Soul Power
David C. Stennis
Dr. Padmore Agbemabiese
English 1010 CRN
Born Into History
15 February 2013
Soul Power
May 19, 1971, is the day that I was born into history. I realize that the events that were happening the day I was born are events that affect me today. From James Brown’s,” I’m Black and I’m Proud” to TV shows like Soul Train that was watched every Saturday to learn what the latest dance moves are these things have helped influence the type of person I am today. I was raised in a time where I can remember that most kids that lived on my street were from two parent households. There was corporal punishment still in schools and the principal would call home to discuss bad behavior and there would be real consequences for cutting up in school. Every Sunday, there was no option, children had to go to Sunday school and Sunday morning worship service.
The average cost of a home in May 1971 was $24,000. There was a movie called “Sweet Sweetback” by Melvin Van Peebles that was playing during this time. This movie was about one Black man’s resistance against white authority. Romper Room was the top children’s television show and the Mike Douglass show was the top daytime talk show.
The weather in Cleveland was around 82 degrees with the chance of thunderstorms. The mayor was Carl B. Stokes who was the first black mayor of a major city in the United States. During this time period there was quite a bit of “white flight” and suburbanization occurring in the Cleveland Public School system. This is where large groups of white families were selling their urban homes and relocating to more suburban or rural areas.
The Vietnam War was going on with soldiers coming home not as heroes but a murderers of innocent women and children. Veterans having post- traumatic stress disorder {PTSD} issues were going undiagnosed, unable to find jobs, which also as a result made the crime rate in Cleveland increase. Soldiers also returning from the Vietnam War also brought back
Dr. Padmore Agbemabiese
English 1010 CRN
Born Into History
15 February 2013
Soul Power
May 19, 1971, is the day that I was born into history. I realize that the events that were happening the day I was born are events that affect me today. From James Brown’s,” I’m Black and I’m Proud” to TV shows like Soul Train that was watched every Saturday to learn what the latest dance moves are these things have helped influence the type of person I am today. I was raised in a time where I can remember that most kids that lived on my street were from two parent households. There was corporal punishment still in schools and the principal would call home to discuss bad behavior and there would be real consequences for cutting up in school. Every Sunday, there was no option, children had to go to Sunday school and Sunday morning worship service.
The average cost of a home in May 1971 was $24,000. There was a movie called “Sweet Sweetback” by Melvin Van Peebles that was playing during this time. This movie was about one Black man’s resistance against white authority. Romper Room was the top children’s television show and the Mike Douglass show was the top daytime talk show.
The weather in Cleveland was around 82 degrees with the chance of thunderstorms. The mayor was Carl B. Stokes who was the first black mayor of a major city in the United States. During this time period there was quite a bit of “white flight” and suburbanization occurring in the Cleveland Public School system. This is where large groups of white families were selling their urban homes and relocating to more suburban or rural areas.
The Vietnam War was going on with soldiers coming home not as heroes but a murderers of innocent women and children. Veterans having post- traumatic stress disorder {PTSD} issues were going undiagnosed, unable to find jobs, which also as a result made the crime rate in Cleveland increase. Soldiers also returning from the Vietnam War also brought back