Obama at USC

I was not able to attend Barack Obama's speech at USC this past Friday, October 22, 2010. I was able to, however, witness bits and pieces of his eloquence over the big jumbo tron in the middle of McCarthy Quad. I really enjoyed listening to him speak, especially his uses of analogies to describe differences between Democrats and Republicans. I support many of Obama's ideas and policies and I thought he did an excellent job coming to our prestigious university and representing the Democrats in the upcoming election. His comparison of the Republicans to driving a car in reverse, while the Democrats are trying to go forward in drive was both genius and comical. Also, you cannot forget his salute to the Trojan family and beginning to his speech with, "FIGHT ON!" YES WE CAN!

Speaker Series: Sonia Nazario

I attended the Writing 140 speaker series and listened to Sonia Nazario lecture on the struggles and hardships she witnessed during her experience with immigrants and their fight to move to America. I felt the speech was very powerful and engaging. She immediately caught the audience's attention by telling stories of children without arms or legs trying to cross the border into the U.S. attempting to live a more fulfilled life North of the border. After learning and hearing about the immigrants and their daily issues trying to become legal in our country, made me feel extremely lucky to have been born here in the states. Nazario made me realize that it is pretty easy to take our freedom in America for granted.

However, even though immigrant's stories of trying to become legal in the U.S. are sorrowful, I feel that they are a little far fetched. Illegal aliens should not be allowed, under most circumstance, to live in this country unless they are able to maintain a steady job and pay taxes, just like all other Americans have to. With this being said, The dangers these immigrants experience are pretty unbelievable. While listening to Nazario's story and experiences, I now have a much better understanding of what it is like for immigrants to achieve legality and a better way of life in the United States of America.

Perception of Little Rock Nine

While researching and writing about the Little Rock Nine movement, I learned about the cruelty and torture that the nine brave African American boys and girls had to endure while going to school everyday. I realized this movement was the single most important strive for educational desegregation in the United States during the mid twentieth century. The racist slurs and lynching threats that the nine teenagers heard on a daily basis heading to school is disheartening and quite frankly, disgusting to read about.

I really did not have a perception on this topic because I was never afforded the opportunity to learn about this struggle in high school for one reason or another. However, when I did get the chance to read and research the issue, I felt more knowledgeable on the topic of desegregation in schools and the fight to create integration.

Little Rock 9

The topic I am choosing to write about is "Little Rock 9." The decision to integrate nine African American boys and girls into an all white school during one of the toughest racial times periods in United States history was both bold and courageous. I feel this is a very important, symbolic topic that should be studied much more in depth in secondary schools throughout America. Before recent research, I had never even heard of this particular occurrence in Little Rock, Arkansas during the Civil Rights Movement. Apparently, it was a huge deal because it marked the first time that black teenagers were being integrated into an all white school. Students were put through treacherous and difficult times while fighting the war against segregation, including the everyday issue of just being able to walk into school. Federal guards had to escort the nine black kids through the Caucasian people's mosh pit just to enter the building. This is a major topic that I feel should be more thoroughly covered throughout the country as a big part of gaining civil rights.