Free Will Essay

Vilayandur S. Ramachandran came from a distinguished family in Tamil Nadu, India, and was neuroscientist, which is a field of study encompassing the various scientific disciplines dealing with the nervous system. Ramachandran’s views on the brain and how it works are discussed in his work â€Å"The New Philosophy†. In his essay he discusses the nature of consciousness, discussing the effects of certain mental states and their influence on the body and the brain. One of his main topics, however, is the Ramachandran’s view of free will. He suggest that â€Å"†¦ neuroscience intersects with philosophy because the question of free will has been a philosophical problem for hundreds of years and more† (Jacobus 569). He discusses the significance of the brain imaging that shows a â€Å"readiness potential† and what it really means to have a free will. Through his essay, though, it is interesting to point out where religion and Christianity stands on the issue of free will and whether Christians are puppets under God’s command. Ramachandran poses this question about free will: â€Å"Is your brain the real one in charge, making your free will only a post-hoc rationalization; a delusion..? † When a special experiment was underway, it was discovered that when a person was told to move their finger within the next ten minutes at their own free will, their brain would kick in almost a second before the actual willingness to move the finger. This posed the original question stated above and brought on other questions as well. If this person is now shown the screen displaying the signal from the EEG scanner hooked up to your brain, they can then see their free will. They will then have three options: 1) They will experience a sudden lack of will, feeling as though the machine is controlling them, making them feel like a puppet. 2) They will refuse to have their belief of their free will to be altered but instead believe that the machine has some â€Å"paranormal precognition by which it is able to predict your movements accurately† (Ramachandran 559-60). 3) The person will reconfigure the experience in their mind, and cling to their sense of freedom, denying what their eyes have seen as evidence and maintain that â€Å"the sensation of will precedes the machine’s signal, not vice versa† (Ramachandran 560). The point when the brain would â€Å"kick in† before the movement is called the â€Å"readiness potential†. The â€Å"readiness potential† is what happens when there is a change in the electrical activity of the brain that occurs before the subject’s conscious decision to move a muscle (medical-dictionary. thefreedictionary. com). Ramachandran believes that â€Å"†¦ there is an inevitable neural delay before the signal arising in one part of the brain makes its way through the rest of the brain to deliver the message†¦ natural selection has ensured that the subjective sensation of willing to delay deliberately to coincide not with the onset of the brain commands but with the actual execution of the command by your finger† (Ramachandran 560). Ramachandran is a firm believer in evolution, believing that the events must have some sort of evolutionary purpose. â€Å"On one hand,† he says, â€Å"this experiment shows that free will is false and cannot be causing the brain events because the events kick in a second earlier. But on the other hand, the pause must have some purpose, otherwise why would the delay have evolved† (Ramachandran 560). Though these events have a purpose, evolutionary is not the answer. In Joshua 24:15 it says â€Å"Choose for yourselves this day who you will serve, as for me and my household we will serve the LORD. † God gives mankind a choice to follow Him and so free will is a gift from God as something to be accepted. Humans have the gift of God to reject or take the free gift that He offers. If humans really are descendants of apes, then when did the gift of free will come into the evolutionary chain of today’s mankind? John 7:37 says â€Å"Anyone who is thirsty may come to me. † It is an offer. Not a demanding command. ‘Anyone who is thirsty may come to me’, shows us that God does not want us to be without his living water and without him, but it is our choice whether we choose to accept God’s free gift of salvation. When studying free will in the Bible and through works of literature like Vilayandur S. Ramachandran, there will always be people on both sides of the argument. Do we have control of our own destinies or are we merely puppets in God’s giant game of the world? My personal beliefs on the subject are as I have stated in this paper: Though God has a control over the destiny of the world and each of our lives, he gives us a chance to make a decision to follow him or to ignore the free gift of his son that he has offered to us. John 3:16 it says: â€Å"For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believed in him would have eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. † Works Cited Jacobus, Lee A. A World Of Ideas. 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008. Print. The Free Dictionary. Medical Dictionary. Online source. http://medical-dictionary. thefreedictionary. com/readiness+potential Bible. New Living Translation.

The Council of Trent

The Council of Trent (Latin: Concilium Tridentinum) was the 15th-century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It is considered to be one of the Church's most important[1] councils. It convened in Trent (then capital of the Prince-Bishopric of Trent, inside the Holy Roman Empire, now in modern Italy) between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods. Council fathers met for the first through eighth sessions in Trent (1545-1547), and for the ninth through eleventh sessions in Bologna (1547) during the pontificate of Pope Paul III. 2] Under Pope Julius III, the council met in Trent (1551-1552) for the twelfth through sixteenth sessions. Under Pope Pius IV the seventeenth through twenty-fifth sessions took place in Trent (1559-1563). The council issued condemnations on what it defined as Protestant heresies and defined Church teachings in the areas of Scripture and Tradition, Original Sin, Justification, Sacraments, the Eucharist in Hol y Mass and the veneration of saints. It issued numerous reform decrees. 3] By specifying Catholic doctrine on salvation, the sacraments, and the Biblical canon, the Council was answering Protestant disputes. [1] The Council entrusted to the Pope the implementation of its work; as a result, Pope Pius V issued in 1566 the Roman Catechism, in 1568 a revised Roman Breviary, and in 1570 a revised Roman Missal, thus initiating what since the twentieth century has been called the Tridentine Mass (from the city's Latin name Tridentum), and Pope Clement VIII issued in 1592 a revised edition of the Vulgate. 4] The Council of Trent, delayed and interrupted several times because of political or religious disagreements, was a major reform council and the most impressive embodiment of the ideals of the Counter-Reformation. [4] It would be over 300 years until the next Ecumenical Council. When announcing Vatican II, Pope John XXIII stated that the precepts of the Council of Trent continue to the m odern day, a position that was reaffirmed by Pope Paul VI. [5] The Council of Trent The Council of Trent was an ecumenical council convoked by the Church in 1545 and ran until 1563. It was convoked by Pope Paull III but continued by Popes Julius III and Pius IV. The purpose of the council was to address the grwonig threat presented by the rising Protestant movement which was rapidly spreading all over Europe, winning believers to their side and threatening the very existence of the Catohlic Church and faith.It was convoked when the Church realized that the Reformation was a serious threat as it involved several secular leaders whom Martin Luther had won over to his side and it was no longer a mere theological debate but had social and political implications at this point in time. In a way, the Council had somehow succeeded in getting the Church from its â€Å"medieval† image and bring it into the modern times which would be followed up by subsequenct councils, the First and Second Vatican Councils (McNally 36). The Council addressed the issues that spurred th e Protestants into action.One particular issue that the Council did address was the apparent corruption in the Church as an institution including the sale of indulgences which triggered Luther's â€Å"rebellion† (Mendham 317). The Council abolished several of these illegal practices and introduced or recommended disciplinary reforms providing a provision governing the conduct of the religious, particularly those belonging to monastic and mendicant orders where they â€Å"shall order their lives in accordance to what is prescribed by the rule which they have professed.† The result of this was it checked corruption in the Church and helped restore â€Å"back to basics† policies where the religious were reminded to uphold the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience that they took upon entering the orders after years of strife affected the Church leading it to be infiltrated and influenced by political figures which changed its direction and led to the near-loss of its credibility. In addition, it also led to further education of the clergy and the codfication of religious orders (Roman Catholic Church, Session 25; Fisher 402).But this was the only â€Å"correction† the Church made. The rest were reaffirmations of other church traditions that hardly changed at all. These were considered part of Church traditions which Protestants opposed, believing that they were â€Å"invented† by Catholics as Protestants subscribed to â€Å"sol scriptura,† relying on the Bible as their source of â€Å"tradition. † Among them were the sacraments where Protestants found most of them â€Å"unecessary† yet the Church upheld it.They clarified the issue on the saints and the Blessed Virgin Mary by stating that they are only to be â€Å"venerated,† not â€Å"worshipped,† something Protestants accused Catholics, charging that this was bordering on idolatry or paganism, as well as stressing the necessity of good works to go with one's faith rather than relying on faith alone. They made use of the Bible in defending the practice of the sacraments, stating they were not inventions and were stated in Scripture though implicit (Madrid 111).Another issue that was upheld was the infalliability of the Pope. Notwithstanding the scandals that undermined the image of the papacy, the Council upheld the Pope's place as the Vicar of Christ and the head of all Christendom. It can be inferred here that there was still the need of a leader who could transcend spiritual and secular realms, especially during this time when Reformation brought more upheavals and instability (Luebke 45, Madrid 44-53).As an epliogue, this was addressed once again in the Second Vatican Council in 1963 and the infallibility issue was resolved once and for all here. In conclusion, the Council of Trent cannot be entirely credited in ensuring the survival and continued existence of the Catholic faith but was rather part of the Counter-Ref ormation that had somewhat checked the spread of Protestantism.It was able to uphold and defend the traditions the Church regard as part of professing one's faith, thereby throwing back the accusations Protestants hurled at it for being on the wrong side of faith. As a parting shot, Catholic apologists in the Council of Trent and beyond, have riposted Protestant arguments by stating (ironically) that there existence was because of the Church and had there been no Church, they never would have existed at all. Works Cited Fisher, George P.The Reformation. Bibliobazaar, 2009. Madrid, Patrick. Where Is That in Tradition? Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, 2002. McNally, Robert E. , SJ. â€Å"The Council of Trent, The Spiritual Exercises and Catholic Reform. † Church History 34. 1 (1965): 36-49. Medham, Joseph. Memoirs of the Council of Trent. London: James Duncan, 1834. Roman Catholic Church. The Council of Trent. 1545. Hanover College. 14 Aug. 2010 .

Hero Myth †Achilles Essay

The concept of the hero is as old as myth itself. Throughout history both concepts have evolved together. Myths tell tales of the adventures of man, frequently the son of a god or goddess and a human, who is endowed with great promise and destined to perform great feats. Often these feats involve acts of rescue, war or protection. This heroic myth is rooted in the ideal of familial romance. Particularly during adolescence it sustains and expresses the identification of the ego with idealized imagery. The hero myths have been used for centuries to educate and train youths as parts of institutions and groups. One example of a hero is Achilles, made famous through Homer’s epic Illiad. While we may not look at myths today in the same ways as our ancient forebears, the hero myth is still alive and well in our culture today. Achilles was the hero of the Trojan war as related by Homer in the Illiad. He was the mightiest of the Trojan warriors. He began life as a demigod, the son of Peleus, the king of the Myrmidons and a mortal, and Thetis who was a Nereid. The Myrmidons were legendary warriors, very skilled and brave. Nereids are sea nymphs being the daughters of Nereus and Doris. Thetis was very concerned that her son was a mortal. Therefore she attempted to make him immortal. There are two stories of how she wet about this. The lesser-known story is that she burned him in a fire nightly and then healed his wounds with a magical ambrosia. The more well-known story is that she held him tightly by the heel and submersed him in the river Styx. This made his entire body invulnerable except for the spot on his heel where she held him while he was in the river. During Achilles’ boyhood, a seer named Calchas prophesied that Troy would not fall without help from Achilles. Knowing that he would die if he went to Troy, Thetis sent Achilles to the court of Lycomedes in Scyros. He was hidden there in the guise of a young girl. While at the court he had a romance with Deidameia who was the daughter of Lycomedes. The result was a son who was named Pyrrhus. The disguise finally came to an end when Odysseus exposed Achilles by placing arms and armor amongst a display of female garments and picked Achilles out when he was the only â€Å"female† to be interested in the war equipment. Achilles then willingly joined Odysseus on the journey to Troy. He led a host of his father’s Myrmidon troops in addition to his utor Phoenix and his friend Patroclus. Once in Troy, Achilles quickly gained the reputation as an undefeatable warrior. One of his most notable feats was the capture of 23 Trojan towns. One of these was Lyrnessos where he took a war prize in the form of a woman named Briseis. The central action of the Illiad was sparked when Agamemnon, the leader of the Greeks, was forced to give up his war-prize woman, Chryseis, by an oracle of Apollo. As compensation for the loss of Chryseis, Agamemnon took Briseis from Achilles. Thus enraged, Achilles refused to continue fighting for the Greeks. With Achilles’ withdrawal from the action, the war started to go badly for the Greeks and they offered large reparations to try to lure back their greatest warrior. Achilles continued to refuse to rejoin the war, however, he did agree to allow his close friend Patroclus to don his arms and armor and fight in his place. The next day Hector, a Trojan hero, mistook Patroclus for Achilles and killed Patroclus. Achilles was engulfed with rage at Hector and consumed by grief for his friend’s death. Thetis went to Hephaestus and obtained fabulous new armor for Achilles. Achilles recommenced fighting and killed Hector. Not satisfied with Hector’s death, Achilles used his chariot to drag the body before the walls of Troy and refused the corpse funeral rites. Hector’s father Priam, the king of Troy, went secretly to the Greek camp to beg the return of the body. Finally, Achilles relented and allowed Priam to take Hector’s remains. After Hector’s death time started to run out for Achilles. He continued to fight heroically and killed many Trojans as well as their allies. Eventually, Paris, who was another of Priam’s sons, enlisted the aid of Apollo and wounded Achilles in his weak spot – the heel – with an arrow. This caused Achilles death. The enduring legend from the story of Achilles has to do with the concept of the Achilles’ heel. An Achilles’ heel has come to mean that despite overall strength, there is a mortal weakness that can lead to one’s downfall. While the original myth refers to a physical weakness, in modern times it has come to reference other types of character flaws or qualities that can cause ruination. The concept of the hero has changed somewhat in our modern culture. Instead of daring people who buck trends and traditions in order to help their families, nations or cultures, today we tend to revere people like sports figures and actors. While we have the occasional government or political leader such as Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela, most of what you hear about is who is making the most money due to their sports or acting ability. The concept of the sports figure hero can have some validity as these figures do occasionally overcome great odds and perform daring feats on the modern â€Å"battlefield†, i. e. , the sports arena. However, this is nothing compared to the feats of the ancient heros. Hero myths are powerful stories from ancient times. So powerful are they that they cross cultures and ages, continuing to influence us today. Achilles was one of the great heros of ancient times as the mightiest warrior of the Trojan war. While who we classify as a hero has changed in our modern societies, we still look to the concept today. We teach young people about heros as a method to inspire them. We look to our heros as adults to give us guidance and to give us something to guide our hopes and dreams. While modern heros may not be of Achilles’ status, they remain an integral part of our cultures.

Franz Kafkas A Hunger Artist Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Franz Kafkas A Hunger Artist - Essay Example Insofar as his purpose is not understood and his act of starvation is viewed suspiciously, the hunger artist emerges as an absurd figure. The absurdity of the hunger artist, however, is the absurdity of the human condition and of life itself. To this extent, and despite the unrealistic nature of the story, "A Hunger Artist" can be interpreted as a metaphor for life, a realistic exposition of the human condition, and a parable. The Hunger Artist's inability to communicate the intent of his act of starvation to the people and his commitment to his art does not simply imply the absurdity of his life's work but highlights the meaninglessness of life itself. Kafka's protagonist, a painfully thin man, is locked in a cage by his manager, his impresario, with whom he signed a contract giving him the authority to lock up and starve the artist for a period of forty days. Day after day, for forty days, he just sits in his cage, fasting, watching others watch him, and admire his ability to starve. Meanwhile, three butchers supposedly watch over him to ensure that he does not cheat and break his fast but, instead of keeping an eye on him, they deliberately let him alone. Although they do this out of kindness and to give him an opportunity to eat from the food they believe he has hidden somewhere in his cage. However, the hunger artist views this as an insulting lack of appreciation for, and belief in, his art. When th e forty days are over, he is let out of his cage and led into the town with a marching band. After a few days of rest and food, he begins his fast again. In other words, he is trapped in a continuous cycle of forty days fasting, brief break, forty days fasting and so on. His work/art, insofar as it is not understood as an art, is absurd; his unique ability for self-starvation is absurd as there are many who do not believe he is truly fasting; and, ultimately, his life is reduced to an absurd and meaningless cycle of starvation. As incredible as "A Hunger Artist" and its protagonist are, it is a realistic, although metaphorical, representation of life and the human condition. The story is about the concept of achievement, of doing something incredible and, accordingly, attracting recognition and respect. The protagonist's unique ability, however, is not viewed as an accomplishment worthy of respect but as something fascinating which, at best, will only attract disbelieving stares. The point here is that we, as the readers, should not just see this incredible accomplishment as simply referring to starvation and fasting but as referring to many things, whether they are ideas, inventions or even services that one person has done for men. In other words, this story can be read as focusing on the fact that most people no longer give others, or great things, the appreciation that they deserve. In that case, doing something great or extending an important service to the world becomes absurd and meaningless. For one , people will search for the weak points in that great accomplishment or service, such as when the butchers assumed and believed that the Hunger Artist was cheating and eating. That is, some people will search for the flaws and bring that great thing down, making it loose some of its value. Others will exploit it, as the impresario did with the Hunger Artist. This is exactly what Kafka is saying and important to quote

Similarities and differences between Salvador Dali and Rene Magritte Research Paper

Similarities and differences between Salvador Dali and Rene Magritte - Research Paper Example Although these two were surrealists, they have several differences and similarities. The two are referred to as the representational surrealism’s masters. Everyone made use of his own way to make his work more impressing to the viewer. Rene Magritte’s painting work has a lot to talk about the sense of reality, the real things, and those that are not real. Rene Magritte used painting just as a tool or symbol to illustrate at least his views about the everyday world, and how painting relates to the world. On the other hand, Salvador Dali never dealt with the types of ideas relied on by Rene Magritte. Large piece of Salvador’s work tends to link with his struggle with the sexual power and symbols. The use of symbolism in his painting is the self-made idea or a sense of the outside world. Therefore, the simple landscape painting that symbolizes that landscape turn into a highly complex observation of his inner work of the mind, and the relationship that exists between reality and imagery. Rene Magritte insists that, the inner working of our minds is similar to the real outside happenings. This ring to be true comparing to the way both neuroscientists and psychologists have to conclude about the form in which our mind works. On the other hand, Salvador Dali never dealt with the types of ideas Rene Magritte relied on. Large piece of Salvador’s work tends to link with his struggle with the sexual power and symbols. Comparing the two artists, Salvador Dali highly concerted with symbolism and imagery of what his dreams comprised and fantasies.

Information Technology Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Information Technology - Term Paper Example of the future that will guide how various pieces of new technology are either successfully integrated within the scope of any given project, or are discarded as being unnecessarily and waste of resources. As you know, Magnum Enterprises has enlisted my to head the information technology management team. As such, I wish to outline my understanding of what this important role entails, and how such an effective management of new software and hardware to implemented company wide can help to facilitate a more streamlined and profitable business model in the end. Not all software and hardware is created equal. Software developers and hardware engineers, for example, do not necessarily concern themselves with the practical applications of their various inventions. Instead, they are tunnel visioned on creating the best product they can, regardless of the end user or industry that will eventually make use of them. These individuals are sorely needed in the information technology realm of the modern age, yet recent history has shown us that they are not necessarily equipped to adequately manage the effective implementation of such products with the scheme and scope that defines Magnum Enterpri ses. In fact, some software packages and hardware tools may the best available, yet be determined to be inefficient within the working organisation that we ourselves have created. As such, it will be my role to work with my team to determine the very best products on the market that will truly push us forward with maximum efficiency and productivity. In my estimation, that is the role of the information technology manager. The first task our team should accomplish is to analyze the needs and priorities that we have in each division at Magnum. We need to ensure that we understand these critical areas in order to effectively manage the software and hardware that we incorporate into these areas to meet the objectives of each respective team (Benamai, 2007). In essence, the

Forensic-MT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Forensic-MT - Essay Example As the U.S. corporate sector reporting is plagued with continuum of frauds and deliberate accounting errors and manipulation and most of these cases are pending in the courts for due decisions. The need for forensic accounting becomes undoubtedly at its peak as accountants and lawyers seek supportive evidence which is rather factual rather than opinion based. The legal proceedings have become lengthy and complex as businesses and transactions are becoming complicated with too much information in terms of the ways they are carried out and information related to them is dispersed and difficult to gather. Forensic accountants or lawyers need to be competent and knowledgeable to identify weaknesses in the reporting system and prepare the factual documentation regarding an issue or a transaction which is being challenged in the court. The role of companies audit committees and external auditors are challenged by plaintiffs including regulatory bodies, stakeholders, creditors and general public in fraud cases. The outcome of this severe criticism was the introduction of the SOX 2002. The SOX requires auditors to carry out their audit engagement responsibilities in accordance to the ‘auditing and related professional standards’ laid out by PCAOB (PCAOB, 2004). Companies hire forensic accountants not only to provide litigation support but also to help them in managing their internal reporting. Auditors are now required to audit management’s assertion on the effective of internal controls over financial reporting (PCAOB, 2007). Information systems are integral part of internal reporting and data should be made accessible to auditors who need to carryout tests to assure the effectiveness of the system and completeness of information managed and generated. Additionally, auditors should acquire written confirmation representation of control

By the Time I Get to Cucaracha Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

By the Time I Get to Cucaracha - Essay Example Immediately after this she says that her mom was a housekeeper when she first came to the United States of America. By doing this she makes a personal connection with the reader. She expresses how she felt about the episode, how it was wrong, and why it was wrong. In her eyes it was a racist remark that should not be overlooked. She felt as though Latinas were being mocked. After stating the problem she mentions the great things that Latinas have accomplished in America like the ALMA awards in paragraph 4. Afterwards, she mentions a more popular advertisement with the Taco Bell Chihuahua in reference to an argument made how it was demeaning to use a dog in place of Mexican people. By doing this she shows that people have been making fun of Hispanics for a while. When she included another minority group in her writing, she chose African-Americans. While comparing how Americans won't allow any tolerance for racism towards African-Americans but will for Hispanics, she gives more support to her argument. Perez-Zeeb also acknowledges that fact that blacks were treated terribly by Americans. However, she doesn't believe that gives Americans the right to make fun of certain groups more than others, specifically Hispanics. She was really mad about the fact that TV constantly shows episodes with female immigrants marrying a U.S citizen for a

Chirchill Response Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Chirchill Response Paper - Essay Example The reader debates the categorical use of such superlatives. Johnson is sometimes too kind to his subject: Churchill’s being a â€Å"Conservative, Liberal, Coalition, Constitutionalist, Unionist, and National Conservative† (15), is definitely the sign of a political opportunist and the author’s terming this â€Å"Churchill’s courage in crossing the floor† (15), is a little mild! Churchill’s foresight is remarkable. His â€Å"prophetic words --- spoken more than a dozen years before the catastrophe† (Johnson, 14) of World War I, show him to be a man of awesome intellect. Another instance of Churchill’s remarkable judgment is the case of communist Russia, when he attempts to reverse Lenin’s Bolshevik coup in 1917, and nip communism in the bud. Again, his failed attempts to convince FDR to decisively combat communism in the final stages of World War II, show that he is the only senior statesman of that time to fully appreciate the dangers of communism. Johnson provokes the reader to wonder whether the Cold War, and the atrocities of the Gulag, could have been avoided if Churchill had his way. Churchill is one of the first to realize the threat posed by Hitler. Churchill’s early investment in Middle East oil, through BP, is another case which demonstrates his prescience. Churchill is so completely identified with Britain in the period of war that it is a revelation to know that he was also an excellent peace time administrator. His welfare measures as President of the Board of Trade, and his prison reforms as Home Secretary, add to his stature. He is obviously an administrator par excellence. Britain definitely would not have had the navy and air force she did, if not for Churchill. Johnson’s inclusion of many of Churchill’s witticisms adds to the appeal of the book and ensures that the heavy parts are enlivened and the reader is never bored. Some gems: â€Å"I trod on the Prince of Wales’s toe,† he recorded complacently, â€Å"and

African American Culture Essay Example for Free

African American Culture Essay Although slavery greatly restricted the ability of Africans in America to practice their cultural traditions, many practices, values and beliefs survived and over time have incorporated elements of European American culture. There are even certain facets of African American culture that were brought into being or made more prominent as a result of slavery; an example of this is how drumming became used as a means of communication and establishing a community identity during that time. The result is a dynamic, creative culture that has had and continues to have a profound impact on mainstream American culture and on world culture as well. After Emancipation, these uniquely African American traditions continued to grow. They developed into distinctive traditions in music, art, literature, religion, food, holidays, amongst others. While for some time sociologists, such as Gunnar Myrdal and Patrick Moynihan, believed that African Americans had lost most cultural ties with Africa, anthropological field research by Melville Hersovits and others demonstrated that there is a continuum of African traditions among Africans in the New World from the West Indies to the United States. The greatest influence of African cultural practices on European cultures is found below the Mason-Dixon in the southeastern United States, especially in the Carolinas among the Gullah people and in Louisiana. African American culture often developed separately from mainstream American culture because of African Americans desire to practice their own traditions, as well as the persistence of racial segregation in America. Consequently African American culture has become a significant part of American culture and yet, at the same time, remains a distinct culture apart from it. History From the earliest days of slavery, slave owners sought to exercise control over their slaves by attempting to strip them of their African culture. The physical isolation and societal marginalization of African slaves and, later, of their free progeny, however, actually facilitated the retention of significant elements of traditional culture among Africans in the New World generally, and in the U. S. in particular. Slave owners deliberately tried to repress political organization in order to deal with the many slave rebellions that took place in the southern United States, Brazil, Haiti, and the Dutch Guyanas. African cultures,slavery,slave rebellions,and the civil rights movements(circa 1800s-160s)have shaped African American religious, familial, political and economic behaviors. The imprint of Africa is evident in myriad ways, in politics, economics, language, music, hairstyles, fashion, dance, religion and worldview, and food preparation methods. In the United States, the very legislation that was designed to strip slaves of culture and deny them education served in many ways to strengthen it. In turn, African American culture has had a pervasive, transformative impact on myriad elements of mainstream American culture, among them language, music, dance, religion, cuisine, and agriculture. This process of mutual creative exchange is called creolization. Over time, the culture of African slaves and their descendants has been ubiquitous in its impact on not only the dominant American culture, but on world culture as well. Oral tradition Slaveholders limited or prohibited education of enslaved African Americans because they believed it might lead to revolts or escape plans. Hence, African-based oral traditions became the primary means of preserving history, morals, and other cultural information among the people. This was consistent with the griot practices of oral history in many African and other cultures that did not rely on the written word. Many of these cultural elements have been passed from generation to generation through storytelling. The folktales provided African Americans the opportunity to inspire and educate one another. Examples of African American folktales include trickster tales of Brer Rabbit and heroic tales such as that of John Henry. The Uncle Remus stories by Joel Chandler Harris helped to bring African American folk tales into mainstream adoption. Harris did not appreciate the complexity of the stories nor their potential for a lasting impact on society. Characteristics of the African American oral tradition present themselves in a number of forms. African American preachers tend to perform rather than simply speak. The emotion of the subject is carried through the speakers tone, volume, and movement, which tend to mirror the rising action, climax, and descending action of the sermon. Often song, dance, verse and structured pauses are placed throughout the sermon. Techniques such as call-and-response are used to bring the audience into the presentation. In direct contrast to recent tradition in other American and Western cultures, it is an acceptable and common audience reaction to interrupt and affirm the speaker. Spoken word is another example of how the African American oral tradition influences modern American popular culture. Spoken word artists employ the same techniques as African American preachers including movement, rhythm, and audience participation. Rap music from the 1980s and beyond has been seen as an extension of oral culture. Harlem Renaissance [pic] Zora Neale Hurston was a prominent literary figure during the Harlem Renaissance. Main article: Harlem Renaissance The first major public recognition of African American culture occurred during the Harlem Renaissance. In the 1920s and 1930s, African American music, literature, and art gained wide notice. Authors such as Zora Neale Hurston and Nella Larsen and poets such as Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, and Countee Cullen wrote works describing the African American experience. Jazz, swing, blues and other musical forms entered American popular music. African American artists such as William H. Johnson and Palmer Hayden created unique works of art featuring African Americans. The Harlem Renaissance was also a time of increased political involvement for African Americans. Among the notable African American political movements founded in the early 20th century are the United Negro Improvement Association and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The Nation of Islam, a notable Islamic religious movement, also began in the early 1930s. African American cultural movement The Black Power movement of the 1960s and 1970s followed in the wake of the non-violent American Civil Rights Movement. The movement promoted racial pride and ethnic cohesion in contrast to the focus on integration of the Civil Rights Movement, and adopted a more militant posture in the face of racism. It also inspired a new renaissance in African American literary and artistic expression generally referred to as the African American or Black Arts Movement. The works of popular recording artists such as Nina Simone (Young, Gifted and Black) and The Impressions (Keep On Pushin), as well as the poetry, fine arts and literature of the time, shaped and reflected the growing racial and political consciousness. Among the most prominent writers of the African American Arts Movement were poet Nikki Giovanni; poet and publisher Don L. Lee, who later became known as Haki Madhubuti; poet and playwright Leroi Jones, later known as Amiri Baraka; and Sonia Sanchez. Other influential writers were Ed Bullins, Dudley Randall, Mari Evans, June Jordan, Larry Neal and Ahmos Zu-Bolton. Another major aspect of the African American Arts Movement was the infusion of the African aesthetic, a return to a collective cultural sensibility and ethnic pride that was much in evidence during the Harlem Renaissance and in the celebration of Negritude among the artistic and literary circles in the U. S. , Caribbean and the African continent nearly four decades earlier: the idea that black is beautiful. During this time, there was a resurgence of interest in, and an embrace of, elements of African culture within African American culture that had been suppressed or devalued to conform to Eurocentric America. Natural hairstyles, such as the afro, and African clothing, such as the dashiki, gained popularity. More importantly, the African American aesthetic encouraged personal pride and political awareness among African Americans. Music [pic] Men playing the djembe, a traditional West African drum adopted into African American and American culture. The bags and the clothing of the man on the right are printed with traditional kente cloth patterns. African American music is rooted in the typically polyrhythmic music of the ethnic groups of Africa, specifically those in the Western, Sahelean, and Sub-Saharan regions. African oral traditions, nurtured in slavery, encouraged the use of music to pass on history, teach lessons, ease suffering, and relay messages. The African pedigree of African American music is evident in some common elements: call and response, syncopation, percussion, improvisation, swung notes, blue notes, the use of falsetto, melisma, and complex multi-part harmony. During slavery, Africans in America blended traditional European hymns with African elements to create spirituals. Many African Americans sing Lift Evry Voice and Sing in addition to the American national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, or in lieu of it. Written by James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson in 1900 to be performed for the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, the song was, and continues to be, a popular way for African Americans to recall past struggles and express ethnic solidarity, faith and hope for the future. The song was adopted as the Negro National Anthem by the NAACP in 1919. African American children are taught the song at school, church or by their families. Lift Evry Voice and Sing traditionally is sung immediately following, or instead of, The Star-Spangled Banner at events hosted by African American churches, schools, and other organizations. In the 1800s, as the result of the blackface minstrel show, African American music entered mainstream American society. By the early twentieth century, several musical forms with origins in the African American community had transformed American popular music. Aided by the technological innovations of radio and phonograph records, ragtime, jazz, blues, and swing also became popular overseas, and the 1920s became known as the Jazz Age. The early 20th century also saw the creation of the first African American Broadway shows, films such as King Vidors Hallelujah! and operas such as George Gershwins Porgy and Bess. Rock and roll, doo wop, soul, and R;B developed in the mid 20th century. These genres became very popular in white audiences and were influences for other genres such as surf. The dozens, an urban African American tradition of using rhyming slang to put down your enemies (or friends) developed through the smart-ass street jive of the early Seventies into a new form of music. In the South Bronx, the half speaking, half singing rhythmic street talk of rapping grew into the hugely successful cultural force known as Hip Hop. Hip Hop would become a multicultural movement. However, it is still important to many African Americans. The African American Cultural Movement of the 1960s and 1970s also fueled the growth of funk and later hip-hop forms such as rap, hip house, new jack swing and go go. African American music has experienced far more widespread acceptance in American popular music in the 21st century than ever before. In addition to continuing to develop newer musical forms, modern artists have also started a rebirth of older genres in the form of genres such as neo soul and modern funk-inspired groups. Dance [pic] The Cakewalk was the first African American dance to gain widespread popularity in the United States. [pic] African American dance, like other aspects of African American culture, finds its earliest roots in the dances of the hundreds of African ethnic groups that made up African slaves in the Americas as well as influences from European sources in the United States. Dance in the African tradition, and thus in the tradition of slaves, was a part of both every day life and special occasions. Many of these traditions such as get down, ring shouts, and other elements of African body language survive as elements of modern dance. In the 1800s, African American dance began to appear in minstrel shows. These shows often presented African Americans as caricatures for ridicule to large audiences. The first African American dance to become popular with White dancers was the cakewalk in 1891. Later dances to follow in this tradition include the Charleston, the Lindy Hop, and the Jitterbug. During the Harlem Renaissance, all African American Broadway shows such as Shuffle Along helped to establish and legitimize African American dancers. African American dance forms such as tap, a combination of African and European influences, gained widespread popularity thanks to dancers such as Bill Robinson and were used by leading White choreographers who often hired African American dancers. Contemporary African American dance is descended from these earlier forms and also draws influence from African and Caribbean dance forms. Groups such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater have continued to contribute to the growth of this form. Modern popular dance in America is also greatly influenced by African American dance. American popular dance has also drawn many influences from African American dance most notably in the hip hop genre. Art [pic] Sand Dunes at Sunset, Atlantic City by Henry Ossawa Tanner 1859-1937 From its early origins in slave communities, through the end of the twentieth century, African-American art has made a vital contribution to the art of the United States. During the period between the 1600s and the early 1800s, art took the form of small drums, quilts, wrought-iron figures and ceramic vessels in the southern United States. These artifacts have similarities with comparable crafts in West and Central Africa. In contrast, African American artisans like the New England–based engraver Scipio Moorhead and the Baltimore portrait painter Joshua Johnson created art that was conceived in a thoroughly western European fashion. During the 1800s, Harriet Powers made quilts in rural Georgia, United States that are now considered among the finest examples of nineteenth-century Southern quilting. Later in the 20th century, the women of Gee’s Bend developed a distinctive, bold, and sophisticated quilting style based on traditional African American quilts with a geometric simplicity that developed separately but was like that of Amish quilts and modern art. After the American Civil War, museums and galleries began more frequently to display the work of African American artists. Cultural expression in mainstream venues was still limited by the dominant European aesthetic and by racial prejudice. To increase the visibility of their work, many African American artists traveled to Europe where they had greater freedom. It was not until the Harlem Renaissance that more whites began to pay attention to African American art in America. [pic] Kara Walker, Cut, Cut paper and adhesive on wall, Brent Sikkema NYC. During the 1920s, artists such as Raymond Barthe, Aaron Douglas, Augusta Savage, and photographer James Van Der Zee became well known for their work. During the Great Depression, new opportunities arose for these and other African American artists under the WPA. In later years, other programs and institutions, such as the New York City-based Harmon Foundation, helped to foster African American artistic talent. Augusta Savage, Elizabeth Catlett, Lois Mailou Jones, Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence and others exhibited in museums and juried art shows, and built reputations and followings for themselves. In the 1950s and 1960s, there were very few widely accepted African American artists. Despite this, The Highwaymen, a loose association of 27 African American artists from Ft. Pierce, Florida, created idyllic, quickly realized images of the Florida landscape and peddled some 50,000 of them from the trunks of their cars. They sold their art directly to the public rather than through galleries and art agents, thus receiving the name The Highwaymen. Rediscovered in the mid-1990s, today they are recognized as an important part of American folk history. Their artwork is widely collected by enthusiasts and original pieces can easily fetch thousands of dollars in auctions and sales. The Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s was another period of resurgent interest in African American art. During this period, several African-American artists gained national prominence, among them Lou Stovall, Ed Love, Charles White, and Jeff Donaldson. Donaldson and a group of African-American artists formed the Afrocentric collective AFRICOBRA, which remains in existence today. The sculptor Martin Puryear, whose work has been acclaimed for years, is being honored with a 30-year retrospective of his work at the Museum of Modern Art in New York starting November 2007. Notable contemporary African American artists include David Hammons, Eugene J. Martin, Charles Tolliver, and Kara Walker. Literature [pic] Langston Hughes, a notable African American poet of the Harlem Renaissance. African American literature has its roots in the oral traditions of African slaves in America. The slaves used stories and fables in much the same way as they used music. These stories influenced the earliest African American writers and poets in the 18thcentury such as Phillis Wheatley and Olaudah Equiano. These authors reached early high points by telling slave narratives. During the early 20th century Harlem Renaissance, numerous authors and poets, such as Langston Hughes, W. E. B. Dubois, and Booker T. Washington, grappled with how to respond to discrimination in America. Authors during the Civil Rights era, such as Richard Wright, James Baldwin and Gwendolyn Brooks wrote about issues of racial segregation, oppression and other aspects of African American life. This tradition continues today with authors who have been accepted as an integral part of American literature, with works such as Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, and Beloved by Nobel Prize-winning Toni Morrison, and series by Octavia Butler and Walter Mosley that have achieved both best-selling and/or award-winning status. Museums The African American Museum Movement emerged during the 1950s and 1960s to preserve the heritage of the African American experience and to ensure its proper interpretation in American history. Museums devoted to African American history are found in many African American neighborhoods. Institutions such as the African American Museum and Library at Oakland and The African American Museum in Cleveland were created by African Americans to teach and investigate cultural history that, until recent decades was primarily preserved trough oral traditions. Language Generations of hardships imposed on the African American community created distinctive language patterns. Slave owners often intentionally mixed people who spoke different African languages to discourage communication in any language other than English. This, combined with prohibitions against education, led to the development of pidgins, simplified mixtures of two or more languages that speakers of different languages could use to communicate. Examples of pidgins that became fully developed languages include Creole, common to Haiti,and Gullah, common to the Sea Islands off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia. African American Vernacular English is a type variety (dialect, ethnolect and sociolect) of the American English language closely associated with the speech of but not exclusive to African Americans. While AAVE is academically considered a legitimate dialect because of its logical structure, some of both Caucasians and African Americans consider it slang or the result of a poor command of Standard American English. Inner city African American children who are isolated by speaking only AAVE have more difficulty with standardized testing and, after school, moving to the mainstream world for work. It is common for many speakers of AAVE to code switch between AAVE and Standard American English depending on the setting. Fashion and aesthetics [pic] A man weaving kente cloth in Ghana. Attire The cultural explosion of the 1960s saw the incorporation of surviving cultural dress with elements from modern fashion and West African traditional clothing to create a uniquely African American traditional style. Kente cloth is the best known African textile. These festive woven patterns, which exist in numerous varieties, were originally made by the Ashanti and Ewe peoples of Ghana and Togo. Kente fabric also appears in a number of Western style fashions ranging from casual t-shirts to formal bow ties and cummerbunds. Kente strips are often sewn into liturgical and cademic robes or worn as stoles. Since the Black Arts Movement, traditional African clothing has been popular amongst African Americans for both formal and informal occasions. Another common aspect of fashion in African American culture involves the appropriate dress for worship in the Black church. It is expected in most churches that an individual should present their best appearance for worship. African Americ an women in particular are known for wearing vibrant dresses and suits. An interpretation of a passage from the Christian Bible, very woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head , has led to the tradition of wearing elaborate Sunday hats, sometimes known as crowns. Hair Hair styling in African American culture is greatly varied. African American hair is typically composed of tightly coiled curls. The predominant styles for women involve the straightening of the hair through the application of heat or chemical processes. These treatments form the base for the most commonly socially acceptable hairstyles in the United States. Alternatively, the predominant and most socially acceptable practice for men is to leave ones hair natural. Often, as men age and begin to lose their hair, the hair is either closely cropped, or the head is shaved completely free of hair. However, since the 1960s, natural hairstyles, such as the afro, braids, and dreadlocks, have been growing in popularity. Although the association with radical political movements and their vast difference from mainstream Western hairstyles, the styles have not yet attained widespread social acceptance. Maintaining facial hair is more prevalent among African American men than in other male populations in the U. S. In fact, the soul patch is so named because African American men, particularly jazz musicians, popularized the style. The preference for facial hair among African American men is due partly to personal taste, but because they are more prone than other ethnic groups to develop a condition known as pseudofolliculitis barbae, commonly referred to as razor bumps, many prefer not to shave. Body image The European aesthetic and attendant mainstream concepts of beauty are often at odds with the African body form. Because of this, African American women often find themselves under pressure to conform to European standards of beauty. Still, there are individuals and groups who are working towards raising the standing of the African aesthetic among African Americans and internationally as well. This includes efforts toward promoting as models those with clearly defined African features; the mainstreaming of natural hairstyles; and, in women, fuller, more voluptuous body types. Religion While African Americans practice a number of religions, Protestant Christianity is by far the most popular. Additionally, 14% of Muslims in the United States and Canada are African American. Christianity [pic] A river baptism in New Bern, North Carolina near the turn of the 20th century. The religious institutions of African American Christians commonly are referred tocollectively as the black church. During slavery, many slaves were stripped of their African belief systems and typically denied free religious practice. Slaves managed, however, to hang on to some practices by integrating them into Christian worship in secret meetings. These practices, including dance, shouts, African rhythms, and enthusiastic singing, remain a large part of worship in the African American church. African American churches taught that all people were equal in Gods eyes and viewed the doctrine of obedience to ones master taught in white churches as hypocritical. Instead the African American church focused on the message of equality and hopes for a better future. Before and after emancipation, racial segregation in America prompted the development of organized African American denominations. The first of these was the AME Church founded by Richard Allen in 1787. An African American church is not necessarily a separate denomination. Several predominantly African American churches exist as members of predominantly white denominations. African American churches have served to provide African American people with leadership positions and opportunities to organize that were denied in mainstream American society. Because of this, African American pastors became the bridge between the African American and European American communities and thus played a crucial role in the American Civil Rights Movement. Like many Christians, African American Christians sometimes participate in or attend a Christmas play. Black Nativity by Langston Hughes is a re-telling of the classic Nativity story with gospel music. Productions can be found a African American theaters and churches all over the country. Islam [pic] A member of the Nation of Islam selling merchandise on a city street corner. Despite the popular assumption that the Nation represents all or most African American Muslims, less than 2% are members. Generations before the advent of the Atlantic slave trade, Islam was a thriving religion in West Africa due to its peaceful introduction via the lucrative trans-Saharan trade between prominent tribes in the southern Sahara and the Berbers to the North. In his attesting to this fact the West African scholar Cheikh Anta Diop explained: The primary reason for the success of Islam in Black Africa onsequently stems from the fact that it was propagated peacefully at first by solitary Arabo-Berber travelers to certain Black kings and notables, who then spread it about them to those under their jurisdiction Many first-generation slaves were often able to retain their Muslim identity, their descendants were not. Slaves were either forcibly converted to Christianity as was the case in the Catholic lands or were besieged with gross inconviences to their religious practice su ch as in the case of the Protestant American mainland. In the decades after slavery and particularly during the depression era, Islam reemerged in the form of highly visible and sometimes controversial heterodox movements in the African American community. The first of these of note was the Moorish Science Temple of America, founded by Noble Drew Ali. Ali had a profound influence on Wallace Fard, who later founded the Black nationalist Nation of Islam in 1930. Elijah Muhammad became head of the organization in 1934. Much like Malcolm X, who left the Nation of Islam in 1964, many African American Muslims now follow traditional Islam. A survey by the Council on American-Islamic Relations shows that 30% of Sunni Mosque attendees are African Americans. African American orthodox Muslims are often the victims of stereotypes, most notably the assumption that an African American Muslim is a member of the Nation of Islam. They are often viewed by the uneducated African-American community in general as less authentic than Muslims from the Middle East or South Asia while credibility is less of an issue with immigrant Muslims and Muslim world in general. Other religions Aside from Christianity and Islam, there are also African Americans who follow Judaism, Buddhism, and a number of other religions. The Black Hebrew Israelites are a collection of African American Jewish religious organizations. Among their varied teachings, they often include that African Americans are descended from the Biblical Hebrews (sometimes with the paradoxical claim that the Jewish people are not). There is a small but growing number of African Americans who participate in African traditional religions, such as Vodou and Santeria or Ifa and diasporic traditions like Rastafarianism. Many of them are immigrants or descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean and South America, where these are practiced. Because of religious practices, such as animal sacrifice, which are no longer common among American religions and are often legally prohibited, these groups may be viewed negatively and are sometimes the victims of harassment. Life events For most African Americans, the observance of life events follows the pattern of mainstream American culture. There are some traditions which are unique to African Americans. Some African Americans have created new rites of passage that are linked to African traditions. Pre-teen and teenage boys and girls take classes to prepare them for adulthood. They are typically taught spirituality, responsibility, and leadership. Most of these programs are modeled after traditional African ceremonies, with the focus largely on embracing African ideologies rather than specific rituals. To this day, some African American couples choose to jump the broom as a part of their wedding ceremony. Although the practice, which can be traced back to Ghana, fell out of favor in the African American community after the end of slavery, it has experienced a slight resurgence in recent years as some couples seek to reaffirm their African heritage. Funeral traditions tend to vary based on a number of factors, including religion and location, but there are a number of commonalities. Probably the most important part of death and dying in the African American culture is the gathering of family and friends. Either in the last days before death or shortly after death, typically any friends and family members that can be reached are notified. This gathering helps to provide spiritual and emotional support, as well as assistance in making decisions and accomplishing everyday tasks. The spirituality of death is very important in African American culture. A member of the clergy or members of the religious community, or both, are typically present with the family through the entire process. Death is often viewed as transitory rather than final. Many services are called homegoings, instead of funerals, based on the belief that the person is going home to the afterlife. The entire end of life process is generally treated as a celebration of life rather than a mourning of loss. This is most notably demonstrated in the New Orleans Jazz Funeral tradition where upbeat music, dancing, and food encourage those gathered to be happy and celebrate the homegoing of a beloved friend. Cuisine [pic] A traditional soul food dinner consisting of fried chicken, candied yams, collard greens, cornbread, and macaroni and cheese. The cultivation and use of many agricultural products in the United States, such as yams, peanuts, rice, okra, sorghum, grits, watermelon, indigo dyes, and cotton, can be traced to African influences. African American foods reflect creative esponses to racial and economic oppression and poverty. Under slavery, African Americans were not allowed to eat better cuts of meat, and after emancipation many often were too poor to afford them. Soul food, a hearty cuisine commonly associated with African Americans in the South (but also common to African Americans nationwide), makes creative use of inexpensive products procured through farming and subsistence hunting and fishing. Pig intestines are boiled and sometimes battered and fried to make chitterlings, also known as chitlins. Ham hocks and neck bones provide seasoning to soups, beans and boiled greens (turnip greens, collard greens, and mustard greens). Other common foods, such as fried chicken and fish, macaroni and cheese, cornbread and hoppin john (black-eyed peas and rice) are prepared simply. When the African American population was considerably more rural than it generally is today, rabbit, possum, squirrel, and waterfowl were important additions to the diet. Many of these food traditions are especially predominant in many parts of the rural South. Traditionally prepared soul food is often high in fat, sodium and starch. Highly suited to the physically demanding lives of laborers, farmhands and rural lifestyles generally, it is now a contributing factor to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes in a population that has become increasingly more urban and sedentary. As a result, more health-conscious African-Americans are using alternative methods of preparation, eschewing trans fats in favor of natural vegetable oils and substituting smoked turkey for fatback and other, cured pork products; limiting the amount of refined sugar in desserts; and emphasizing the consumption of more fruits and vegetables than animal protein. There is some resistance to such changes, however, as they involve deviating from long culinary tradition. Holidays and observances [pic] A woman wearing traditional West African clothing lighting the candles on a kinara for a Kwanzaa celebration. As with other American racial and ethnic groups, African Americans observe ethnic holidays alongside traditional American holidays. Holidays observed in African American culture are not only observed by African Americans. The birthday of noted American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr has been observed nationally since 1983. It is one of three federal holidays named for an individual. Black History Month is another example of another African American observance that has been adopted nationally. Black History Month is an attempt to focus attention on previously neglected aspects of the African American experience. It is observed during the month of February to coincide with the founding of the NAACP and the birthdays of Frederick Douglass, a prominent African American abolitionist, and Abraham Lincoln, the United States president who signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Less widely observed outside of the African American community is Emancipation Day. The nature and timing of the celebration vary regionally. It is most widely observed as Juneteenth, in recognition of the official reading of the Emancipation Proclamation on June 19, 1865 in Texas. Another holiday not widely observed outside of the African American community is the birthday of Malcolm X. The day is observed on May 19 in American cities with a significant African American population, including Washington, D. C.. One of the most noted African American holidays is Kwanzaa. Like Emancipation Day, it is not widely observed outside of the African American community, although it is growing in popularity within the community. African American scholar and activist Maulana Ron Karenga invented the festival of Kwanzaa in 1966, as an alternative to the increasing commercialization of Christmas. Derived from the harvest rituals of Africans, Kwanzaa is observed each year from December 26 through January 1. Participants in Kwanzaa celebrations affirm their African heritage and the importance of family and community by drinking from a unity cup; lighting red, black, and green candles; exchanging heritage symbols, such as African art; and recounting the lives of people who struggled for African and African American freedom. Names African American names are often drawn from the same language groups as other popular names found in the United States. The practice of adopting neo-African or Islamic names did not gain popularity until the late Civil Rights era. Efforts to recover African heritage inspired selection of names with deeper cultural significance. Prior to this, using African names was not practical for two reasons. First, many African Americans were several generations removed from the last ancestor to have an African name since slaves were often given European names. Second, a traditional American name helps an individual fit into American society. Another African American naming practice that predates the use of African names is the use of made-up names. In an attempt to create their own identity, growing numbers of African American parents, starting in the post-World War II era, began creating new names based on sounds they found pleasing such as Marquon, DaShawn, LaTasha, or Shandra. Family When slavery was practiced in the United States, it was common for families to be separated through sale. Even during slavery, however, African American families managed to maintain strong familial bonds. Free, African men and women, who managed to buy their own freedom by being hired out, who were emancipated, or who had escaped their masters, often worked long and hard to buy the members of their families who remained in bondage and send for them. Others, separated from blood kin, formed close bonds comprised of fictive kin; play relations, play aunts, cousins and the like. This practice, perhaps a holdover from African tradition, survived Emancipation, with non-blood family friends commonly accorded the status and titles of blood relations. This broader, more African concept of what constitutes family and community, and the deeply rooted respect for elders that is part of African traditional societies may be the genesis of the common use of the terms like aunt, uncle, brother, sister, Mother and Mama when addressing other African American people, some of whom may be complete strangers. Or, it could have arisen in the Christian church as a way of greeting fellow congregants and believers. Immediately after slavery, African American families struggled to reunite and rebuild what had been taken. As late as 1960, 78% of African American families were headed by married couples. This number steadily declined over the latter half of the 20th century. A number of factors, including attitudes towards education, gender roles, and poverty have created a situation where, for the first time since slavery, a majority of African American children live in a household with only one parent, typically the mother. These figures appear to indicate a weak African American nuclear family structure, especially within a large patriarchal society. This apparent weakness is balanced by mutual aid systems established by extended family members to provide emotional and economic support. Older family members pass on social and cultural traditions such as religion and manners to younger family members. In turn, the older family members are cared for by younger family members when they are unable to care for themselves. These relationships exist at all economic levels in the African American community, providing strength and support both to the African American family and the community. Politics and social issues Since the passing of the Voting Rights Act, African Americans are voting and being elected to public office in increasing numbers. As of January 2001 there were 9,101 African American elected officials in America. African Americans are overwhelmingly Democratic. Only 11% of African Americans voted for George W. Bush in the 2004 Presidential Election. Social issues such as racial profiling, the racial disparity in sentencing, higher rates of poverty, institutional racism, and lower access to health care are important to the African American community. While the divide on racial and fiscal issues has remained consistently wide for decades, seemingly indicating a wide social divide, African Americans tend to hold the same optimism and concern for America as Whites. In the case of many moral issues such as religion, and family values, African Americans tend to be more conservative than Whites. Another area where African Americans outstrip Whites in their conservatism is on the issue of homosexuality. Prominent leaders in the Black church have demonstrated against gay rights issues such as gay marriage. There are those within the community who take a more inclusive position most notably, the late Mrs. Coretta Scott King, and the Reverend Al Sharpton, who, when asked in 2003 whether he supported gay marriage, replied that he might as well have been asked if he supported black marriage or white marriage. Neighborhoods African American neighborhoods are types of ethnic enclaves found in many cities in the United States. The formation of African American neighborhoods is closely linked to the history of segregation in the United States, either through formal laws, or as a product of social norms. Despite this, African American neighborhoods have played an important role in the development of nearly all aspects of both African American culture and broader American culture. Due to segregated conditions and widespread poverty some African American neighborhoods in the United States have been called ghettos. The use of this term is controversial and, depending on the context, potentially offensive. Despite mainstream America’s use of the term ghetto to signify a poor urban area populated by ethnic minorities, those living in the area often used it to signify something positive. The African American ghettos did not always contain dilapidated houses and deteriorating projects, nor were all of its residents poverty-stricken. For many African Americans, the ghetto was home a place representing authentic blackness and a feeling, passion, or emotion derived from the rising above the struggle and suffering of being of African descent in America. Langston Hughes relays in the Negro Ghetto (1931) and The Heart of Harlem (1945): The buildings in Harlem are brick and stone/And the streets are long and wide,/But Harlem’s much more than these alone,/Harlem is what’s inside. Playwright August Wilson used the term ghetto in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (1984) and Fences (1987), both of which draw upon the author’s experience growing up in the Hill district of Pittsburgh, an African American ghetto. Although African American neighborhoods may suffer from civic disinvestment, with lower quality schools, less effective policing and fire protection. Th ere are institutions such as churches and museums and political organizations that help to improve the physical and social capital of African American neighborhoods. In African American neighborhoods the churches may be important sources of social cohesion. For some African Americans the kind spirituality learned through these churches works as a protective factor against the corrosive forces of racism. Museums devoted to African American history are also found in many African American neighborhoods. Many African American neighborhoods are located in inner cities, These are the mostly residential neighborhoods located closest to the central business district. The built environment is often row houses or brownstones, mixed with older single family homes that may be converted to multi family homes. In some areas there are larger apartment buildings. Shotgun houses are an important part of the built environment of some southern African American neighborhoods. The houses consist of three to five rooms in a row with no hallways. This African American house design is found in both rural and urban southern areas, mainly in African-American communities and neighborhoods.

The Causes Of Prison Overcrowding Criminology Essay

The Causes Of Prison Overcrowding Criminology Essay In this research report i have explained the causes of prison overcrowding and how to deal with them and what are the solution and reduction plan for prison over crowding. The health and safety issues of inmates, offenders as well as the general public. INTRODUCTION Correctional Institution is a prison which means a place where the criminals are bieng kept in a limited and ristricted way. They are kept in a place where there is no freedom and there are different crime levels. Crime levels depends on what type of crime he or she has done and then they are transferred in a suitable place that is where do they deserve to spend there time in the prison, and are they in a condition to spend there time in a good way or in a restricted way that includes the facilities given by the Institutes. The facilities are those which is decided already by the government.Correctional Institutions involves a criminal justice system which makes the offenders detained and help them to improve themselves by facilities given by the institutions. Each country has its own way to the criminal justice system and uses its own correctional facilities in different methods. These institutions have 3 types of facilities which includes Jails, Prisons and Juvenile detention. The facilities also include a seprate buliding for male and female prisoners.If we look behind in the history, the criminals were kept in the jail and keeping them in a jail was not a punishment in itself, but it was rather a way to put them in restriction and limited levels until they could get a death penalty. Dungeons was known as a prison before and those prisoners which were left behind to die were usually sent to do salvery in which the prisoners can become Galley Slaves or facing Penal Transportation. For example, It was reported in france that they sent the convicts to devilà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Island and the UK colonies in America (Penal Transportation , 2012) Causes of Prison Overcrowding Prison Overcrowding is causing due to the high rate of criminals and not taking care of it by using correct means and ways to reduce the crime rate. There are certain issues implemented by the government by which an individual can easily sentenced to prison by a harsher penality on simple offenses.There are some common needs of the citizens, to get those common needs the citizens in take a wrong way to fulfill the need because there is no other way to reach it, the thing they want is very difficult to be fulfilled so they implement or plan to do very offensive and dangerous techniques which can give harm to government as well as countrys value, so keeping in mind everything, country also should give some facilities to the citizen so they dont find a wrong way to do it. There are some situations on which government gets very easy and does not keeps security in some levels where there should be high security and that gives an open chance to the criminals.Bieng tough on crime is also not good because goverment usually find no other way to solve the problem so they give punishment at the end of the day. The government should never be soft on crimes and as well as too much aggressive. These both things definetely gives the government a positive expectation of crime so it is better to implement such rules that gives a balanced situation of crime level.One of the causes that includes overcrowding is that there is very less number of facilities given to all of the offenders for example: Some offenders are given the facility and most of them are shifted back to the prisons that is out of state which increases the number, that causes overcrowding in prison. The main facility which is not given to the offenders are the high security prison beds. A offender th at needs a high security should not be left on a place where there is almost no security and the population of offenders are increasing but the goverment is not implementing accurate facility to the institutes.There are some prisoners who have never done any crime but just because they have some personal incident happened in there life so the hospitals cant handle them they are also sent to prison staff just to get some punishment instead they need a care until and unless they are some special case in there health Health Issues Overall The Health issues of a human bieng includes everything which is related to him or her happening in everyday routine weather its a mental stress or physical stress, any kind of stress taking place in human bieng gives a result in which they would have some health issues end of the day. Inmates and Prison Staff When we have a look on inmates and prison staff with there health issues most of the prisoners have mental disabilities. As reported in 2005 half of all the prison and jail offenders have mental health problems and that includes the number of health problems find in a prison that is 705,600 in State Prisons, 78,800 in Federal Prisons and 479,900 in local jails. These figures were configured by a personal interview with the State and Federal prisoners in 2004 and local jail inmates in 2002 (Glaze, 14/12/2006) As my research for prison staff, there were also female prisoners having mental health problems which were at a risk of abuse and at worst stage of mental illness. The women who doesnt have any mental issues can develope it by the enviroment given from the institutes which are very poor in condition, overcrowded, no safety and security and staff which were having to attiquates to deal with the females. General Public Health issues rising in general public is usually due to mental depression or stress which makes the human bieng aggressive and hyper and that causes many wrong things. As to my research violence is the main reason of public health problems. It was reported that violence and health were rarely used together 30 years ago (Services, 2009). There were many diseases like yellow fever, poliomyelitis, typhus, diphtheria, and pertussis but the main leading diseases were Tuberculosis and pneumonia in 20th century. Nowadays the health issues taking place in public is homicide, suicide, cancer, heart diseases, stroke and AIDS. These all diseases are taking place because of loads of stress, depression, diet changing, way of living, less workout and bieng careless on personal lifestyle and hygiene. Solutions and Precautions taken to resolve the issue As we look on the conditions of prison staff because they are going through mental illness and health problems so the correctional institute should provide or implement a way which is very caring and problem solving that they can atleast have peace of mind and feel comfortable as compare to punish them or sending them out of state.There are places in prison where there is just a room and you have to stay there eating, drinking, sleeping and your bathroom services in the same place which can give more mental stress and more health problems because there would be no hygiene. There are very few correctional institutes which have good facilities for the prisoner but most of the institutes or jails have very inadequate services and doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t know how to deal with them. Keeping in my mind all these things a country should organize an institute which should have some levels and categories to deal with different type of prisoners keeping in mind some factors Medical, Psychological, environmental etc and approaching a treatment that is very medicated and cleaned with some good facilities provided. As it is very challenging to maintain a good correctional institute due to increase in large number of prisoners, lack of resources, poor organization and high rate of mental illness and facing them repeatedly. Correctional Institutes can be a educational centre also if they can be given a better prison to improve themselves doing many knowledgeable things given by the institute for example: painting, writing and playing in an open ground so that they could feel better and relaxed. These all things could be given to the prisoners who are in a balanced condition to deal with, by approaching this task the prisoners with low mental illness can come in a better s ituation. Qualified Doctors are very less to work for the prison staff so the prison administration should make sure if the experts are dealing with the prisoners they should deal in a good way. Now as we come across the general public Most of the issues are solved are free to improve their health because they are not always alone dealing with themselves but they would have someone taking care or usually they have a family supporting them by which they get lots of help and care they needed until and unless they are on a situation where there health issue is accessed to the dangerous stage and that includes only suffering from a disease . Steps taken to reduce prison overcrowding As we look behind the circumstances and causes of the prison overcrowding the general steps should be taken first and to be started after having the positive reply of the public. Long Term It should be done in a that the government should banns the drugs in the country and charge fine whoever is using it. This way that the criminals should keep many things in mind. If they approach a new concept of giving warnings, fines, alerts then there will be a way of less criminals and less crowd in the prison. Short Term There are many countries which have very high crime rate and less organized correctional institute. Putting the criminals in jail only if they have done a big robbery or theft and then they can be handover to high authorities. Reduction Plan To reduce recidivism there should be a rapid plan, We can do it by increasing public safety by making sure to achieve a low rate of criminal behavior. We can give a service to the offenders and criminals in the prison by giving them a good chance to move back to their place but with a good attitude and with a safe environment. The community health centers can play a big role in solving this problem and implementing new law and order. For further details on reduction plan we can follow the FDC plan that is (A.McNeil, 2009-2014) Conclusion I would like to conclude my research on overcrowding by the interview given by Glen Whorton, who is the director of Ely state prison followed by the link (Whaley, 2007)

Applied Research Technologies Incorporation Analysis

Applied Research Technologies Incorporation Analysis Introduction of Case study:- The case study is about the Applied Research Technologies Incorporation, which is an emerging corporation in the field of technology. Company has built up its strength from mergers and acquisitions in the year of 1980 and 1990. As a result, in the year of 2006, the ART portfolio consist of 60 business units having major divisions of Industrial automation, Health care, HVAC (Heating ventilation and air conditioning) and Water management Division. Backbone of the business:- Innovative Culture:- The company success is based on the innovative environment and friendly culture for the entrepreneur mind people. The encouragement for innovative ideas can be idealized from the fact that company spends double money on supporting innovative ideas from the other industrial companies. This innovative culture comes from the top, because the CEO (David Hall) encourage employees to spend half day in a week in brainstorming, problem solving and experimenting which is referred as tinker time. According to the CEO, he likes to have meetings of managers and innovators so that new ideas emerged. According to him, it is the fact that you will not succeed every time but we should celebrate worthy attempts even they are unsuccessful. Knowledge Sharing:- Knowledge dissemination and sharing is also a promising picture that reflects the cooperative culture of the company. Experts of different department help each other in the successful completion of the project as well as problem solving. Funding to entrepreneurial ideas:- As discussed earlier, company serve significant amount of resources on innovative ideas. Whenever an idea comes which successfully complete the beta batch production and market potential analysis process also called proof of concept, quickly the resources are put behind the idea. CEO of the company wanted to minimize the period from the emergence of idea and the successful launching of commercial product. To convert this idea into reality company introduce a program which is referred as fast track pipeline, the main purpose behind this activity is to provide additional resources for the high priority projects. Competitive targets and executive compensation:- As the structure of the company belief on decentralized decision making, so to coordinate the activities toward the completion of business as well as corporate goal highly performance targets are set followed by executive compensation. In 2006, the company gives the target referred to as 10(sale growth 10%)/ 15(pretax margin 15%)/ 20(return on investment). Work force Diversity:- CEO of the company wanted to have a global presence. For this, he not only want to expand his business in different geographical areas but also to open its branches in different areas to grasp the talent and utilize for the further development of the company. In response to this idea, RD group of ART has opened Indian Technical Center (ITC) in 2000. Filtration Unit:- Our main area of discussion is regarding Filtration unit that struggled hard to reach at a success level. This business has been acquired in 1996 from oil and gas Service Company. Its core products are relating to the Government requirement of recycling of water at drilling sites and well heads. A change comes into this business when a 32 years old manager is hired for this unit called Vyas. Having an enthusiastic personality, he immediately starts hiring innovative and creative mind people into his team. Janice Wagner is one of those hired people who have already worked as marketing department of HVAC division of ART Inc. Small scale Oxidation Unit:- Vyas has a strong belief that innovation is the key to success. So to make an innovative culture more strong, he hires a team of technology evaluation. During his review of current and some near past project, he came to know that ITC was working on a project of water purification for developing countries water problem. This small scale oxidation project had been set aside because of increased cost. Market analysis:- Vyas closely review the project and convinced that it could be a considerable idea. ITC was so much motivated and developed a promising design of the product. They claimed that this product can process approximately 2000 liters of unhygienic water. Vyas was quiet satisfied that the product would be a successful one but he also asked Wagner to arrange a brief market analysis. After her analysis, he pointed out some facts: Only 2.5% pure water was available in the World and most of them was frozen. 1.1 billion people suffered due unavailability of pure water. 3.1 Million (90% children) people had been died in 2002 as a result of diarrheal diseases. On these finding and promising design of product enforced Vyas to pursue the project. In result he gave a go ahead sign to ITC technicians and also asked Wagner to make a comprehensive market analysis of potential customer, so that the product would be developed according to the target market demand. After market assessment, she give the report about target customer. In his report he pointed out following customer. For Developing Countries: Purified water is required for drinking. For USA Residential landscape irrigation. Disaster relief. Military. Commercial landscape irrigation. Farms etc. She also claimed that many other industries of China, Europe, Canada and USA were trying researching on this type of product but our design was probably the superior one. First generation product:- Vyas team targeted the developing countries customer who suffered from infected water. Team contacted with funding agencies and made the small scale oxidation system for field testing. This was unfortunate that regardless of too much research and hard work behind the product, it was failed because of significant smell was still found out in the purified water. In the result, funding agencies rejected the projected. Second generation product:- Although the failure of the product was a big disaster for the Vyas, but he came up with a new enthusiasm and tried to turn the tables over. The team decided to work for another group of potential customers that was mentioned in Wager market analysis report. In this time they wanted to manufacture a product for military and disaster relief NGO, s. They refocus all their efforts and at the end they succeeded to overcome the odor problem. But in this time problem caught them in another way, due to high power requirement a frequent battery replacement was a necessary outcome. So, no order would be expedited in near future. Third generation product:- It is the reality that there were two consecutive failures but the Vyas team still thought that it was not the end of story. They made up a new plan and demanded $2 Million. A new six person development team was designed by Vyas who had smart project management and leading skills. The team work tirelessly for the completion of three phase model of Cynthia Jackson (Vice President of Water Management Division). Cynthia Jackson gave a three phase model for third generation product: Market analysis. Technological development. Business planning. Phase 1: Market analysis and product concept:- Before starting the product idea, Wagner took the responsibility of market research of product. This time focus was on the residential water purification. In this sector, she wanted to analyze that cushion was available in domestic agriculture applications or not. She found in her research that there was a water scarcity problem in the Western and Southeastern region of USA. Due to this reason government imposed restriction on the usage of water for residential irrigation. Also, when the water was used for irrigation then the lower quality water could be accepted. It was also indicated in the research that domestic water treatment market generate sale of app $9 Billion. Also, sprinkler units available in the market were ranging from $1800 $4000. So Wagner was quiet sure about the positive response of the market regarding this product. After the research had been made, the team compiled the results and for the Residential irrigation mini-oxidation system (RIMOS) decided a retail price of $2000. But there would be significant discount on price per acre for Agriculture irrigation large oxidation system (AILOS). Vyas and Wagner formed a formal report including all the research analysis and recommendation of the prices for the approval from Jackson. Jackson response on the research was not satisfactory. She had concerns on many issue. After reviewing all the report, she advised the team to reduce the cost of the project either by rejecting RIMOS or AILOS. Vyas and his team agreed upon the rejection of AILOS and decided to unite the efforts for the success of RIMOS project. Phase 2: Initial design and product specification:- Vyas and his team immediately started working on prototype. They should restrict the design in such a way that the cost remain at the level, given in the research. They wanted to convert the design of generation one product into the new product for irrigation. The managers had to face many challenges; one of them was a situation of misunderstanding between researchers team of India and United States. The conflicting point was the delay in production design deadline. The Indian researcher had clarified that wanted to develop a design that satisfy the needs of the customer. They clarified that there is no need to rush and the product design would be finalized after proper testing. The reason behind such a watchful way of developing the design was the threat of failure and that was not acceptable in any case. Jackson was quiet satisfied because the team showed their strong willingness and put efforts for the success of product. But she also advised to use the full internal resources of ART Company. Vyas found out managers and engineers with the help of Jackson form HVAC and Healthcare divisions who coordinate with the team. They suggested some production specification and design changes with resulted in the cost reduction. Phase # 3: Business Plan:- The business plan was a real challenge for Vyas and his team. Anyhow they put all their efforts and made a sale projection, cost elimination plan, product concept, marketing plan and cost projections for RIMOS. They also still believe that there was a big market of water purification for the underdeveloped countries waiting for them. Although the team worked with full commitment but Jackson challenged the pro forma report of financials and instructed the team to review the assumptions given in the report. On the other hand, Vyas and Wagner were pretty sure that the research was quiet satisfactory and had been worked out with due diligence by technological and manufacturing experts. Jackson was also concerned about the price of $2000 and advised Vyas to closely observe the risk linked with it. So, the teams also made a risk assessment. The results showed that: Company should take a close look at beta batch that helps to reduce flaws. Price could be justifiable by increased water efficiency. Competition could be low because of the global impact of ART, its after sale service, distribution channel and supplier relationship. Market acceptability could be increased by highlighting the ART name which has significant value in market. Also distribution channel of HVAC should be used. Decision for the project:- Vyas was still thinking whether to accept the proposal or to reject it. He knew that his team has the required potential for gaining success. His team was absolutely sure about the good performance. On the hand, Jackson heard from grapevine that Vyas had received the funding request of $2000. She was thinking over and over again what would her answer when Vyas came for approval. She knew that her action would be watched critically because many managers of her division think that filtration unit caused to much loss and this is the time to set aside the project. Porter Five Forces Analysis (Figure.1) Willingness to pay Value for the customer Porter five forces analysis consist of following: Price Bargaining power of customer. Bargaining power of Supplier. Threat of new entrance. Cost Competitive rivalry within an industry. Threat of substitute. Bargaining power of customer:- First of all we have to understand the logic behind power of customer. We can clarify our mind from the figure.1, if the price of the product is lower than the willingness to pay range, power of customer is low and vice versa. When we look at the whole scenario, we came to know that filtration made many researches regarding the target market. They have made the prototype for several times and for several types of products. Also a comprehensive study had been conducted to rightly identify the product price with respect to value given by the product. Now to comment on the power of customers, there are two divisions: Bargaining power of customer for first two generations: The product of first generation is highly demanded in the marked. Also the target market was quiet perfect for the product. If the prototype became successful in that time then bargaining power of the customer would be lower than supplier (also depend upon the price charged). Same would be the case with Second generation product. Although the product was a good solution for military and disaster relief activities but the price at sale cost will be very high. Customer had to spend too much money on continuous changing of the battery. Due to this reason customer may be on upper end. So the company realizes this fact before time and leaves this plan. Beginning power of the customer for third generation:- In the third which was under consideration, I believe that the product is a good solution for the customer and available on compatible price in relation to the competitors. As US government had imposed restriction on the landscape irrigation so for landscape irrigation people have to purchase these types of products. So there is a bid market available. Company also has brand equity because of its customer relationship, global presence and speedy efficient distribution channel. So, as the value of product is high, bargaining power of seller is also high. Bargaining power of supplier:- Bargaining power of supplier can also be described for the three scenarios separately. Bargaining power of supplier for first two generations:- Bargaining power of supplier would be very high for the supplier if the odor problem could be solved (also depend upon the price of the product) because the target market chosen by the supplier was quiet demanding for that kind of product. Same would be the case with second generation where target market was properly set, product had a value for the customers but in the end same problem occurs with the company and rather than solving the problem they start thinking for the new product. Bargaining power of the supplier for the third generation:- In this situation, if the product is launched successfully, bargaining power of suppliers will be slightly high. The reason behind that the value of the product will be high for the customers because of government restriction on water irrigation and compatible price. Also the company has its distinct value in the minds of customer regarding its quality, after sale services and distribution channel. Threat of new entrance:- Wagner had analyzed the market for the first generation and pointed out that many private and government sectors RD efforts had been in progress for the purification plant but finally she gave the remarks that our technology was the best amongst all up till that time. For second generation, cushion of success was available as Wagner had pointed out this factor in her analysis. For third generation product, competitors are already into action and new comers are also expected. But the advantage of the company is its compatible price, its global presence, distribution network and suppliers relationship as compared to the competitors. Competitive rivalry within an industry:- We can perceive from the case that competitive rivalry was very high in the first generation because Wagner analysis highlight the Europe, USA, China and Canada government and private sector companies, already working on such a product. But she was also sure that ART technology was far better than the competitors. Also the significant global presence of ART along with the enthusiastic distribution channel and after sale service increases the value of product in the eyes of customers. Competitive rivalry factor is always present in most of the industries dimensions. So this factor is also present in second generation. Competitors are already present in third generation product but as discussed earlier company has a distinguishable position in the market that leads towards high brand equity. Also price and quality of product is some what same as compared to the competitors of the market. So there are bright chances of the success in the market. Threat of substitute:- Substitutes are available for the generations but the technology and brand equity provides special edge to ART. The only lacking factor was the lack of consistency. When we take a look at the case, we came to know that when a problem occurs in the product they simply reject the product. The rational behavior should be that they have to think over the problem and solve it rather than leaving the project and put all the effort into loss. Pestle Analysis:- By Pestle analysis, we mean to say: P = Political analysis E = Economic analysis. S = Social analysis. T = Technology analysis. L = Legal analysis. E = Environmental analysis. I will explain each part separately. Political analysis:- Third generations product is most effected from the political point of view. Third generation product is actually related with the irrigation of residential landscape. But as the case suggest that due to less rain and increasing population growth extreme scarcity of water take place in the region because of that government impose limitations on landscape irrigation. Now this political move causes increase in the demand of the product. So this government action is affecting the demand positively. Economic analysis:- While making the analysis of the product target market and product acceptability, one thing that should be kept in mind is the economic condition of the target market. Because it may be possible that there is a need of product, people are willing to purchase and product contents are absolutely matched with the needs of target market but only due to high cost incurred on the production process it is away from the reach of market. This was the case with second generation product where a problem of consistent change would cause an increase in cost of product that is unacceptable for the target market. Social analysis:- Social aspect also disturbed the ART progress regarding this filtrations unit. Corporate RD section of ART opened ITC and water purification project concept emerged from that unit. But due to difference in social values and culture of the two different continents, there was a situation of misunderstanding communication gap exist between head office and this unit. We can see the confusion among both units, when mini-oxidation plant face a problem of odor and project will be closed that make the ITC technicians harsh. Some situation happens when the third generation product design becomes late. Technological analysis:- ART has advanced technology but the only issue is regarding proper research, effective utilization of technology and consistency. In my view when first generation product faces the problem of odor, there would be a need to reorganize all technological aspect and a RD operation would be done with new passion. It might be a chance that the result would be in companies favor. Same will be the case with second generation product. Legal analysis:- There are minor legal issued faced by the organization. Only the restriction of landscape irrigation is a legal issue that proves beneficial for the increasing demand of the target market. Environmental analysis:- Environmental factor also have a some effect on the existing scenario. The target market of the generations has some environmental characteristics that collectively results in the emerging needs of the products produced by the ART business unit. For example polluted water of underdeveloped countries increase the need of purified water and lack of rain increased population results in the demand for landscape irrigation product Strategic group analysis:- ART has many business units depending upon the different type of products they have provided. Corporation has brand equity in the market due to its after sale services, customer satisfaction, global presence and distribution network. IF we look at the strategic strengths of the organizations on over all bases, we came to know that the corporation has a strategy of growing itself with innovation and entrepreneurial activities. And knowledge sharing dissemination helps to achieve the target. Tinker time is a helping step to achieve that strategic goal. Strategic analysis has another view; filtration unit is a part of the corporation. Having core product of water treatment for oil and gas exploration that meets the government requirement of recycling. The case shows a sort of strategic mistake from the point of view of management while new project was under progress. There is a lack of consistency and lack of commitment that can be seen easily. First generation product came into the field-testing phase after the lab test had been completed. Then, why this problem not be shown in that phase? May be that would happen because of careless attitude while testing or may be the product quality in lab test was different from the field-testing product quality? Even then, if product faces odor problem, the management should encourage the ITC technicians to overcome the problem rather converting the face of project in different way. Same will be the case with second generation product which shows a careless attitude of management as well as lack of strategic vision regarding the project. Key Success Factors:- If we take a birds view of the case, we can easily assess that innovation, entrepreneurial activities, knowledge sharing and dissemination are the four active participants that guides ART towards the success story. Corporation has an urge to achieve competitive advantage over rivals through these factors. CEO advice of tinker time is an example of the innovative vision of the corporation. Key drivers of change in selected industry:- After the two failure of purification water project, now the company stands on a crucial point regarding the decision of investment on the landscape irrigation project. The under discussion industry should keep the vision of innovation and entrepreneurial activities in mind but to achieve a goal this business unit also needs to be more disciplined. Managerial decision should be taken by keeping in view the broader aspect and by analyzing that what impact this decision would be on whole Corporation. Following are the point that should be kept in mind if the company wanted to have success in this project: Critically analyze the market analysis and financials of the plan. If that found to be practical, make the prototype version followed by field testing production. If the product gets success in field testing production then company has to move toward marketing and production. Regular innovative change not only helps to sustain a competitive advantage but also create value for the customer and then increased value can be enjoyed through fruitful profit generation.