Obama "Changed" the View of African-Americans?

It's been 219 years since slavery has been abolished in America. However, African-Americans are still looked at as low value in life, with no future, to many Americans of different races. This stereotype is mostly because of the percentage of drop-outs in schools that are African-American. Why is there such a high percentage of African-Americans dropping out of school? I think its because no one hardly gives or gave them a chance to prove that they are just as hard-working and motivated as any other race. They are sent to trashy schools where the teachers could care less if they learn or not, as long as they collect their paychecks. Most African-Americans don't hope to go to college or if so, they have to work harder than anyone else to do so. Why? Because they feel they will not be accepted or they just been through so much that they can't achieve their alternative goal to a good education. Now that Barack Obama is the first African-American to be elected as a president, people's views of African-Americans changed. They believe that Obama is a role model to African-Amercians and will make them work hard in school and also in life in general. But haven't we always been trying to work hard to get somewhere? I think so and I feel bad that others haven't seen our determination. Even though Obama has played a huge role for African-Americans, I don't think he is the only reason why we are working hard in life. I thank him for being such an inspirational person, but really African-Americans have always tried their best to accomplish things in their lives.

Reflection Of Election '08

“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer." Barack Obama said these words on the night of November 4th, 2008, the night he made history by becoming the first African-American to be elected president of the United States and he is now also the 44th president. Obama received 349 Electoral Votes, when he only needed 270, wining major states such as Pennsylvania and California. This made me feel proud because millions of people took the time out of their day to vote, and in particular for Obama. Barack Obama's acceptance speech for presidency was the most remarkable moment of the night. He discussed change and promises to the American people and repeated the phrase "yes we can." Obama's words will always be remembered and are now history to our country. Change will began when Barack Obama is inaugurated on January 20th, 2009. Thank you America for voting for our 44th president, and remember yes we can.

NHD-Rough Draft

Pauline "Pauli" Murray changed history. She held many titles in her lifetime. Pauli Murray wrote books and articles dealing with unfair treatment of race and gender. As a civil rights lawyer and activist, Pauli Murray had many obstacles dealing with people of other races even though she was mixed with black and white herself. Because of her effort to achieve justice for those treated unfairly, Pauli Murray won legendary awards and big trial cases. She never gave up hope and never stopped working to make all Americans equal. Pauli believed in equality for everyone.

Anna Pauline "Pauli" Murray was born November 20th, 1910, in Baltimore. After her mom dying in 1914 and her dad being sick, Pauli was orphaned at an early age along with her five brothers and her sister. She was raised in Durham, North Carolina by her maternal grandparents and an aunt. Pauli Murray learned to read in the first grade and started writing at an early age. After finishing high school, Pauli Murray eventually moved to New York, where she worked various jobs to finance her studies in. However, after the Wall Street Crash, unable to find work, Murray was forced to abandon her studies. In the 1930s, she worked as a teacher and wrote articles and poems published in various magazines. One of her novels, Angel of the Desert was serialized in the Carolina Times.

Even after graduating at the top of her class in both high school and college, Pauline Murray was still denied access to the University of North Carolina because of her race, and to Harvard University because of her gender. This inspired Pauli Murray to become involved in the civil rights movement, which also included people such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Rosa Parks. In 1938, she began a campaign to enter the all-white University of North Carolina. Having support of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People(NAACP), her case received national publicity. It wasn't until 1951 that Floyd McKissick became the first African American to be accepted by the University of North Carolina. During this experience, Pauli Murray developed a life-long friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt.

After dying July 1st, 1985, Pauli Murray was an inspirational women, writer, poet, civil rights activist, lawyer, priest, feminist, teacher, and leader. She was also the first black woman in the U.S. to become an Episcopalian priest. With her actions, a numerous of missions were accomplished for mistreated people in America. Pauli Murray has changed the way African American women and women in general were perceived. She has pathe the way for women to be known for something bigger than life. Pauli Murray has also proved that no one or anything can stop you from achieving your rights and dreams. With her efforts, equality is not a fight but a right.

NHD-4th Annotation

To find out more information on Pauli Murray, I visited the website
http://reportingcivilrights.loa.org

This site gave me more information about Pauli Murray's writing. It also gave me a link to a site called the Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute, which holds the papers of Pauli Murray. I will use this information found on both of these sites to help me with my paper.