Hughes Essays - Harlem Renaissance, African-American Literature

Hughes Essays - Harlem Renaissance, African-American Literature Hughes As a talented American author, Langston Hughes captured and integrated the realities and demands of Africa America in his work by utilizing the beauty, dignity, and heritage of blacks in America in the 1920s. Hughes was reared for a time by his grandmother in Kansas after his parents divorce. Influenced by the poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar and Carl Sandburg, he began writing creatively while still a boy. Not only did Hughes suffer from poverty but also from restrictions that came with living in a segregated community. While he attended an integrated school, he was not permitted to play team sports or join the Boy Scouts. Even his favorite movie theater put a sign that read No Colored Admitted. In spite of these obstacles, Hughes developed a natural sense of self-confidence and hope. His grandmother always lived as a free woman and was insistent about standing up for the right of all people to be free. Under her influence, Hughes learned to endure the hardships of prejudice without surrendering his dignity or pride. (Berry 7) My father hated Negroes, Hughes wrote, I think he hated himself, too, for being a Negro. Hughes wanted to attend Colombia University and needed his fathers financial aid. His father refused because he wanted Hughes to study engineering. Seeing his sons determination, he finally agreed to help pay his tuition. University officials were surprised to discover Hughes was black. He was discriminated against from dormitories to the student newspaper. Angered by the racism he unexpectedly encountered, Hughes began to explore New York, which brought about the most important stage in his development as a writer. Even though his father was racist, Hughes never was. He always sought to speak to all Americans, especially on the larger issues of social, economic, and political justice. He did not hide the fact that he lived with racism, but he talked of his strength, and the strength of many other blacks, to stand tall and believe in a better future. (Berry 12) The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural and psychological watershed. It was an era in which black people were perceived as having finally liberated themselves from a past fraught with self-doubt to an unprecedented optimism. It gave African Americans a novel pride in all things black and a cultural confidence that stretched beyond the borders of Harlem to other black communities in the Western world. The Harlem Renaissance was a provocative response to the new era: an aesthetic response that transcends time to celebrate identity, creativity, the past, and the present. (Rummel 33) Hughes accepted his vocation to explain and illuminate the Negro condition in America. His personal credo, The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain, became the credo of a generation of African-American poets. In it Hughes argued against surrendering racial pride to the hope of acceptance of whites. The urge among some black artists to be as little Negro and as much American as possible, wrote Hughes, was a mountain standing in the way of any true Negro art. Hughes poetry drew from traditional sources and individual voices; his experiments reflected an attempt to capture the myriad of colors known as black. He defined a black beauty in which he interpreted and recorded the lives of the common black folk. To Hughes, even when an ordinary person sang, danced, or worked; they were likely to be making beauty. He truly believed that these people were producing art and culture all the time, almost as if they were rainbows that had to be captured before they vanished. His interest in portray ing the lives of average people angered black leaders who believed that black writers should emphasize the best qualities of blacks so white leaders would obtain a favorable impression. (Chow 1) When he took a job as a seaman aboard an old ocean liner, Hughes marveled at the vitality and diversity of African tribal culture, but he also saw how the continent was exploited and poverty-stricken by the European colonial powers. Hughes time in Africa was inspirational, resulting in several poems condemning white colonialism or celebrating black unity and beauty. His racial pride made his poetry popular among many Africans. (Berry 21) When he traveled to Paris, Hughes developed a love for jazz. His

How to Change Your Habits and Improve Your Grades

How to Change Your Habits and Improve Your Grades Its disappointing to receive low scores on a big test or a homework assignment, but you dont need to let small setbacks get you down. There is always time to make things better. Steps to Take If It Isnt Over Yet If youve received a few low grades on assignments throughout the year and youre facing a big final, then you still have time to bring up your final grade.   Sometimes, a good grade on the final project or exam can increase your final grade dramatically. Especially if the teacher knows youre really trying. Gather all your work assignments to determine exactly how and why you earned the low grades. Identify your weak points. Did your grades suffer because of careless grammar or poor writing habits? If so, be more mindful of grammar and structure during the final.Visit the teacher and ask her to go over your assignments with you. Ask her what you could have done differently.Ask what can you do for extra credit. By trying to take charge of your destiny, you are showing responsibility. Teachers will appreciate this.Ask for advice from the teacher. Teachers can direct you to resources that are topic-specific.Put all your energy into the final test or project. Find a tutor to help you. Ask the teacher to explain the format of the test. Will it be an essay exam or a multiple choice test? Target your study accordingly.Join a study group. Discuss the final exam with other students. They may have notes that you missed or they may have better insight into the teachers preferences when it comes to test questions and answers. Improve memory skills. There are many techniques to improve your memory. Find one that is best for you and the material youre studying.Get serious. Dont be late to class. Get some sleep. Turn off the TV. Talk to your Parents If you know a bad grade is imminent, then it might be wise to talk to your parents first. Let them know that you are trying to make a change and improve your performance. Get them involved. You may want to discuss creating a homework contract with your parents. The contract should address time commitments, homework help, supplies, and other issues that affect grades. Looking Toward the Future If you have just received your end-of-year grades and youre looking forward to improving your performance next year, there are plenty of things you can do. Get organized. Keep a journal of assignments to identify strengths and weaknesses. Organize your supplies and establish a good study space.Try to use color-coded supplies to stay organized.Identify your personal learning style. This is critical to improving your study habits. Dont waste valuable study time using ineffective study methods.Talk to your counselor about your schedule or your diploma program. You may be enrolled in a program that isnt right for you. Are you taking courses that are too difficult because your diploma program requires it?Review your schedule. Cut out extracurricular activities that dont help you reach your true goals. If youre involved with that team or club just for fun- then you may need to make some tough decisions.Improve your writing skills. Students sometimes complain because they are penalized for poor writing in courses other than English. Teachers dont have much patience for this complaint! Good writing skills are critical for every class.Join a stu dy group. Be Realistic If you are stressing out about a possible B grade, you should know that perfect grades arent everything, and expecting them isnt very realistic, either. While it is true that some colleges place a lot of value in grades, it is also true that they are interested in recruiting humans, not machines.If you are hoping to get into a specific, highly competitive college and you are worried about getting a B, then you are smart enough to make yourself stand out in another way. For instance, you could use your creativity to craft an essay that stands out.Give yourself credit if youre doing your best. If you have tried everything, but you just cant become the perfect student you want to be, perhaps you should give yourself a break. Identify your own strong points and make the best of them.Dont give yourself a bad reputation. If you arent happy with a grade or a report card, you can discuss this with a teacher. However, if you make a habit out of visiting your teacher to complain, then you may be making a pest of yourself.

Effect of Culture on Expatriates Work Performance in the Hospitality Research Paper

Effect of Culture on Expatriates Work Performance in the Hospitality Industry - Research Paper Example It is important to learn about the various cultures that are represented in the workplace and in the business environment before engaging in business in foreign countries as suggested by Cardy (2007). This is the case considering that it helps in reducing the risk of failure. Understanding other people’s and countries’ communication styles, social events, dress codes, greetings, and negotiation tactics are very important in fostering positive relationships with persons from foreign countries and cultures. In the hospitality industry like in any other economic sector, individuals and organizations are bound to encounter people from foreign environments. Foreigners come in the form of customers, suppliers and expatriates. Expatriates in the course of their work re expected to maintain high performance standards for the good of the companies for which they work and to warrant the high pay they receive. They are in effect expected to be role models and provide direction to local workers. As they work in foreign environments, expatriates encounter a number of challenges. One of the main challenges that they experience is dealing with people from various cultural backgrounds. In as much as they enjoy working in such environments, there is a possibility that the changes that they encounter and the unfamiliar environment may impact on their performance at work. Statement of the Problem In spite of the existence of literature related to the effects of cultural differences in the area of multicultural environments and work performance, very little study has been conducted with respect to the hotel industry. This is study is focused on finding out the effects of culture and cultural differences on expatriates’ work performance in the hospitality industry. Significance of the Study The results of this study will be very valuable to expatriates in their endeavor to succeed in the foreign environments in which they work. Based on the results of this stud y, management of hospitality industries and especially the human resource manager can come up with better ways ensuring that the expatriate fits in well in the company within the shortest duration and achieve high output as is always the desire of every business. Objectives Main Objective 1. To establish the effect of culture on expatriates’ work performance in the hospitality industry Specific objectives 1. To establish to the existence of expatriates in xxx city hotels and restaurants 2. To determine the challenges posed to expatriates at work as a result of cultural factors 3. To establish the performance of hotels and restaurants that are managed by expatriates 4. To establish the correlation between expatriate work performance and cultural differences with locals. Literature Review Expatriates and Work Performance An expatriate is an individual who resides in a foreign country and culture. However, in business terms, an expatriate is a professional sent by an organizatio n to work in a foreign country as opposed to staff who is locally employed. In many cases, expatriates are sent to work for subsidiaries of an organization or to work at it headquarters. Expatriates help businesses with a global presence to manage global structures and liaise with external partners and provide quality services to customers (Beaverstock, Derudder, Faulconbridge and Witlox (2009). According to Lee (2008), taking a foreign duty affects an individual’s professional and personal life. Such assignments subject expatriates to factors that prove stress such as ambiguity and uncertainty. Three main factors determine the success of expatriates in their work. These factors are communication ability, relation ability

Questions and answers Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Questions and answers - Assignment Example This time the Americans won the battle. On May 1945, the US dropped an atomic bomb at Hiroshima which claimed 78000 lives. The second atomic bomb which took place at Nagasaki led to Japanese to seek for peace. 1. Braceros program is series of diplomatic agreements and laws which were in introduced in August 1942 by an interchange of notes among diplomats from Mexico and United States, with the agenda of introducing temporal contract laborers from United States and Mexico. 2. Manhattan project it was the first atomic bomb research and development project that was done during the Second World War. United States was the leader in these research and development project though with assistance from Canada and United Kingdom. The purpose of these project was to produce atomic bombs and in collection of intelligence on another project for Germans on nuclear energy. 2. Taft-Hartley act which is also known as labor management Relations Act of 1947 is a law in United States that inhibits power and activities of labor unions. The significance of Taft-Hartley is to protect people’s welfare and their rights in relation to labor organization. 3. The relevance of Trauma Lewis confrontation was that he changed the nation from war to peace yet he was also maintaining a prosperous and a stable economy. Though most of this significance attained was not predictable by the time he took on the government. 4. National Security Act of 1947 was the base for reformation of the United States governments intelligence and military agencies due to the second world war. The Act became effective on 18th September 1947. This was exactly one day after confirmation of the first secretary of defense, James Forrestal. 5. Containment was the foreign policy announced at the beginning of the Second World War by the United States. It was aimed at

Heroism in Beowulf Essay -- Epic of Beowulf Essay

Heroism in Beowulf A hero is one who is not only strong, but one who uses his strength to uphold others. A hero is humble, philanthropic, magnanimous and selfless, a humanitarian at best. In the unprecedented epic Beowulf, the tale’s namesake exemplifies every characteristic befitting an Anglo-Saxon hero. He is honest, loyal, and courageous. He portrays these characteristics in the battle against Grendel, the affray with Grendel’s mother, and the fight against the dragon that inevitably ended his life. Beowulf was a man of admirable exploits. He had the strength of thirty men in his arms, and would use this strength to aid anyone in need. Upon hearing of the plight of Grendel and the ill happenings in Hrothgar’s kingdom, Beowulf immediately gathered his entourage to help the king and defend Heorot. When Beowulf encountered the beast that had terrorized for 12 years, he single-handedly ripped off Grendel’s arm, an act ultimately killing the creature. To further delineate his heroism, Beowulf kept the arm as a trophy of his victory. Upon learning of her son’s death, Grendel...

Answers to Quiz #4

According to the IS-LM model, what happens in the short run to the interest rate, income, consumption, and investment under the following circumstances? (Assume everything else is held constant. ) a. The central bank decreases the money supply. i. The interest rate ________increases_______________________ ii. Income ____________decreases__________________________ iii. Consumption ___________decreases______________________ iv. Investment ___________decreases________________________ b. The government decreases its level of expenditures. i. The interest rate _________decreases______________________ ii.Income ___________decreases___________________________ iii. Consumption __________decreases_______________________ iv. Investment ___________increases________________________ c. The government imposes a new lower level of taxes. i.The interest rate _________increases______________________ ii. Income ________________increases______________________ iii. Consumption ___________increases______ ________________ iv. Investment ______________decreases_____________________ d. The government increases government spending while at the same time it increases taxes by exactly the same amount. .The interest rate __________increases_____________________ ii. Income _____________increases but by less than the change in government spending and the change in taxes_________________________ iii. Consumption __________decreases_______________________ iv. Investment ______________decreases_____________________ 2. Use the following information to answer this set of questions. An economy can be described by the following equations: C = 200 + 0. 75(Y – T) I = 200 – 25r G = 100 and is constant and exogenously determined T = 100 and is constant and exogenously determinedThe demand for real money balances = M/P = Y – 100r M = money supply = 1000 P = price level = 2 a. Write an equation for the IS curve for this economy. IS: Y = 200 + 0. 75(Y – T) + G + I Y = 200 + 0. 75Y -0. 75(100) + 100 + 200 – 25r Y = 500 + 0. 75Y -75 – 25r .25Y = 425 – 25r Y = 1700 – 100r b. Write an equation for the LM curve for this economy. Supply of real money balances = demand for real money balances 1000/2 = Y – 100r Y = 500 + 100r c. What is the equilibrium interest rate and the equilibrium level of output for this economy given the above information? 00 + 100r = 1700 – 100r 200r = 1200 r = 6 Y = 500 + 100 (6) Y = 1100 d. What is the equilibrium level of consumption and the equilibrium level of investment for this economy? C = 200 + 0. 75(Y – T) C = 200 + 0. 75(1100 – 100) C = 200 + 0. 75(1000) C = 200 + 750 C = 950 I = 200 – 25r I = 200 – 25(6) I = 200 – 150 I = 50 e. Suppose that the money supply is increased to 1200. What is the new equilibrium level of interest rate and the new equilibrium level of output for this economy given this change? What is the new equilibrium level of consumption ? The new LM curve is Y = 600 + 100r and the IS curve is Y = 1700 – 100r.Thus, 600 + 100r = 1700 – 100r 200r = 1100 r = 5. 5 Y = 600 + 100(5. 5) Y = 1150 C = 200 + 0. 75(Y – T) C = 200 + 0. 75(1150 – 100) C = 200 + 987. 50 f. Suppose that the initial information is true (no change in the money supply). If government purchases increase to 150, what is the change in output predicted by the Keynesian Cross diagram? What is the actual change in output based upon the IS-LM model? The change in output predicted by the Keynesian Cross diagram is equal to (1/(1 – MPC))(change in government spending) or (1/0. 25)(50) = 200.The actual change in output based upon the IS-LM model will be less than this. To see this you need to first write the new IS curve: Y = C + I + G’ Y = 200 +0. 75(Y – T) + I + G’ Y = 200 + 0. 75Y – 0. 75(100) + 200 – 25r + 150 0. 25Y = 475 – 25r Y = 1900 – 100r Then, combine this IS curve w ith the LM curve to have 1900 – 100r = 500 + 100r 1400 = 200r r = 7 Thus, Y = 1900 – 100r Y = 1900 – 100(7) Y = 1200 The change in output is from the initial level of 1100 to the new level of 1200, or a change of 100 which is less than that predicted by the Keynesian Cross diagram.

Dave Thomas The Great Depression - 1858 Words

Dave Thomas was born on July 2nd in 1932 and was adopted by Rex and Aluvea Thomas. He would discover his passion for cooking and create one of the most popular fast food franchises in America. With the success of his new restaurant he would become famous through his extensive supply of commercials and he would use his fame and wisdom to help other change their lives for the better and achieve more than what they could have done before. Dave Thomas was born in Atlanta ,New Jersey ,July 2nd in 1932 during the Great Depression to a single mother who gave him up for adoption .†It is a terrible feeling to know my natural mother didn t want me. Luckily Thomas was swiftly adopted at the age of six weeks old by Rex and Aluvea Thomas .When I†¦show more content†¦When Thomas was twelve he was living with his father in Tennessee and had a variety of jobs like golf caddy or paperboy . Three years later ,after they moved out of Tennessee ,in Indiana Thomas got another job working in a restaurant called The Hobby House. When Thomas’s father decided to leave Indiana to find more work ,Thomas declined and decided to stay. He dropped out of high school while he was in the tenth grade and worked full time at the Hobby House restaurant as a waiter, where he also lived. Shortly after the Korean war broke out in 1950 Thomas turned eighteen and volunteered into the military as to have more choices in his assignment. Unsurprisingly ,he chose to go to the Cook’s and Baker’s school at Fort Bennings in Georgia. Later he was transferred overseas to Germany as a mess sergeant. He encountered the busy life of being responsible to make the meals for at least two thousand men per day ,roughly six thousand meals everyday. During his time in the military, he was deservingly upgraded to staff sergeant. Three years after he joined the military in 1953 he was discharged and choose to return to Fort Bennings then go back to The Hobby House to work as a cook for thirty-five dollars a week. While still working at The Hobby House he meets his future wife ,eighteen year old Lorraine Buskirk, who he decided to marry a short seven months later. He was also being meet with his old boss Phil