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Bell Hooks Response

Understanding Patriarchy by Bell Hook is an article that sheds light on the system that was institutionalized in our lives that assign males and females their gender roles while emphasizing what is expected of us according to our gender. While this article foundation is from the author’s experience in the fifties these dominant roles are still existing in our society. According to the author, patriarchy is a political-social system that enforces the dominance of men who are supposedly superior to women (pg. 10). The discussion below will focus on my view about various issues discussed in the article while evaluating whether they are evident in our society today and what can be done.

To begin with, I agree with most of the ideas that the author presents in this article. Firstly, the fact that it is believed that men should be the head of the household while the women only serve as their helper (pg. 1) is a sickening issue since it has led to not only most of the violence that is experienced in the marital households but that women continue staying in those marriages since that is the order of things. In addition, the author talks of what the therapist son who loved to play with the Barbie dolls until his brother’s friend gave him a look that suggested others, (pg. 2) the gender reveal we have today reinforce this as we have already picked that a girl color to be pink and a boys’ blue. What happens when the girl tends to be more masculine than she is feminine and vice versa? The author’s childhood story of the beating she experienced by showing interest in a game that was considered to be for boys is what is happening today, we have very many teens who are going to depression and even suicide when they feel like an outcast for not conforming to the society ideals (pg. 2). These ideals have been set by this patriarchal system that tends to assign roles based on our gender. Also, the fact that the mother aligned with the father’s action and never questioned the use of violence spirals to why most children from such family setup are either prone to withstand such violence in their marriages or they believe that such violence is the way to go.

Moreover, the idea that even for families who try to raise their children with no patriarchal ideals are bound to stumble upon these ideals in other institutions and tend to either try to conform is being experienced in today’s society. Today we have various families that are supporting their children who identify themselves with LGBT community but when they are out of the home setup they are bound to encounter resistance that in some case lead to some trying to conform. The ones who even end up getting married are bound to experience scrutiny since the male figure should be the dominating one yet what should happen in a gay union? Additionally, the author talks of the assumption about the children brought up in female-headed households either in gay or single-parent situation that they tend to lack various patriarchal ideals (pg. 3). These assumptions I believe are the cause of various marital issues where one partner tends to think that their partner is lacking since he lacked this figure while growing, it is wrong and until we realize that society cannot set up the expectation for us will still remain as victims of the system.

The author goes ahead and talks of the various impacts of the patriarchy system on our lives with the dominant one being the violence not only against partners but also the children. The patriarchy system believes that men should exercise their dominance by any means necessary (pg. 3), this in most cases have resulted in violence both physical and sexual which affects the victims in the long run if not the short run. The mere notion that this dominance can only be achieved by submission and subordination enforces that this system is harmful than it is beneficial and sadly it still today in the society because we do not share on how we as individuals suffer at its hands. Evidently, women are the most treated people with mental illness than men, this is from the patriarchy notion that men are to remain emotional cripples as claimed by the author (pg. 4). The system requires that not only are men to be dominant but also that they have to not show any signs of weakness, this has led to many men’s mental illness going undiagnosed leading to them seeking comfort from substance abuse escalating the even worse situation. In addition, the need for acceptance and respect is in no way related to the need for the patriarchal system, hence it is time that men know that they can be taken seriously without showing their dominance over the others either from their background with patriarchal approving fathers.

Works Sited

Hooks, Bell. Understanding patriarchy. Louisville Anarchist Federation Federation, 2010.

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Media Plan

A media plan are documented objectives, tactics, strategy and resource allocation for a target group. It is the media mix and schedule that are used to get to the target audience/ population(Baron, 12). Little finance and knowhow on the above elements always make reaching a target group tricky. Our organization has always served the purpose of creating convoluted plans aimed at ensuring a great business platform for Indian bikes in the market. Staying in the business for the Indian’s has been an issue since the 1950’s, their chief competition created by the Harley Davidson.

Marketing Plan

Creative

This plan will innovatively aim at people who are utilized to the conventional media, people born after the war, and bring back the Indian Cruisers to their level of dominance.

Promotion

Our advertisement target markets, in order to advance, will include three market occasions. Such are Bicycle week in Daytona Shoreline, FL on the first week of walk. There are also the Sturgis Bicycle Week in Sturgis, ND on the first week of August, in Daytona Shoreline, FL on the third week of October.

Company History

Indian Motorbike Assemblies is a producer of bikes based in Springfield, Massachusetts. They have been the main rival of Harley Davidson since 1903; it is the second most seasoned bike mark in the U.S. in the previous times, they were the largest producer of bikes globally.

Media Target

Our organization, in this agreement, will try to meet the following objectives;

To create a familiarity zone with the Indian Cruisers but keep budgeting within the $18dollar funding

To create the Indian Cruisers reemergence into business, with backing through the whole year of 2009

Focus on the forty to forty-five aged people with a pay pack of sixty thousand dollars.

Keep up attention to the item by arriving at X percent of the of the target market after presentation of the commodity.

Use media that will successfully impart the delight of owning an Indian cruiser

Media Strategy

We aim to concentrate on magazines and radio as an essential to create mindfulness for the target market.

Cooperate Analysis

Red Wing Motorbike

The cooperate was started by the Rock Legend, Steven Tyler. The Red Wing Motorbikes are currently sold at the Pritt-Harley Davidson and Berkeley-Harley Davidson franchises. With an overall decided target to be ‘a new brand to change the business sector’, they started offering bicycles in 2007. They promote that each bicycle is hand marked by Steven Tyler, a factor that has turned them into a significant player the business market. Their target group is of a higher age bunch with high wages.

Buell Motorbikes

This is an American bike maker located in east Troy, Wisconsin. It was established by ex-Harley Davidson engineer, Erik Buell. In 1993, the cooperate branded with Harley-Davidson and turned entirely in a subsidiary/ possession of the Harley by 1998. The Buell Motorbikes are known more for their dashing bikes than the road bikes. They have worked solely on the “Sportster” and other hustling or “groin rocket” style bicycles since they joined with the HD. Their center, which is essentially game bicycles, make them match our auxiliary target group(Baron and Scissors, 25).

NSU Motorenwerke AG

This is a German organization that was purchased out by the Volkswagen in 1969. The NSU group, arrived in the U.S at their prime, when the HD was hitting low. From 1955 into the 70’s, they held the position of the biggest maker in the U.S., after which they have not had an impact or accomplishment in the U.S. market. It is because of the emergence of stiff competition from other motorbike producers.

Target Market

Primary Target Audience

Indian Bikes has an outstandingly not the same number of customers as its significant rival Harley Davidson because of its costly item base. Indian shoppers are composed of white married men of between the ages of forty to fifty-five; they might be having young families back at home. They might appear as though they are a piece of Consistent American Centre; these are shoppers whose annual net salary might not be less than sixty thousand dollars. In most cases, these shoppers are professional experts. Quite a number work in Corporate America is holding managerial position. Largely, they are not so much outgoing. However, they do adore leisure and travel activities that are both associated with the rich status.

Secondary Target Audience

A second market that has buyer potential has been distinguished due to a wide base of Indian Bikes that engage a couple of bunches of different male age brackets. It comprises of white male of ages between thirty-five to forty, married or single, and may have an adolescent troop.Though they might appear as if they are part of a piece of Standard Centre America, normally, these are men whose annual income is not less than sixty thousand dollars.

Media Objectives

Media objectives are usually part of a four staged standard media plan that includes stating the objectives, establishing a budget, assessing the media choosing and implementing the choices(Bythe, 67-71). This plan has an objective of reaching out to the target group. Considering the high population of America, The advertisement on the reemergence of the Indian Bikes will appear on four Television Programs in including ESPN(180, 190, 161). Others are the History Channel (173, 158, 170), Speed (162, 214, 163), and Travel (143, 105, 127).Each program has an average rating of 20. Using the four programs results in accumulation of 80gross points. Their combined reach is therefore 40%There are also a higher likelihood/ chances that viewers of may also see any of the reading programs. 400 people are more inclined to be exposed to one or more television programs in a population that has 1000 television sets. GRPs for a program where the advert becomes visible X the frequency the advert runs.Using one schedule in all four programs for the commercial can help determine the frequency of the ad. 170homes watch only one program, 110homes view 2programs, and 70 watch three programs while 50 household view every program. The number of programs watched by every household add up to 800. Hence 400 households will be exposed to 800 commercials.The above procedure also applies to the radio. This is based on the assumption that the people watching the television programs will also listen to the radio. The radio, however, have a broadened base. For example, All News(117)WCOA, Pensacola has 70,000potential listeners, and 30,000 hear a commercial, an average of 43%. In this regard, Indian Cruisers will be able to realize its aim of bouncing back into the business.Continuity that entails the timing of the media assertions, will create the following trend; 15%in October, 25%in November, 45%in December and 10% for the rest of the year. The reason for such a high percentage in December is because most people are on Holiday. Considering that the target brand of audience of people aged between forty and forty-five will create a 60%sales derivative, the aim of this campaign is to raise the brand experience by 30%among them. The campaign will reach 1million in 12 markets using TV, radio, newspaper and magazines as well as social media.

Media Choices

TV Channels

To achieve our target market, we have decided to make the most use of link systems and particular TV day advertisements/ parts. It would promote and expand familiarity with the Indian Cruiser brand towards the end of the year in creating grounds for the arrival of the item into business in 2015 as per the plan. The quantities of the day parts and the link systems will be recorded in the following accompanying command: 45-54, 35-44, 55-64.The most conventional inside our target will be accompanying link systems and TV day parts as illustrated below:

ESPN(180,190,161)

History Channel(173,158,170)

Speed(162,214,163)

Travel Channel(143,105,127)

Discovery(132,132,117)Day Parts

Mon-Fr i8PM-9PM(492, 451, 335)

Mon-Fri 9PM10PM (489, 454, 345)

Mon-Fri 10PM-11PM (474, 428, 321)

Radio Stations

We plan to center on the encompassing ranges of bicycle occasions in utilizing these radio stations. Our specific aim is to build a consciousness of Indian’s vicinity at the occasions. Our choice of radio stations, based on the kinds of radio that our target group listens to are:

All News (117) WCOA, Pensacola,

FL ClassicFM(158)WJGL, Jacksonville, FL

Magazines

There are magazines that have a high record within our essential target business sector range, but also with high files in the optional and tertiary target age ranges too. Such are the magazines that we have chosen. We have advertised with these magazines amid the months preceding significant bicycle occasions in the United States. Through the advertisements, we trust, we will gather more backing for the advancements we want to run amid the occasions of Bicycle Week in Daytona, Sturgis, and Bicycle tober.

Newspaper

We intend to use paper that is more inclined to achieve our side spread demographic. The USA Nowadays is a top rated paper in America with a normal routine audience of 6,275, 497. Due to its achievement of a great reader base and general substance, it becomes the ideal choice for this intended purpose. The Divider Road Diary with a reader base of 5,063,751 would help achieve the purposes with a perfect measure of disposal wage to discover our item an appealing speculation. It is a paper of decisions for experts and speculators much the same. The paper that we intend to use for this particular purpose should have a big reading base that is also steeped into our target group(Carter and McGoldrick, 56).

Outdoor

Boards are to be placed in high activity regions in the weeks paving the way to and amid Bicycle Week, Bicycle to berfestand Sturgis Bicycle Week. This is specifically aimed at utilizing the boards viably. We will publicize all mid-year in North Carolina since it is the head office. To alarm newcomers and voyages that cruisers are accessible in the range and to help inhabitants remember their vicinity, boards will be put in closeness to Indian Dealership in the end.

Flow Chart

Radio Stations charge an average of $50 per advertisement compared other media that charge an average of $100 per advertisement. Their lower charges make more organization advertise with them. Radios are cheap and portable and hence the Radio stations are reachable to almost everyone. Our organization aims at using radios majorly as promotional media for the Indian Bike Cruisers for this reason.When an advert is relayed, so many people get it, but only a few of the targeted audience might get it(Carter and Mcgoldrick, 89-93). So the target coverage index should always be greater than the message index. Because the message does not reach 100% of the target group, it is important to record the projected number of coverage more than the projected reach of people.It is crucial to consider the budgeting cost of the advertisement while preparing the advertisement flow chart. The total cost of the advertisement should fall within the budgeting cost to avoid overstraining the company. The cost of our advertisement in this case is $55,400.00 while the budgeted cost is $60,000.00. A firm should prepare an advertisement flowchart that that has very low costs compared to the budgeted costs, but the ratio should not go below 50%. In this case, the firm has a ratio of 55400/60000* 100%= 992.33%. This means that the low chart, at almost 100%, is within the budget.Most of the target audience are working people who are mostly only available after work. The flow chart, therefore, should place most of the advertisements during the evening news in Channel TVs.

Budget

With the aim of reaching 150million adults within a year, the media campaign will run from January 2014 to January 2015. The client aims to spend $2,000,000 for the campaign. In magazines, the campaign will advertise 72ads. Because there are two magazines chosen for this campaign, each magazine will, therefore, run 36ads. With the exception of July, The People’s magazine will run advertisements throughout the year. Fifty thousand dollars will be spent in circulating four advertisements in the months of January, February, March, April, May, June subsequently then September, October, November and December.TV cables will take a total of 144 ads in the months of January, February, March, July, August, September, October, November and December. The total cost of these TV cable-ads will be 300,000 dollars.Personnel department will also be included in the resource budget. Their salaries and wages will consume a total of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Sixty thousand dollars go to the worker benefits, same as the payroll taxes and commission payments and bonuses, sixty thousand dollars each. That makes a total of one hundred and eighty thousand dollars. The total amount spent on the personnel will be four hundred and twenty thousand dollars.To determine the best campaign ad, research must be carried out(Blythe, 19). The primary research that takes place at the beginning of the campaign will cost around one hundred thousand dollars. Secondary research that goes hand in hand with the media campaign is for the purpose of monitoring the impact of the campaign on the intended market. The cost will be around forty thousand dollars. Research materials are kept in the library. Expenses that will cover for the services of a professional librarian will be twenty thousand dollars.Branded items and branding company cars with the product’s name will cost approximately one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. An interactive website will also be used in the campaign to maintain an online presence. The services of Smartweb, the company that has been identified for this purpose, will cost fifty thousand dollars. There will also be direct marketing that will include road shows and direct sales. This will cost thirty thousand dollars.There will also be internet marketing that will also involve the use of the social media for a period of four running months. The cost for achieving this will be twenty thousand dollars.Focus on the public makes it necessary to have a public relations advisor. Purposel, this is done to ensure that the prepared ads have relevant content that is agreeable to the target audience. There will also organize events that will include family fun day and a town cleaning exercise. Posters and flyers for the campaign will also be prepared to cost one hundred thousand dollars. The community programs that the campaign aims at sponsoring will cost a total of ten thousand dollars.Advertisement on the two newspapers in the months of March and September on a daily routine will cost, and on the radio stations will cost a total of four hundred thousand dollars. Training of staff in communications will cost approximately twenty thousand dollars. Incentives for the channels involved in the advertisements will cost twenty thousand dollars. Cost of buying computers and other equipment will cost fifty thousand dollars. Other costs will arise from postages of letters, telephone communication and travel. Such will cost a total of sixty thousand dollars.Telemarketing and fun fairs to ensure maximum exposure will cost sixty thousand dollars. Forty thousand dollars will be used in setting up a customers’ loyalty scheme to ensure that the customer retention remains high.

Cited Works

Baron, B. Roger, and Sissors, Z. Jack. Advertising media planning. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. Print.

Blythe, J. Essentials of Marketing, Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. 2005. Print.

Carter, B., and McGoldrick, M. The expanded family cycle. Individual family and social perspectives. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. 2009.

Miscarriage

A miscarriage, also called spontaneous abortion, is usually hard to deal with. It is accidental or natural ending of a pregnancy before a developing baby can live outside its mother’s body. Couples usually blame themselves for what has happened and it is really not their fault. It occurs in 15-20 percent of all pregnancies, usually in the first three months. Early miscarriages are due to chromosomal division errors or that the uterus, the organ in which the offspring develops, cannot with stand the pressure of the growing fetus (Miscarriage, online). According to The World Book Encyclopedia “up to 60 percent of all miscarriages occur because of defects in the embryo’s chromosomes. In most miscarriages involving defective chromosomes, the embryo cannot develop normally. A miscarriage may also occur if progesterone, a hormone necessary to maintain pregnancy, is in sufficient amount” (p. 508).

According to The World Book Encyclopedia “studies indicate that 15 to 20 percent of all diagnosed pregnancies end in miscarriage. The risk of miscarriage is highest during the first three months following conception (fertilization), during which time many women do not know they are pregnant. The over rate of miscarriage, including undiagnosed pregnancies, my actually be as high 50%” (p. 508).

They are seven different types of miscarriages. One of them is called threatened abortion which consists of bleeding in early pregnancy. It may be painless or cramping may be present. The cervix is closed and thick. Serial ultrasounds and blood work repeated over a week or two will distinguish healthy pregnancies from pending a miscarriage. Another type of miscarriage is inevitable abortion. If the cervix is open, miscarriage is inevitable. Usually the bleeding is increased and cramping is strong and rhythmic. Miscarriage is imment. Incomplete abortion is that the tissue has passed but there are some remains. Septic abortions are intra-uterine infection and they lead to miscarriages with associated fever, chills, abdominal pain, bleeding and cramping. Complete abortion is a condition in which products of conception are totally expelled from the uterus. Missed abortions are pregnancies where tissues are retained in the uterus. Recurrent abortion is a condition in which two or more successive pregnancies have ended in spontaneous abortion (Miscarriage, online).

Bleeding or spotting during early pregnancy from any source can cause cramping. The cramping is due to the passage of blood through the cervix. The blood may be from placental implantation bleeding, menstrual bleeding or bleeding due to miscarriage. Miscarriage bleeding is due to serval factors (Ingalls & Salerno’s Maternal and Child Health Nursing p.178-195)

According to Mirkin (2000) “the study shows that one cup of coffee a day increases risk for miscarriage by 30 percent, three to four cups by 40 percent and five cups doubles a women’s chances of a miscarriage. Caffeine intake increases the risk of miscarriage in non-smokers that drink four or more cups of coffee per day” (online). Miscarriage increases by 20 percent to 30 percent with this level of coffee intake. The study he did not include women who had morning sickness or vomiting during the first three months of pregnancy. Morning sickness causes vomiting which causes women not to drink coffee.

The Link between Abortion & Breast Cancer (online) indicated a significant risk of breast cancer due to early abortion, both spontaneous and elective. A women’s first full pregnancy causes hormonal changes which permanently alter the structure of her breast. The complete process greatly reduces the risk of breast cancer. A premature termination of a first pregnancy interrupts this process. Instead of protecting the breast from cancer, abortion leaves millions of breast cells suspended in transitional state. A first trimester abortion, both miscarriage or surgically induced appear to interrupt the breast maturation process at the worst possible time. When cells are reproducing the fastest, the risk that there will be an error reproduction is the highest. Cancer results from cells whose reproduction runs amok.

Ultrasound can confirmed miscarriage if the embryo measure out to 5mm in length from the head to the rump- “crown rump” length, and a fetal heart rate is not identifiable. Fetal heart rate can be identified in living infants this size is larger. An ultrasound testing has to be done before determine the end of your miscarriage. An ultrasound is the most common way to establish whether a pregnancy is continuing normally (Miscarriages Tutorial online).

When having a miscarriage you should keep drinking you prenatal pills. That will help you keep healthy. Women who miscarry should avoid getting pregnant again for at least twelve weeks. Eighty percent of women are ovulating normally by three months after miscarriage this allows the menstrual tissue to heal well and prepare for future pregnancy. When women are ovulating well subsequent pregnancies have a better chance of succeeding (Miscarriage’s online).

Having the experience of a miscarriage, you cannot blame yourself. It is something that is normal. It is something you cannot help. Every pregnant woman should take care of herself well especially during their first trimester.

The good news is that even after more than one miscarriage your chance of a healthy pregnancy is good. With testing and possible treatment you and your doctor can hopefully bring down the loss. The type of treatment will be necessary will depend on the cause or causes determined.

Immediately after your miscarriage, you will experience strong pains in your abdomen, similar to period pains. They are known as after pain cramping. These are triggered by this occur she release of oxytocin, the hormone that initiates your miscarriage. After your miscarriage you will want to schedule an appointment with your health care provider to make sure you are recovering well.

It can be devastating to lose a much longer pregnancy. To feel bad is natural, as feeling depressed and sad.

Suffering a miscarriage is one of the most devastating things that can happen to a woman, and to her partner. Many women conceive easily and are not emotionally or physically prepared for the shock of losing a baby. To make it worse, there are often complaints that the medical profession lacks sympathy, and investigations into the cause are normally not even considered until you have suffered three miscarriages. It may seem a callous approach, but the reason for this response is simply that miscarriage is extremely common. In fact, one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage, usually before the twelfth week of pregnancy. If you do suffer a miscarriage, no amount of reassurance that it is ‘normal’ or ‘common’ can ease the pain. Give yourselves enough time to recover emotionally from your loss before facing the challenges of another pregnancy. As with any major life event, it is important to balance the need to grieve with the need to move on. And remember, most couples who experience a miscarriage can go on to have a healthy baby (miscarriage, online).

In conclusion sometimes a pregnancy ends in a miscarriage. There are a lot of reasons why this may happen in the early weeks. It is often the body’s way of rejecting a fetus that could never develop healthily. Occasionally it is caused by a problem that occurs during pregnancy or because of preexisting medical condition.. Miscarriage is pregnancy loss that occurs prior to 20 weeks, before the fetus is able to survive outside the womb. Most occur in the first trimester or 12 weeks of pregnancy. As many as 50 percent of all pregnancies may end in miscarriage, because many losses occur before a woman realizes she is pregnant. The causes of miscarriage are not thoroughly understood. When a woman has a first-trimester miscarriage, her doctor often cannot determine the cause. However, most occur when a pregnancy is not developing normally. Usually, there is nothing a woman or her doctor can do to prevent it.

Bibliography:

References

Abortion (1996) . The World Book Encyclopedia (vol. 1, p. 14). Chicago

Encyclopedia World

Mirkin, G. (2000, December 20). Coffee Causes Miscarriages. New England Journal of

Medicine. Retrieved September 8, 2004, from http://www.drmirkin.com

women/8815.htmlMiscarriage (1996) . The World Book Encyclopedia ( Vol. 1, p.14). Chicago:

Encyclopedia WorldMiscarriages. Retrieved September 8, 2004, from fertilitymeds.com/

Miscarriages.html

Miscarriage Information. Retrieved September 8, 2004, from http://drdecker.net

Miscarriage%20information.htm

Miscarriages Tutorial. Retrieved September 8, 2004, from http://www.infertility

Tutorials.commiscarriage_members/causescfm

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Being Mary Jane

Being Mary Jane is a popular television series that aired on Netflix and BET+ for four seasons between July 2013 and April of 2019. It was created by Mara Brock Akil and starred Gabrielle Union as the main character. The series revolves around Mary Jane, a black woman, her family, and her search for love. ‘Being Mary Jane’ is an accurate description of the lives of many black families in the United States. The series is centered on black culture, and how this culture influences how characters view themselves and those around them. Culture is an important aspect of self-definition, and many times people find themselves defined by and controlled by the culture they are born into. This rings true for many of the characters in ‘Being Mary Jane’ as they struggle to embrace the positive aspects of black culture while at the same time fighting against the negatives.

Culture can be defined as the norms, customs, ideas, and other social behaviors that characterize a particular group of people. Culture is an important part of ho individuals view themselves and others around them because culture defines every aspect of life. People judge themselves and others based on culture. For example, culture defines what is right and wrong, and when a person is caught doing something frowned upon, they are defined by their actions. Culture is an integral part of humanity. It defines how we treat each other in society. Some aspects common to all cultures include respect for others, and this is important in maintaining the humanity and dignity of people in society.

Racial profiling is a common part of life, and these profiles are typically based on negative stereotypes. People also tend to judge others based on gender, and this could not be less true in ‘Being Mary Jane.’ The TV series tackles some of the problematic profiles and gender biases with regard to both black men and women. Some of the negatives profiles and stereotypes associated with black men in the United States include criminal activities, alcohol and drug addiction, neglect of families, infidelity, and suicide, among others (Rossie 27). ‘Being Mary Jane’ has different male characters, some of whom conform to these stereotypes and others who challenge them. An example of the men challenging the racial profiling and stereotypes of black men include Mary Jane’s father, Paul Patterson. He is a retired COO of a popular airline, as well as a responsible father and husband. Some of the male characters who conform to negative stereotypes include Patrick Patterson, Mary Jane’s older brother, a drug addict who cannot take care of his children, and lives with his parents in his forties. The series adopts the same, mostly-negative portrayal of black men. Most of the male characters in the story are irresponsible, addicted to drugs, have multiple children with multiple women, drop out of school, among others.

Mary Jane is the central black female character in the story, and she too faces some racial profiling and stereotypes. She, along with other black women, are objectified and mishandled in the series ‘Being Mary Jane.’ The misogynistic and racist attitudes towards black women on the show are quite prevalent in the media. For example, Mary Jane is presented as an angry black woman just because she dares to hold on to high standards in what she expects from people, especially the men in her life. She is also portrayed as being unfulfilled in life because she is childless and unmarried (Smith 1). Her whole premise on the show is the search for love, to a level of desperation. Her own mother keeps pressuring her to marry, showing that this is something considered essential. Niecy is another example of the negative portrayal of black women. In her late teens, she has two children by different men, she dropped out of school, and she is rude and shows no signs of working towards a better future for herself and her children. This view of black women is different from that of the concept of Imago Dei, which is that all people are created in the image of God. Everyone is beautiful and enough as they are, but the black women on the show are portrayed as less than (Harris 2).

Revelation can be defined as the act of communicating a new and unexpected idea or truth. The Black experience in American culture is related to revelation because it involves the communication of something new. Most of the time, the country associates the black culture with negatives. However, there are some positive aspects of black culture which the media rarely chooses to reveal or focus upon. An example of the positives of black culture is the idea of family who stick by each other through thick and thin. ‘Being Mary Jane’ shows some perfect examples of this when Mary Jane bails out her family members from various problems, the Patterson’s stick together to support Patrick and Niecy, among others.

In conclusion, culture is an essential part of our humanity. Every individual is molded by their culture because it is the foundation for their thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors. The TV series ‘Being Mary Jane’ is an example of a media portrayal of black culture,, which includes racial profiling, stereotypes, misogyny, and racism. Media is an integral part of perpetuating negative portrayals of black people, and the series attempts to reveal some other positive aspects of black culture. Rather than glorify negative issues, the media should be responsible enough to present an accurate and unbiased view of black culture.

Works Cited

Harris, Chevonne. “In Defense of Being Mary Jane and Flawed Fictional Black Women.” The Huffington Post (2014).

Rossie, Amanda. “Being Mary Jane and Postfeminism’s Problem with Race.” Emergent Feminisms. Routledge, 2018. 25-41.

Smith, Jada F. “With ‘Being Mary Jane,’Mara Brock Akil Specializes in Portraits of Black Women.” New York Times (2015).

Below are the directions for the final paper:

General Directions: Utilizing the structural-functional framework, analyze how your country’s political system works, its strengths and weaknesses and how it compares to other countries we have discussed. (Paper should be a minimum of 12 double spaced, typed pages/ no maximum; Please use 12 font)

You need to be citing AT LEAST 8 outside sources (journal articles/ books, no websites) Remember you should use the Carothers, O’Donnell, Rothstein and Stolle, Putnam, and Linz and Stepan articles.

Here are the 4 main components we will be looking for (especially when we are grading your final draft of your papers):

1. Organization: “Tell them what you’re going to tell them, Tell them, Tell them what you told them” (10 points)Introductory paragraph that:States topic of paperHas a clear thesis statementBody paragraphs that discuss the  main ideas and key details (see below for more information on content)Each new topic should have a new paragraphFlow of paperTransitions between paragraphs so that one paragraph clearly relates to the previous and proceeding paragraphsConcluding paragraph that sums up paper

2. Grammar/ Spelling (5 points)USE spellcheck!!!!!Watch comma usageWatch incomplete sentences. Watch verb tenseCheck capitalizationVary sentence structure and word choice

3. Content:  For your case study you should discuss: (30 points)

History

Political Culture/ Political SocializationInterest ArticulationInterest Aggregation

Policymaking Process and Policy/ OutputsGovernment StructureLeadership (i.e. executive-actually names)(Here, you basically will be editing your three case study papers and combining them. Please make sure to read our comments and make the necessary adjustments)

4. Critical Analysis-Once you have given the “details” of your country you MUST analyze how the political system works- This is what we’ve been encouraging you to do on your case study assignments (30 points)How do the above interdependent parts (interest articulation/ aggregation, political culture, history, government structure/ decisions rules, policy) interact with each other and impact the overall functioning of your country’s political system?) Compare your country to AT LEAST 2 of the countries we discussed in class What are the challenges facing your country? If your country is a democracy, in what areas does it need to improve to become a developed, consolidated democracy or to deepen the democracy? OR If your country is not a democracy, should it be assessed in terms of its potential for democracy or simply assessed for the political system it currently is? 

Compare Iran to Russia and to China

A methodology for change and development

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Introduction

Bridget attempts to describe various action research methodologies that can be used by social science researchers to overcome limitations of traditional methodologies when researching changing situations. Action research involves substantive issues that enhance deep understanding of the issues. Somekh (2005, p. 1-9) explains that this new method tends to systematize research and further promotes equality between researchers from outside the site of practice as well as practitioner researchers from outside. It further enhances professionalism amongst social science researchers through the use of action research methodology thus helping in generating knowledge that can address complexity of human experience and social relationship.

Summary

Action research methodology is a very improved way of carrying out research by the social science researchers in the changing world. It tackles some of the complex human and social issues. Somekh (2005, p. 1-9) highlighted some of his practical experiences with research methodology. The need to incorporate information and communication in the action research has been nicely addressed. Social researchers really need to focus on innovation as a means of providing quality and reliability of the knowledge research topic generates. Action research methodology attempts to transform social practices, involve intimate and passionate purposes of parties whose lives and activities constitute the practices being investigated (Somekh, 2005, p. 1-9). 

Somekh (2005, p. 1-9) explains that action research methodology tends to be interactive and closely related to a sense of personal efficacy which helps researchers to apply their knowledge and responsibility while carrying out social research. Action research is based on the present understanding of changed situations and applies personal judgment when there appears to be any inconsistencies. The adoption of action research methodology is vital in understanding the radical changes that have been experienced both in social policy and politics.

Critique

Action research methodologies may be the best, innovative social research methods but it may not be easy to adopt them by the researchers. Researches may not be quick at learning the new action research method because of the new collaborative and technicality such as information technology involved in it.

However, action research methodology tends to have more advantages since it incorporates latest information technology as well as involvement of the new social and political policies. The methodology will integrate both action and research in a nice way thus producing up to date information in a very quick way. There is also an interactive and collaborative involvement of all the participants hence leading to positive contribution even amid many constraints. Action research methodology is reliable and depends largely on personal decision because it is based on the present understanding of changed situations and applies personal judgment when there appears to be any inconsistencies. The adoption of action research methodology is vital in understanding the radical changes that have been experienced both in social policy and politics (Somekh, 2005, p. 1-9)).

Conclusion

Indeed the idea of action research methodology in social science research is timely and positive at this time when the social and political set up is experiencing a dramatic change. Traditional methodologies can no longer fully address the current information technologies and social changes that are experienced in the modern researches. Action research methodologies are evidence of the required changes in the research methods and a sign of a great change and transformation of the social science research.

Bibliography

Somekh, B 2005, Action Research: A Methodology For Change And Development, Maidenhead, Berkshire, [Etc.], Open University Press.

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Literary Conflicts in The Grapes of Wrath

The novel The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck talks about the journey of Joad family and how the family is faced by several conflicts. The family experiences before the journey started, during the journey and after arrival, clearly illustrate the four major types of conflicts. Man vs. man, man vs. society, man vs. nature and man. In this case man represents a single society which is Joad’s family and the journey is the multiple encounters that the single society; Joad family conflicts with. Joad family during their journey conflicts with the society they meet, conflicts among themselves or among family itself, conflicts with nature and other elements. The experience with the family depicts how a single entity can have different experiences with other entities both those are of the same nature and those that are different. The Grapes of Wrath implies that society can encounter different conflicts depending on ethnic, and a community setting.

Man Against Man

The conflict between man and man is repeatedly evident in the story, beginning right from when Tom kills a man at a dance and claims that is was in self defense. This can be seen when he says “I killed a guy in a fight…….He got a knife in me and I killed him with a shovel that was laying there” 28. This quote illustrates the clear conflict that usually exists between men. Although the incident is not included in the book, this dialogue is a clear indication of what can occur when conflict is not resolved amicably. In fact, the manner with which the conflict escalates to the point of a man being killed is typical of serious man against man conflicts.

Conflict is also seen when the farmers find out that it is one of them that has betrayed them in chapter 5. The chapter focuses on the conflict between the farmers and the bank, which has sent people to come and evict the farmers from their land. The quote “”What are you doing this kind of work for – against your own people?” is a clear indication of the conflict between the farmers and the messengers of the bank sent to drive out the farmers from their land. The tractor driver actually fails to see the farmers as human beings, as do others like him, who have been sent to drive the farmers out of their land. The conflict however, ends with the farmers having to move away from their land, despite their best efforts.

Another instance of man against man conflict can be seen when the migrant families go to buy parts from a second hand car dealer. It is a classic demonstration of the migrant families having to buy inferior parts and cars. Due to the increased demand for cars amongst the migrating families, the car dealers opt to exploit the families in light of their desperation. They not only sell to them damaged cars and parts, but charge them exorbitant prices, as they are aware that these families do not have any option. The quote

Man against Society

Man in the novel conflict with several issues in the society, even the most promising and hardworking people find themselves on the wrong side of the society. The conflict among man and society exists because of the different society that exists. It is because of this difference that we see Jaod’s family migrating from their mother land to new lands. Tom Joad the protagonist in the story is imprisoned for four years in McAlester due to his disagreement with what the society expects. “Sure I have been in McAlester. Been there four years.…I’m, going to my old man’s place so I don’t have to lie to get a job” (16). Using Tom’s story we can clearly see that the society demands a lot from man and there is no room for relaxation. Joad has to get a job to survive and the even though he has been in prison for a while his family and the surrounding do not expect him to have time to relax. Rather than the fact that he is the oldest son in Joan’s family, being a man call for a major responsibility from the society to guide his family. The society pushes all individuals in the society both rich, poor young and old. This is well evidenced by the forceful migration of the landowners. The tenants have to push the landowners out of their property due to their ability to pay taxes. The banks to do not want to understand the challenges that the landowners are going through, but they have to attain their mission of making profits. The land owners feel the injustice of the tenants and the bank “We can’t depend on it. The bank- the monster has to have profit all the time “(35). The constant conflict with man and society affects all persons even those that the society depicts as good, for instance, Tom is later trusted by his family and other landowners who feel that he may help them in making their lives better. However, on the other hand, the society pushes him to his limits and forces him to solve his disputes with violence. “ The first time he knew he had missed and struck a shoulder, but the second time his crushing blow” (386). Using the conflict in the society it is clear that there are different encounters in the society depending on one’s ethnicity and social class.

Man against nature

The setting of The Grapes of Wrath novel shows that changes that America is facing. The American life is changing from traditional to modernized America. Though these changes may seem positive to many the author John Steinbeck has a completely different opinion. Using different characters in the novel, one can tell that the change in the America’s way of life has encouraged industrialism which is driven by tractors in the communities. Changing the way of life has affected all societies and the results are negative and behold the control of man. The entire community is affected by drought and no home is left without feeling the negative impact of the natural occurrences. After Joah had arrived home he found that his family was not there but had moved due to harsh conditions brought about by nature. The conflict with man in Oklahoma is seen through the drought which makes people lose their homes. “The wind grew stronger, whisked under stones. Carried up straws and old leaves, marking its course as it sailed across the fields” (6). The negative occurrence affected the entire population but the degree of it impact depends on the society differences. For instance, the landowners had to be rushed out by the tenants and the bank for their inability to settle their debts. Even though nature was cruel to the Oklahoma community only a specific group had to leave leaving behind the tenants and the bank owners. Man does not only conflict with nature as a group or as a community but also as an individual. Noah is a man who faced natures harsh as an individual even before he was able to defend himself. Though at times modernized life provides opportunity to safeguard what we treasure this is not always that case especially for the weak and vulnerable. From Steinbeck’s story, Noah is injured when he was still a child “Pa using his hands, his strong fingers for forceps he had pulled and twisted the baby. The midwife arriving late had found the baby head pulled out of shape,” (80).

Marxist Approaches to Study World Politics

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Marxist Approaches to Study World Politics

Introduction

Marxian Approach, which is also identified as Class Approach aims to study society and politics with regard to the relationship that exists between two distinct classes—the rich (the haves) and the poor (have nots). At times they are referred to as the owners and the workers (Blackledge, 2020). When it comes to the struggle of class between the two distinct economic cases, it seems that it is the reality of every relation in human societies. Marx asserts that it is based on the perception that economic relations between these two classes determines political relations and it has always been present in all societies globally. This approach by Karl Marx is not only widely known but is also widely used as well. It is simply a socio- economic political analysis (Blackledge, 2020). A number of political analysts and scientists across the globe use it to analyze, explain, ad predict the political processes at work in many countries all over the world. The Marxist approach has it strengths and weaknesses in studying world’s politics.

Strengths

It emphasizes more on practice than theory

The Marxist Approach aims to discover the historical social change and evolution’s objective laws. Furthermore, it suggests actions that would bring about the needed changes that aims to bring to an end the class exploitation (Sanyaolu, 2016). It also aims to push forward the march toward attaining a communist society, which is a stateless and classless society. Marx provides methods that can be used to secure the final goal and one of them is a revolution of the poor against the rich.

There is a Close Relation between Practice and Theory

Another strength of Marxist approach is that it advocates for the relations between theory and practice. It is evident that theory is useless if it does not lead to practice (Sanyaolu, 2016). This approach guides and leads a revolutionary movement through a revolutionary theory. It is evident that the value of theory can only be seen only if it leads to action.

Weaknesses

Politics is an independent process

The Marxist Approach has the wrong assumption that the process of politics depends on the economics relations (Segrillo, 2021). While, the case is economics and politics are two distinct and independent processes.

Oversimplified perception of society

This approach views society as one that is separated by two distinct economic classes which is not acceptable (Segrillo, 2021). In addition, it contains a one-sided and oversimplified perception of social stratification.

The struggle of class is not the law of evolution

In his approach, Marx wrongly suggests that the struggle of class has been and still is an eternal social evolution code. Also, it makes wrong assumptions that revolution is natural and the ultimate culmination of struggle of class.

State is not the rich’s class institution

The view of Karl Marx that the state is the rich’s machine and that it is an instrument that was created at a specific time and that the rich use it as a way to exploit the poor is unacceptable (Rashid, 2017). The welfare state emergence emphasizing the state power use to secure the welfare and interest for everyone, particularly the poor, refutes Marxian logic. Rather than being a class machine, state is a social institution.

The Marxian Approach is Inadequate

Critics of Marxian approach have suggested that history refutes various conclusions made by Karl Marx in his approach. The “socialism” behavior in every socialist state that came into existence was a clear reflection of the Marxian logic’s limitations (Rashid, 2017). The advocacy of class struggle naturalness and the revolution’s inevitability is now rejected by almost everyone and several theoreticians think that the Marxist Approach should be revised.

References

Blackledge, P. (2020, December 3rd). Marx’s Political Thought. doi:10.1093/OBO/9780199756223-0171

Rashid, H. (2017). Karl Marx’s Philosophy and Its Relevance Today. Philosophy and Progress, 15-42.

Sanyaolu, P. (2016, September). HOW MAXIST THEORY RELATES TO POLITICAL BEHAVIOUR. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18962.96960

Segrillo, A. (2021). Liberalism, Marxism and Democratic Theory Revisited: Proposal of a Joint Index of Political and Economic Democracy Based on the Experience of Transition Countries. bpsr, 22260, 8.

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Marvin Ree’s Speech ‘How is Your City Tackling the Climate Crisis’

The speaker of the TED Talk Speech is Marvin Rees, the Mayor of Bristol City in the United Kingdom. Published on May 24th, 2022, Rees addresses the climate crisis, positing that unlocking the full potential of cities is the only way to end the crisis. One of the techniques Rees uses to establish credibility is asserting his position as a Mayor of Bristol to his audience. He mentions that the proximity of the Mayors to residents means that they are immediately accountable for delivering change that people see and experience. He constantly reminds his audience that he is the Mayor to show that he is aware of the crisis that cities are under, seeing that he represents local government.

In terms of speech delivery, Rees employed various tactics that made his speech delivery successful. Rees appears rather composed and confident. His posture and body language indicate that he is well prepared for the speech and ready to address his audience. He is also well and smartly dressed, making him look presentable. Rees maintains eye contact with his audience as he meticulously delivers his speech. He also speaks eloquently and loudly, making it easy for his audience to hear what he is saying. Notably, there are no disfluencies in the speech; Rees speaks without breaking. He does not stammer or mince words; he is a fluent speaker. Evidently, Rees displayed confidence when delivering this speech to his audience.

The speaker, Marvin Rees employs an excellent language choice that befits his speech. To avoid repetitions, Rees uses the anaphora; pronoun ‘they’ repeatedly. He uses the word ‘they’ to refer to the Mayors that he keeps mentioning throughout the speech. He says that while the mayors are doing a commendable job coming together and taking necessary steps to change cities, they need outside help. He says that the support they need cannot wait as it is only to address the climate change crisis. Using anaphora helps eliminate redundancy that would have come with repeatedly mentioning ‘the mayors.’ The speaker does not use any form of personification, metaphors, similes, and alliteration. Rees avoids using inclusive language such as slang and other expressions that come off as discriminatory. It would not even be appropriate to use such language considering the setting and audience he is delivering the speech. Rees’s language choice proves effective in the delivery of the message he carries. If he employed inclusive language, he would rub his audience the wrong way, which might make them not pay attention to his speech.

In my viewpoint, Rees makes strong and valid point about how to go about the climate change crisis that currently faces the world. I agree with that cities are one of the most effective tools that society has at its disposal for leveraging climate change. He says that cities are perfect for leveraging efficiency in relation to land, waste, and energy. Rees makes valid points because these three sectors are the ones that contribute largely to the ongoing climate crisis that threatens the existence of future generations. Undoubtedly, cities are where air and noise pollution is a major problem. Cities also struggle with the problem of waste management due to the dense population. The fact that most people use cars to go to work means that energy is the main driver of the economy. Without oil and its rising shortage, demand keeps rising, making its production a priority that is not friendly to the environment. If people could move away from cities, the problem of congestion and waste management would be a problem of the past. Rees backs his claims with statistics. Statistics are logos that speakers use as tools of persuasion. He says besides his day job as the Mayor of Briton, he also has a duty to planet Earth and the 7.9 billion people that depend on it for survival. Another statistic is where he mentions that it would take 1.7 earths to make our current way of living sustainable. Throughout the speech, Rees throws in numerous statistics. The speaker also uses pathos in the speech when he says there is hope for our cities. This statement appeals to the audience’s emotion and makes them feel like together, we can come together and salvage the planet from the imminent danger it faces. As regards ethos, Rees mentions that he is part of the UK’s Cities Climate Investment Commission. His association with the commission is an attempt to establish curability and his position to speak on the issue of climate change. Undoubtedly, Rees’s arguments are relevant and make sense to the audience. The speaker fully thought about the consequence of his claims. His main aim was to educate his audience about how society can capitalize on cities to address the climate crisis. In his speech, he only made arguments that supported this claim.

Evidently, the speaker was ethical, and he achieved his overall goal of prompting his audience to look at cities as a solution to the climate change crisis. Rees seems to understand how deeply cities contribute to the problem seeing it is his area of expertise. As the mayor of Briton, Rees knows a lot concerning how city infrastructure, pollution, and waste management hurt the climate. He presents viable suggestions that, if capitalized, can go a long way in addressing this problem and reducing its effects. Overall, Ree’s speech was effective in passing his main claims across to his audience.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8duvJfrjss

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Literary Analysis of Pilate in Toni Morrison’s “Song of Solomon”

Introduction

Issues toughing on racial discrimination have always drawn considerable controversy. This is especially considering that the history of the United States is rooted in racial discrimination especially against the black people. The fundamental nature of this aspect is evidenced by the fact that a considerable volume of literature has been done on it, trying to explain its various aspects. On the same note, the theme of racial discrimination has inspired and been incorporated in various fictional works. This is the case for Toni Morrison’s book, Song of Solomon.

Song of Solomon is a story that is set in Michigan. It traces the life of Milkman, since his birth to the age of 32, while focusing on his aimless and spiritually empty life as a young man trapped in the materialistic lifestyle of his dad and the traditional values that Pilate upholds. This book explores the pursuit for cultural identity. The story, based on African American folktale pertaining to enslaved Africans who escape from slavery by finding their way back to Africa, tells of Milkman’s story of alienation from his people, estrangement from family, community, as well as cultural and historical roots. The young man is spiritually dead and mentally enslaved, but he embarks on a spiritual, as well as physical journey that enhances his capacity to realize his self-worth and reconnect with the past with Pilate’s help and assistance of Guitar Bains. One of the most crucial characters in the story is Pilate Dead, who is Milkman’s auntie. This lady has been sufficiently used in the exploration of the theme of flight as a means for escaping slavery. It is evident that Pilate’s character places her as an embodiment of courage, strength, as well as love with Mother Nature and love for one’s cultural roots.

Pilate is the key, female protagonist in the story. She is closely linked with the family history and is rich in connotations. Her mother had died while giving birth to her, or rather before giving birth to her but she was sufficiently strong as to fight her way out of the womb. This is the strength that was to characterize her life even as an adult. Nevertheless, Pilate did not have a navel, a handicap that resulted in her isolation from the ordinary people of this country and even had a bearing on the independent and autonomous way of life. Her mystical qualities of half witch and half human gave her the ability to communicate with the dead father. It is stated that “Pilate was believed to have the power to step out of her skin, set a bush afire from fifty yards, and turn a man into a ripe rutabaga- all on account of the fact that she had no navel (Morrison 94).

On various occasions, Morrison uses symbolism to underline the nature of Pilate. One of the symbols that she uses is the perfect, soft-boiled egg. Pilate makes the eggs and shells off of them, after which she opens them up thereby revealing their soft insides. This is when she starts outlining the captivating stories pertaining to seeing her father’s ghost and watching a man die. The act of splitting up the egg gives the readers the impression that her capacity to get open is up is tantamount to having the capacity to deal with matters in a conclusive manner.

Despite the misfortunes that she has undergone, Pilate remains selfless and loving with her only regret at her time of death being that she could not extend her love to more people. It is noteworthy that her loving nature is nor a weakness rather it is her strength. This is especially seen when Reba, her daughter is beaten by a man. Pilate is seen pushing a knife within an inch of the man’s heart and warns him against touching Reba every again. While Pilate is well in her sixties, she prevails against Reba’s abuser, who is a strong young man.

Pilate is a representation of the close link to the people’s ancestry and Mother Nature. She is the crucial life force that strives to maintain the pedigree of the family above all other means. At the same time, Pilate’s complexion is extremely black, in which case it comes as a reminder of the African roots of the family. The deliberate choice of the Pilate (the blackest female) as the most powerful character for the novel underlines the ideology pertaining to the “Beauty of being a Negro”, a notion that was a fundamental pillar in the Harlem Renaissance.

One of the fundamental aspects of the story is the incorporation of folk songs, which also cement the nature of Pilate (Morrison, 22). Singing folk songs, pertaining to the Sugarman’s flight, reaffirm her stand against oppression through recreation of a past where her ancestors were expunged from the jaws of oppression. It is worth noting that the recreation of her past sustains the various characters living in the present. Milkman and Macon Jr. need Pilate so as to ensure that they retain the last vestiges pertaining to their humanity. As milkman comes to realize at the end of the journey, Pilate remains the only human being that has the capacity to fly without touching the ground. This implies that she is sufficiently liberated, in which case she does not have to run away so as to regain her freedom. In the end, Pilate becomes the model character of the story and novel. She shows the fact that strength does not necessarily have to be incorporated at the expense of humanity or gentleness. In addition, she exemplifies the fact that freedom never has to be compromised by the compassion of other people.

The existence of Pilate in the story is fundamental as it keeps matrilineal line alive especially considering her opposing values to the obsession with materialism. She attracts Milkman to her by the forbidden fruit pertaining to her knowledge (Morrison 24), which urges the young man to find out the truth about his ancestors. Pilate becomes the surrogate mother and spiritual guide to Milkman, thanks to her role in the creation and preservation of life. She inspires Macon because of her capacity to fly without detaching her feet from the ground (Morrison 25).

Names have also been seen as incredibly significant for the entire Dead Family thanks to their practice of choosing names in a random manner from the bible. Power is associated with the power to define and name perception and reality, especially in the case of Pilate’s attachment or connection to her name. She has even wired the name through her earlobe. Her acknowledgement of the crucial nature of a name, as well as the utilization of Sing’s box, underlines the fact that she connects the past and present using the unshakeable love necessary for creating the likelihood of a real future. It is only when she understands her past that she can establish a future worth admiring.

In conclusion, Toni Morrison has used Pilate as an embodiment of courage, strength, as well as love with Mother Nature and love for one’s cultural roots. The incorporation of folk songs reaffirms her stand against oppression through recreation of a past where her ancestors were expunged from the jaws of oppression. Toni incorporates various symbolic elements in the story, one of which is the perfectly, soft-boiled egg. Pilate, by splitting it up and giving riveting stories, is seen as someone who would strive to deal with any matter in a conclusive manner. The deliberate choice of the Pilate as the most powerful character for the novel, despite her extremely black complexion, underlines the ideology pertaining to the “Beauty of being a Negro”, a notion that was a fundamental pillar in the Harlem Renaissance.

Works cited

Morrison, Toni. Song of Solomon. London: Vintage, 1998, print