Saturday, February 26, 2011
Amazing: Egyptian Uprising
The fall of a modern-day Egyptian pharaoh: Mubarak. In your blog post, answer at least one of the following questions:
1. What will or should be written about him in the annuls of history and in classroom textbooks?
2. If you were a historian decades later, how would you describe the political scene in Egypt during 2011?
3. After 30 years in power, what finally led to the uprising?
4. What's your opinion/perspective on the matter?
5. Lastly, feel free to comment on the video and/or the music (Kanye West, "Amazing" - The lyrics are perfectly synchronized with the video). Which segment/clip of the video stands out to you the most? Let us know by indicating the exact time it appears (for example, 0:02-0:06).
Friday, February 25, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
"Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou
I hope you stay connected to this wonderful poet, educator, and singer. May her words change you, challenge you, and inspire you...
Sunday, February 13, 2011
"Curry Finds a Seam"
"I think any shot that's open or I'm about to take is going to go in." -Stephan Curry
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Amistad
Based on real events, Amistad is a fascinating account
of the trial of fifty African slaves in America in the year
1839. 'Amistad’ was released in 1997 and directed by Stephen Spielberg.
Film Summary:
It is 1839. Fifty Africans have been kidnapped from their
home in Sierra Leone, in West Africa. They are put in chains
and transported by ship, in terrible conditions, to Cuba in the
Caribbean, where they are sold as slaves to two Spaniards,
Ruiz and Montes. The Spaniards put them on another ship,
the Amistad, and the ship sets sail for America, where the
Africans are to be put to work in the sugar plantations.
Then something extraordinary happens. Led by Cinque, the
captives break loose from their chains and kill the Spanish
sailors. However, they do not kill Ruiz and Montes, but
instruct them to sail the ship back to Africa. Instead, unknown
by the Africans, the two Spaniards continue the journey to
America. At New Haven in Connecticut, in north-east
America, an American ship attacks and defeats the Amistad,
and the Africans become prisoners again.
The Africans stand trial for murder, accused of killing the
Spanish sailors. Different people insist that the slaves belong
to them: the Queen of Spain, Ruiz and Montes, and the
owners of the American ship that defeated the Amistad, all
say the Africans are their property. However, one young
property lawyer thinks differently to everyone else. He
believes that because the Africans were kidnapped and not
born into slavery, it is the kidnappers who are the criminals.
Men, he says, must kill for their freedom if necessary. The
Africans, he claims, are innocent.
The attention of the whole of America is on the trial,
because by 1839 slavery is an issue that threatens to split the
country in two. The President himself intervenes in the trial.
But he is not on the side of the Africans ...........
___________________________________________________________________
BHM Assignment #7 - Briefly respond to one of the following scenarios. Post your response to the blog.
· Scenario #1: Imagine that you are living in Africa in the 1830’s. You were taken from your parents, marched to the coast of Africa, and are now chained in a smelly, dark ship's hold. How do you feel? What are you thinking? What would your biggest fears be? If you were a child on the Amistad, would you have liked Cinque (Cinque was the captive that led the revolt/mutiny aboard the Amistad)? Why or why not?
· Scenario #2: Imagine that you are Cinque and you have just been told that you and your companions are to be killed. How do you feel? What will you do? How would you justify your actions?
· Scenario #3: Imagine that you are a slave trader. Why are you in this business? What are your feelings toward your slaves? Do you regard them as people, or property, or both? How would you justify feeling this way about your slaves?
President Obama in Ghana at the Cape Coast Dungeons pt 1-2
Though you are not required to comment on this video, I do encourage you to watch the entire video. This video clip captures President Obama's visit to an important historical site in Ghana where Africans were carried away from their home and shipped, like cargo, to America to be sold and traded as slaves. At the outer contours of the Cape Coast Dungeons the words "Door of No Return" are posted above an ominous corridor that leads out to the Atlantic.
I urge you to watch the video especially around the 4:10-5:40 mark. In this segment of the video, President Obama reflects on the relevance and importance of learning about slavery.
Feel free to leave a comment, if you wish!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Bieber Fever: “Never Say Never”
“Never Say Never” Makes a Good Case for Teen Heartthrob
Bieber fans...and haters...write your review of his latest 3D film in the comment section below! Click on the link above to read a review written in the San Francisco Examiner.
Bieber fans...and haters...write your review of his latest 3D film in the comment section below! Click on the link above to read a review written in the San Francisco Examiner.
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