The first chapter of the book Abraham Lincoln and the Second American Revolution by James M. McPherson touches on the subject of the so-called second Revolution. One of the main arguments is the comparison of the events of the 1860s and the events of the first American Revolution (McPherson, 1992). Among other things, the author pays great attention to the reaction of various scientists, philosophers, and historians to the events that took place in America. Also, in this chapter, the author touches on the historical background of this second revolution, describing in detail the situation of the slaves who lived at that time.
Comparing the events of the two revolutions that thundered in the 18th and 19th centuries in America, the author reveals them through the prism of the views of the participants in these events. This argument is rather persuasive, because, citing many quotes, it highlights the attitude of Americans and their fears about the Civil War. However, the reaction of various scientists of those times does not seem so convincing. Certainly, the thoughts of Marx or Engels on this issue are important for the assessment of events. On the other hand, they are expressed through the prism of the ideology followed by these philosophers, which is deeply different from the experience of Americans. Finally, summarizing the situation of the slaves who were eager to gain freedom, the author quite convincingly demonstrates the prerequisites of the Civil War. Thus, this argument is critical to understanding the depth of the problems of 19th-century American society.
The seventh chapter, titled Liberty and Power in the Second American Revolution, covers the topic of liberty and civil rights. The author of the book puts forward the main argument concerning the Civil Rights Act of 1866. This chapter describes the controversy that this law, along with the Fourteenth Amendment, caused. The arguments in the chapter seem quite persuasive since they address the issue of liberty in America. This problem has been and remains relevant, and the parties have had lively discussions about it. By presenting the points of view of different parties, in turn, the author demonstrates how deep the problem of civil rights is. With these examples, James M. McPherson convincingly confirms the argument about the importance of this historical period for the United States.
Reference
McPherson, J. M. 1992. Abraham Lincoln and the second American revolution. Oxford University Press.
“A Diversity Conversation: Working In Hollywood When You’re Not White”: The Diversity In Hollywood
Introduction
The Hollywood Reporter’s video on diversity conversation focuses on the opinions of industry professionals on the topic of diversity in Hollywood. The professionals represented by Justin Simien, Stephanie Allain, and Alan Yang discuss the absence of acting people of color among the Academy Award nominees for the second year in a row. After the issue resulted in an outcry on the Internet, it became obvious that people want changes. However, it is questionable whether the Academy is the place to look for it.
Main body
The professionals discuss whether the issue with Academy Award acting nominees is a problem itself, or is it a symptom of a problem. Simien points out that the Academy Award in the face of the industry, so the list of nominees should reflect the industry. Yang focuses on the matter that almost 90% of the Oscar voting body is white, making a significant part of the issue. Allain notes that the character of the problem is systematic and that there are no serious job opportunities for people of color.
Further in the discussion, it is highlighted that there is a part of Hollywood that consistently uses people of color as leads and features diverse casts. Still, the Academy Award is the mark that is not yet explored by people of color in the industry. The discussion points out that the Academy Awards set a bar for future creators and talents and the directions they are supposed to follow. In my opinion, that idea is crucial, as judging from personal experience, the general public could be offended by the forced diversification of the movies. The public needs to understand that the diversification of the mainstream media could impact and shape the requirements for the Academy Awards.
Although the video took place in 2016 and there have been major updates and additions to the Academy Awards race, the industry’s problem of being racist towards creators of color is still present. For instance, the black tragedy issue that Simien covered implies that for the film featuring a black main character to make it to the Academy Awards, it must be about an important historical figure (A Diversity Conversation: Working in Hollywood When You’re Not White). However, the problem does not apply to the TV portion of Hollywood, although TV series-making is considered risky and unpredictable with a high competition level. The main point here is that the Hollywood industry is more money-driven, so if the viewer would not relate to the main character straight away, he might not want to watch it.
The video has changed my perspective on the differences between TV series making not being driven by money and movie making that requires millions to create and even sell the movie later. The average viewer could not address the issues with the Academy Awards as the current TV series alternative are highly diverse. The popular mainstream alternative would make it seem that anyone would be able to find something that he could relate to, but it is not the case for the experienced audience. Moreover, the video made me question my opinion on the past Award Winners. If the voting body consists mainly of old white juries, their personal views and beliefs would not be up to date with the ongoing issues in society.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the statements from the video that address the issues of racism in Hollywood and the Academy Awards are still present nowadays. However, in recent times the industry started to shift towards the appreciation of the unique perspectives brought by the creators of color. Perhaps if the Academy Award is not the place for a change yet, the impact of the mainstream media could shape the further requirements for the Academy. I recommend watching the video to understand how the filmmaking industry puts a wall for the creators and actors representing people of color and why they have resorted to the mainstream media.
Reference
“A Diversity Conversation: Working in Hollywood When You’re Not White.” YouTube, 2016. Web.
Malnourishment: Eating Habits
The information provided in the proposed case study is insufficient to draw accurate conclusions and propose effective solutions to address Rick’s malnutrition problem. As additional data to obtain from his mother, one should inquire about whether the child has chronic diseases or other health problems. According to Adamson and Morawska (2017), eating problems in young children may be caused by illnesses or congenital disorders that affect their eating behavior. In addition, the information about the specifics of the food given to the boy can help make a comprehensive assessment. Based on his mother’s report, Rick is frustrated with any meal. As Kowal-Connelly (2020) notes, children’s eating habits are formed during the first two years of life. Therefore, after receiving this information, one can conclude what has contributed to the child’s refusal to eat properly.
One of the main questions to ask Rick’s mother is whether she gives him fast food and sugary drinks or not. Kowal-Connelly (2020) states that childhood addiction to sugary beverages and junk food is a problem that manifests itself in the unwillingness to eat healthy foods. If Rick often drinks soda and knows the taste of pizza or burgers, this may explain his reluctance to eat healthily. Another question to ask the boy’s mother is how their usual meal is going. According to her, she and her husband, Rick’s father, work full-time. This means that the family is not together most of the time, and dinner may be the only meal where they meet. Consequently, if both parents demonstrated healthy eating habits to their children, problems might not arise. Therefore, Rick’s mother should be explained how her son eats when his parents are absent.
The distance of the extended family influence this family’s approach to health promotion negatively due to the parents’ inability to monitor their children regularly, including their eating habits. Since Rick’s mother and father work full-time, they have to leave both children either in kindergarten or with a nanny. Adamson and Morawska (2017) remark that the presence of both parents at meals contributes to a more successful food culture inculcation. Since their relatives are far away, they are not able to spend time with the children and tell their parents the truth about what Rick and his sister have eaten during the day. The fact that the daughter requires her mother to spoon-feed proves that the adults did not participate in stimulating her nutritional interest timely. Thus, the distance of the extended family does not allow Rick’s mother and father to rely on loved ones to control the nutrition of their son and daughter.
To determine whether malnourishment is a factor in this family, one should find out detailed health information not only from Rick’s parents but also from close relatives. If there are no confirmed cases of nutritional problems in the family, congenital disorders can be excluded. Another valuable factor is the parents’ knowledge of the principles of healthy nutrition. According to Rahayuwati et al. (2019), adults’ education level often plays a significant role in shaping children’s eating habits. If Rick’s father and mother know what and how much their children should eat, this is a factor to rule out potential food illiteracy. Therefore, in the absence of obvious health problems, malnourishment is hardly worth diagnosing since the four-year-old boy’s eating habits can be changed and adapted to a healthier diet.
References
Adamson, M., & Morawska, A. (2017). Early feeding, child behaviour and parenting as correlates of problem eating. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26(11), 3167-3178.
Kowal-Connelly, S. (2020). How children develop unhealthy food preferences. American Academy of Pediatrics.
Rahayuwati, L., Nurhidayah, I., Hidayati, N. O., Hendrawati, S., Agustina, H. S., & Ekawati, R. (2019). Analysis of factor affecting nutrition status on children. Padjadjaran Nursing Journal, 7(2), 117-131.