Hello everyone, it’s Mack Miller back at it again ! I hope your days are coming along fairly well too. Today, I bring you a new flavor, a new dish, a new serving for your fresh minds to take in. Today, I wanted to talk about well, something a little serious. We will be discussing the zeitgeist of mass incarceration of African Americans, and the struggles they have faced from the past, and up to even today. But first off, what is a zeitgeist ? A zeitgeist is either the spirit, the trend, or the emotions of a time period. Research Project: Exploring American Zeitgeist What is the zeitgeist topic I want to research? The zeitgeist I will be focusing on, as stated before, is the topic of mass incarceration, specifically that of young African American men, and the thoughts of fellow citizens at the current time. What is the primary source I will use to begin my research? The sources that I will be using as a basis for my research comes from a few places. This includes: https://www.nydailynews.com/services/central-park-five/ https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/history-mass-incarceration http://theweeklychallenger.com/mass-incarceration-of-african-americans/ Who does the zeitgeist topic impact the most? This topic mainly impacts not only American cultures, but mainly that of African American citizens . The system has constantly been against African American citizens, and they are usually the main target of these mass incarcerations, hell, most of em’ are innocent or set up. By the time they are released, their lives are set up for disaster, and they don’t get much options in life afterwards. It is an unfair system, and a corrupt one that we have to fight against every day of our lives. When did this zeitgeist emerge? This zeitgeist has been around ever since African Americans were brought into the United States as slaves. It was here during, and after the civil war. It is even around here today. Where does this zeitgeist impact the most? This mainly impacts the United States; those in poverty. Most of the times it is minorities who are wrongfully accused. Why does this zeitgeist exist? As to why it exists, prisons make tons of money off of making their prisoners to work, even in the poorest conditions possible. Another reason this exist is because racism against African American. So many are wrongfully imprisoned based off of their skin, statistics, bigotry, fear, and other unorthodox and outlandish, false reasons. How does the zeitgeist topic make me feel ? As to how this makes me feel… there is no way to describe the anguish... The pain I have experienced related to this zeitgeist. I myself, am a victim of mass incarceration. How does the zeitgeist topic make me think ? It makes me think that there is no easy way out. You could literally go to jail for the most unfathomable and clownish reasons imaginable. How does the zeitgeist topic make me want to make change ? It makes me not only motivated, but keeps me aiming towards being a guidance counselor for troubled youth, and those who have also been victims of the racism pushed upon us by the mass incarcerations.
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Intro
This week I will write about my previous experiences in class and the discourse community. Also, we will talk about building my author’s identity. I will do this with the help of: Becky Thompson, James Paul Gee, and Pablo Neruda. More specifically, their writings and how it relates to me. Our Discourse Community Identity: A Reflection “The place of connection and joy that we hope for in the classroom ask us to invite in a culture of belonging. Such an invitation requires understanding “Belonging” in the big sense of the word”- (Becky Thompson). When Becky Thompson speaks about this, I feel as if everyone has a story to tell. Everyone has problems in the past, and everyone has a future. I feel as if Sabatino Mangini brings our class and emotions closer together. He makes us realize that we are part of something much bigger than we realize… not only are we each individually important with our own unique skills and background, but we all form something bigger together through our discourse, and ideals, we call a community. During week one I didn’t know where our class was heading, but at week nine, I see what direction our professor is going for. He focuses on bring out our past and using it to aim for the future and improve as writers in general. So the next thing I wish to talk about, happens to relate to me aswell. “Think of a discourse as an “Identity kit” which comes complete with appropriate costume and instructions on how to act and talk so as to take on a particular role that others will recognize” – (James Paul Gee) The role that we play in our class is emotional in some ways, in others heroic. The stories we work with focus on hardship, and the strength we use to overcome the obstacles in life. Think of us as super heros, throwing on a cape. That is how I can relate to this literacy. Sometimes we will have our opinions, and strength to tell our stories and ideals. Other times, it is hard to fight through it all. For me, it was talking about my story about my time in jail. It was difficult to pull through, emotional to the point where I would be anxious of what others would think of me in my community. Well things turned for the best, my class is understanding, as well as others in my life. The other works that I have read are in the same boat. With tales that we preach, to the experiences and the knowledge we gain, we can become the heroes of tomorrow. The heroes that can throw on their cape on and motivate others to improve themselves, like Sabitino Mangini and Pablo Neruda have done for me. We can all improve as writers, and focus on the community and how we can help bring each other together though ideals and tough times. Composing an emotional scene with dialogue and symbolism Intro
After reading my comments and feedback from my classmates and teacher, I decided to write my fourth week assignment on my first few months in prison. Although I had been to jail before, this time seemed to be different to me. I wasn't just a few miles from home, I was hundreds of miles away from home. The times I was locked up before didn't seem as bad as this time. It was me against time and miles! Bang! Bang! I heard the judge hit gavel against the desk, " Mr. Miller, please rise" the judge said. I stood up, legs shaking and my heart racing like never before. " Three years are to be served consecutive." said the judge. At that moment, I felt like time was moving in slow motion. I was led out to the prison van by the most rudest correction officer. " Are you ready to go to your new home?" he said to me. I said, " That jail will never be my home sir, just a place to get my shit together." That ride seemed to take forever. Although I was in the van with five other inmates and two corrections officers, I felt very alone. Like the only goldfish in a fish tank. My life was playing over and over in my head. Like a never ending song that you hate, playing over and over again. All the things I could have done, all the things I shouldn't have done, and all the things I wish I did. Those thoughts just stuck on repeat. I was driving myself insane. "Welcome home!" the C.O. said in the most ignorant yet childlike voice. All I kept thinking was how I wanted to choke this asshole, but hey! I'm in jail and you can't do that. So I just smiles and said, "thank you sir." Also in a ignorant n childlike voice. The relationship between guard and inmate is either one way or another. You either have the upmost respect for them or the most hateful feelings towards them. Some of them are just there for a paycheck, while others are actually there to help you. As I walked back into my cell, my celly asked me, "how was your day in court, how did it go?" I then explained to him everything that happened in court. I told him, "Yeah bro, I took the deal," my celly said " Good, because you where facing five years and I'm sure you rather go home sooner than later." He was exactly right." Another day closer to going home, is better than another minute in this hell hole," I thought to myself. I laid on the hard metal slab night after night, thinking to myself. "This can't be life." I laid awake many nights just wondering what I could do to better myself and my family. I knew what needed to be done. I needed to get my life right, and after many of phone conversations with my mother and my sisters I decided to get a education behind bars. So that's where I am today, getting myself together. Being the man I was put here to be. To be a good father, a good partner, a wonderful son, brother and uncle. After every storm there is a rainbow. Being in prison was my storm in life and being able to write this blog today is my rainbow. The beginning to my happy ending in life after being in prison. My Name is Margaret
Intro My professor wanted my classmates and I to write a narrative theme, about a life experience that was a scene of intense emotion. I was thinking and thinking about my life, and it was so hard to just choose one experience. i decided to write about the time I was locked up and sent to prison. It was a very cold January afternoon, and I was awoke to a pounding at the door. At first, I thought I was dreaming, until I heard a big BANG! The police had kicked my door down. All I heard was "Get on the ground!" There were so many police and police dogs everywhere. I felt at that moment, my life, as I knew it, was coming to an end. Everything seemed to move in slow motion around me. I felt incredibly bad, because my girlfriend at the time, and my son where home when this was going down. The police were scattering like ants all over my apartment. I was in complete shock at this time, I just laid there handcuffed in silence. They kept asking me where the drugs and money where but I couldn't even speak. I couldn't form the words to tell them. Time seemed to stand still and all I kept thinking was how a simple mistake could land me in so much trouble. The police looked everywhere in my home for what they came for. Under my bed, in dressers, closets, in my son's room, the kitchen, you name it, they looked. They finally found all the money and drugs, and before I knew it, I was led out of my house with my hands handcuffed behind my back. I didn't even get a chance to say my goodbyes to my family. As I was led out the door, all I could do was hand my head in shame. The neighbors where all outside looking at all the commotion I had caused. The street was littered with police cars from corner to corner, for about two blocks in four directions. I felt the lowest of the low. The young kids in the neighborhood looked up to me and I felt like I let everyone down, including most importantly, myself. I felt very vulnerable and scared as the cop car pulled away with me in the back. I felt like I was dreaming. This couldn't be real. All I kept doing was praying and praying, day after day. Up until my sentencing date. On that day, I was giving three years in prison. I had a lot of emotions and what ifs that i was battling. In my head, at the time, I was just trying to support my family and put food on the table. I had already lived a rough life and was arrested a few times and had a criminal record. Finding a honest job was hard. Nobody would give me a chance, so I felt I did what I had to do to make ends meet. I spent many nights staring at a small ass prison cell walls and thought to myself, this cant be life! I worried about everyone back home. I took care of everyone in my family. My mother, my son, my sisters, everyone depended on me! I had a wake up call one day when I was one the phone with my mom. She said, " Son, you have to make the best of a bad situation." So that is when I decided in my head, that I could be a even better man for my family and decided to take my GED and start figuring out what career paths I wanted to take. I wanted to change my life for the better and move forward from this experience. After serving three years in jail, I was finally released from prison. I had a very difficult time finding employment when I came home. With some patience and a "Never give up" approach, I found some part time work. I actually juggled three part time jobs at once. I had another awakening while working one day. I realized I needed a better education to be able to get the kind of money I needed to support myself and my family. I enrolled at DCCC and I hope to one day become a counselor at a rehab, or maybe help troubled youths. I want to help others in their lives and show them I'm living proof that you can do anything you set your mind to. The Proust Questionnaire
__1.__What is your idea of perfect happiness? Spending time with my son is my very definition of perfect happiness. __2.__What is your greatest fear? My greatest fear is death itself. __3.__What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? The trait I find most deplorable in myself is selling drugs when I was younger. __4.__What is the trait you most deplore in others? The trait I deplore in others, is the annoyance of people being nosy __5.__Which living person do you most admire? I will, and always will admire and love my mother. __6.__What is your greatest extravagance? This would happen to be helping people in need. __7.__What is your current state of mind? I'm happy, I guess... __8.__What do you consider the most overrated virtue? definitely diamonds, they are just so, bland, boring. __9.__On what occasion do you lie? I always gotta' lie to the cops, you feel me. __10.__What do you most dislike about your appearance? It would have to be my stomach. __11.__Which living person do you most despise? The world's worst leader, Donald Trump __12.__What is the quality you most like in a man? Just very athletic men. __13.__What is the quality you most like in a woman? Definitely their beauty... hour glasses all day ! __14.__Which words or phrases do you most overuse? "What are those" from "Jersey shore" __15.__What or who is the greatest love of your life? That has to be my son. That's my boy ! __16.__When and where were you happiest? When I was 21, and I was able to drink at a bar. __17.__Which talent would you most like to have? I wish I was a porn star. __18.__If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? To be even stronger than the average man. __19.__What do you consider your greatest achievement? Getting my high school diploma at 33. __20.__If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? Honestly, I would come back as a killer whale, which isn't actually a whale. __21.__Where would you most like to live? Miami, before its underwater... __22.__What is your most treasured possession? My son, stop with the questions ! __23.__What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Being in jail, for 3 years. __24.__What is your favorite occupation? Being a father to my son. __25.__What is your most marked characteristic? I'm humble, and nice, however, I Am still a gansta' my brotha' ! __26.__What do you most value in your friends? Loyalty is always the most important thing. __27.__Who are your favorite writers? Stephen King, you know, you'll float too... __28.__Who is your hero of fiction? Superman, if we are talkin' about heroes in fiction.' __29.__Which historical figure do you most identify with? Malcom X, my guy. __30.__Who are your heroes in real life? My mother, she had always been my mother, ever since I was a child. __31.__What are your favorite names? Mack, only Mack. __32.__What is it that you most dislike? Ignorant people bother me to no end ! __33.__What is your greatest regret? Selling drugs and going to jail, I was taken away from my family as a result. __34.__How would you like to die? I don't think about it, and I don't want to die. __35.__What is your motto? Like my mom always said: "Keep on, keeping on." |