Introduction

          History behind the notorious Alcatraz island

           Justice plays a major role in our society today. Serving the people is important as protecting them and bringing order to the community. For example a person who commits an armed robbery or a person who sells illegal drugs are considered felonies under the law and must be brought to justice as service to the people. A person who commits a felony is usually sent to prison as punishment. However criminals, who continue to commit crimes or refuse to conform under the rules of prison, are sent to Alcatraz Island. As said by Warden Johnston “If you disobey the rules of society, they send you to prison; if you disobey the rules of the prison, they send you to US. Alcatraz…” Alcatraz island was once considered the ultimate  punishmen tput forth on a criminal. The island earned a reputation of establishing the most brusque prison system that confined some of the most ruthless and dangerous convicts known in the United States during the 1900's. For example Alphonse Capone well known as “Scarface,” George Kelly well known as “Machine gun Kelly” and Robert Stroud well known as “The Birdman.” Although commonly famous for its establishment as a penitentiary, Alcatraz served a different purpose before its foundation was completed. Following this further, after its shutdown in 1963, the island sparked better ideas that was later established from 1969-1973. The purpose of this paper is to explain the history of Alcatraz as a prison and more. This paper focuses on the island's historical events that occured before Alcatrazs' establihsment following its closure into its present event.

O le taualuga by Pacific Soul
 

Music: O le taualuga

            Music is the definition of emotion and learning. I find music as a gateway for individuals to create a connection with a particular song in order to relate his or her emotions, whether it’s to feel happy, sad, hype, or relax. Music also conveys a certain message that an artist wants the audience to learn and understand its significance. For example beautiful by performing artist Christina Aguilera is a song based on the beauty of every person despite his or her imperfections. The message conveyed in this song is that no individual should feel insecurity from judgment of others. It also sets an emotion of happiness to ease persons of mutual feeling pertaining to the song’s mood and message. Sometimes messages create a story that is narrated within the lines of a song to tell of an important event whether historic or not. Artists use music to reach out to the audience in order for their message to be listened, felt, and understood.

            “O le taualuga” by performing group artist Pacific Soul is an old traditional song of my Samoan culture commonly played at most fa’afiafiagas (functions). Taualuga is the final dance performed by a single female dancer called the taupou. A taupou is a young female of high rank within a village that is selected by a high chief in honor of performing the taualuga. I purposely selected the song o le taualuga because it is a well written song in my language detailing preparations and actions of the taupou. For example the beginning lines of the song “O le taualuga o le a fa’ai’u mea uma, olioli malie se’ese’e mai, ua matagofie.”  It’s statement meaning the finale of the fa’afiafiaga and the taupou’s graceful dance performance. Other lines that explain the taupou’s actions are “Fa’avai lou tino, tasi ou taga fo’i e manino” meaning cover your body with baby oil, your actions must be cleared. “Siva ma le ataata ata, ole aso ua maualuga faaali lou fia fia i si ou siva Samoa” meaning dance with a smile and showcase your happiness of the Samoan dance.

            A taualuga is a type of performance that brings happiness and joy from the audience. Selecting this song not only details the actions of the taupou but is considered a story. Before modernization reached my people, my culture used local hand-made instruments to create music in order to narrate the significance the taualuga. O le taualuga is one of the oldest songs past down from generation to generation played for the taupou. I enjoy this song because it plays a major role in my culture following the importance of history and meaning behind it.

            Mahatma Gandhi created a quote called “a nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” I strongly agree with his statement because my culture is of immense importance to me. The selected song o le taualuga is a message that I find interesting following its lyrics for me as an audience to understand the traditions that today are still carried on.. Songs in my language brings me happiness because it reminds me of where I come from and who I am. Music is a strong connection between me and my culture because it reminds me of who I am the traditions I hold

Tame a wild tongue

To strip one of his or her language would be impossible, even if cutting one’s tongue off as a final result. In “How to tame a tongue” Azanduela’s uses statements in her language to emphasize and describe the implied emotions towards punishment of speaking her native tongue. For example “nos quieren poner candados en la boca” meaning we want to put padlocks in their mouths. Or “tenemos que hacerla lucha. Quien esta protegiendo los ranchos de mi gente? Quien esta trantando de cerrar la fusura entre la india y el blanco en nuestra sangre? el chicano, si el chicano que anda como un landron en su propia casa.” We must make it fight. Who is protecting the ranches of my people? Who is trying to close the fusura between India and the white in our blood? The Chicano, if the Chicano that walks like a Landron in your own home. These statements represent Azanduela’s heart for her people and the significance of their language because it identifies who they are. Although there are consequences towards speaking her native tongue, cutting or taming a wild tongue could never be stripped.

Language, culture, and religion are my identity indicators. I am Samoan and I speak my language fluently. My Samoan culture is strongly connected to our culture and tradition. For example, selecting a student unless volunteered to say prayer before class is a tradition. The purpose of this tradition is to bless an individual and their families on a new day for protection. A common quote used within our people relevant to our culture and the example is “Samoa muamua le Atua” meaning Samoa God is first. Although I have discontinued practicing this tradition, I do it on free time. Traditions such as this remind me of the traditions and culture that is significant amongst my people and that I should practice it any way possible as respect.

The Reconstruction Era

                 

              Throughout this course I have learned the untold history behind the reconstruction era. I have a better understanding about the significance and process of the established amendments. In 1865 the 13^th Amendment released African Americans of servitude. In 1866 the 14^th amendment was established which granted equal rights to African Americans. Both 13^th and 14^th amendments sparked the beginning change to colored males. Although this change was great, it was unacceptable to white American citizens. In 1865 white males gathered together to form societies that opposed these amendments. During this time heads were lynched, bodies were put under flames, and lives were at its highest threat for colored persons. In addition segregation played a major role within the community at the time. Even though African Americans were free men with granted civil rights, they were limited to certain public areas, food, water, transportations, and occupations. These events were a tragedy because of the failure for majority of white citizens to practice the benefit of change that was that was taking action.

                A new system developed during the reconstruction era called sharecropping. During the establishment of this new system, African Americans were limited other occupations other than servitude or farming. Sharecropping was an economic system that allowed a tenant to house African Americans in return of producing crops as payment. However under sharecropping, Majority of profit made was given to the landowners and about 5% or less was offered to the crop producers. Croppers were not satisfied with unfair payment and housing offered. As the Southern states concentrated on sharecropping, the northern states took its interest onto industrialization.

                The northern states concentrated on developing new machineries to make profits. In the southern states planting was done initially by hand. Whereas the northern states machineries were created to make these tasks easier and faster. Other machineries were created to perform different tasks such as the textile which weaved and or knitted fabric to create clothing. The northern states were becoming increasingly profitable and at faster rate compared to the southern states.

                As a student I have become more interested in the history of the reconstruction era following its after events. I have enjoyed this course so far throughout this semester and I am prepared to learn and discuss.  

Loopholes around African American Rights

Civil rights granted to African Americans were subverted and hindered. Black codes issued special regulations that limited right to own property, engagement in occupations other than laborer or servant, and segregation of races in public areas. These policies also known as Jim Crow laws were violations of the Civil Rights Act in 1866. Although Republican governments passed civil rights act in support of African Americans, little effort was made to enforce its legislation. Thousands of black were murdered by whites in 1865-1866 (America Past and Present:  Chapter 16 pg. 216) and only few were brought to justice. The right for African American or black suffrage stirred greater tension amongst the whites. Feared that blacks would gain equal power, the whites organized mobs to keep black from voting. To limit an individual’s right to vote, a literacy test was issued. If he could not read he could not vote. Other methods issued to limit voting were poll taxes, property qualifications, or grandfather clause which meant, if an individual’s grandfather was a slave, that individual could not vote. These policies created difficulties against African Americans following their rights granted that were supposedly guaranteed the equal rights of men.

                 

Owl Creek Bridge summary

Peyton Farquhar a confederate planter lands himself on owl Creek Bridge with hands and neck tied in preparation of his lynch. He hears a sound similar to a blacksmith’s hammer clanging on an anvil seconds before his death.

 A disguised Union soldier as a confederate stands outside his home. Peyton is informed that Union soldiers have gathered to rebuild railroads near Owl Creek Bridge. The soldier successfully convinces Peyton to help sabotage the bridge however upon his arrival he is ambushed. When Peyton is hung, the rope breaks and he falls into the waters. He manages to escape by diving into the river avoiding fired bullets. He follows a road leading to his house and by morning break, he has found his wife. Peyton is fatigued and as he hugs his wife, he is shot.

The gunfire shot that killed Peyton represented the moment he was lynched. His escape was the imagination thought in merely seconds before he was hung.