La Guardia Wagner Archives Visit

When visiting the La Guardia Wagner archives, I’ve learned their collections are more elaborate and extensive. They have catalog information on former NY mayors such as LaGuardia, Wagner, Beam, Koch, and Giuliani as well as the Queens local history, which would be one of my favorites. While there, we reviewed a speech Mayor Wagner made a little after the 1964 Harlem Riots. We went in depth analyzing the speech, paragraph by paragraph finding key points on how to interpret and have a better understanding the speech. Thus using the same approach we can relate to other documents for future referencing. The Wagner archives can be informative and useful for academic use and or personal knowledgeable growth.

                While the 1964 Harlem Riots was occurring in New York City Mayor Wagner was abroad conferencing about poverty and civil rights. Little as he knew it was happening right in his back yard. Wagner rushed back as soon as possible to speculate and address the issue. Wagner was sympathetic to the issue; he voiced his understanding of what’s happening within the black community, yet was stern to the offenders. We’ve read a lot of pieces corresponding indirectly and directly to the Harlem riots, mainly from the peoples and authorities point of view, getting to see the other side such as the “commander and chief” brings some new perspective to the riots. It is actual documents and thoughts coming from that time.

Malcolm X

Malcolm X refers to a lot of frustration;
Malcolm X feels the Negro community is being used for political votes from white
politicians. While they are being promised all types of hopeful roads ahead, this
is complete lie and misguidance for votes. Malcolm x feels they are being
treated unfairly due to skin color. They are being picked as in superior and
less important, their lives carry lesser value. African Americans have a lot of
frustration, Negros is banning together in all types of movements, but the
sense of what’s going on in the Negro community is invisible. False lies,
giving misleading impressions about African Americans lead to hostile Negros. Negros
is ready to protect themselves, in case of police revolt or brutality. No effort
is being made in uniting Negros, this should be a priority. This is a breakdown
on the international power structure.

Workin On The Chain Gang Chapters Two and Three

In chapter two of Walter Mosley’s Workin On The Chain Gang he discusses the many chains we have that hinder us from seeing ourselves and the world. One man aspect of that is the media ranging from the nightly news, newspaper, TV sitcoms, movies, sports, and Hollywood.  Its takes away from our ability to understand and comprehend what’s really going on in our lives and the world. We spend most of our days consumed with media being unconscious, without silence and evaluation (27). Mosley states “The middle and upper classes enjoy the fruits of production while the work strains to survive” (Mosley 22). Lower class society toil to produce products and services for upper classes but yet still look for approval and various support from the upper class (32). Regardless of skin color we depend on media and jobs for abstracted approval.

In chapter three of Walter Mosley’s Workin On The Chain Gang he discusses the African- American suffering. Mosley states “ with no history other than slavery and no future because the white world blocked the way, the black people never bought the  American dream at least not completely, at least not for long” (Mosely 41). This quote relates to what Americans are facing now, promises and goals said we can meet once hard work is achieved, but truly minor and insignificant to those who made the actual promises with all the power and control (49). Black history is an important part of our nations over all history, and we can learn a lot from our pass segregated nation to our American nation of today.

Workin On The Chain Gang Intro

In this blog I will discuss the introduction of Walter Mosley's Workin on the Chain Gang. Mosley is discussing the chains we have attached to ourselves, regardless of skin color. When some would only think only African Americans are oppressed with chains. Mosley states “decisions are made by governments in concert with corporations that are designed to increase profit and influence, not to advance humanitarian end” (Mosley 3). The keyword of this statement is describing capitalism.  Governments and corporations are linked to increase beneficiary support for one another whether it is power and or money. The consideration for everyday society is not important, somewhat on the bottom of the barrel.  We are being controlled by these two affairs. We are working as their slaves, they have the hold and control over us. They say who, what, where, when, why and how much we get paid. Mosley states “The economic system, the system that rules so much of our lives, does not, probably cannot, value human labor above any other commodity or resource. Under the weight of this system a man’s labor is no more valuable than its equivalent cost in pounds of potatoes” (Mosley 12). This quotation is important because it’s describing how appreciated we are. We are just working laborer units nothing more nothing less in the eye of corporate society. There is no principle and justice when it comes to power and the dollar sign. So regardless of skin color in today’s society we are salves in one way or other, we have chains attached to corporations or government.