Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Fashion and Womens Movements in the Past Century Essay Example For Students
Fashion and Women?s Movements in the Past Century Essay Todays American women are following centuries old traditions of rebelling against societys outlook on women around. Earlier in Americas history, it was unheard of for a woman to be in both the public and domestic sphere. Women were forced to spend most of their life in the domestic sphere, and wear ridiculous clothes everyday. For a long time, women have been degraded and pushed around, causing women to initial movements to change the way society treats women. In America, the land of the free, women have to fight for their equal rights. Reformers, such as Fanny Wright, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Amelia Bloomer and many more have done so through their actions, and speeches. Nevertheless, in recent times fashion has become an available source of expression. It is a powerful tool to be able to be seen and not heardbut still get the message across. Since its humble beginnings, fashion has oftentimes just existed, but in the past century, it has existed as a form of express ion, art, and liberation Now, women are still being influenced and challenged by the media and their peer, but slowly, more and more women are standing up for themselves. Before the early to mid 1800s, women were forced to squeeze into corsets made of whalebone, steel or buckram. It gave them the figure eight profile which resulted on a number of health problems, including their organs and body to become deformed. Over the corsets, women wore heavy layers of petticoats despite the weather. (Small Business Administration 3) Dresses emphasized the bust and hips, attempting to make women look very voluptuous. With the spread of commercialism, hundreds of new beauty products were introduced. These ever-popular restricting fashions were later outdated. This fashion was not comfortable in any sort of the imagination, and a social reformer, Wright started to make a difference. She originated a modified version of dresses in the Victorian Age. This new dress was described as long-sleeved, high-necked, and loose-fitting tunic over a pair of baggy trousers (Banner 23). Anthony, Stanton, Bloomer, and along others started to wear this new comfortable fashion. Bloomer promoted this new fashion which become known as Bloomers in The Lily; a newspaper for women promoting womens suffrage, temperance, and higher education (Small Business Administration 2). After attempting to change the style of clothes in the 1840s, they put this new fashion aside. Not only were they mocked by the public, but women were not following their example. Lucretia Mott, Stanton and many more reformers started a Womens Rights Convention in Seneca Falls that dealt with women receiving further rights. Anthony collaborated with Stanton to write From Address to the New Yo rk State Legislature, 1860. In this speech, Stanton delivered many of her powerful ethics to the State Legislature. She felt that women should have the right to have a divorce, and generally more rights for women. Through her well-educated, formal speech she gained respect from the State Legislature, but at that time, respect was all she received. Writing for social protest, she wanted women to make their own decisions from what type of dress to wear, to what type of job and/or education they want. Although women continued to wear some form of the corset until the 1920s (Banner 25), the publics stance on womens clothes started to revolutionize in the 1890s. Simplicity in dress had come to be associated , not with the poor or with radicals like Stanton of Anthony, but with more exciting and acceptable models: the actress, the working woman, the college woman, the sportswoman (Banner 24). Young women expressed many taboos through their appearances. They had qualities that were unheard of in previous generationsthey were sexually liberated, independent, and gaining rights. The declaration of this self-fulfillment was shown through the unforgettable fashion of the flappers. Women started wearing bright makeup, shorter skirts, and boyish haircuts. The new silhouette was very slim and youthful, a trend that has lasted until today, with a few exceptions. Androgyny was for the first time popular, and women used all sorts of pills and diets to attain the boyish figure. Fashion was both decadent and innovative. Makeup was elaborate to complement the masculine style, and it also began to be used as an art form. The face was now being painted into something completely unexpected, like a costume. In response to the flagrant 1920s, the thirties and forties were very sobering. The Depression hit and business was lost, in both the rural and urban areas. Women who had been taught to be independent and find work for themselves were confused, and the gender roles went back to what they once were. The boyish look of the twenties had vanished and women tried again to look feminine, searching for a new realistic, but untouchable ideal. World War II was taking its toll on much of the world, and it set in a harsh reality. Women were called to duty for many jobs, working with men in factories and not so much time at home. In addition, women writers started to express their feelings about the war. Authors like Marianne Moore and Edna St. Vincent Millay used their witty humor to ge t attention. A famous poem, The Paper Nautilus, was written by Moore. In this poem she expressed how she did not want young men to go off to war through imagery and symbolism. Times were hard for most; causing fashion to be very insignificant, but was a huge stepping stone in the equality of women. Style in the 1950s once again resorted to extreme femininity, but in a new sense. The modern woman was searching for an unachievable perfection that was untouchable. Christian Diors New Look from Paris brought beautiful gowns that encouraged the attitude of women made to please, to be seen, forever elegant, spoiled and impractical (Thomas 12). In the sixties and seventies, fashion finally regained its power as a tool of self-expression and liberation. There were many different movements in the sixties that fashion was very important to. The slim silhouette of the twenties was once again hugely popular, as miniskirts were essential. The hippie movement for peace and free love was captured with the quintessential tie-dye, jeans, and long hair. A pre-grunge look, a brightly colored pop-culture look, a space-age look, and a sexy, youthful look were all popular during this time period. People could express themselves freely by choosing any one of the many options of style available to them. With this outlook, civil rights protests in the United States, took a new beginning and womens rebellion against the middle-class housewifes role contributed to this second wave of womens movements (World Book 1). With less pay, fewer promotions, and discrimination in the workplace, women still worked hard for what they believed in: equal rights. The civil rights act of 1964 was the fresh start that women needed. .uf53ad26870f1a7cfbe450cfdba72be2e , .uf53ad26870f1a7cfbe450cfdba72be2e .postImageUrl , .uf53ad26870f1a7cfbe450cfdba72be2e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uf53ad26870f1a7cfbe450cfdba72be2e , .uf53ad26870f1a7cfbe450cfdba72be2e:hover , .uf53ad26870f1a7cfbe450cfdba72be2e:visited , .uf53ad26870f1a7cfbe450cfdba72be2e:active { border:0!important; } .uf53ad26870f1a7cfbe450cfdba72be2e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uf53ad26870f1a7cfbe450cfdba72be2e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uf53ad26870f1a7cfbe450cfdba72be2e:active , .uf53ad26870f1a7cfbe450cfdba72be2e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uf53ad26870f1a7cfbe450cfdba72be2e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uf53ad26870f1a7cfbe450cfdba72be2e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uf53ad26870f1a7cfbe450cfdba72be2e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uf53ad26870f1a7cfbe450cfdba72be2e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uf53ad26870f1a7cfbe450cfdba72be2e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uf53ad26870f1a7cfbe450cfdba72be2e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uf53ad26870f1a7cfbe450cfdba72be2e .uf53ad26870f1a7cfbe450cfdba72be2e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uf53ad26870f1a7cfbe450cfdba72be2e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Theories on and Analysis of Information Management in KFCThe eighties brought a powerful new figure, that of an extremely modern businesswoman. Womens dress was inspired again by menswear, with shoulder-pads and straight-leg pants. The supermodel was introduced, with a select few women making history with their salaries. Women were becoming more powerful in corporations, and that was evident in their powerful new choice of clothing; but still not powerful enough. A famous feminine organization was created in 1985, called the Guerrilla Girls that states they are:A bunch of anonymous females who take the names of dead women artists as pseudonyms and appear in public wearing gorilla masks. In 18 years we have produced over 100 posters, stickers, books, printed projects, and actions that expose sexism and racism in politics, the art world, film and the culture at large. We use humor to convey information, provoke discussion, and show that feminists can be funny. We wear gorilla masks to focus on the issues rather than our personalities. (Guerrilla Girls: Frequently Asked Questions 1)These daring women do not take no for an answer and will always push the envelope in order to have their voice heard. The nineties was time for backlash to all the glitz of prior decades, with people leaning towards minimalism. To become a model one needs to reach dangerous proportions, like 5 7 and 100 pounds. This helped cause more eating disorders in young women. Supermodels continued to reign, and fashion was being mass-marketed more powerfully than ever. Then, the first plus-sized, African-American women was modeling for Cover Girl. This huge step was extremely daring. I t told young women that they do not need to be tall, blonde, and skin. Instead, girls need to look to their own super-mom a woman still fighting for her complete rights in the domestic and public sphere. Towards the end of the nineties, new campaigns raised a lot of controversy, such as child pornography and sexual violence. As these are not necessarily liberating, they showed a new kind of freedom in advertising. Homosexuality was also often featured in fashion of the nineties, which did provide liberation. By the end of the century, homosexuality was accepted and commonplace. The future of womens fashion is uncertainin that shock value is harder to come by with each passing year. There is a concept in fashion that nothing is new, everything has been done before. This theory is coming closer to obvious reality, as fashion shows of recent years have visual throwbacks as late as the Victorian era. Although the direction is not yet decided, it is almost definite that women will use f ashion as an important tool for expression and freedom in the future. Works Cited Banner, Lois W. Women in Modern America a Brief History. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1974. Guerrilla Girls. Frequently Asked Questions. Guerrilla Girls. 2005. 2 May 2005 . Small Business Administration. Womens History Month Amelia Jenks Bloomer. Online Womens Business Center. 16 Apr. 2002. 3 May 2005 . Thomas, Pauline Weston. 1950s Glamour Fashion History 1950s. Fashion Era. 2005. 2 May 2005 . World Book, Inc. The Rise of the Modern Womens Movement. The Modern Womens Movement. 2004 ed. 1. 2 May 2005 .
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Organizational management
Respect is perceived to the value attached in dignifying oneself and others (Business Lobby Team par.1). In our daily lives, we have to deal with other people at one time or another. Respect comes into perspective when we have to relate with our peers and colleagues. Respect also involves giving dignity to oneself as well as other peopleââ¬â¢s privacy, views, philosophies, abilities, beliefs and personality differences.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Organizational management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This paper outlines the importance of respect at the workplace and how an employee can earn respect in a diverse working environment. Besides, it discusses how an individual can show respect to colleagues and other employees at workplace. Why is respect important? People respect themselves when they feel that they are equally respected by others. When we are respected by other people unconditionally, there is a higher likelihood to be positively influenced by those who respect us. Workplace relationships play a major role in ensuring that organizational goals are met. For an organization to work towards certain goals, relationship between managers and other employees as well as the relationship among other colleagues is of great importance. Relationship in various work places is enhanced by several aspects. These aspects include mutual respect, integrity and honesty (Mayhew par. 2). The resultant effect of effective workplace relationship is cooperating towards a common goal. This is an important aspect that enhances profitability in any organization. Mutual respect initiates collaborative teamwork which in turn helps to push the organization policies towards the set goals (Mayhew par. 3). Mutual respect among colleagues in an organization enhances productive working relationship. People become more open to each other and thus communication between employees is improved both ve rtically and horizontally. This move promotes a work environment that is flexible and results in improved productivity (Webster par. 3). Mutual respect is a key aspect that enhances knowledge transfer between workers in an organization. When employees respect each other, they develop mutual trust and allow information to flow. It also enhances work relationships and at the same time helps employees to work as a cohesive team.Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It becomes easy to solve problems when knowledge is effectively transferred from one person to another. Respect comes out as a prerequisite in actualization of the above mentioned components of knowledge transfer particularly in cases where ideas have to be created and shared among employees. In a workplace environment, the attitude of the group towards knowledge transfer should entail respect among each other. In te rms of sharing knowledge, it is worth to mention that positive sharing can only occur where members have respect for each other. In other words, a good workplace relationship is required for effective sharing of knowledge and skills. People will pay attention to information being passed on by persons they respect. In addition, willingness to contribute towards knowledge and information sharing occurs when people show mutual respect within small or large teams (Levine par.5). An organization where everybody is respected enjoys significant benefits in its operations. In order to achieve a collaborative workforce, employers are expected to undertake extensive training of employees. This practice promotes mutual respect in an organization. It also helps to align the goals of employees to an organization. Respect makes it easy to identify employees based on the position they hold. In addition, it increases their commitment in maintaining high quality work. Mutual respect helps to recogni ze the talent of employees and the contributions they make in the organization. The overall goal of respect is to increase a firmââ¬â¢s profitability. This can be realized if there is workplace respect. In the event that high performance is needed, diversity should be integrated in the goals of an organization. In other words, a diverse workplace is highly likely to produce the much needed work balance and productivity. Instead, mutual respect in an organization should be based on the ability of an individual to respect the skills of other people. In addition, it is imperative to mention that mutual respect is an integral parameter that can only be experienced in a diverse work environment. Moreover, respect helps in breed profitability in an organization. In addition, respect helps to foster cooperation, collaboration and synergy. All these ingredients are highly beneficial especially in establishing workforce that can ascertain the significance of performance, productivity and quality of goods and services. Respect at the workplace also facilitates the transfer of knowledge between different people in an organization. In most cases, employees who accord respect to their fellow workers finds it easy to respect other members of the management team with high levels of knowledge and skills. As a result, it becomes less cumbersome for employees to get additional skills from their superiors. It is worthy to note that the workplace training can easily achieve the expected outcomes if the trainees are willing to respect the expertise of the mentor or trainer.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Organizational management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Finally, respect helps to reduce or eliminate possible conflicts at the workplace. Incidences of the workplace conflict are likely to increase if employees fail to respect one another. This is because employees who lack respect are likely to i nvolve themselves in behaviors that portray lack of respect to both the person and to the contribution made by other employees in an organization. Having conflicts at the workplace is likely to cause negative impact on an organization for instance by reducing employee morale, job satisfaction and productivity (Norville 112). How to gain respect in a diverse workplace Workplace diversity is based on principals that call for equal opportunities in employment. Diversity at the workplace is caused by inherent differences like ethnicity, age, gender, cultural background, physical ability and sexual orientation. Managing diversity and gaining respect in a diverse workplace involves the ability to recognize individual differences in a given organization. This help employee to realize their full potential and also enables the organization to realize the set goals and objectives. Respect in a diverse workplace can also be realized with the help of managers especially when they are able to es tablish and maintain appropriate work environments. In this case, the similarities and variation of the employees should be valued in order to enable them make maximum use of their potential in order to benefit the organization. This helps an organization to achieve the set goals and objectives (Esty, Richard and Marcie 96). Respect in a diverse workplace can also be realized by recognizing the contribution made by employees from different backgrounds. This is from the fact that employees can bring in fresh perceptions and ideas that facilitate product development. The ability of an organization to manage diversity successfully helps to nurture innovation and creativity which improves the competitive power of the organization. In addition, having respect in a diverse workplace helps an organization to build strong relationships with different people. It also becomes quite easy for an organization to make improvement on its services and other programs that enhance the contribution ma de by employees. An inclusive and supportive workplace environment can be created when employees in an organization work as a team.Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Besides, a cohesive workforce will demonstrate the much needed respect towards clients. Increased productivity and greater levels of creativity can also be achieved if respect is maintained in a diverse workplace. Therefore, effective implementation of diversity strategies in the workplace helps to improve employee retention, reduces expenditure and enhances productivity (Esty, Richard and Marcie 99). Workplace diversity is a term that is used to mean differences in physical characteristics as well as variations in working styles. It also encompasses differences in oneââ¬â¢s philosophy as compared to philosophies held by other colleagues. The Workplace diversity includes cultural diversity. The latter is defined as human differences that play an important part in the culture of an organization (Mayhew par.2). Respect in workplace is also two pronged. This implies that for one to earn respect in the workplace there is a need to show respect for themselves and others as well. In or der to maintain self respect, it is important to refrain from engaging in direct confrontations whenever there are personal differences. Therefore, peaceful problem solving skills would be the best way to deal with situations that trigger anger and hatred. As mentioned earlier, different people have various personalities, abilities, and beliefs that make them unique. In order to earn respect from these people, there is a need to respect them in spite of their diverse attributes. The greatest challenge arises in terms of the approach to use in order to take care of each personââ¬â¢s views irrespective of their emotional, economic, and social aspects in life. Balovich (par.1) indicates that for an individual to show respect to others, it is necessary to recognize that they are worthy to be accorded that respect. In addition, in order to take care of the diversity of other people at work, one must refrain from making sentiments and utterances that may depict a negative image of them selves towards others. Similarly, they should refrain from commenting negatively against other peopleââ¬â¢s attributes. The question on how leaders should show respect to their juniors and vice versa will also arise. For team leaders to earn respect from their juniors, it is important for them to keep away from making negative or demeaning comments against their juniors. If team leaders feel that their juniors have done less satisfactory job, they need to guide them learn how to achieve better results. On the other hand, individuals at the workplace should not allow to be demeaned when their work is relatively satisfactory. In the case of employerââ¬â¢s attitude towards workers, there are instances when the employee is criticized and silently agrees to the comments of the team managers just because of their status. This phenomenon may leads to lack of respect to the top level of management (Balovich par.2). Mayhew (par. 3) observe that employers should organize training on the subject of respect at the workplace in order to achieve a collaborative team of workers. The training should target the need of promoting respect among all employees irrespective of diversity of personal attributes and status. If employees in an organization are focused towards a common goal, mutual respect will be developed regardless of their statuses, position and the roles they play in achieving the organizationââ¬â¢s goals. As a result, their differences in terms of philosophical views at work do not matter so long as they deliver their duties as expected. Organizational culture plays a major role in ensuring that employees respect and get respected by others. Business Lobby Team (par. 5) provides indicators that show that the workplace environment upholds the aspect of respect in the workplace diversity. These indicators include giving credit facilities to employees when they make positive achievement or when an individual or a team meets an objective. Recognizing peopleâ â¬â¢s hard work usually enhances a positive relationship between managers and colleagues. As a result, it helps in forging a common goal. Another indicator is when employees are accountable for their actions and do not blame others. Hence, an individual earns respect by avoiding confrontation with other colleagues that may have been caused by either commission or omission. Respect at the workplace is also demonstrated when employees work towards a common goal and avoid being distracted by their differences. Employees who respect an organizationââ¬â¢s structure encourage mutual respect among themselves. In this regard, employees should not use the organization structure as a weapon against others. Other indicators that show that people in an organization uphold mutual respect is when they talk positively about their work, colleagues and have a positive focus for the organization rather than expressing distrust (Mayhew par. 4). How to show respect There are different ways of show ing respect at the workplace. On of the simplest way to show respect at the workplace is by being courteous, empathetic, kind and polite. Managers can show respect to employees by encouraging them to share their opinions and ideas. In some cases, employees may be shy to communicate their opinions and ideas. Managers should assist such employees to express their ideas by promising high levels of confidentiality and commenting on their ideas with sincerity. In addition, managers can also show respect to employees by being ready to listen to their complaints. Managers should avoid interrupting employees when they are making complaints or suggestions. Respect in the workplace can also be realized when every member in an organization is ready to use good ideas from other workers to help improve performance. Using ideas from other people is a form of expressing respect to people who create good ideas. It is necessary for employees to inform the managers whenever they use ideas from their co-workers. This helps the management to acknowledge the contribution made by employees. Members in an organization can also show respect for one another by avoiding insults or despising their co-workers. Employees should also avoid criticizing, judging and patronizing their fellow employees or managers. Avoiding such actions is an acceptable way of showing respect at the workplace. As mentioned earlier, for individuals to demonstrate respect to others, they must first respect themselves. In order to show respect to others especially at workplace, one important aspect is to recognize achievements, contributions and abilities of other colleagues without considering their personal or cultural attributes. Quite often, when individualsââ¬â¢ capabilities are assessed, their diversity should not be put into consideration. It is therefore important for people to recognize and appreciate other peopleââ¬â¢s abilities and skills without considering their race, gender or color (Business Lobby Team par. 4) Keeping promises is an important and sure way to show respect. Although it is closely related to being honest, keeping promises may include being reliable and punctual. When people depend on the reliability of others at workplace, it means that there is adequate respect among all of them. On the other hand, being reliable may be interpreted to mean respect for work and roles. In workplaces, the management team always gauges employeesââ¬â¢ commitment to work by the respect they have accorded themselves particularly regarding knowledge on their areas of jurisdiction as well as their reliability. Keeping the word of mouth goes hand in hand with being a hardworking person. Everybody who is worthy being respected respects a hard-worker. In this regard, meeting deadlines for duties assigned, going an extra mile to achieve the set goals and also engaging in learning of various aspects are some of the attributes that demonstrate that a person is hard-working. Being kin d and a source of inspiration to people enhances respect between people. When people share challenges and problems, they do this with the hope of finding a listening ear. Being there to listen to fellowââ¬â¢s problems reassures them and in turn respect is given back. This can be shown through empathizing with people facing different challenges, helping them out, assisting them solve problems (Business Lobby Team par. 4). Quite often, we express our emotions through the word of mouth. It is necessary to consider what we say in the presence of others will result to lacking respect to oneself or lacking respect to them. It is therefore important to express oneself through talking with humility and gentleness. Besides, it is important to communicate clearly and straightforward in order to show respect to others. This goes hand in hand with being honest and always telling the truth. Sometimes speaking about issues that one has little information on may make other people disrespect the m. Appearance and personal grooming are important tool that can show respect. First time appearance is enough to show whether you respect others, authorities and even one self. In workplaces it is important to adhere to codes of dressing and general conduct for one to be regarded as respectful. Taking care of ones appearance does not necessarily mean wearing official outfits but means being presentable to fellow workers and also to seniors. Good appearance is necessary to every person if they mean to show respect and should be upheld regardless of the roles one has in the workplace or status. Respect ought not to depend on wage or age bracket. Respecting managers/managers respecting employees Morris (par. 2) illustrates that a successful manager ought to earn respect from the team he/she leads. On the other hand for managers to earn respect from their juniors they must show respect back. Some of the things that managers can do to earn respect include inspiring people by encouraging humor in the workplace. Also, managers should allow all employees to have equal opportunities to excel and gain experience. This can be achieved through enforcement of guidelines that should apply equally to employees without favoritism. When a good example is set by team members and leaders, the managers will earn respect from their subordinates. This may include getting involved in production directly, willingness to go an extra mile in achieving goals and encouraging workers to perform their duties (Monica par.3) In addition, managers can earn respect from their juniors due to their ability to solve problems. Managers should iron out conflicts arising in the workplace as first as possible and though the use of conflict resolution measures that maintain respect for other employees. Morris (par. 4) indicates that employees accord more respect to managers who are able to resolve conflicts promptly and fairly. Managers can also earn respect from employees if they share information wi th them especially when dealing with a difficult issue. On this case employees are able to share their views and at the same time understand managerââ¬â¢s line of thinking. Listening to employeesââ¬â¢ views will always make them feel valued, dignified and respected. In this was managers can learn important aspects in the workplace that may be important to them to help them in solving problems or strategic planning (Heathfield par.5). Other modes that managers can use to show respect to their employees include establishing trust, collaboration, kindness and giving feedback to concerns raised by employees. On the other hand, employees ought to show their managers the same amount of respect. When employees adhere to their respective duties as stipulated in an organization, managers will equally feel respected. In addition, employees should show respect to their managers by positively inspiring other employees through the promotion of good working relationship. Other aspects that show respect to managers is to accept positive criticism aimed at improving working relationships between them and their fellow subordinates and management as a whole. In addition, sharing important information that is crucial in the running of the organization demonstrates respect towards work and top level management. This kind of communication can be enhanced by creating communication channels that promote sharing of knowledge and information. The reason why employers hire employees is to perform specific functions in an organization. These functions are usually linked to the operations of the organization. These operations are expected to help the company to provide value-added services or products to customers. The employees are compensated for the work done through remuneration. This can either in the form of a salary, retirement benefits, health benefits or a bonus. In order to achieve this, the employees should be willing to respect their managers. Similarly, managers should also respect the employees since workplace respect provides mutual benefit to the parties involved (Taiwo 107). Employees can express their respect to the managers by observing the following. Firstly, employees should always act in a professional manner. Employees should understand the main reason why they were selected for a given position in an organization. The managers and other superiors expect the employee to be aware of his tasks and perform them well for the good of the organization. Employees can also express their level of professionalism by ensuring that they dress appropriately, reporting for work early and completing the assigned tasks on time. Secondly, employees can express their respect to their managers by showing their desire to raise their performance level. Employees can improve on their performance by operating consistently. This means that employees should not be reminded of their duties by the managers. Being a performance employee was requires them to act li ke initiators and problem solvers. To achieve this, employees should be able to come up with ideas that aid in providing solutions to some of the problems or challenges that might be affecting the organization (Taiwo 109). On the other hand, employers can show their respect to employees by acknowledging the opinions from the employees. This should be done even under circumstances where the ideas from the employees are not feasible. Managers should be willing to communicate the level of the contribution made by employees, and if possible they should appreciate the job done by employees using reliable methods. Managers should understand that praising employees can provide significant benefit to the company. Another way of showing respect to employees requires the managers to respect the subordinates and the peers. Managers should also ensure that every person in an organization is treated with respect, irrespective of the position he or she holds. A respectful workplace is likely to r aise the morale of employees and consequently realize an increase in productivity. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the managers to ensure that the concerns of the employees are addressed appropriately (Taiwo 109). Respect between colleagues Every person in an organization has a valuable role to accomplish. Hence, it would be difficult to accomplish organizational goals without the input of all employees. If a person views others and treat them with respect irrespective of the roles they play in an organization, objectives will be met quite easily. For colleagues to have mutual respect, they have to accommodate their colleagueââ¬â¢s different views to work and avoid condemning them for what they are or for their belief systems. In order to promote respect at workplace, each person must cultivate a culture that upholds the much needed respect (Heathfield par 3). Several aspects of organizational culture are important in promoting respect among employees. These include a cult ure of accommodating everybody irrespective of their differences, defining personal rights, responsibilities and the authorities in the organization, defining an appropriate code of conduct in an organization, promoting accountability, encouraging discussions and team work development as well as enhancing formal communication channels and forums such as meetings, use of emails and newsletters (Business Lobby Team par.5). In view of the above methods of promoting respect among colleagues at workplace, there are some aspects are within the confines of the management while others are initiatives that employees develop on a regular basis. For instance, the management in consultation with the employees should come up with codes of conduct, detailed roles of each employee and accountability measures. This forms part of an organizationââ¬â¢s culture where every employee is aware of the accepted norms. The management should devise avenues where individuals can raise their concerns. There fore, each employee should be given due attention and also be able to give the same attention to other colleagues. When the term disrespect at the workplace is mentioned, an individual is compelled to think about serious acts of violation such as racial discrimination and sexual harassment among others. It is important for working teams to understand that there are other behavioral patterns among employees that have a great impact at the workplace relationships, productivity and general wellbeing. Negative behavioral patterns such as gossiping, rumor mongering, talking to each other at loud and irritating voices as well as withholding vital information tend to promote a disrespectful workplace (Byres par. 4). There are a number of things which can be done to earn respect between colleagues. These include the following. First of all, it is necessary to develop acceptable work ethic. This requires the employee to report on time, doing the expected thing and being ready to help others whenever they need any help. Employees should also be excited and appreciate the job. To achieve this, employees should avoid making complains about work problems and work towards finding solutions that can provide mutual benefit. Respect between colleagues can also be realized by being honest and trustworthy and avoiding any discussions that relate to the personal life of other people. Following all the rules and regulations and acting professionally at the workplace also helps to earn respect between colleagues (Taiwo 111). Respect in the work place training Respect at the workplace is an attribute that can be acquired over time. Sometimes it does not come out naturally. This is because some aspects at the workplace are closely related to code of conduct and sometimes ties with an organizationââ¬â¢s culture. An employee is considered to be respectful when he or she observes positive workplace ethics that largely promote favorable working relationships. There are some cases when employees might feel harassed at places of work. Harassment at the workplace can be in the form of discrimination in terms of the amount of training which employees are accorded. Therefore, it is important for an organization to organize training sessions that are fairly distributed among various levels of workers at workplace. This can be done regularly through scheduled training for all employees or through trainings organized for specific teams. In addition, training sessions focusing on teamsââ¬â¢ interaction forums like team building can be used as avenues for training. It is important for employees to understand that the most serious negative actions like gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and racial discrimination often result into a less dignified place of work. Other minor acts such as gossiping, rudeness towards fellow workers, ignoring or withdrawing important information also contribute to a disrespected workplace. In addition, employees should learn the impor tance of respecting themselves at place of work. This kind of respect should also be extended to the organization and its management as a whole (Heathfield par. 5). Some of the acts of disrespect toward fellow employees at the workplace may amount to criminal acts that can be grossly prosecuted. Employees should also be well equipped with information on what may amount to crime against fellow workers. These acts should be dealt with by the legal system of an organization. However, the management should introduce and implement disciplinary measures against employees who show acts of disrespect that are considered to have enough substance to warrant such actions. Training on respect in the workplace acts as a way of demonstrating the desired qualities of a given organization. Training also helps to realize good relationships between different members of an organization. Respect is also critical especially when there is a need to ascertain productivity and overall values of an organiza tion. Workplace training also helps employees to be equipped with practical skills that help employees to identify violations and unproductive behaviors that hinder employees from completing their tasks. Conclusion Respect is a prerequisite in effective relationships at workplaces. It is important for an organization to incorporate respect within its cultural practices such that old and new employees are incorporated in the adopted culture. As discussed in the essay, respect at various places of work can only flourish when both sides maintain a dignified and respectful relationship. Hence, an individual has to show respect to others so that the same amount of respect can be given back. In addition, before employees can be able to show respect to others, they have to exercise respect among themselves. Respect also contributes towards the productivity of workers. The wellbeing and performance of an organization can also be replicated by the same effect. Therefore, it implies that ther e is a significant relationship between the extent to which organizations uphold the value of respect and in relation to performance. Although there is need to conduct training sessions that can enhance and assist in building respect at workplace, there is minimum financial investment for a company to uphold a culture of respect yet it pays a part in contributing to overall performance. Managers play a significant role in ensuring that the culture of respect prevails at workplace. It is easy for respect to be promoted when managers first demonstrate respect towards their juniors. In addition, communication structure in a company affects how employees uphold the value of respect. When communication structure allows managers to pass information to their juniors and vise versa, employees are able to maintain the value of respect towards fellow employees and also to their managers more conveniently. Training is important in enhancing the culture of respect in an organization. The manage ment should engage in forums aimed at promoting respect among employees. Some of these activities include team based groups activities such as team building days, appreciation parties as well as extracurricular activities like games and competitions. These are forums that improve the workplace relations since people are able to interact and share their views freely irrespective of their job status, race, physical characteristics and so on. Therefore, the latter are important tools that are crucial in promoting a respected workplace atmosphere. Revision and opinion about respect in the workplace The importance of mutual respect among employees and managers cannot be overemphasized. Respect is contagious and yields good working relationships. Mutual respect is a source of motivation and leads to positive productivity. Besides, daily challenges and lack of morale may make employees engage in acts that demonstrate lack of respect to management or fellow employees. Although respect emana tes from an individual, there are factors that may cause an employee to act in a disrespected manner. These factors may include the level of job satisfaction, employeesââ¬â¢, and level of motivation. According to my view, respect is a reward of a favorable working condition and sometimes triggered by aspects such as remuneration as well as fringe benefits and bonuses adopted by an organization. In addition, respect does not have monetary value or any direct influence on the budget. However, it has enormous contribution to the workplace relationships and leadership development. Respect quotes Some valuable quotes on respect include ââ¬Å"respect others to be respected, respect is the foundation stone of organizational effectiveness because it encourages us to recognize the skills and experience of every individualâ⬠(Learn Quote: Promoting respect in the workplace par. 2). Works Cited Business Lobby Team. How to promote respect in the workplace. Business Lobby. 31 Jan. 2011. Web. http://businesslobby.blog.com/2011/01/31/how-to-promote-respect-in-the- workplace/ Balovich, David. Respect in the workplace. 7 Aug. 2006. Web. http://www.creditworthy.com/3jm/articles/cw81706.html Byres, Nicole. Cultivating culture of respect in the workplace. 2012. Web. http://www.bcbusinessonline.ca/legal/cultivating-culture-respect-workplace Esty Katharine, Griffin Richard and Hirsch, Marcie. Workplace Diversity. Holbrook, Mass: Adams Publ, 1995. Print. Heathfield, Susan. How to demonstrate respect at work. n.d Web. Learn Quote: Promoting respect in the workplace. 5 Aug. 2005. Web. http://www.aleanjourney.com/2011/08/lean-quote-promoting-respect-in.html Levine, Gilbert. Managerial Practices Underlying One Piece of the Learning Organization. 2012. Web. http://irle.berkeley.edu/cohre/knowledge.html Mayhew, Patrick. Why is respect important in a diverse workplace? 2012. Web. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/respect-important-diverse-workplace- 11475.html Mayhew, Ruth. Elements of effective workplace relationships. n.d. Web. http://www.ehow.com/info_8156653_elements-effective-workplace- relationships.html Monica, Patrick. How to make your team respect you as a manager. 2012. Web. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/make-team-respect-manager-21561.html Morris, Briwn. How supervisors can show respect for employees. n.d. Web. http://www.chron.com/ Norville, Deborah. The Power of Respect: Benefit from the Most Forgotten Element of Success. Nashville, Tenn: Thomas Nelson, 2009. Print. Taiwo, Niyi. Respect: Gaining It and Sustaining It: a Comprehensive and Practical View of the Concept of Respect. New York: Xlibris, 2007. Print. Webster, Amanda. Motivational strategies that affect productivity in the workplace. 2012. Web. http://www.ehow.com/info_7856778_motivational-strategies-affect-productivity- workplace.html This term paper on Organizational management was written and submitted by user Emersyn Malone to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Reviewing the APA Guiline Sample Essay
Reviewing the APA Guiline Sample EssayThe APA Guiline Sample Essay is an example of a diagnostic essay that helps medical students in understanding the things they have to cover in their core classes. The essay was designed and written by Dr. Lawrence Greenwald. Dr. Greenwald teaches psychology at Long Island University in New York. He has been conducting research on emotions and mental health for more than 10 years.Dr. Greenwald has designed the APA Guiline Sample Essay as a guide for students in taking their class. It includes a discussion on characteristics of anxiety and how it can affect people. He explains the different types of anxiety disorders, what symptoms are common in these conditions, and also what causes these symptoms.Dr. Greenwald explains the patterns in case reports from teenagers and adults. He lists the symptoms, such as blushing, blushing episodes, and fear of the next episode. The patterns can be used in a variety of situations. For example, if someone is afrai d of losing a bet or appearing unprofessional, he could write a case report. Some other examples of the pattern in a test are given in the APA Guiline Sample Essay.If the standard type of tests given in their courses are used to measure how well students understand the course material, then this essay is very useful. It tells students how important it is to fully grasp the information, and this also applies to their patients. It helps students to understand that the patients' families are also part of the course, and they must be involved.This case report will help the students find a place to start with their test and how to introduce themselves to the person they are working with. Dr. Greenwald also teaches students how to have a conversation with the patient, so he makes it easier for them to connect with the patient.The main goal of this article is to help students gain a better understanding of the basics of human behaviors. Dr. Greenwald will show the importance of writing cas e reports and how they can use them as a foundation for future cases.A sample of the APA Guiline Sample Essay can be found on the website of the American Psychological Association. The website features some short and informative articles about psychology and also offers some APA guides for those who are trying to learn more about the subject.If you are a medical student or a patient, then you should be able to benefit from the APA Guiline Sample Essay. Since it has been tested and used for many years, the information is really sound. It helps both medical students and patients in the long run.
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
cather in the rye and rebel without a cause Essays - Public Finance
Who I Would Like To See As President As a teenager in my generation, it is in my opinion that things must change with the economy. The nation is in need of a president who has a balanced budget plan every year, is able to spend money wisely and doesn?t spend as much. A president who can cut taxes is very important also, cutting taxes will help small businesses build on to their businesses and most importantly hire more workers and build other new businesses. Many people are without jobs, leaving families struggling to pay bills, give their children new clothing and other things, and there are many families facing foreclosure on their homes. My father was laid-off about two years ago, and ever since our lives have not been the same. I would give anything to give his job back but first the economy must change, and so must the present administration. The economy has not gotten any better for a while now which worries me. The nation?s people and our present administration has dug a huge ditch that is going to take a very long time to get out of. A president who is serious about changing our ways of spending, has a legit plan to gain money and create businesses is most important. The longer we take to make a change, the harder it is going to be for present and future generations to pay off the debt we have gotten ourselves into. Looking at how much people have been affected by this economy, you could only imagine what it would be like for my children, and grandchildren and even me. President Bush instituted tax cuts for all income earners during his administration. President Obama originally wanted all the tax cuts to expire beginning in 2011. He has since amended that to say that taxes must rise for those making over $250,000 a year. But many of those are small business owners and it will impact them, too. I read that during President Reagan?s administration, from 1980 to 1988, everyone?s taxes were dramatically cut but revenues to the federal government doubled. I found out that because taxes were cut, people had more money to spend, which generated more taxes on items and services sold and that money went to state and federal governments. I think that is the way to build an economy instead of spending billions upon billions as the present administration has done and putting future generations in debt. My father is now back at work but not in his original career field. He has helped me understand that the only dollar bill that doesn?t help everyone is if it is buried under a mattress. If it is spent, or saved in a financial institution, it is in circulation and that helps everybody. Banks are then happy to lend and build the economy. Right now, many business people are concerned about what restrictions will be placed on their businesses and themselves if taxes rise to pay-off the debt we have gotten ourselves into. We need a president who wants to cut taxes and build private businesses so jobs are created. Government jobs are necessary, no one is arguing against that, but this country was built on capitalism, on private enterprise.
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Free Essays on The World Is Too Much With Us And The Chimney Sweeper (compare And Contrast)
worth gives a magnificent of imagery t... Free Essays on The World Is Too Much With Us And The Chimney Sweeper (compare And Contrast) Free Essays on The World Is Too Much With Us And The Chimney Sweeper (compare And Contrast) Poems are a particular way an author shows to the reader of what he feels and thinks about the actions of the world. In the poems ââ¬Å"The World is Too Much With usâ⬠and ââ¬Å"The Chimney Sweeperâ⬠both poets make the reader feel piety and disgust of human Nature. They both tell how society uses too much materialism, and how there is wasteful selfishness and prostitution. This form of writing was common during this time period in the industrial revolution. A lot of people were fed up with the waste and poverty and it seemed the only way to get the point across was with a pen and paper. The first time a poem is read the reader must go beyond the authorââ¬â¢s words and look at the deeper meaning, this shows what the author is trying to prove. In William Blakeââ¬â¢s poem, ââ¬Å"The Chimney Sweeperâ⬠, he goes into a deeper description of the industrial revolution and the effect it had in the people in that time period. When looking closer the reader is able to tell the disguised meaning behind the words written. For example, in line 3 the poem states, ââ¬Å"Could scarcely cry weep weep weep weepâ⬠. The meaning behind the words of the author proves how young this little boy actually was, and brings pity to the reader. Next the author takes the reader to a sweet dream the boy has and shows the reader of the false hope that carries keeps this boys spirit alive from day to day. This child is so ignorant to what is actually happening in his life he became unable to create a future for himself. In William Wordsworthââ¬â¢s poem, ââ¬Å"The World is Too Much With Usâ⬠he shows the elegant way of how the societies system of work isnââ¬â¢t functioning properly. It is a warning to the industrial revolution and the future generations. Wordsworth was trying to point out that society is losing sight of what are important in this world. He tells how materialism and greed have overcome the human mind and spirit. In line 6 Wordsworth gives a magnificent of imagery t...
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Benefits of Reading Aloud
Benefits of Reading Aloud Readingà hasnt always been a silent activity andà the experience of reading aloud can be enjoyed by people at any age. Back in the fourth century, tongues started wagging when Augustine of Hippo walked in on Ambrose, the bishop of Milan, and found him . . . reading to himself: When he read, his eyes scanned the page and his heart sought out the meaning, but his voice was silent and his tongue was still. Anyone could approach him freely and guests were not commonly announced, so that often, when we came to visit him, we found him reading like this in silence, for he never read aloud.(St. Augustine, The Confessions, c. 397-400) Whether Augustine was impressed or appalled by the bishops reading habits remains a matter of scholarly dispute. Whats clear is that earlier in our history silent reading was considered a rare achievement. In our time, even the phrase silent reading must strike many adults as odd, even redundant. After all, silently is the way most of us have been reading since the age of five or six. Nevertheless, in the comfort of our own homes, cubicles, and classrooms, there are both pleasures and benefits in reading aloud. Two particular advantages come to mind. Benefits of Reading Aloud Read Aloud to Revise Your Own ProseReading a draft aloud may enable us to hear problems (of tone, emphasis, syntax) that our eyes alone might not detect. The trouble may lie in a sentence that gets twisted on our tongue or in a single word that rings a false note. As Isaac Asimov once said, Either it sounds right or it doesnt sound right. So if we find ourselves stumbling over a passage, its likely that our readers will be similarly distracted or confused. Time then to recast the sentence or seek a more appropriate word.Read Aloud to Savor the Prose of Great WritersIn his superb book Analyzing Prose (Continuum, 2003), rhetorician Richard Lanham advocates reading good prose out loud as a daily practice to counter the bureaucratic, unvoiced, asocial official style that anesthetizes so many of us in the workplace. The distinctive voices of great writers invite us to listen as well as to read. When young writers ask for advice on how to develop their own distinctive voices, we usually say, Keep reading, keep writing, and keep listening. To do all three effectively, it certainly helps to read out loud.
Thursday, March 5, 2020
A Biography of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
A Biography of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. In 1966, Martin Luther King Jr. was in Miami when he had a meeting with film producer Abby Mann, who was contemplating a movie biography about King. Mann asked the 37-year-old minister how the movie should end. King replied, It ends with me getting killed. Throughout his civil rights career, King was painfully aware that a number of white Americans wanted to see him destroyed or even dead, but he accepted the mantle of leadership anyway, assuming its heavy burden at the young age of 26. The 12 years the activist spent fighting first for civil rights and later against poverty changed America in profound ways and turned King into the moral leader of the nation, in A. Philip Randolphs words. Martin Luther Kings Childhood King was born on Jan. 15, 1929, to an Atlanta pastor, Michael (Mike) King, and his wife, Alberta King. Mike Kings son was named after him, but when little Mike was five, the elder King changed his name and his sons name to Martin Luther, suggesting that both had a destiny as great as the founder of the Protestant Reformation. The Rev. Martin Luther King Sr. was a prominent pastor among African Americans in Atlanta, and his son grew up in a comfortable middle-class environment. King Jr. was an intelligent boy who impressed his teachers with his efforts to expand his vocabulary and sharpen his speaking skills. He was a dutiful member of his fathers church, but as he grew older, he did not show much interest in following in his fathers footsteps. On one occasion, he told a Sunday school teacher that he did not believe that Jesus Christ was ever resurrected. Kings experience in his youth with segregation was mixed. On the one hand, King Jr. witnessed his father stand up to white policemen who called him boy instead of reverend. King Sr. was a strong man who demanded the respect he was due. But, on the other hand, King himself had been subject to a racial epithet in a downtown Atlanta store. When he was 16, King, accompanied by a teacher, went to a small town in southern Georgia for an oratorical contest; on the way home, the bus driver forced King and his teacher to give up their seats to white passengers. King and his teacher had to stand for the three hours it took to return to Atlanta. King later noted that he had never been angrier in his life. Higher Education Kings intelligence and excellent schoolwork led him to skip two grades in high school, and in 1944, at the age of 15, King began his university studies at Morehouse College while living at home. His youth did not hold him back, however, and King joined the college social scene. Classmates remembered his stylish mode of dressa fancy sport coat and wide-brimmed hat. King became more interested in the church as he grew older. At Morehouse, he took a Bible class that prompted his conclusion that whatever doubts he had about the Bible, it contained many truths about human existence. King majored in sociology, and by the end of his college career, he was contemplating either a career in law or in ministry. At the start of his senior year, King settled on becoming a minister and started acting as assistant pastor to King Sr. He applied and was accepted into Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. He spent three years at Crozer where he excelled academicallymore so than he had at Morehouseand began to hone his preaching skills. His professors thought he would do well in a doctoral program, and King decided to attend Boston University to pursue a doctorate in theology. In Boston, King met his future wife, Coretta Scott, and in 1953, they married. King told friends that he liked people too much to become an academic, and in 1954, King moved to Montgomery, Ala., to become pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. That first year, he finished his dissertation while also building up his ministry. King earned his doctorate in June of 1955. Montgomery Bus Boycott Shortly after King finished his dissertation on Dec. 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was on a Montgomery bus when told to give up her seat to a white passenger. She refused and was arrested. Her arrest marked the beginning of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The evening of her arrest, King received a phone call from union leader and activist E.D. Nixon, who asked King to join the boycott and host the boycott meetings at his church. King hesitated, seeking the counsel of his friend Ralph Abernathy before agreeing. That agreement catapulted King into the leadership of the civil rights movement. On Dec. 5, the Montgomery Improvement Association, the organization leading the boycott, elected King as its president. The meetings of Montgomerys African-American citizens saw the full realization of Kings oratorical skills. The boycott lasted longer than any had predicted, as white Montgomery refused to negotiate. Montgomerys black community withstood the pressure admirably, organizing car pools and walking to work if necessary. During the year of the boycott, King developed the ideas that formed the core of his non-violent philosophy, which was that the activists should, through quiet and passive resistance, reveal to the white community their own brutality and hatred. Though Mahatma Gandhi later became an influence, he initially developed his ideas out of Christianity. King explained that [t]his business of passive resistance and nonviolence is the gospel of Jesus. I went to Gandhi through him. World Traveler The bus boycott was successful in integrating Montgomerys buses by December of 1956. The year was a trying one for King; he was arrested and 12 sticks of dynamite with a burnt-out fuse were discovered on his front porch, but it also was the year that King accepted his role in the civil rights movement. After the boycott in 1957, King helped to found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which became a key organization in the civil rights movement. King became a sought-out speaker across the South, and though he worried about peoples overweening expectations, King began the travels that would take up the rest of his life. In 1959, King traveled to India and met with Gandhis former lieutenants. India had won its independence from Great Britain in 1947 due in large part to Gandhis non-violent movement, which entailed peaceful civil resistancethat is resisting the unjust government but doing so without violence. King was impressed by the incredible success of the Indian independence movement through the employment of non-violence. When he returned, King announced his resignation from Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. He felt it was unfair to his congregation to spend so much time on civil rights activism and so little time on ministry. The natural solution was to become co-pastor with his father at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Nonviolence Put to the Test By the time King moved to Atlanta, the civil rights movement became full-fledged. College students in Greensboro, N.C., initiated the protests that formed this phase. On Feb. 1, 1960, four African-American college students, young men from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College, went to a Woolworths lunch counter that served whites only and asked to be served. When denied service, they sat silently until the store closed. They returned for the rest of the week, kicking off a lunch-counter boycott that spread across the South. In October, King joined students at a Richs department store in downtown Atlanta. It became the occasion for another of Kings arrests. But, this time, he was on probation for driving without a Georgia license (he had retained his Alabama license when he made his move to Atlanta). When he appeared before a Dekalb County judge on the charge of trespassing, the judge sentenced King to four months hard labor. It was presidential election season, and presidential candidate John F. Kennedy called Coretta Scott to offer his support while King was in jail. Meanwhile, Robert Kennedy, though angry that the publicity of the phone call might alienate white Democrat voters from his brother, worked behind the scenes to procure Kings early release. The result was that King Sr. announced his support for the Democratic candidate. In 1961, the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which had been formed in the wake of the Greensboro lunch-counter protests began a new initiative in Albany, Ga. Students and Albany residents began a series of demonstrations designed to integrate the citys services. Albanys police chief, Laurie Pritchett, employed a strategy of peaceful policing. He kept his police force tightly controlled, and the Albany protesters were having trouble making any headway. They called King. King arrived in December and found his non-violent philosophy tested. Pritchett told the press that he had studied Kings ideas and that non-violent protests would be countered by non-violent police work. What became apparent in Albany was the non-violent demonstrations were most effective when performed in an environment of overt hostility. As Albanys police kept peacefully jailing protesters, the civil rights movement was being denied their most effective weapon in the new age of television images of peaceful protesters being brutally beaten. King left Albany in August 1962 as Albanys civil rights community decided to shift its efforts to voter registration. Though Albany is generally considered a failure for King, it was merely road bump on the way to greater success for the non-violent civil rights movement. The Letter from Birmingham Jail In the spring of 1963, King and the SCLC took what they learned and applied it in Birmingham, Ala. The police chief there was Eugene Bull Connor, a violent reactionary lacking the political skills of Pritchett. When Birminghams African-American community started mounting protests against segregation, Connors police force responded by spraying the activists with high-pressure water hoses and unleashing police dogs. It was during the Birmingham demonstrations that King was arrested for the 13th time since Montgomery. On April 12, King went to jail for demonstrating without a permit. While in jail, he read in the Birmingham News about an open letter from white clergy, urging civil rights protesters to stand down and be patient. Kings response became known as Letter from a Birmingham Jail, a powerful essay that defended the morality of civil rights activism. King emerged from the Birmingham jail determined to win the fight there. SCLC and King made the difficult decision to allow high-school students to join the protests. Connor did not disappointthe resulting images of peaceful youths being brutally put down shocked white America. King had won a decisive victory. The March on Washington On the heels of success in Birmingham came Kings speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on Aug. 28, 1963. The march was planned to urge support for a civil rights bill, though President Kennedy had his misgivings about the march. Kennedy delicately suggested that thousands of African Americans converging on DC might hurt the chances of a bill making it through Congress, but the civil rights movement remained dedicated to the march, although they agreed to avoid any rhetoric that could be interpreted as militant. The highlight of the march was Kings speech that used the famous refrain I have a dream. King exhorted Americans, Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of Gods children. Civil Rights Laws When Kennedy was assassinated, his successor, President Lyndon B. Johnson, used the moment to push the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through Congress, which outlawed segregation. At the end of 1964, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his success in so prominently articulating and demanding human rights. With that congressional victory in hand, King and the SCLC turned their attention next to the issue of voting rights. White Southerners since the end of Reconstruction had come up with various ways to deprive African Americans of suffrage, such as outright intimidation, poll taxes and literacy tests. In March of 1965, SNCC and SCLC tried to march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., but were violently rebuffed by police. King joined them, leading a symbolic march that turned around before heading over the Pettus Bridge, the scene of the police brutality. Though King was criticized for that move, it presented a cooling-down period, and activists were able to complete the march to Montgomery on March 25. In the midst of the troubles at Selma, President Johnson gave a speech urging support for his voting rights bill. He ended the speech by echoing the civil rights anthem, We Shall Overcome. The speech brought tears to Kings eyes as he watched it on televisionit was the first time his closest friends had seen him cry. President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law on Aug. 6. King and Black Power As the federal government endorsed the causes of the civil rights movementintegration and voting rightsKing increasingly came face-to-face with theà growing black power movement. Non-violence had been enormously effective in the South, which was segregated by law. In the North, however, African Americans faced de facto segregation, or segregation kept in place by custom, poverty due to years of discrimination, and housing patterns that were difficult to change overnight. So, despite the enormous changes coming to the South, African Americans in the North were frustrated by the slow pace of change. The black power movement addressed these frustrations. Stokely Carmichael of SNCC articulated these frustrations during a 1966 speech, Now we maintain that in the past six years or so, this country has been feeding us a thalidomide drug of integration, and that some negroes have been walking down a dream street talking about sitting next to white people; and that that does not begin to solve the problem . . . that people ought to understand that; that we were never fighting for the right to integrate, we were fighting against white supremacy. The black power movement dismayed King. As he began speaking out against the Vietnam War, he found himself having to address the issues raised by Carmichael and others, who were arguing that non-violence was not enough. He told one audience in Mississippi, Im sick and tired of violence. Im tired of the war in Vietnam. Im tired of war and conflict in the world. Im tired of shooting. Im tired of selfishness. Im tired of evil. Im not going to use violence, no matter who says it. The Poor Peoples Campaign By 1967, in addition to becoming outspoken about the Vietnam War, King also began an anti-poverty campaign. He broadened his activism to include all poor Americans, seeing the achievement of economic justice as a way to overcome the sort of segregation that existed in cities like Chicago but also as a basic human right. It was the Poor Peoples Campaign, a movement to unite all impoverished Americans regardless of race or religion. King envisioned the movement as culminating in a march on Washington in the spring of 1968. But events in Memphis interfered. In February of 1968, Memphis sanitation workers went on strike, protesting the mayors refusal to recognize their union. An old friend, James Lawson, pastor of a Memphis church, called King and asked him to come. King could not refuse Lawson or their workers who needed his help and went to Memphis at the end of March, leading a demonstration that turned into a riot. King returned to Memphis on April 3, determined to help the sanitation workers in spite of his dismay at the violence that had erupted. He spoke at a mass meeting that night, encouraging his listeners that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land! He was staying at the Lorraine Motel, and on the afternoon of April 4, as King and other SCLC members were readying themselves for dinner, King stepped onto the balcony, waiting on Ralph Abernathy to put on some aftershave. As he stood waiting, King was shot. The hospital pronounced his death at 7:05 p.m. Legacy King was not perfect. He would have been the first to admit this. His wife, Coretta, desperately wanted to join the civil rights marches, but he insisted that she stay at home with their children, unable to break out of the rigid gender patterns of the era. He committed adultery, a fact that the FBI threatened to use against him and that King feared would make its way into the papers. But King was able to overcome his all-too-human weaknesses and leadà African Americans, and all Americans, to a better future. The civil rights movement never recovered from the blow of his death. Abernathy tried to continue the Poor Peoples Campaign without King, but he could not marshal the same support. King, however, has continued to inspire the world. By 1986,à a federal holidayà commemorating his birthday had been established. Schoolchildren study his I Have a Dream speech. No other American before or since has so clearly articulated and so determinedly fought for social justice. Sources Branch, Taylor. Parting the Waters: America in the King Years, 1954-1964. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1988. Frady, Marshall. Martin Luther King. New York: Viking Penguin, 2002. Garrow, David J. Bearing the Cross: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.. New York: Vintage Books, 1988. Kotz, Nick. Lyndon Baines Johnson, Martin Luther King Jr., and the Laws that Changed America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005.
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