Wuthering Heights part 1

I agree with number 10 because when i was younger, i didn't have many friends. Anyways, the ones that i had were so close to me that i would believe whatever they said without any objections. I trusted them and i guess they also trusted me.

I also, believe that ghost actually do exist because ghosts are presumed, in my thought, as a new dimension that humans only get a short glimpse of sometimes. If there is a rip in the space-time continuum it will happen through gravitons that make gravity exist in all universes and they can switch through dimensions/universes. Therefore light can sometimes pass through with the gravitons and people get to see an image from another universe/dimension.

Malcolm X post 6

Malcolm went on his Hajj to Mecca and I was kind of disappointed. He goes there and he starts changing his mind about all the white people and how he hates them. I mean he goes around preaching that he hates all whites and they deserve to go to hell and just because he sees a bunch of white people in Mecca that are muslim, he changes his mind just like that. At that point in the book, i kept on thinking, "Does he not realize how many people he has affected through his preaching and now he just changes his ideals and train of thought to combat his prior beliefs?" I didn't make any sense to me whatsoever. Anyways, As I read Malcolm change/purify his should once again, it was also an awe-aspiring moment because we saw Malcolm really had a position he can take on his beliefs. Before he was hopping around like traveler on a Continental Trip around Europe. The site below shows what Malcolm actually did in Mecca for his Hajj.

http://www.hajjpros.com/info.htm

The site shows the symbolism and the reasons certain activities are set up in the way they are. An example is when Malcolm does "Stoning the Devil", he is pretty much picturing the devil inside of him and throwing it away through the stones or you can look at it in a way where he is throwing stones at the devil inside of him. The Hajj is meant for Muslims to purify their soul and I believe, even though it was very hypocritical, Malcolm did it to reverse his actions of what he preached before he came here. He did purify his mind and soul but sadly he didn't get to use his new skills because he was assassinated. And it's kind of hard to preach when your dead.

Malcolm X post 5

Chapter 13 really was the jump start to Malcolm's new life of solidarity and structure. When Elijah Muhammad gave Malcolm The post of minister I could feel the feel the pride he had for himself but I kept on feeling a little thing in the back of my head that Elijah and the Nation of Islam were setting up Malcolm because they knew he was going to be a great activist. Just look at history, Julius Caesar was promoted to dictator of Rome and he was brought up on the proverbial podium and then his own people killed him. Also, Alexander the Great was one of the greatest conquerers in history and when he started to gain all this land under his dominion, he was poisoned by his generals. These rulers were so powerful that they potentially dug their own graves. I feel that Malcolm is doing this to himself because he keeps on accepting all the jobs Elijah presents him with. Malcolm didn't deny any job and that bothered me. He started to put himself and his needs before the whole Islamic community by starting all these temples. Another thing, why would Malcolm try to convert Christians when they are the ones that believe that Jesus is white? Shouldn't he be trying to act against them and try to destroy the churches? Christianity is different than Islam and the following link maps out the differences between the two religions.

http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/charts/christianity_islam.htm

The site above shows that Islam and Christianity are related and different in some ways. This explains how Malcolm has a grudge against the Christians. However, he was talking more to the white people, i believe, than to the black because he would always say negative things about the whites and really didn't focus as much on the blacks. Yes he did only want black people to follow him, but he was talking to the whites about their wrong doings but he preached to the blacks about a better life. As I read further into chapter 11, I saw how Malcolm was taking things from the Nation of Islam and all I could think was that he takes advantage of everyone he meets. I mean he was taking on random jobs that Shorty would get him in the beginning of the book and now he is taking cars and other properties from the Nation of Islam.

Malcolm X post 4

After reading chapters 10-11, I feel like Malcolm is really pulling his life together by showing us a glimpse of what he will do in the future. However, I still feel like Malcolm is being brainwashed into his new life and he doesn't realize it because he is vulnerable at this stage in his life. I mean the guy just got sentenced to 10 years in prison and hooked on all kinds of drugs. If a guy tells you that there is way to astray from the destructive nature you have before, you go for it. I marvel at the way Malcolm starts reading and starts learning about all the teachings of Elijah Muhammad and how he becoming a devout Muslim whether the world wants him to or not. When he starts learning about black history and starts making connections, I realized that he would be a strong leader. He made lots of references to his movement when he starts reading about slavery. As prison life goes on, Malcolm shows of glimpses of how he will speak and who he will speak to in the future. In chapter 11, Malcolm criticizes the prison's minister by debating over whether Jesus is white or black. This is what I'm talking about with the brainwashing thing. He just starts going off about racism in every comment he or anybody else makes. Just because you found a way out doesn't mean you have to confront every white person as if they were evil in every way possible. The following link shows a list of the most influential people of the twentieth century. Malcolm made it, but what number did he get?

http://www.the-top-tens.com/lists/most-influential-leaders-20th-century.asp

The website shows ten most influential people of the 20th century. Considering all the people in this century, Malcolm made it in to the top ten. I think he belongs where he is because he didn't live that long to follow one organization. He went from jail to the NOI and then to Muslim Mosque Inc. If Malcolm wasn't assassinated, I really think he would have made it up higher on the list near Martin Luther King Jr. Now that I look at it, even though MLK and Malcolm were rivals in their motives, they had the same goal. To get the black people of that time to really open their eyes and believe that they deserve a better life than they had. The way Malcolm and MLK grew up were very different but similar as well. Malcolm grew up with no mom and dad to guide him where to go and he became lost in his sense of pride causing him to steer towards drugs and alcohol. MLK grew up with parents and he had a good education, going to colleges like Morehouse college and Boston University. They were the same because they demanded better of themselves, MLK before Malcolm, but in their different ways they became great black civil rights leaders. Looking at the history of these two people shows how no matter who you are--black, white, brown, purple, you have a chance to do something.

Maclom X post 3

Chapter 10 and 11 are the most important parts of the book, in my eyes. When he meets Bimbi in prison, he was brainwashed into believing that all white people were horrible and were the devils of society. The whole thing about Mr. Yacub seems to be a made up story just to get people to join the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X started to believe in all the nonsense that Bimbi said and Malcolm actually bought into it. I was happy for Malcolm when he started to turn his life around with all the books in the libraries. While I'm reading, I had feeling that something was just wrong the way Malcolm started following Islam. I mean even though you are vulnerable, you don't just listen to a guy that comes up to you and say that only Islam is the way to clear your conscience of all the evil you have committed. However, I do realize Malcolm's point of view because he did want to stop destroying himself any longer and do something productive with his life. I feel like he was brainwashed into becoming an active leader for the Nation of Islam. I highly doubt that a mad scientist would make white people when he lived around only black people. Bimbi did say that there were only black people in the beginning of time. In the following link, is an article that proves that black people were the first pharaohs of the world.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/02/black-pharaohs/robert-draper-text.html (multiple pages long)

The article above shows about how a man traveled Egypt and and became the first black pharaoh. As I have learned in world history, the first people originated in Africa and then the white people started to migrate. They started to take over the black people because the white people thought they were more civilized. I believe on this theory because I have have watched much about how the skull formation of black people is a link between modern day humans and the neanderthals of ancient Earth. I do not however think that white man was able to become so powerful just by their thoughts. Many people also say that black people are more athletic. Well, if they were, didn't they fight back against the whites? Certain questions are left unanswered but through this history of black people, Malcolm X stated in his movement that black people need to make a movement back to their homelands in Africa.

Maclom X post 2

After reading chapters 5-8, I feel like there was a change in Malcolm X that was out of what he was used to. I mean even though he used to dance, he now started drugs and even started robbing. I mean at least do something new. Drugs are too cliché, but his life seemed hopeless at this point and that is why he did what he did, I think. The way he grew up shows how he now acts like he will always be oppressed and he has lost hope to strive for a better life. Chris rock said best in the following link.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Hde6O0v0Jw (the video has curses in it so I caution you).

Chris Rock talks about how black people and white people are never treated the same way. Malcolm knows that and since he is doing all drugs and robbing places, he feels like he is fixed in his class. Now racism is what Malcolm X sees all around and just accepts it. While I was reading this I thought to myself "Is that guy crazy, he doesn't have to take that from the white man". Chris Rock showed me that oppression can be overcome and I am not just saying it, okay? I am a minority myself so I know how it feels like to be beat up on. I mean I have grown my whole life with racial slurs and even vandalism in my day. Before I moved here, my dad owned a Subway™/convenient store. When 9/11 occurred, all the white people in the neighborhood, came broke the windows and tossed over tables and threw around all the products. Most of them even threatened to kill him and his family if we didn't leave the country. I was in my dad's store when this happened. I mean I felt so helpless because they had guns and everything and were holding the guns up to the employees. I saw my dad so scared that I just hated not being able to be strong enough to stand up and stop all of the nonsense. I was only 8 but for that moment I felt 4 or 2. Chris said that he is not the real owner of his house and he would move out when the white people came back. Ever since that day in my dad's store, I have had a grudge against all the white people that I meet. My open-mindedness has been taken away but I am fighting to get it back. I know that I don't ridicule very well and every time I see white people clutch their purses and suddenly become vigilant of their belongings when they see my kind, i feel like hurting them but I know that maybe the had a traumatic experience in their life as well or that was just the way they grew up. Until I write again, see you guys later.

Halem Trip

I don't know where to start, but i'll give it a try. First we did the tour of Harlem and even though i knew a lot of the history behind it I never realized how much there was. I knew about the migrations, and a couple of other things, into Harlem but not much beyond that. Neal was great because he would talk about all the interesting sites in the city. As I looked around at all the sites I remembered flashbacks from various movies I had seen depicting Harlem. It was and amazing tour especially when we saw Rucker Park. I admire the NBA and I realized that most of my favorite players grew up on that court.

Sylvia's was great. The cornbread was awesome and since I'm a vegetarian and all, I got a special dish just for me. The macaroni and cheese was fantastic and the string beans tasted just like how I would cook them. For me, Sylvia's was great even though some of the students think so.

The Apollo theater was, in my opinion, the second best part of the whole trip. I mean to be in a historic building as old as the Apollo really gets a person to appreciate music and entertainment of all kinds. Our host at the Apollo was a great speaker and he knew EVERYTHING about the apollo. When we went to see the stage, I was filled with joy because one of my favorite comedians, Chris Rock, performed there and just to be on the same stage was amazing. The marvelous history of music and talent that walked through that theater was just mind-boggling. Legends like Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Marvin Gay, B.B. King! Oh man that was awesome.

The best part of the day was when we went to the Mosque. When I went in there, I felt like a changed person. I mean it wasn't just a building to me, it was like I was home in God's house. I sensed a feeling that I have felt before when I walked in there. It was like that all the sins that I have committed were barred out of this holy place and I felt like a pure soul. I feel like that whenever I walk into any religious institution but I don't know I keep feeling the same feelings over and over again. Now I'm hindu and when Brother Tarik spoke, he didn't praise his own religion, he talked about the ideals of Islam and what it is. He was a great speaker and I admired how much he knew about Harlem and the neighborhood around the Mosque.

Overall, This trip was amazing and I thank all the Teachers for putting this together. Neal Shoemaker and Andi Owens were the best tour guides ever. Brother Tarik was great. I hope to return to Harlem soon and hope to revisit the historic places in it.