Essay 1 Freedom

Renato Ramblas
May 6, 2015
Proffessor Young English 1101
Essay 1


                                                                    Freedom


        "There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundation of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges. A promise all men would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness". These are the words of Martin Luther King Jr. in his pursuit for every man no matter the race or color in America be free. Despite Martin Luther Kin's best efforts, many individuals had little to no freedom in America for instance, in James McBride's novel " The Good Lord Bird", readers are introduced to two characters Sibonia and Pie. Both Sibonia and Pie are women slaves working for slave owner Miss Abbey in her businesses . One would think that both Sibonia and Pie are equally without freedom because they are slaves but that is far from the case. Pie is freer than Sibonia because she had more rights as a slave than Sibonia did.
          
 How can a slave be free or even have any freedoms at all? As long as you were black you had no freedom period! Since freedom can be defined in many ways I'll be concentrating on whether Pie or Sibonia had more rights than the other. If one of these characters had more rights than I conclude one was in fact freer than the other. Pie was a slave who worked in Miss Abbey's  whorehouse. Pie was not like other Negro's she was special. Pie was a mulatto woman. In contrast Sibonia was a slave who worked outdoors at a pigpen. Sibonia is a outspoken individual and somewhat crazy as well.

Slaves who worked indoors were above those who worked outdoors. Unlike Sibonia, Pie worked indoors as a whore in Miss Abbey's whorehouse. Working indoors had its advantages compared to working outside. Outdoor workers had hard manual labor  while working indoors did not. Also working indoors meant you had more contact with the outside world. I would even go on to say Pie is a step below Miss Abbey in authority. According to Onion, " Miss Abby gived her the run of the place, let her choose her own customers more or less, and live as she wanted." (McBride).This made Pie free because she had certain rights a colored woman wouldn't. If your slave owner gave you rights to operate one of there most successful businesses alone you weren't just looked as a slave anymore you were viewed as a person who could be trusted.

The differences between how Sibonia and Pie dressed also determined why Pie was freer than Sibonia. Working as a whore Pie had to wear clothing that made men dumbstruck. According to Onion, Pie wore a flowered blue dress. Other slaves like Sibonia didn't even wear clothing but instead  would wear rags and walk barefoot. Clothes were a sign of freedom because of it defined your position as  a slave. People today may not think wearing clothes meant you were free but it did. Clothing made slaves more or less feel human instead of thinking there animals or  tools. The higher the position you were as a slave the more a slave would feel that they were equal in the eyes of whites.

On the other hand, Sibonia didn't have the right to dress like Pie did. Sibonia wore rags and had no shoes. This was a sign that you were a nobody in the eyes of your slave holder and even other slaves that had better jobs around a plantation. Wearing rags dehumanized yard workers like Sibonia making  it seem that despite how hard they worked they'll never be free.

Another reason Pie was freer than Sibonia was because of were she lived. Pie lived indoors and Sibonia lived outside. Living indoors was far better than living outside. Living indoors meant warmth and safety. Slaves that lived indoors like Pie also had the right to feel white. Did white people sleep outside? No, slaves slept outside. So this feeling of experiencing what a white man or woman would live like every day kind of let you escape from reality believing one is not a slave but a free man or woman.

However, Sibonia was a slave that didn't live inside but outside. Sibonia was less free because she didn't have a room to herself like Pie. All Sibonia had was the cold hard ground to sleep on. Slaves like Sibonia had no right to sleep on a bed as if they were white. If a slave like Sibonia were to sneak inside to sleep indoors they would be killed immediately! Pie however could sleep outside if she wanted but why should she? If Pie could sleep outside without being sent to the slaughter doesn't that prove Sibonia was less free than Pie?

Most importantly, it is how even slaves themselves treated one another that determined who was free or not. In America today everyone is entitled to freedom of speech. If someone spoke to in a way you didn't like you have the right to speak your mind and retaliate. This was not the case for a slave like Sibonia she couldn't speak back to anyone not even another slave. When Onion spoke to Sibonia he refer to her as  a " mealymouth, lowlife, no-count, starving pen nigger" (McBride). If someone spoke to me that way I would knock them out because I have the freedom to or right to. Sibonia however couldn't hit or talk back at Onion a indoor nigger fearing she could die if she did retaliate.

In conclusion, Pie had a life that was more free than Sibonia. Although both  Pie and Sibonia were slaves Pie had more rights than Sibonia.

cover letter renato

May 05, 2015

Renato Ramblas

546 Brace Avenue

Perth Amboy, New Jersey

Professor Young

222 Monniger Hall

College Writing Department

Madison, New Jersey 07940

Dear Reader:

            In this writing portfolio I have written three essays entitled Freedom, A Time to Break Silence, and Qatar 2022 World Cup. Each essay was unique in its own way. Not to mention each essay had its own complications as well. The essays in this portfolio are arranged in chronological order from essay 1 (Freedom) to essay 3 (Qatar 2022 World Cup). The following will discuss my strengths and weaknesses in my writing; show what I have learned this semester, and so much more. 

           

Sincerely,

Renato Ramblas

essay 2

Renato Ramblas

Monday March 2, 2015

Professor Young

English 1101

Essay 2

A Time to Break Silence

            Who are the people who have the power to speak for those who cannot? The words of the people cannot be heard if the people in charge don’t allow them to speak. It is up to those who have the power that can and will represent the people to break our silence. April 4th 1967 Martin Luther King Jr. gave a speech entitled “Beyond Vietnam a Time to Break Silence” protesting America’s involvement in Vietnam. King urges Americans to speak against the actions of the American government in a peaceful manner rather than be silent about it. Just like King others are also breaking silence in order to get their point across for instance Sibonia from James McBride’s novel The Good Lord Bird. She is black woman seeking freedom from slavery for herself and other African American in America.  Being silent will not solve your problems but letting your voice be heard will promote change.

            In 1967, black Americans were not equal in a world run by whites. Although the white government thinks blacks were indeed equal to whites at this time they were wrong. If blacks were equal then why did America have segregated schools and bathrooms?  Martin Luther King Jr. protested the lives of innocent Americans both black and white when he delivered his speech Beyond Vietnam a Time to Break Silence. King states, “I have moved to break the betrayal of my own silences and to speak from the burning of my own heart, as I have called for radical departures from the destruction of Vietnam” (King). Despite how America made it seem fighting this war in Vietnam was necessary King broke his silence to reveal that it actually wasn’t.  Though many people believe he should keep his mouth shut, King sees an opportunity to speak his mind so that it may result in change.

            Just like King Sibonia also sees an opportunity for change. As a slave in Miss Abby’s plantation she is planning a rebellion against the white man for enslaving her people. Eventually Sibonia does get caught conspiring to murder whites but it is what she said that was so impactful. When she was charged with inciting rebellion Sibonia, declares "I am the woman" (McBride 162) without any fear. Sibonia is not afraid for her actions in contrast she is proud of it. In her view, being silent and not admitting to the crime is far worse than what is to come for Sibonia.

            Above all King empathizes as Americans we should stand up for injustice not just overseas in Vietnam but in our own country as well. When addressing the American people King says “We are called to speak for the weak, for the voiceless, for the victims of our nation and for those it calls "enemy," for no document from human hands can make these humans any less our brothers” (King). As a country a war should not be the answer to unite the American people for a brief period of time. Americans no matter your race or color are equal at all times not just in a time of war when we need men to fight for our army. King speaks out for the men of color and whites that are working together in Vietnam “the voiceless” that someday change will occur in America where men of color and white people could live together and experience the brotherly bond they have formed fighting for their country.

            Unlike King, Sibonia takes more of a direct approach as she tries to accomplish her goal as she confronts her enemy face to face. When Sibonia was getting interrogated by whites because of her actions Sibonia also said “And I am not ashamed or afraid to confess it” (McBride 163). Sibonia takes full responsibility for her actions and will not change a thing. Why should Sibonia be afraid or even be ashamed of her actions? Sibonia was fearless until she died for a cause that she so dearly cared about. King wanted the government to change through words and peacefully, Sibonia however attempts to take matters in her own hands and as a result she died for change.

In conclusion, Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech Beyond Vietnam a Time to Break Silence, he believes no matter your color or race people should speak their mind because it can lead to change. Speaking up rather than being silent like King and Sibonia have done. Although King promotes a non-violent approach for the American people while Sibonia doesn’t, they both want change. In today’s society people should break their silence. Breaking your silence is not a crime but being silent should be.

Works Cited

            King, Martin Luther Jr. “Beyond Vietnam a Time to Break Silence.” Clergy and Leyman

                 Concerned about Vietnam, Riverside Church, New York City. 4 April 1967. Keynote

                    Address.

            McBride, James. The Good Lord Bird. New York: Penguin Group, 2013. Print.

                                   

Essay 3 Research

Renato Ramblas

Tuesday April 13, 2015

Professor Young

English 1101

Essay 3

Qatar 2022 World Cup

            What sporting event happens every four years?  Once every four years that simple thing can drastically change the world. It closes the schools, closes the shops, and can close cities. Gives people around the world something to hope for. Gives countries respect where respect is in short supply. It is a global event that unites people from every part of the world agreeing on one thing because of a ball and a goal. If you haven’t figured it out yet I’m talking about the FIFA World Cup.  It was just a year ago that the world saw Germany lift the cup and now soccer fans cannot wait  to see who will be the next world champions in 2018. However, the soccer community will not be pleased with the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar. There will no longer be a summer World Cup and European leagues are now forced to change their regular season schedules to accommodate FIFA’s AWFUL mistake. Many soccer personalities have come out in outrage and even Europe’s top leagues are threatening legal action against FIFA. Has FIFA made the right business decision to hold a World Cup in Qatar?

            A traditional World Cup begins in June and ends in July. In Qatar the tournament will start in November and end on the eighteenth of December because of the heat in Qatar. A normal summer day in Qatar can see temperatures from 35-40 degrees Celsius (90-105 degrees Fahrenheit) (Sky sports). As a result many of Europe’s top leagues like the English Premier League (EPL) and the Liga BBVA (Spanish league soccer) are outraged. They are obligated to switch match days for the league, league cup matches, and match days for the clubs that have qualified to play in either the UEFA Champions league or UEFA Europa League (Separate League competitions that qualified teams from Europe contest to find out what team is Europe’s best).  As a result club owners and club officials from both large and small soccer teams demand financial compensation claiming “This is seriously damaging to the European leagues both from a sporting and a financial point of view” (TheNational).

           Knowing FIFA they believe by flashing money around no matter the problem it can be solved. Normally FIFA would pay clubs for releasing players to attend the World Cup but now they plan to triple the amount paid to clubs who release their players for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to US$209 million (TheNational). However not ever soccer club have players who are called up by their nation to play in a world cup. Small clubs like Eibar in Spain have no international players and aren’t a big club like Real Madrid (valued at $3.44 billion and every player in their 23 man squad plays for their nation). What will happen to small clubs like Eibar who will have their season fractured by a sudden break half way through the season(Qatar 2022: World Cup fall-out…) ? Till this day FIFA has no response for that question.

            Although clubs want financial compensation FIFA have come out they will do no such thing. FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke had this to say, “There will be no compensation. There are seven years to reorganize."(Fifa rules out compensation). FIFA are now backed up in a corner and they’ll do anything they can to avoid paying clubs even more money. However it’s their duty to pay these clubs. No one expected Qatar to host a World Cup and not in a million years did the soccer community expect a World Cup to be played in the winter. Due to FIFA’s poor decision making it has hurt them where it hurts the most their wallets.

            FIFA throughout the years have made great decisions to expand the global game of soccer but granting Qatar to host the 2022 world cup is not one of them. FIFA has disrupted the natural flow of how certain leagues work and arrange match day fixtures. Not to mention not having a World Cup held in the summer has enraged many fans and soccer clubs. FIFA has made a very poor choice allowing the 2022 World Cup to be held in Qatar.

           

 Works Cited

France, Agence. “Europe’s top leagues threaten legal action over Qatar 2022 World Cup  

     winter dates”. TheNational.TheNational, 21 Mar. 2015. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

    Roan, Dan. “Qatar 2022 World Cup: Final confirmed as 18 December”. BBC.BBC,

      19 Mar. 2015. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

         Roan, Dan. “Qatar 2022: World Cup fall-out could tear football apart”. BBC.BBC,

           25 Feb. 2015. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

                           “2022 World Cup: Fifa rules out compensation for unhappy clubs”. BBC.BBC,

                               25 Feb. 2015. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

                                    Burlaga, Kate. “Qatar 2022: What does a winter World Cup mean? How

                                       hot will it be? And how much hassle will it cause”. SkySports.SkySports,

                                         25 Feb. 2015. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.