Native Americans

                               

Native Americans throughout history have been seen as “Savages” and “Uncivilised” compared to that of the European White Man. All of the Native tribes from across the country were categorised as the same; they all wear feathers, they all use bow and arrows, they all dance around fires. This couldn’t be more from the truth. The diversity of environments determined the way in which the tribes evolved – Weather, landscape, temperature.

This website: http://www.tolatsga.org/aben.html focuses on the history of the Abenaki Tribe. It looks at a range of things associated with the tribe; Names, Language, Divisions, Culture and there History. Extending across most of northern New England into the southern part of the Canadian Maritimes, the Abenaki called their homeland Ndakinna meaning "our land." 

Here are two of the sub catergories in detail:

Population

“Before contact the Abenaki (excluding the Pennacook and Micmac) may have numbered as many as 40,000 divided roughly between 20,000 eastern; 10,000 western; and 10,000 maritime.” Diseases from Europe such as Smallpox, killed off thousands of them. Currently there is about 3,000 members of the tribe left and they have a committee in the State of Vermont. They been given recognition on a local level. But In 1982 they applied for federal recognition which is still pending.

Language

“Algonquin, but distinct from the languages of the Micmac to the north and the New England Algonquin to the south. There was also a dialectic difference between the eastern and western Abenaki with language of the western Abenaki being closer to that of the Pennacook.”

It would seem though that in today’s world Native American Tribe are becoming more accepted on a state level giving them rights they hadn’t had ever before. Hopefully this acceptance will increase on the same path making it a brighter future.

Picture Source: 

http://people.ucls.uchicago.edu/~snekros/2008-9%20webquests/products3/index.html

Tulalip Tribes

http://www.tulaliptribes-nsn.gov/

The Tulalip tribe is located north of Everett and the Snohomish River and west of Marysville, Washington. The tribe population currently has around 4,000 members.
The term 'Tulalip' means 'a bay shaped like a purse' and was used in 1855 to describe the tribes who has joined together on the reservation.
The Tulalip tribe appears  to be economically successful and has high economic standards compared with other tribes as well as high health standards. The reservation owns the Tulalip casino, Cedars cafe, Torch Grill, Tulalip Resort hotel and Spa, etc.
Furthermore, the tribe provides many different services. For example, Health and dental clinics, a senior retirement home, and higher education assistance.
The website also states that the reservation is 'rich with natural resources marine waters, tidelands, fresh water creeks and lakes, wetlands, forests and developable land.' thus, this shows the tribes living conditions are satisfactory, and the website portrays the fact that environment preservation is very important among the tribe. Also, it is evident that the tribe plans to keep their own identity as they still practice their culture through activities such as fishing, hunting, gathering berries, etc. As well as participating in old customs such as Winter dancing, the Salmon ceremony and spiritual work. In addition, one of their values states 'We uphold and follow the teachings that come from our ancestors.'
The website also states the tribes missions and values. For example, they believe they will arrive at a time where each and every person has become most capable. 

Analysis  of Push by Sapphire

http://hhsdrama.com/documents/StudyGuidePush.pdf

I find this analysis of Push by Sapphire to be important because of the fact that it is exceedingly detailed. In this piece of work that is 26 pages long there is a detailed summery and analysis of every chapter as well as a look at all of the characters. after that it looks at import places and objects in the book. Then it goes on to discuses themes. At this point this study guide starts to look at the different style that the author Sapphire has used. Then we get what every student hopes for some important to remember quote from the book and finally there is a number of discussion topics that will help any student get a better understanding of the text.

'Push' by Sapphire review

http://www.womanist-musings.com/2011/09/review-of-push-by-sapphire.html

This review was written by Renee Martin in 'Woman's Musings.' Renee starts with a brief summary of the plot and the characters involved. She states that Clarise represents 'all those who have fallen from the system.' I feel this is true as the idea of the novel is that Clarise is able to 'push' herself in order to gain an education and enhance her own life, which very much follows the whole idea of the American dream.
Renee then goes on to state how Clarisee was shut out even though she was in need of care. She seems sympathetic as she says 'It had me wondering how many victims of child abuse slip through the cracks in just the fashion.' Thus, I believe she is not portraying African Americans in a negative light, rather the authority who fail to help her with her issues back at home. However, it is clear Renee believes that she is treated different due to her race. She states that Clarise refuses to discuss her problems with the police, which is 'another example of how social institutions have let down this young black woman.' as she feels she is unable to trust the white authority.
Renee Martin compares 'Push' with 'the colour purple'. She states that 'As much as this book was about sexual abuse, it was also a statement about the various ways in which the system continues to fail poor people of colour.' I agree with her statement, as even though Clarise pushes herself to read and write and how much readers wish for her to achieve a successful life, it turns out she has HIV, which there seems to be a higher rate of HIV among poor women of a different race.
Renee concludes that 'Push' 'is about seeing those whom we have chosen to create as invisible in order to actively oppress and exploit.' So basically the book had been written in order for more people to acknowledge that there are characters similar to Clarise out there who are not been treated fairly and that something needs to be done about it. 

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/racist-roots-arizonas-immigration-law

http://www.foxnews.com/story/2010/05/06/papers-please-not-exactly/

Here I have two different looks at Arizona’s papers please law. One from the Rachel Maddow show in which they show that this law is not only racist in its design but also the kind of people who created it.

Were as on fox news there atrial was not a look at the problem with this law but a platform for them to tell the Rachel Maddow show to leave the law alone  because they cannot see what was wrong with it.

Pro & For Immigration

http://www.immigrationcontrol.com/

This website is pro Immigration. AIC (Americans for Immigration control) is an 'American non-partisan grassroots organization with more 250,000 members. It was founded in 1983, and the aim of the organization is to stop many 'illegal aliens' crossing the border from Mexico. The fact the Mexicans are labelled as 'illegal aliens' illustrates the organizations distaste for immigration.
They also aim to reduce annual legal immigration to numbers which can be readily assimilated.
The organization comes up with some solutions. They state that the amount of legal immigrants crossing the border should be reduced to no more than 250,000 per year, as well as increasing border control.
Their primary concern is they fear for the unity of the United States. "If we don’t take action now, the surging flood of legal and illegal immigrants from Mexico and Central America will soon form a majority in California and the Southwest. Some of these Latino militants are already organizing to form those states into a new nation called AZTLAN.If and when that happens, these United States will be united no more!"

http://www.nclr.org/index.php/about_us/faqs/the_truth_about_nclr/

This website is FOR Immigration. The NCLR (National council of La Raza) is the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the US. Who are committed to strengthening the nation by promoting advancement of Latino families.
The NCLR has helped more than 22,000 low income Hispanic families purchase their first homes. In addition, various health clinics have helped prevent sickness to up to 100, 000 families. The NCLR works to welcome Hispanic into American society, rather than treating them as different.
The website includes various issues which needs to be addressed. Such as, children and youth, health and nutrition, education, etc. There is also an opportunity for people to help those in their own community to feel accepted and providing them with equal rights.  

Pro and Anti Latino/Hispanic Immigration

Anti Latino/Hispanic Immigration

http://www.fairus.org/

FAIR: Federation for American Immigration Reform

FAIR is an organisation that is against immigration in general, rather than solely Latino or Hispanic immigration. While the don't demand to completely stop immigration, they want to reduce it to a significantly smaller number than currently, which they label 'traditional'.

The site itself is rather clever, in that it doesn't want to eliminate immigration, and uses language the could easily persuade people to see in their favour. However they are clearly against the rising population of foreign born citizens, as shown in their map under 'Immigration Facts', which suggests that the do not approve of the growing percentages of foreign born population, and would like to see the percentage decrease. This shows that they are stuck on the idea that America should be American, and contradicts the idea of the melting pot.

Although the website doesn't specifically state that they are against the immigration of Hispanic/Latino's, I found an article that talks about this:

http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-files/groups/federation-for-american-immigration-reform-fair 

This refers to the founder of FAIR, John Tanton, who 'warned of a "Latin onslaught," complained of Latinos' allegedly low "educability."' Clearly showing that he was not too favourable of Latino's. Additionally in the same article, Linda Chavez, who used to work for one of Tanton's other organisations, resigned because of memos on The Catholic Church and Latin America. She called them "repugnant and not excusable" and "anti-Catholic and anti-Hispanic."

This explores similar issues to those raised in Huntington's 'The Hispanic Challenge', such as the idea of border control, which FAIR advocates, as the border is not as imagery rich as crossing the sea and seeing the statue of Liberty.

Comparison
Both sites look at the issue from the point of the upcoming immigration reform, but from varying sides.

Pro Latino/Hispanic Immigration

http://www.hispanicfederation.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41&Itemid=77 

Hispanic Federation: Taking Hispanic causes to heart.

The Hispanic Federation is an organisation which advocates and seeks to promote the social, political and economic well-being of Hispanic-Americans. On Immigration they believe 'structural changes to the country’s immigration process are necessary to reinvigorate the country’s economy and commitment to citizenship, allow families to reunite and maintain our promise of a better future for all who are willing to work hard and contribute to their families and local communities.'

Again, while the site is not strictly about immigration, it is one of the main issues today, so has prominence. They insist on  family reunification as the chief tenet of immigration reform. However, they are specifically focused on the Latino/Hispanic community as opposed to FAIR.

The site is equivalent to FAIR's in that they have a similar, simple layout, and you can easily find any information required. However they provide help to people who want to Immigrate, which is not something FAIR would do as an organisation.