The news today connections

Gentrification is my topic around the connection to the latest news in Durham nc and TKAM (To kill a mocking bird). To tell you first is that if you don't know what gentrification is then it means to like poor people are going to have to move somewhere else to renew and build. Well right now people are saying that gentrification is also affecting our human rights.
In Today Duke what was interesting is that Robert Kirk ( the director Duke Human Rights Center at FHI) says in quote " We're taking Malcolm X as our starting point." The reason he said this was because he saw as this as also a human right violation, which in case is making the prices of like houses higher than other years.

Gentrification and Human Rights in Durham | Duke Today

How does this relates to TKAM? Well for me what I think is the trial for the part of it. Which means that human rights, right? Well when Harper Lee wrote this remember in the time of Jim's crow laws and like the great depression. So then it means not all have the human rights of doing something that would affect the population or others. This in short means that there are problems that cause an affect on human rights.
The second part that I could in a way ( kind-of I guess) represent this too is that when Helen Robinson (Thomas Robinson's wife) was having trouble to cross Mr. Ewell's house/gate. The reason I thought this was because well think about it, if we ware taking about rights at least it's what I'm talking about of how Mr. Ewell was like pushing her and not leaving her alone. And I know is that it's rude and against rights to do something like that. But things can change but it has to apply to the laws and the human rights.

blog two

   

The loving case(1967)-all american are allowed to marry, regardless of race ,law oppression,morality

   
        the loving case was during the time of when white and black were apart . the loving case or the loving couples were a black 17 year old Mildred Jeter and a white 23 year old construction worker Richard loving. After marrying in Washington,d.c they return home state in 1958, the couples were charge with unlawful cohabitation and both jailed. Judge bazile sentence the loving to one year in jail, to be suspended if the couples agreed to leave the state for the next 25 years. the loving left virginia and went to go live with some relative in Washington,d.c  when they return to visit family after 5 years they were both arrested for traveling together. inspired by the civil right movement. mildred loving wrote to Attorney general robert F. Kennedy for help. The couple was referred to ACLU witch represented them to the supreme court case ,loving v,Virginia (1967)the court ruled that state bans on interracial marriage were unconstitutional.

They Get Along on What They Have

"The Cunninghams  never took anything they cant pay back-no church baskets and no script stamps. They never took anything off of anybody ,they get along on what they have. They don't have much but they get along on it."(pg 26)

 It was Scout's first year in school and their teacher Miss Caroline had asked the kids if they had their lunch; she then went by every kid and checked their food. When she reached Walter she asked "where's yours?" Scout stood and said, "He's a Cunningham."

    Scout in this part of the story seemed, to me, kinda both naive and heartfelt. Naive in assuming that by saying that he was a Cunningham would explain the situation he was in and heartfelt by saying that "They get along on what they have" like saying that they may not have much but they can deal on what have. The way I can relate this to our time is the problem with people judging what others have or don't have.

   Most people grew up with hand-me-down clothes and thrift store stuff and it was fine for a while but then the increase in jobs and new technology developments  gave a chance for families to make their home a more classy place. And give their kids phones or laptops and thinking that they don't want their kids going through whatever they went through, as if those times were unacceptable and shameful. I am one of those people who still gets stuff from the thrift store and wears the same shoes for two years. I consider those days as one of the most humble times we've had.

  I'm ashamed that people judge others for what they have or for the job their parents have. Personally I think as long they have a job, its fine, as long as they can provide for their family and live a satisfactory life without asking for more than what they can live with, then it's fine and their income doesn't define who they are. Making reference to what Scout said, people get along on what they have and that's not something shameful - it's something to be proud of.


 

blog 1

''but i want to play with Walter,Aunty,  why can't I?' she took off her glasses and stared at me ,'i'll tell you why'she said .'because-he-is-trash,that's why you can't play with him.'

       I was small about 7 or 8 year old's i was still living in mexico near the golf called Veracruz , man times flies when u realized  how long its been since you seen him he was 6 when i met him his name was also Marco but i called him flaco , my mom never liked my friend maybe because he was poor i always use to tell my mom even if he was poor he stayed true and he never lied mark. only lived with his mom he told me that one day he told told them he be back from work but he never came back days and weeks past and his dad never came back. mark told me i think he just left us everyone dream in mexico is to come to america it was sad to that my mom gave birth to us in the united states but came back to mexico. one day afternoon i over heard how mark was trying to come and play with me but my mom told him to go home that he was never to come back my mom told him my son is leaving and you are to spend more time with your mom i was sad to think that i was leaving and my only best friend at that time was getting pushed away. It was a early Monday morning when all my things were pack every one was awake she told us were going to take a trip we were going to the airport but before we left i had to say bye i left and ran as fast as i could to mark house he was happy to see me and i was happy to see him we hug before i left i gave him one of my favorite  shoes and shirt then i went to his mom and gave her 30 percos ( not that it was much it was only enough to get them a good meal and drinks )i left him ..

The news that relate to TKAM

My motif about income inequality is a big issue in the Durham community than it is in To kill a mockingbird. There is something happening in the Durham community that is violating human rights, and its making downtown housing affordable: gentrification

Many people in the durham community are being placed out of their homes and the neighborhoods due to economic issues and race relation. That is what Duke is saying right now.

Melissa Norton, an affordable housing advocate said, "Gentrification is a social justice issue and its not synonymous with neighborhood revitalizaton."

The way I can relate to this in to kill a mockingbird is Bob Ewell, he is very poor and has no source of education in him. He drinks, smokes, and has no money. Also Walter Cunningham Jr is poor because he has no money to buy school lunch for himself. They were involved in the GREAT DEPRESSION, an economic failure in the 1930's. Plus Bob Ewell will have a greater chance of loosing his house. Rob Kirk, the director of the Duke Human Rights Center at FHI said, "Malcolm X saw gentrification as a human rights violation when people were getting priced out of their houses and neighborhoods."

Because of Bob's lack of knowledge and doing other bad stuff, he is going to be placed out of the neighborhood. That is how the news and my to kill a mockingbird motifs shares a connection.

Gentrification and Human Rights in Durham | Duke Today

News Today

The Ewell 's are poor and uneducated,  but that's because of Bob Ewell.  He drinks and gambles away the little money they do have which causes the children to stay at home also becoming uneducated.  The Cunningham's who were farmers used their crops to pay back debt.  They survived from what was on their land instead of welfare.  The Finches were educated and had quite a bit of money.  They weren't hit by the Wall Street Crash and Great Depression as bad as the Ewell's and Cunningham's.

A local news story titled "What Education Can and Can't Do For Economic Inequality" explains the importance of education and what it can and can not do to help improve income inequality.  Recent studies from Brookings institution show how better education would not significantly reduce income inequality in America but it would help the overall economic picture and increase the positions of those in the poorer classes.  Education has nothing to do with wages and unemployment.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/04/what-education-can-and-cant-do-for-economic-inequality/389754/

 Based on the article perhaps if the Ewell's were more educated and if Bob Ewell didn't waste money they wouldn't be suffering as much as they were. If the Finches and the Cunningham's were more educated they wouldn't be affected.  They would still the receive the same amount of income.

If I were Bob Ewell I would make my younger children go to school to get an education while the older children worked.  If I were Walter Cunningham I would also make sure my children received and education an use my resources wisely.

Another story in the news this relates to is president Obama's Speech titled " Income Inequality is Killing the Economy".  In his speech he talks about inequality and how it is bad for economic growth. It leads to higher taxes on the rich, socio-political instability, reduce investment in human capital, and increase in crime.

In the book Bob Ewell had attempted to commit crimes for revenge from the Tom Robinson case.  He went after Helen Robinson, Judge Taylor, and Atticus.  Basically everyone connected with the case.

This also happens in real life.  People go after others just because they are grieving, or don't make as much.  This is unfair to me. I know most people work hard for what they have, but most can't help how they live.  I felt ambivalent towards the Ewell's and the Cunningham's.  You can't choose what family your'e born into but you can try to change your families ways so that you can have a better future.

White lies from Mayella Ewell

"Who beat you up? Tom Robinson or your father?," said Atticus
No answers
Did this man took advantage of you?"
No answer
" I got something to say, and i ain't gonna say no more. That nigger yonder took advantage of me an' if you fine fancy gentlemen don't wanta do nothing about it then you're all yellow stinkin' cowards, stinkin' cowards, the lot of you."

It was trial day for Tom Robinson, the man accused of raping a white woman name Mayella Ewell. Atticus Finch was defending for Tom Robinson while Mr. Gilmere was defending for Mayella. Atticus is keep interrogating mayella because he believes that she is telling lies about the incident. Atticus told Tom to stand up so that Mayella can take a good look at him. Tom Robinson left arm was not perfect when he stood up.

Reverend Sykes told Jem that he got his left arm caught in a cotton gin when he was 12 years old. How could Tom do it if his left arm was in bad condition.

Mayella kept crying throughout the trial because of Atticus interrogating her. So after the trial, Tom and Mayella were both convicted and tom explained everything where she hugged him and jumped on him while passing by her house. 

An example of this Tom Robinson Trial is Emmitt Till, where he was accused of flirting with a white woman and he was beaten and shot to death. I think Tom is telling the truth, Mayella is defending herself by lying. She is the one that needs to be charged and guilty.

The Trial

Ah, the trial where there is one innocent person or even two innocent people. Okay so Mayella, nineteen and a half years old, home schooled, apparently got raped by who? Well the victim is Thomas Robinson a black grown man. I mean for this trial I'm like Jem, like Atticus should have won you know? Well whatever what's done its done that's what I kind-of feel like. The reason because really I don't think the judge could change his mind or the others since in that time period there is no equality among people. It's unfair which I don't understand why people do it in the first place.

What was wrong in the first place was the ending when Atticus lost because Thomas was a black man. Well I can't really tell what went wrong because it's really a "well of course" thing like yeah it's him because of "blank" whatever. It's in a period where things don't go well for some and yeah even though it's not Thomas's fault.
 What should have had happen is that really I don't know 'cause anything can happen like a surprise plot of the trial. There are many trials that I don't know of that are crazy, messed up more than this one. But this topic included in the book would make us see what was happening during the time Harper Lee was there. For me the author would want to write out her experiences and how she feels about it.

History Blog

"Yes, suh. I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more'n the rest 'em-"

"You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?" Mr. Gilmer seemed ready to rise to the ceiling. 

"The witness realized his mistake and shifted uncomfortably in the chair. But the damage was done. Below us, nobody liked Tom Robinson's answer. Mr. Gilmer paused a long time to let it sink in."

Since this book was written in the time where there was no equality among human beings also of the Great Depression, of course there is a section in the book connecting to it. That means poverty, and unemployment all over. You know even thought I don't want to say it, but in El Salvador (my home country) it's like the Great Depression everyday. Like it's poor, and there's like no good jobs that's mean but it's true. 

What was wrong well I tell you, you see there was this girl and this grown up man who apparently "raped" her. So then you probably know what came down, If not well there was a trial and guess who won? You guess it the girl, why? Well because in the time of harshness they were in and just like "oh he did it because he's black" like really? That's plain sibling fighting, at least they did do as I guess any trial as in making the victims/others talk. Also I didn't tell you but the girl is Mr. Ewell's daughter who is like nineteen and a half and the grown man is a black man (Thomas Robinson). 

What's wrong with this event of connection to the event is that well unfairness, which I don't enjoy when that person who was guilty in actually innocent. Also of revenge or maybe even of getting vice versa to you coming back, but not since clearly it didn't count. What could have happened that would turn the story (maybe in my view) is that the judge could put guilty on Mayella than Thomas. But of course I'm wrong because really either way I think about it even if she doesn't lie it still goes back to Thomas since he's black. 

He's Innocent , not Guilty

I don't agree with anything that happened in the trial.  It wasn't fair that Tom Robinson was lost the case when he was the only innocent one.  Everyone else lied about what went on, but the court didn't judge Tom by the evidence given, they judged him by the color of his skin.

When the trial begins Heck Tate is the first witness.  He says Bob Ewell makes him go to their house and told him Mayella had been raped.  When he gets there he found Mayella bruised and beaten, she told him Tom Robinson had raped her, but he admits no doctor was summoned.  He also says Mayella's bruises where on the right side of her face.

The next person to take the stand was Bob Ewell.  He says he was coming out of the woods with a load of kindling when  

he heard his daughter yelling.  When he reached the house and looked in the window he saw Tom Robinson raping Mayella, Robinson ran.  He said he went in the house to see if his daughter was alright then ran to get the sheriff. 

The next person to the stand was Mayella herself.  She says she called Tom Robinson inside the fence that evening and offered him a nikle to break up a dresser for her.  Once they got inside the house he raped her and took advantage of her.

The last person to take stand was Tom Robinson.  He testified that he passed the Ewells house as he does everyday on the way to work.  He says she calls him inside to fix a door.  When he sees there's no thing wrong with the door he ask Mayella where the other children were.  She says she sent them off for ice cream.  Afterwards she ask him to get on top of a chair to lift a box down from a dresser.  While he's on the chair she hugs him, take advantage of him and tries to kiss him.  Suddenly Bob Ewell appeared at the window and calls Mayella a whore threatening to kill her.

Being scared Tom ran.

The only story that's adds up is Tom Robinsons story.  He was the only one who didn't make up any lies and told the truth without hesitation.  This is why I didn't agree with the jury's decision.  He was an innocent man with a family that depends on him and didn't deserve any of this. 

If things were to go differently I think Tom Robinson should have won the case.  It was clear that everyone else was guilty and Toms seems more realistic and truthful.

 

DIVERGENCE : There's lots of folks in the world

"As Maycomb county was farm country, nickels and dimes were hard to come by doctors and dentists and lawyers."

"There's four kinds of folks in the world. There's the ordinary kind like us and the neighbors, there's the kind like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dumped, and the negroes."

In the second quote, Scout talk about the types of people there are in Maycomb county. She says the Ewells are filthy, poor, and down at the dumped. Scout, Jem, and his father Atticus Fich are like regular people. She also compares the Ewells to the black people because they are also poor.

This kind of talks about the economic failure during the Great Depression where the stock market crashed, the economy went down, and people lost their money. Just like the ewells.

For the first quote by Atticus, Walter Cunningham Sr was talikng about his property being retailed. Retailed means that a person property or land cannot be sold. I don't know why this concerns Atticus but he might have this feeling that he will be broke and loose the house.

The Finches Racial issues with Tom Robinson

"I'm simply defending a Negro - his name is Tom Robinson. He's a member of Calpurnia's church and Cal knows his family well. She says they're clean leaving folks. Scout you aren't too old enough to understand some things yet."

   Atticus Finch is having a really hard time with his case of defending Tom Robinson. Scout asked him why is he defending him since a student name Cecil Jones is being mean to scout by telling her Scout Finch's daddy defends a black person.

I couldn't find any history that relates to this topic, so I chose the Scottsboro Boys trial. It was a trial where 9 African American teens were accused of raping two white females in in the 1930s. Like to kill a mockingbird, Tom Robinson was also accused of rape as well. Atticus is worried that he is going to loose this case and thinking that Tom is innocent. What's even worse is that both trials lost the case and one of them were either sentenced to death or imprisoned for life. Since the court and jury all had white people in it, they didn't care. While whites were living their life normal, the African Americans were being discriminated, judged, and being put to jail even though they're were innocent

When Atticus said to scout that she isn't too old to understand these type of stuff, he's wrong. She can definitely understand how her father is feeling and so is Tom Robinson.

"This time we aren't fighting the Yankees, we're fighting for our friends. But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they're still our friends and this is still our home."  

He thinks of Tom Robinson as a friend, not an enemy. He knows he innocent, and so does Tom.