Week 3 Reflection: Industrial Capitalism

 Caption: Industrial Revoltion Photo Credit: https://fee.org/articles/the-industrial-revolution-was-dirty-but-pre-industrial-europe-was-worse/

Industrialization proved to be exceedingly impactful on the people of the United States of America. The United States went from an agricultural nation of cotton and the like to erecting skyscrapers in a matter of time. Much of the progress made during this period of industrial revolution was made under the public assumption that there was a "Free Market" to be upheld and that it was dictated by itself essentially. That assumption was in fact a myth that has been allowed to have been propagated since the 1800's at least. There was a great shift in the capacity of the average American worker during this harrowing period as well. The American worker went from a skilled worker of some sort (usually a Farmer or something akin to the field) to a factory worker where they were limited not only in skillset but in the scope of their lives when all was said and done. The "freedom" that many sought while working was being constantly undermined by poor working conditions and even more destitute wages. Carnegie (to no surprise of mine) is rather forthright in his assumption that those who require the most help often require little assistance to begin with. Asinine though this belief may be, there is a shred of truth to the belief that one's own faculties can elevate one to new heights or social standings. Although, I do not believe for a moment that this proposed rich man's burden fits any version of the real world. His wealth completely dissociated him from the average person. How could he possibly pretend to know what is best for them?

Bibliography

Andrew Carnegie
From Andrew Carnegie, "Wealth," North American Review, 1889.

Hip Hughes "The Pullman Strike of 1894 Explained: US History Review".
Website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=fIzpvrwk160&feature=emb_logo

Week 2 Reflection: Reconstruction and the Rise of Jim Crow

The Great American Assumption that great wealth can be generated essentially from hard work and perseverance alone is a concept that I have always found troubling, as I have born witness to nothing of the sort in my 28 years thus far. Reconstruction was revolutionary for the Black peoples of the United States of America. A manner of sufferage was achieved by way of the Republicans and civil society imporoved for the Black people of the South and the North alike. Until the end of Reconstruction in 1877 where all but the faintest and the barest of minimums were met to "accomadate" the Blacks, there was progress. That progress was undone steadily over the course of years through to the very end of Jim Crow. The significance of Reconstruction is not to be understated, however. The call for equality continued on when the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950's and 60's initiated.

Bibliography

The Significance of Reconstruction. Website: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3110.

The End of Reconstruction
Website. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3108

My Introduction, Week 1

Hey all! My name is Demetrius Martin. I am 28 years old. I have a six year old daughter and a wife who is 28 years of age. Wer have been together for nearly 7 years. It has taken me some time to get into the groove of college but I'm getting there. I spent the better part of 18-24 in the US Army. I have experienced a great deal for my age and look forward to being challenged even more. When I think about the experiences, I have had so far here at Johnson C. Smith University, I picture what it must have been like years ago to attend this University during the volatile era of the Civil Rights Movement. Because I spend so much of my spare time doing light research on various Black historical figures and their respective beliefs, I chose this University above all the others in the local area in order to ascertain an even greater appreciation of my culture and the rich history it holds. I hope to one day become a philosopher of sorts following in the same vein as W.E.B. Dubois or possibly James Baldwin and it is my belief as a father that it is my social responsibility to do so for the betterment of not only myself, but for my Wife and Daughter as well.

Caption: W.E.B Dubois (https://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/webduboisbanner.jpg)

Test Post

This is my first post.