RA#2 Joan Morgan

RA #2

Title: From Fly-Girls to Bitches and Hoes

Author: Joan Morgan

Date: 1995

Topic: The negative impacts rap music has on black men and women.

Exigence: To confront the pervasive sexism of lyrics in hip-hop music. 

Intended audience: Black men and women, people who listen to hip-hop music, feminists. 

Purpose: To understand the reasons black men write misguiding lyrics and to change the messages they send toward healing the pain in black communities. 

Claims:  If we use rap music as a tool to positively communicate with one another, through this process it will establish a strong black community. 

Main Evidence: The author understands the racial prejudices every black man and black woman goes through growing up. She talks about the constant struggles underprivileged black families go through; from single mothers to murder and drugs and alcohol. Morgan says, “ rap music is really the complex mask African Americans often wear both to hide and express the pain”(603). The violent and derogatory words used by rappers can explain why their is so much violence and the incapability to love one another. 

Pathos: The author uses a personal incident of a family friend who was murdered. She talks about how committed and passionate she is about changing the black community. 

Effect: By showing how committed and devoted she is about solving these issues, it will encourage others to follow her path. 

Ethos: She is credible because she is a well educated, black female musician and writer. She has first handedly witnessed the sexual and violent impacts hip-hop music has had on women and men. 

Effect: By having a black female author, the reader has an inside look of how someone who is at the top of the put down list reacts to it all. 

Logos: The author uses logos by stating facts about the causes of death of black men. As an example, “The leading cause of death among black men ages fifteen to twenty-four is homicide. The majority of them will die at the hands of other black me”(602). 

Effect: By incorporating factual evidence into her writing the reader will understand how severe the problem really is.  

My Response: I believe the author does a good job of explaining the severity of the lyrics used by rappers. She argues, simply condemning the use of of violent and sexual words does little to change the symptoms it creates in black communities. The rappers are looked up to by so many people so, if they say something, it will likely be repeated by those who listen. By being such powerful role models, I agree, “hip-hop can help us win”. By creating a safe place to talk about the issues in their lives, it will spread awareness, and have a positive influence on the black community. 

gender roles; kilbourne

         The essay “Two Ways a Women Can Get Hurt”: Advertising and Violence by Jean Kilbourne explains how sexual and violent advertising in the media are affecting women and mens attitudes, which leads to sexual aggression.  Kilbourne argues the way ads portray bodies of women as objects conditions us to see each other in dehumanizing ways, thus normalizing and glorifying rape and violence. Men are encouraged to be forceful and dominant because of how the ads show people having fun and enjoying what seems to be dark and evil behavior. For example, “don’t be such a good boy”, say’s an ad with two beautiful women looking adoringly at a man, but he isn’t looking at either one of them. Opposite from reality, men who are dangerous are considered sexy and desirable, however popular culture leads people to believe this is the way men should really act.  

In the culture we live in, women are thought of as weak and powerless; men are considered strong and powerful. In a Diet Coke ad “the women are physically, separated from the man. He is the one in control. His body is powerful, not passive”(587). Strength and powerfulness are just gender stereotypes which are ways to oppress and discriminate one or the other. If both men and women were thought of as equals, there would not be a constant reminder telling men to be more aggressive or be more dominating. It is human nature for men to play out these roles, but not so much to make women feel like they are nothing. In an ad by Calvin Klein, they use a model who looked abused, vulnerable, and exploited. She is lying naked on a sofa, “plaint, available, androgynous enough to appeal to all kinds of pedophiles”(593). This kind of advertising degrades women and stretches the male and female roles further apart in our society. 

Although not pressured by the media as forceful as women, men are subjected to act and behave a certain way. Also when compared to women, men are less likely to be sexually abused, but cultural attitudes make it difficult to take this seriously. “Many boys grow up feeling that they are unmanly if they are not always ‘ready for action,’ capable of and interested in sex with any women who is available”(595). Some men do not like the highest authority position in the relationship, but feel obligated to do so. Gender roles vary, but in our society only one role fits a specific gender. The negative affects of advertising is felt largely on younger people. Kids have a more difficult time telling right from wrong and if they see someone acting in a certain way, they are likely to copy that behavior. Growing up and going to school is challenging for any kid not normal. He or she is likely to be harassed and tormented and struggle to become accepted. Advertising makes people believe there is only one acceptable way a male and a female should act or look, which has caused many people unable to find acceptance. 

updated prop 30 final draft

Sam Imsland

English 2

Mrs. Knapp

14 October, 2012

Yes on Prop. 30: Save Our Future

California was once the highest ranked state in the country to receive an education. Our public schools offered a well rounded form of education; music and art classes, metal and wood shop, school field trips, on top of the best materials and teachers needed to prepare our students in the competitive job market. However, the state of California is in a deep budget deficit effecting the necessary funding needed to ensure the high quality of education our students once received. Together, kindergarden through 12th grade and higher education makes up half of California’s state budget. Gov. Jerry Brown has drawn up a proposal for a temporary increase in sales and income tax in-order to replenish funding for education. A vote in favor of Prop 30 will help get our education standards back on track and give our students the education they deserve. 

A recent poll showed that California voters would support Prop. 30 which would increase sales and income taxes to reduce budget cuts to public education. The sales tax would increase 1/4 cent per dollar for four years and the personal income tax for those who make more than $250,000 for seven years. “If it passes, the state will receive several billion dollars in additional revenue that will help prevent further cuts to education and other areas,” said Dominic Brewer, vice dean of research in partnerships and globalization at Rossier. If Prop. 30 passes, our state would receive about $6 billion in additional state revenue. If rejected, the state budget would be shortened by $6 billion. In the case of failure, state law calls for $4.8 billion in automatic "trigger cuts" to public schools, more than $1 billion in cuts to higher education budgets and $100 million in other reductions. On top of the trigger cuts, further cuts will still be needed if this measure does not pass.

Raising taxes has always been difficult for lawmakers, one reason the state is 35 billion in debt. Unable to create revenue, our state has solved its fiscal problems by spending less. As a result, students have less opportunities and teachers are losing their jobs. According to an article in the LA Times, critics against Prop. 30 say, “the states budget troubles stem from out-of-control spending, not a shortage of revenue”. They argue that by supporting Prop. 30, the generated tax funds will be spent on things unrelated to education. However, stated in the official title and summary of Proposition 30, new revenues would be deposited into a newly created state account called the Education Protection Account (EPA). Of the funds in the account, 89 percent would be provided to schools and 11 percent to community colleges. Schools and community colleges could use these funds for any educational purpose. The details of the proposition are very clear and you can be assured the money from Prop. 30 will go into our classrooms. 

Being a college student I have personally seen the effects a lack of funding has had on our educational system.  I have paid the higher tuition fees and have struggled to receive the classes I have asked for. According to Students for Quality Education (www.csusqe.org/chapters), Cabrillo, the community college I currently attend, student fees have increased by 85.5% in the last few years, from $26/unit in spring 2010 to $46/unit in fall 2012. In-order to keep it from becoming any worse, Prop. 30 must pass. However if Prop. 30 does not pass, Cabrillo will face an additional cut of 7.3% making it even harder for students to enroll and afford tuition costs. Not only students face the burden of reduced funding, but the teachers, staff, and administration face losing their jobs.  My older brothers were at the same college five years ago and they have noticed it has become much more difficult to get into classes. Also, my dad came to Cabrillo thirty years ago and he remembers it being easy to get the classes he signed up for as well as afford the tuition costs. 

The availability and opportunity to receive a higher education in California is declining. Our state is ranked 31st for people ages 25-34 with a college degree (Complete College America). The number of people becoming educated is less and less each year. The labor force will be in great need of skilled workers in the next ten years because of the high number of retirees. However, we will not have a big enough skilled workforce to fill those job positions. This will cause businesses to outsource their workers furthering the decline of California’s economy. The future of our state depends on the number of educated people we can produce. So with the future of our economy tied so closely to education, allowing students the opportunity to easily go to college is the ultimate goal. Bill Freeman says in the article, Prop 30 Invests in Education, Economy , that Prop. 30 “is the only measure that stops the cuts, avoids the steep tuition hikes, and invests in our schools and colleges starting this year so we can prepare the next generation for the jobs of the future”. A well funded education system is key for a strong economy in the future. 

As a result of the current budget deficit, programs such as art and music will see a major change or probable cut. Personally, music and art were my most meaningful and enjoyable classes. The ceramics class I took in high school made me excited to go to school everyday. It created an interest for me to come to school everyday and learn while other academic subjects failed to motivate me. Robert Daniels, supervisor for the Visual and Performing Arts Department of San Francisco Unified School District, United Administrators of San Francisco, AFSA Local  says, “Art allows them to find joy in learning. With access to arts, you have various avenues to make kids want to learn and to learn better. By eradicating art and music programs, districts are putting a roadblock in the way of the students whose passions and strengths are manifested through these outlets”. Hands on learning is becoming a lost method of training for my generation. What if our art and music classes turned into classes where the only thing you did was talk about art or talk about music? It would be like being taught how to surf on the beach and never going out into the water to ride a wave. Art and music programs are not cheap to run, but are worth every penny because of the positive influence they can have on our lives.  

The education we provide for our students determines how successful our state will be. A vote Yes on proposition 30 will ensure a high quality of education and will make receiving a higher form of education more accessible. As a result of the current budget cuts to our schools, the education our future generations are receiving has suffered. The necessity of appropriate funding is crucial so vote YES on Prop. 30.  

Bibliography

Freeman, Bill. "Prop. 30 Invests in Education, Economy." U-T San Diego. N.p., 23 Sept. 2012. Web. 23 Sept. 2012. <http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/23/tp-prop-30-invests-in-education-economy/>. 

Hernandez, Kristen. "Majority of Californians Support Prop. 30, Poll Says." Daily Trojan. N.p., 27 Aug. 2012. Web. 9 Sept. 2012. <http://dailytrojan.com/2012/08/27/majority-of-californians-support-prop-30-poll-says/>.

"Yes on Proposition 30, No on Proposition 38." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 02 Oct. 2012. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. <http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/endorsements/la-ed-end-prop-30-prop38-20121002,0,2923644.story>.

Prop 30 final draft

Sam Imsland

English 2

Mrs. Knapp

14 October, 2012

Yes on Prop. 30, Save Our Future

California was once the highest ranked state in the country to receive an education. Our public schools offered a well rounded form of education; music and art classes, metal and wood shop, school field trips, on top of the best materials and teachers needed to prepare our students in the competitive job market. However, the state of California is in a deep budget deficit effecting the necessary funding needed to ensure the high quality of education our students once received. Together, kindergarden through 12th grade and higher education makes up half of California’s state budget. Gov. Jerry Brown has drawn up a proposal for a temporary increase in sales and income tax in-order to replenish funding for education. A vote in favor of Prop 30 will help get our education standards back on track and give our students the education they deserve. 

A recent poll showed that California voters would support Prop. 30 which would increase sales and income taxes to reduce budget cuts to public education. The sales tax would increase 1/4 cent per dollar for four years and the personal income tax for those who make more than $250,000 for seven years. “If it passes, the state will receive several billion dollars in additional revenue that will help prevent further cuts to education and other areas,” said Dominic Brewer, vice dean of research in partnerships and globalization at Rossier. If Prop. 30 passes, our state would receive about $6 billion in additional state revenue. If rejected, the state budget would be shortened by $6 billion. In the case of failure, state law calls for $4.8 billion in automatic "trigger cuts" to public schools, more than $1 billion in cuts to higher education budgets and $100 million in other reductions. On top of the trigger cuts, further cuts will still be needed if this measure does not pass.

Raising taxes has always been difficult for lawmakers, one reason the state is 35 billion in debt. Unable to create revenue, our state has solved its fiscal problems by spending less. As a result, students have less opportunities and teachers are losing their jobs. According to an article in the LA Times, critics against Prop. 30 say, “the states budget troubles stem from out-of-control spending, not a shortage of revenue”. They argue that by supporting Prop. 30, the generated tax funds will be spent on things unrelated to education. However, stated in the official title and summary of Proposition 30, new revenues would be deposited into a newly created state account called the Education Protection Account (EPA). Of the funds in the account, 89 percent would be provided to schools and 11 percent to community colleges. Schools and community colleges could use these funds for any educational purpose. The details of the proposition are very clear and you can be assured the money from Prop. 30 will go into our classrooms. 

Being a college student I have personally seen the effects a lack of funding has had on our educational system.  I have paid the higher tuition fees and have struggled to receive the classes I have asked for. According to Students for Quality Education (www.csusqe.org/chapters), Cabrillo, the community college I currently attend, student fees have increased by 85.5% in the last few years, from $26/unit in spring 2010 to $46/unit in fall 2012. In-order to keep it from becoming any worse, Prop. 30 must pass. However if Prop. 30 does not pass, Cabrillo will face an additional cut of 7.3% making it even harder for students to enroll and afford tuition costs. Not only students face the burden of reduced funding, but the teachers, staff, and administration face losing their jobs.  My older brothers were at the same college five years ago and they have noticed it has become much more difficult to get into classes. Also, my dad came to Cabrillo thirty years ago and he remembers it being easy to get the classes he signed up for as well as afford the tuition costs. 

The availability and opportunity to receive a higher education in California is declining. Our state is ranked 31st for people ages 25-34 with a college degree. The number of people becoming educated is less and less each year. The labor force will be in great need of skilled workers in the next ten years because of the high number of retirees. However, we will not have a big enough skilled workforce to fill those job positions. This will cause businesses to outsource their workers furthering the decline of California’s economy. The future of our state depends on the number of educated people we can produce. So with the future of our economy tied so closely to education, allowing students the opportunity to easily go to college is the ultimate goal. Bill Freeman says in the article, Prop 30 Invests in Education, Economy , that Prop. 30 “is the only measure that stops the cuts, avoids the steep tuition hikes, and invests in our schools and colleges starting this year so we can prepare the next generation for the jobs of the future”. A well funded education system is key for a strong economy in the future. 

As a result of the current budget deficit, programs such as art and music will see a major change or probable cut. Personally, music and art were my most meaningful and enjoyable classes. The ceramics class I took in high school made me excited to go to school everyday. It created an interest for me to come to school everyday and learn while other academic subjects failed to motivate me. Robert Daniels, supervisor for the Visual and Performing Arts Department of San Francisco Unified School District, United Administrators of San Francisco, AFSA Local  says, “Art allows them to find joy in learning. With access to arts, you have various avenues to make kids want to learn and to learn better. By eradicating art and music programs, districts are putting a roadblock in the way of the students whose passions and strengths are manifested through these outlets”. Hands on learning is becoming a lost method of training for my generation. What if our art and music classes turned into classes where the only thing you did was talk about art or talk about music? It would be like being taught how to surf on the beach and never going out into the water to ride a wave. Art and music programs are not cheap to run, but are worth every penny because of the positive influence they can have on our lives.  

The education we provide for our students determines how successful our state will be. A vote Yes on proposition 30 will ensure a high quality of education and will make receiving a higher form of education more accessible. As a result of the current budget cuts to our schools, the education our future generations are receiving has suffered. The necessity of appropriate funding is crucial so vote YES on Prop. 30.  

Bibliography

Freeman, Bill. "Prop. 30 Invests in Education, Economy." U-T San Diego. N.p., 23 Sept. 2012. Web. 23 Sept. 2012. <http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/23/tp-prop-30-invests-in-education-economy/>. 

Hernandez, Kristen. "Majority of Californians Support Prop. 30, Poll Says." Daily Trojan. N.p., 27 Aug. 2012. Web. 9 Sept. 2012. <http://dailytrojan.com/2012/08/27/majority-of-californians-support-prop-30-poll-says/>.

"Yes on Proposition 30, No on Proposition 38." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 02 Oct. 2012. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. <http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/endorsements/la-ed-end-prop-30-prop38-20121002,0,2923644.story>.

rough draft Prop. 30

Yes on Prop. 30, Save Our Future

California was once the highest ranked place in the world to receive an education. Our public schools offered a well rounded form of education; music and art classes, metal and wood shop, school field trips, on top of the best materials and teachers needed to prepare our students in the competitive job market. However, the state of California is in a deep budget deficit effecting the appropriate amount of funding needed to ensure the high quality of education our students once received. Together, kindergarden through 12th grade and higher education makes up half of California’s state budget. Gov. Jerry Brown has drawn up a proposal for a temporary sales and income tax in-order to replenish education funding. A vote yes on Prop 30 will help get our education standards back on track and give our students the education they deserve. 

A recent poll showed that California voters would support Prop. 30 which would increase sales and income taxes to reduce budget cuts to public education. The sales tax would increase 1/4 cent per dollar for four years and the personal income tax for those who make more than $250,000 for seven years. “If it passes, the state will receive several billion dollars in additional revenue that will help prevent further cuts to education and other areas,” said Dominic Brewer, vice dean of research in partnerships and globalization at Rossier. If the prop passes our state would receive about $6 billion in additional state revenue. If rejected the state budget would be shortened by $6 billion. In the case of failure, state law calls for $4.8 billion in automatic "trigger cuts" to public schools, more than $1 billion in cuts to higher education budgets and $100 million in assorted other reductions. On top of the trigger cuts, further cuts will still be needed if this measure does not pass, but experts believe the poll results will prove true.    

Being a college student I have personally seen the effects of our educational system.  I have paid the higher tuition fees and have struggled to receive the classes I have asked for. At Cabrillo, the community college I currently attend, the student fees have increased by 85.5 % in the last few years, from $26/unit in spring 2010 to $46/unit in fall 2012. In-order to keep it from becoming any worse, Prop. 30 must pass. However if Prop. 30 does not pass, Cabrillo will face an additional cut of 7.3% making it even harder for students to enroll and afford tuition costs. Not only students face the burden of reduced funding, but the teachers, staff, and administration face losing their jobs.  My older brothers were at the same college five years ago and they have noticed it has become much more difficult to get through. Also, my dad came to Cabrillo thirty  years ago and he remembers being easily able to receive the classes he signed up for and easily able to afford tuition costs. 

The availability and opportunity to receive a higher education in California is declining. Our state is ranked 31st for people ages 25-34 with a college degree. The number of people becoming educated is less and less each year. The labor force will be in great need of skilled workers in the next ten years because of the high number of retirees. However, we will not have a big enough skilled workforce to fill those job positions. This will cause businesses to outsource their workers effecting the money staying inside the California economy. The future of our state depends on the number of educated people we can produce. So with the future of our economy tied so closely to education, allowing students the opportunity to easily go to college is the ultimate goal. Bill Freeman says in the article, Prop 30 Invests in Education, Economy , that Prop. 30 “is the only measure that stops the cuts, avoids the steep tuition hikes, and invests in our schools and colleges starting this year so we can prepare the next generation for the jobs of the future”. A well funded education system is key for a strong economy in the future. 

As a result of the current budget deficit, programs such as art and music will see a major change or probable cut. When I was in public school I can remember enjoying my music and art classes the most out of any other subject. The ceramics class I took in high school made me excited to go to school everyday. It created an interest in me to come to school everyday and learn while other academic subjects failed to motivate me. Robert Daniels, supervisor for the Visual and Performing Arts Department of San Francisco Unified School District, United Administrators of San Francisco, AFSA Local  says, “Art allows them to find joy in learning. With access to arts, you have various avenues to make kids want to learn and to learn better. By eradicating art and music programs, districts are putting a roadblock in the way of the students whose passions and strengths are manifested through these outlets”. Hands on learning is becoming a lost method of training for our younger generation. What if our art and music classes turned into art theory and music theory classes. Where the only thing you did in these classes was talk about making art or talk about making music. It would be like being taught how to surf on the beach and never going out into the water to ride a wave. Art and music programs are not cheap to run, but are worth every penny because of the great influence they can have on kids lives.  

The education we provide for our students determines how successful our state will be. A vote Yes on proposition 30 will ensure a high quality of education and will make receiving a higher form of education more accecible. As a result of the current budget cuts to our schools, the education our future generation is receiving has suffered. The necessity of appropriate funding is evident so vote yes on Prop. 30.