archives visit

In today's class we were assigned a visit to The Wager Archive here at La Guardia. The Wagner Archives is an archive dedicated to preserving, and maintaining New York history. Among the many things that are  preserve there we were greeted by a speech from Mayor Wagner . Robert Wagner was the mayor of New York back in 1964. The speech at was given on July 22, 1964 right at the height of the Harlem riots. The purpose of the speech was to address the issues brought about by the riots.
           Before we began to examine the speech we were advised to always check if the resources of a text are reliable. As well as the best source to use in proving any argument is to use the primary source. We were given strategies on marking important key words, or phrases that appear in a text.  This can help in writing a draft or final paper on any assignment.

             As we began to examine the speech we discovered that the speech was televised. We also discovered that at the time of the riots mayor was out of the country, attending the World Conference in Europe. Due to the riots the Mayor had to cut the trip short, address the situation. According to the speech Wagner personally went Harlem to see the damage that had been done He stated that he was told the sanitation department had cleaned the seen, but upon his arrival it appeared nothing was cleared. He also mentioned the look of fear people in Harlem had. Wager made clear that the majority of the resident s in Harlem were not responsible for the riot, but also stated that the police was doing had to be done. “The police are under legal mandate and obligation to protect, with all the force that is necessary and justified” (Remarks by mayor Robert F. Wagner 1).

            We discussed that the speech seemed to be like a tactical political move for Wagner. It seemed this way, because although he addressed magnitude of damage caused in Harlem he excused the police’s behavior. Furthermore he tries to persuade the audience that “Negros” needed this type of law enforcement. “Without law and order, Negro, and civil rights progress would be set back half a century, Law and order are a Negro’s best friend” (3). That seemed ridiculous to me how can a system that oppresses the people to say their part, and pushes them to violence a friend?  

working on a chain gang: intro

In this blog i'd like to disscuss the illusions we so often buy into of  a 'better tomorrow.'  Although according to Walter Mosly's Working on a Chain Gang, there are no such thing. The introduction to this written piece leaves a clear message that the American culture has a very long way to go before reaching a so called 'better tomorrow'. The American people have many unaddressed issues that in this piece are expressed right to the point. By the 'people' meaning America's working class that has no real chance at moving up the chain. According to Mosley the government along side big corporations have no intentions in creating better living standards for it's lower class citizens. Instead all that truly matters is the increase in profit at whatever the cost. Mosley also speaks volumes of the African American struggle in America, and how this same struggle reflects the one facing Americans today. In a very ironic way this economic system unites the American society in very manipulating way. "Money is the super drug" says Mosley," the one fix that you can't leave .. because withdrawal is fatal". He further elaborates by pointing out that capitalism has no race, nationality, nor humanity (Mosley 12}. Although slavery was abloished in 1865 in Mosley's  point of view slavery has not been 'abolished' yet. It still hangs tight not only in  Americas economic system but in it's media, technology, and in the psychs of its' people. In this introduction Walter proposes to take a look at the nature of this modern day slavery. To take a step back and examine as to where these 'chains' came from, and how the Black experience in America is tide to all these issues.