and some ink instead of a pen. Also, there are no cars in the movie, only horses are used. Another thing that is representative of the e...