“Black Characters in Search of Reality”

In Brent Staples essay “Black Characters in Search of Reality” (2012), he states that African Americans play roles in many of today’s dramatic works from being in billboards and commercials to being on television advertisements for pharmaceuticals, real estate, and financial services that are stereotypical.   Brent trying to inform his readers that African Americans are being unfairly represented in today’s dramatics arts and that today’s black community is ready for change. I believe the intended audience for this writing is any of today’s African Americans and other Americans.

Overall after reading “Black Characters in Search of Reality” I agree with what Staples stated. In some cases it’s true that there was racism in media back in the past but in today’s society things have changed. Today’s media has changed in many different degrees and so has the roles and representation of African American on television and in the media as well.

The Power of Will

Mind over Matter

In Dianna Tice’s article study, “How Can We Get Willpower Back Once It Has Been Depleted?,” Dianne gives several was to which will increase your ability to control one’s self. She begins to state that her study is still in progress, with questions still unanswered but reveals to us her found evidence on gaining willpower. Tice brings forth five simplistic ways to maintain and increase self-control in order to refrain from a depleted determination. With the efforts of attracting all people Dianne’s audience was broad because we all encounter powerlessness within some shape of form.

After reading I was enlightened and motivated to pursue the changes Tice advised. It made complete sense as far as analyzing your habits and making adjustments to help your overall drive. Little by little you can tweak your daily life occurrences for a bigger cause of self-empowerment. Everything one does has an effect, what you eat, how long you sleep, caffeine intake, and attitude are all factors in personal discipline. Get more sleep, eat appropriately, be happy, and exercise your tenacity and the outcome should only better your stride for greatness.

Being depleted or drained of grit leaves you vulnerable, lazy, and sluggish. Diane Tice provides an antidote to this sickness. And admit it; we’ve all been ill in this sense too often. “Willpower takes energy,” (132) which is why being properly nourished, well rested, in a good mood, and practice is a necessity to be potent. She makes this a point with avid resources to back her claim within every statement. Tice happens to use several parentheses to clarify her meanings. For example”…willpower is a muscle, and although it can get tired (depleted) with use, it can also get stronger with exercise.”(132) It’s apparent she wants you to take heed to what is being said with so many examples and extra detail so that you can incorporate your life to the essay. She hits the nail on the head referring to caffeine, America’s drug, as a will power with the lack of restraint (132). Tice uses our daily needs to give a comparative analysis on ways to change bad habits so that depletion of your will doesn’t occur. Make those tiny changes; the outcome is far more greater than the loss. Let’s face it, A more productive life is a better one.  

Infidelity, For Chimps and Chumps

In Wendy Shalit’s narrative study, "Is Infidelity Natural? Ask the Apes "(2010), Shalit is giving her opinion on relationships, monogamy, infidelity, and whether or not men are wired to cheat.  She goes into detail about the roles of a woman and the roles of a man, and how they are irrelevant when it comes to sexuality. I believe that she is reaching out to the people that are trying to make excuses for a men and their infidelity, those that believe they are wired to do so.

Considering that I am a young woman that has dealt with the infidelity of a man I feel that I have to strongly agree. I feel she gave vivid examples that supported her claims. I found it very interesting when she stated the men cheat whether the other woman is making a little amount of money or making a lot of money. To me that one sentence proved that no matter what the reason, men just cheat. Before this I felt that men were cheaters and that there was no excuse for infidelity, and this passage just set my morals in stone.

 The message that was received through this text was men do not have an excuse when it comes to infidelity, and that is a choice. For example in this essay Wendy Shalit stated “Let’s face it- the new “science" of infidelity is just not very scientific. It certainly provides a “out” to deny personal responsibility....” (118) Shalit is basically stating that the “science” is not real science, and that it is only fictional crap made up to give men an excuse to cheat, and not take personal responsibility for their infidelity. This shows me to keep believing in my beliefs and not to let men cheat.