Ethnicity and Religion - Free Essay Example

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so mean they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. (Max 650) Are you Christian or are you Indian? This is one question that has been asked of me in my entire schooling career. In 6th grade, my schoolmate nicknamed me ?the coconutwhich meant being brown on the outside but on the inside is white. They came up with this nickname specifically because I was a Christian Indian kid, who was practicing a white religion and yet he was brown-skinned. Throughout my schooling, people kept on asking me every possible question about my religion and race with most of them having the intentions of wanting to learn and connect how the two interlink, but in most cases, the questions often had negative suggestions for they never expected an Indian to be a Christian. My classmates found it difficult to accept a Christian Indian, so it was understandable. However, they usually had the notion that since I was Indian I automatically had to have good grades. This forced me to work hard in order to prove it to my classmates that it was due to studying that I managed to attain good gradesand not the soalled superhman genes that they believed to be passed through Indians or the everyday potion drink, for such things do not in any way relate with attaining good grades in school. They equally believed that since I was an Indian, I was not supposed to associate myself wiwith any sport. I was usually being told to go do some studies rather wasting my energy in playing sports. This ended up intriguing me, and I kept on asking myself why the color of my skin should signify any skill whatsoever. But as much as they kept on teasing me about this, I ended up being the first pick for volleyball or basketball. And anytime that I challenged them with that they always bounced back by saying that my Christian nature was kicking in and that my religion was contributing towards my good skills in sports. I remember one day when we were in 7th grade, a classmate loudly announced that all Indians were either the super rich CEOs that are usually being featured in the magazines or they were the receiving end of the tech support calls. To my surprise, there were a couple of people who totally agreed with him, as I sat there looking straight at him and at the same time I was stunned at his words. And the next minute I immediately stood up and demanded him to tell me what of the two descriptions he sees me be. He stared straight into my eyes and said that I am a tech support, for to him insulting me was the easiest thing he could do since I outsmarted him in all of the other things in school. When it came to high school, I thought it was the new beginning for me since I no longer had my old nickname but the coconut concept still followed me. My freshman year classes were made up of students who were from different ethnicities. Most of these students were European, Arabs, South Africans and Native American descents, however, all of these students had fair skin. When it came to introducing ourselves, everyone said my name with a lot of uncertainty as they had the confused looks on their faces. I looked Indian, I had the Indian skin tone plus the slight accent, and even my grades could tell that I am Indian. But to them the name Georgi is supposed to be owned by a white, and they kept on wondering how a brown skin with a white name adds up. I remember back in 10th grade we were taught about the violence and destruction that were caused in the 11th century by Crusades, and in the middle of the lesson, a boy in my class turned around and angrily whispered in my ear,Destroying their lives too huh. They should send you back to where you came from. And that was a painful moment for me plus it made me think if he ever told his German girlfriend the same thing. All these experiences started making me become insecure about my ethnicity and religion. I began denying my identity and kept on telling people that since I spent my whole life in America that made me not to be an Indian. And that the reason as to why I am a Christian is because my parents wanted me to be one for it was not my wish. However, in lying and denying my true image I became estranged from my identity. I immediately noticed that I was not being myself. I observed that I was not the fairest or the most handsome people in my class, and neither did I have the biggest muscles nor the best flexibility. But I learned that I had something that others did not have, and that was my identity. My ethnicity and religion were forever part of me, and I should not be disturbed by how other people view my background. I immediately embraced being a Christian, Indian and a brown-skinned kid who was practicing a white religion, but above all, I embraced my true identity: a coconut.

Mass Media Essay - 1114 Words

Mass media has been around for decades and it has grown more rapidly as technology advances. It started with telegraphs and eventually turned into televisions, newspapers, cell phones, magazines, and the internet. The purpose of mass media is to provide news/information, education, and entertainment. With these purposes, comes the influence of all the information we are exposed to. Most might say that mass media has had a positive impact on society as it’s made communication and information easily accessible for everyone. However, what they’re not aware of is the negative influences it has brought to women’s body-image. Because of the media’s endless advertisements of what is considered â€Å"beautiful† or â€Å"perfect†, eating disorders and body†¦show more content†¦Exercising and dieting used to be emphasized for its health benefits, but nowadays, it’s more about the physical attraction it might give you. I wouldn’t consider myself to be anorexic, but what I’m trying to say here is that the media’s portrayal of women’s bodies has also made me feel as if the only way I can be considered â€Å"beautiful† or â€Å"perfect† in this society is to look like the abnormally thin models who are constantly being advertised on televisions, magazine, and all over the internet. Another thing that I found significant in Bordo’s article is when she writes about the influence that US and Britain TV programs had on women from Fiji. Bordo concludes that before television was introduced, there was no reports of eating disorders, but when â€Å"United States and Britain began broadcasting there, 62 percent of the girls surveyed reported dieting.† A country where â€Å"voluptuous† bodies were favored changed immediately as soon as they were exposed to media’s perception of a â€Å"perfect† body. This part really emphasized the power of mass media . Not only did they change the perception of women’s â€Å"perfect† body, but they prompted these women to make a change in order to be considered perfect. With media constantly plastering photo shopped or airbrushed images of â€Å"perfect† models, women continue to be dissatisfied with their bodies. They continuously compare themselvesShow MoreRelatedMass Media Essay720 Words   |  3 Pages Mass Media: Development and Literacy Assignment Emily Lewis Horne University of Phoenix HUM 186 October 30, 2017 The Major Developments of the Mass Media In the textbook, Media and Culture: Mass Communication in a Digital Age, written by Richard Campbell, it talks about wat mass media is and the mass media developments. It said, â€Å"The mass media are the cultural industries—the channels of communication—that produce and distribute songs, novels, TV shows, news- papers, movies, video gamesRead MoreMass Media Essay827 Words   |  4 PagesUnderstanding the media and what media literacy entails is an important trait that everybody should learn. There were a few developments in the evolution of mass media that took place in the past century. Mass communication first started in the earliest of society which started the written and oral communication era. In this time information was passed down through oral traditions by teachers or story-tellers. As time passed and more stories were told the alphabet and written word finally were createdRead More Mass Media Essay1714 Words   |  7 PagesMass Media Have you ever had an original thought? Why do we dress the way we do, watch what we watch or even live the way we do. Through our means of entertainment, it is almost a guide in how one should live their life. With the technology we have in our world we are persuaded to believe what is right and what is wrong. Although we create our own world, our thoughts were imposed upon us since the day we are born. â€Å"What if the world is some kind of show. What if we are only talents assembledRead MoreMass Media Essay892 Words   |  4 Pages Mass Media: Development and Literacy Option A HUM/186 Nichole LeBlanc 12/04/2017 This week we learned about the different types of mass media and the formation of them. We were given insight into how much the media has changed over time and how it affects our daily lives. Over the course of history, there has been many types of media that have come about. In the last century, some of the major developments in the evolution of mass media wereRead MoreMass Media Essay739 Words   |  3 Pages Mass Media: Development and Literacy Alex Mitchell HUM/186 September 25,2017 Allyson Wells Mass Media: Development and Literacy Mass media has come a long way the past century. What started as books, newspapers, and magazines being the only way to receive any news or messages, has developed into much more than that now. The major developments in the evolution of mass media during the last century have literally changed our world and the way we get our information. These developmentsRead MoreEssay on Mass Media1405 Words   |  6 Pages1. There are different forms of social media, each with a primary purpose. For example: Bloggs: Is web site base with no online membership. Internet users post short articles, and press releases. This media is capable of reaching large audiences through texting, Video images, and links to other related media. Social Net Working Sites: yet another popular virtual community, such as, My Space, and Face book. Both sites can be used to upload pictures, videos, post messages, and create a personalRead MoreEssay On Mass Media1277 Words   |  6 PagesAlston HUM/186 September 25, 2017 Allyson Wells INTRODUCTION Mass Media reaches a large part of our audiences today, whether it be from the movies, advertising, the internet, newspapers, magazines, twitter, you tube, Instagram, Facebook and so forth and because of this it can affect how we think and believe, both personally and as a society. Today, I will address three specific areas that product mass media channels have been used and has made a difference, either to me personallyRead MoreEffect of Media and Mass Communication Essay1386 Words   |  6 PagesThe media is a powerful presence within the lives of others. It can be described as the main channel of mass communication. Media is often used to deliver a message to a large audience who are diverse. It can be written, broadcast or spoken. Media is a significant force within modern culture. Culture can be defined as the norms and values of a society. In our culture, the communications media hold an influential place in disseminating information, forming attitudes, and motivating b ehaviour. TechnologicalRead MoreMass Media and Violence Essay891 Words   |  4 PagesMass Media and Violence Is it hard to believe that just forty years ago only a few privileged American families had televisions in their home? In recent years, it is estimated that a whopping ninety-eight percent of Americans have one or more television sets in their home. Motion pictures, televisions, video games, and the internet are just some forms of mass media that have emerged since the last century. With the rise of mass media, the increase of violent behavior has increased as well. MassRead MoreMass Media in America Essay730 Words   |  3 PagesMass Media in America The media is inescapable. At every checkout counter, there are ten different magazines showing us what the perfect girl looks like, who the sexiest men alive are, and Elvis is really an alien. Most people don’t think they are effected by this explosion of control the media has over us. That is because most people don’t realize that the media is actually controlling us. This is not a new idea, that people are ignorant to the fact they may not be as free as they think

High School Basketball Stars Essay - 1026 Words

RING! RING! RING! RING! Damn what the hell! 5:45 already? â€Å"Tommy wake up Gage and Henry just pulled up and you have practice in 40 minutes† mother said. â€Å"OK mom† Tommy mumbled while yawning and stretching, as he looked up he saw two of his teammates standing in his doorway, both staring at their watches. Tommy shouted â€Å"I’ll be out in five minutes. Get out!† Tommy was always excited for the first day of practice. For the last three years he has dribbled his way to greatness. Tommy was now a senior at Belleview Heights High school his coach had him down as a 6’0† - 165lbs point guard, but he knew only on a good day he was even 5’11†. . But that’s what coaches do they bump up all the players’ heights and even weights on the stats, hoping†¦show more content†¦The game was on the line, down 96 to 98. Kevin shot 3 feet behind the 3-point line, with 3.9 seconds left. Not even acknowledging the fact that Gage was open for the cut to the basket and dunk the state title to victory. But as the ball left fingers the crowd all moaned â€Å"AWE† even they knew that the ball was nowhere near the hoop. But Kevin didn’t care, because he knew that he had been fouled. Right when the spinning ball reached its peak, the referees blew their whistles signaling a shooting foul. Tommy and Gage both looked towards the bench from the court at the junior varsity players and among them was Henry, at this time he was a measly 5’10† - 160 lbs. Henry sat back down as the players lined up for Kevin’s three free throw shots. â€Å"45 gets three shots† the referee said to the players Tommy says from the half court line â€Å"take your time, and follow through†. â€Å"FIRST ONE FALLS† announcer proclaims over the loud speaker Gage says â€Å"two more just like that†, Kevin nods â€Å"Let’s go now!† Henry yelled from the bench Again the announcer speaks â€Å"SECOND ONE FALLS† The crowd goes crazy because he has now tied up the game 98-98. Kevin wipes the sweat from his brow and wiping his wet hand on his shorts before doing his final free throw routine. He used to spin the ball in his left hand and then bounce it twice before shooting. This time was no different. Just like that the final shot fell, the crowd was so silent that the snap of the net could have beenShow MoreRelatedEx-Basketball Player by John Updike Essay1044 Words   |  5 PagesRemember that boy in high school that was the star of the basketball team? He still holds most of the records for the team. He scored more points than anyone else in the school’s history. He never studied much because he was an athlete. His basketball skills were going to take him places. But high school ended and there are no more games to be played. Where is that former all-star now? In his poem â€Å"Ex-Basketball Player,† John Updike examines the life of a former high school basketball star. Flick Webb wasRead MoreDownfall Of A Star By John Updike965 Words    |  4 PagesDownfall Of A Star In John Updike’s poem, â€Å"Ex-Basketball Player,† Updike, an American novelist and poet born in 1932, best known for his â€Å"Rabbit† series, tells the story of an American tragedy when he describes the life of Flick Webb, a once high-school basketball star turned gas attendant. This poem is narrated by an unknown voice, but sounds like a local who knew of Webb’s significance in high school. Webb went from a successful high-school basketball star to a gas station attendant. Updike’sRead MoreLebron James1598 Words   |  7 Pagesthe game. LeBron James is just one of the many athletes that play the exciting game of American Basketball, a fast-paced sport that is extremely entertaining and viewed by an abundance of people through-out the globe. There have been, there are, and there will be many individuals who play the game of basketball very well; however, none will measure up against LeBron James. LeBron has been a great basketball player since the very beginning, perhaps the greatest. Some say that James was being scoutedRead MoreEarvin Magic Johnson: A Brief Biography702 Words   |  3 Pagessuch a significant day in the history of basketball, because it is the day that arguably the greatest point guard in the history of basketball was born. He changed the game of basketball since he was so dominant with this big size and his amazing passes that would set up his teammates so efficiently. He is one of the greatest basketball players to play basketball and has set the most unbreakable records. Magic Johnson had an amazing passion for basketball. He started playing young and he would practiceRead MoreJohn Updikes Poem Ex-Basketball Player1225 Words   |  5 Pages Ex-Basketball Player Most everyone has had an extraordinary dream; for some, it is to be a movie star or to be on a professional sports team. Nevertheless, while great goals they are, they are not likely. For example, about 1 and 70,000 people become a major movie star (study.com). Additionally, the likelihood of entering the NBA from high school is 3 and 100,000 (ehow.com). Therefore, the great majority are obligated to find something else to pursue. As a result of peoples dreamsRead MoreAn Acclaimed And Award-Winning Writer Of Fiction, Essays,1141 Words   |  5 Pagesaround. After school was done, he worked for a few years on the staff of The New Yorker. When his writing abilities were finally noticed, he got the idea to start writing poetry and short stories. One poem he wrote was â€Å"Ex basketball player† its about an excellent basketball star in high school named Flick Webb, but nowadays he is merely a gas station attendant (Updike). Does John Updike pity or admire Flick? Are readers of the poem meant to pity or admire Flick? The poem â€Å"Ex Basketball player† beginsRead MoreShould College Athletes Be Paid?1241 Words   |  5 PagesNCAA Men’s Basketball has gained an immense following; as a matter of fact, NCAA has reported record ratings in 5 of the past 10 Final Fours. College Basketball has gained what sports analyst over at ESPN, Stephen A. Smith has described as a â€Å"Cult Following†. Every year you see high school Phenom’s like: Ben Simmons (76ers - Pro), Jaylen Hands (UCLA – Collegiate), Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers - Pro), and Jahlil Okafor (76ers – Pro) attend these institutions; play a season of college basketball and thenRead MoreEssay on The Impact of Michael Jordan1016 Words   |  5 Pages1891- The birth of basketball. It has been changed from simply shooting a soccer ball into a peach basket to dunking a seven pound, leather ball into an iron rim. In the early years of the game, basketball was not as popular as other sports. In the 1985 NBA draft all this would change with the emergence of a 66 basketball phenomenon from Wilmington, North Carolina. Although going third in the draft, he recreated the game and is known as the best player to ever touch a basketball; he is Michael JordanRead MoreMichael Jordan And The Basketball Team1186 Words   |  5 PagesCarolina. There Jordan attended Emsley A. Laney High School and became avidly involved in a multitude of extracurricular activities such as baseball, football and basketball. However after being cut from the varsity basketball team as a sophomore (as he was deemed too short at 5 11 to play guard) Jordan became immensely frustrated with his failure to join the team, as a result Jordan was strongly motivated and determined to prove his worth to the basketball team as he worked rigorously over the summerRead MoreDicho Essay1181 Words   |  5 Pagesdicho and basketball. For instance, LiAngelo Ball, a UCLA basketball player’s theft scandal in China, the college basketb all corruption, and Kobe Bryants sexual assault case. Each of these examples correlates with the theme of the dicho. The reason is because each one of these people or organizations made huge efforts over a span of so many years just to have lost it in a considerably small amount of time. LiAngelo Ball became a basketball player rising to fame during his years in high school with the

Asian American Literature Essay Example For Students

Asian American Literature Essay Asian Americans seem to be fighting an unwinnable battle when it comes to the content of their writing. Writers are criticized by whites for speaking out against discrimination, and by their fellow Asian Americans for contributing to the stereotypes through their silence. I believe that Asian Americans should include politics in their writing as they so choose, but should not feel obligated to do so, as Frank Chin suggests. For those Asian Americans who make known their discontent with the injustice and discrimination that they feel, in the white culture, this translates to attacking American superiority and initiating insecurities. For Mura, a writer who dared to question why an Asian American was not allowed to audition for an Asian American role, his punishment was the ostracism and demonization that ensued. In essence, he was shunned Hongo 4 by the white people who could not believe that he would attack their superior American ways. According to writers such as Frank Chin and the rest of the Aiiieeeee! group, the Americans have dictated Asian culture and created a perception as nice and quiet Chin 1972, 18, mamas boys and crybabies without a man in all males. Chin 1972, 24. This has become the belief of the proceeding generations of Asian Americans and therefore manifested these stereotypes. Those authors who contest these American made stereotypes are said to betray the American culture and white power around them, and to be rocking the boat in a seemingly decent living situation. It is as though Asian Americans are succombing to the thought that America is the only place to be and that they should be grateful to live here. On the other hand, keeping silent due to pressures from the white population means being shunned by the members of the Asian American population. I disagree with Chins ascertation that years of apparent silence have made us accomplices to the makers of stereotypes Chin 1991, xxxix. I agree with Hongos argument that Chin viewpoint limits artistic freedom Hongo 4. Declaring that those writers who do not argue stereotypes of the good, loyal, and feminine Chinese man or the submissive female, are in any way contributing to or disagreeing with them is ridiculous. Chins opinion that politics should be included in some aspect of every Asian American piece eliminates choice from writing topics for other writers. Authors are the voices of the people whichever people they choose to represent and should not be criticized for choosing to discuss issues other than those that Chin deems necessary. It seems as though no matter which topic an Asian American chooses to write about or discuss, there will be someone who finds a reason to criticize in order to justify their own opinion. However, writers do not publish material that they do not believe in. It is not their duty to please critics on both sides of a controversial issue, and should therefore express their opinions without feeling obligated to include politics in their work.