General Motors Powertrain Group plant, Fredericksburg

General Motors Powertrain Group plant, Fredericksburg Free Online Research Papers General Motors Powertrain Group plant, Fredericksburg Joe Hinrichs has been named the new manager of the General Motors Powertrain Group plant, Fredericksburg. This plant is responsible for the manufacture of Torque Converter Clutches, an essential part in the marriage of automatic transmissions to automobile and truck engines. Hinrichs is a former engineer and recent graduate of the Harvard School of Business. Hinrichs has been charged with implementing a new process improvement program, driven by a new carbon fiber friction pad technology. Hinrichs’s success at the Fredericksburg plant is based on his ability to gain buy-in from union leadership, supervisors and employees though his gradual introduction approach. Hinrichs does not attempt to â€Å"rock the boat† more than is necessary and seems to understand the unique relationship that exists in this union-shop. One of the essential machines in the plant has broken, leaving Hinrichs with no other solution but to fix the broken machine. Three alternatives surface within minutes of Hinrichs’s discovery of a problem. One is to repair the machine, the second to replace the machine, and the third option to replace the die and either repair or replace the machine. It is my recommendation that Hinrichs replace the machine with new parts, ensuring the longevity of the asset and creating a symbolic gesture of good will with the laborers. Development on the new die and process improvement should continue, though at the slower buy-in speed that’s been socially accepted by union leaders, supervisors and employees of the plant. Background Joe Hinrichs (29), the youngest plant manager at General Motors, has been assigned to the Fredericksburg, VA plant. A recent graduate of the Harvard School of Business (MBA), Hinrichs a former engineer, is eager to begin his work at Fredericksburg. This installation is responsible for producing all of the Torque Converter Clutches (TCC) used to manufacture automatic transmissions for GM. In 1996 Hinrichs took-over the management of the Fredericksburg plant with a budget that he believed under funded based upon the necessity of expense at Fredericksburg. Based on an analysis of the prior year’s figures (1995), Hinrichs believed that he could possible be over budget in the current fiscal year (1996). The Fredericksburg plant build in 1970 by Westinghouse, then sold to GM’s Delco in 1978, is one of the smallest plants in the Company (average plant size is 2,400; Fredericksburg has 307). Though it’s small it has a crucial role in supplying TCCs to four Michigan plants and one French plant. Hinrichs has been charged with revamping the way in which the plant produces TCCs. The traditional model of assembly line work, where one worker added a piece to the final product, is being phased out in favor of worker cells. These cells are designed to make the production assembler responsible for the entire process, not just one piece of the final product. Test groups have shown that productivity increases, while quality also improves. These increases in productivity and decrease in rejects directly relates to the reduced need for laborers. Fredericksburg became part of the Powertrain Group in 1993, an initiative to bring out the synergies amongst the plants which produce the critical engine and transmission components for General Motors. The plant is capable of producing 22,000 TCCs of 26 different models each day, over three shifts. The implementation of the worker cells has been shown to be effective with laborers and union leaders accepting the new work without must resistance. Assessment of Change Implemented It is my opinion that Hinrichs has done an excellent job of engaging the work force in his plans to revamp the way in which the Fredericksburg plant produces its product. I applaud his technique of using the strike to reduce overtime from the employee’s pay, while offering them something that no other plant manager would have done: a job when they should be laid-off. This single act is the reason why Hinrich has been so successful in building trust and establishing a respectful relationship with the laborers. Hinrichs’s approach to engage union leadership, supervisors and workers in the change process in one that works well in this type of manufacturing setting. By slowly introducing new projects and processes, he allows all plant employees to voice their concerns and objections. This allows them to fell as though they are a part of the team and not just an outsider who’s being forced to comply with a new corporate mandate. I believe that the size of the Fredericksburg plant also has enabled Hinrichs to be successful in the implementation of his goals. From the information presented in the case, it appears that he has the support of the majority of the union leaders and senior workers. With this support, many of the younger laborers will respect their union leader and senior laborers opinion; thus, accept Hinrichs’s improvement suggestions. Hinrichs’s deployment technique presented in the case, in which he doesn’t favor any one area over the other, also helps to prevent departmental jealousy. Much of the change by which Fredericksburg assembles TCCs was brought about by engineers and corporate officials looking to improve the performance of TCCs and the plant, itself. Hinrichs has basically been set as the facilitator of the change, though is capable of adapting the change as he sees fit. The major driving force behind the movement from traditional assembly to work cells was the development of a new carbon fiber material used to improve the performance of the TCC. The work cells are a more effective and efficient way to produce more of a higher-quality product though less inspection. In addition to his normal operational budget, Hinrichs has been given a $30 million budget to invest in new equipment and tooling. According to Hinrichs, â€Å"the $30 million offered an opportunity not only to make the necessary changes for the carbon fiber, but also to make process improvements†¦we are able to incorporate job changes and quality improvements into the changeover process.† One of the major points of potential failure that I believe Hinrichs has done an excellent job of managing is the union resistance to change and lay-offs. Rather than force employees and management to go through lay-off procedures, Hinrichs finds ways for existing employees to keep their jobs, while positively affecting plant performance. One instance of this is moving inspectors to producers. After the movement, the old inspectors commented on how great it was to actually control their own output and obviously increase productivity. Main Problem Affecting the future success and continued process improvement at the Fredericksburg plant, the main press responsible for stamping and boring of the TCC shell ceased to function. Hinrichs knew that this press could potentially be a problem and as a result ordered the plant to keep an extra day’s worth of TCCs housing on hand, should the machine quit working. Hinrichs now is faced with several costly decisions that must be made about the repair and/or replacement of the new machine. Possible Solutions to Problem Option One: This is the most cost-effective option ($75,000) and enables the plant to become fully operational again within twenty-four hours. This option would allow the plant to maintain its full production schedule by using the internal supply of TCCs while the press is repaired. There are negative connotations associated with this option, however. In order to repair the press within the twenty-four hour window, it would be necessary to hire an outside vendor. Union officials would see this as an attempt to take away internal union jobs and could potentially lodge a protest. Option Two: This option would repair the existing press with new parts, essentially making it a brand-new press. This option is more costly than option one both in terms of material cost and temporary production costs. The cost to replace the parts is estimated to be $210,000. Additionally, because there is only enough stock of TCC shells to last one day, three days of TCC shell production would have to be out-sourced at a premium of $2 per TCC. Based on the information presented in the case, demand is 22,200 units per day. The calculation below attempts to estimate the increase in cost that Hinrichs must account for. Adding this to the parts estimates makes the total cost of option two approximately $343,200. Additionally, Hinrichs believes that he will be able to reduce a full-time job devoted to the maintenance of the old press. Using the estimates from the case, the average employee makes $74,000 per year in pay and benefits. 22,200 x 3 = 66,600 x $2 = $133,200 (Cost to Outsource For Three Days) Option Three: Regardless of wither or not the press is repaired or replaced with new parts, a third option presents itself. A group of engineers and production staff have been working on a die that would cut down the amount of extra work required for the shell of the TCC. The goal of the group was to produce a die that could not only stamp and bore the TCC but also make the necessary holes for the rivets at the same time. This drill out rivets? [chrome] ?would change the current process from: stamp/bore [chrome]. It’s been suggested that this process?to: stamp/bore/rivet improvement would illuminate 3 jobs on each of the three shifts that had previously been dedicated to drilling the holes for the rivets. There is a great deal of uncertainty as to how well this process improvement would work and how long it would take to fine-tune the die. In addition to the costs associated with option one or two, an additional capital investment of $250,000 would be required to have the die manufactur ed. Additionally, $577,200 would be incurred in outsourcing costs for the thirteen day period that the plant would be without shells while the die was being made. Recommended Solution to Problem Due to the possibility of a backlash with the union leadership and members, I do not believe that opinion one should even be considered. After all of the work that Hinrichs has made to strengthen management/union relations, I fell that it would all be lost if he were to hire an outside firm to repair the old press. Option number two represents the most effective solution, to me. This option would not hinder relations with the union as badly as option number one. In fact, Hinrichs could make this press a symbolic gesture to the employees showing his commitment to the plant and its people. The cost associated with this item would not completely be $334,200. In this case, we would be able to take a portion of the $74,000 off the top, because an employee would no longer be required to work maintenance, he or she would be able to move to a value-added area of the plant and generate revenue. As presented in the case, it’s not possible to fire people when there is no work for them, though through the movement of one employee to a revenue generating department, I estimate a 60% savings in wage (74000 * .6 = $44,400) which can be taken off the total cost to implement. This makes this project cost $289,800. This option would be the easiest on Hinrichs long-term budget and also on union relations a s only one employee would be asked to relocate to another position within the plant. I do not believe that option number three would be a viable solution for Hinrichs at the present time. It is in my opinion that this is a better long-range solution to the press-problem, though it has yet to be proven an effective technology. There has been time spent by both the engineering and production staff with the old press to resolve the problems related to this new die, though it is still an experimental technology and should be treaded as such. A large capital investment ($250,000) would only be recommended if the process were ready for production. Based on the information presented in the case, this technology has yet to be proven. Furthermore, Hinrichs would encounter major union and labor resistance if he were to suggest that nine laborers (three from each shift) were going to have to be displaced into another area of the plant without giving them proper time to buy-into the idea. It is important to note here that there is a potential for salary savings when the nine emp loyees are moved from the rivet drilling unit to a work cell. Because they’re already adding value to the final product, I’ll estimate their benefit at a lower rate (30%). Using the example from option number two, the total cost for option number three could be discounted by $199,800. With this savings, it still cannot be justified to make the capital investment in the new die. Hinrichs must approach this press problem in a much more expedient manner than he approaches the rest of the process improvement. However, it is important not to overlook the relationships that he’s been working so diligently to build with the union leaders and laborers. Hinrichs must consult a few of the most influential plant leaders about what they would suggest doing about the broken press. In order for the solution to be accepted by union leaders, supervisors and employees, buy-in must occur. Hinrichs should approve the second option, only after he has gained significant buy-in. Work to improve the press operation should also be undertaken. The die solution appears to be viable. First, the bugs must be worked out of the current die and secondly, the issue of what to do with the nine displaced workers must be resolved. The die project should continue and be evaluated again within six months time. While engineers and production are working on the problem, buy-in to the project should be a priority for union leadership and the rivet operators. Convincing the rivet operators over a period of time that their skills could be better used in a work cell would be an effective way to gain union buy-in. Additionally, it appears that Hinrichs is most effective when he’s able to give implementation of a decision longer than twenty-four hours. Finally, the new die should be tested during the Christmas holiday down-time and installed. Research Papers on General Motors Powertrain Group plant, FredericksburgRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfGenetic EngineeringTwilight of the UAWMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesThe Project Managment Office SystemOpen Architechture a white paperResearch Process Part OneLifes What IfsAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into Asia

Can vs. May

Can vs. May Can vs. May Can vs. May By Maeve Maddox Can and may belong to a category of verbs variously referred to as auxiliary, helping, modal, and defective. They are linguistic fossils, deriving from Old English conjugations that have dwindled through time to only one or two forms. May and its past form might come from OE magan, â€Å"may, to be able.† In modern English, may sometimes carries the sense of expressing permission. Some parents still teach their children to make requests with the word may rather than can. The routine goes like this: Child: Mother, can I play outside? Mother: I’m sure you can play outside. The question is, â€Å"May you?† Child: May I play outside? Mother: Yes, you may. In present tense, may and might are almost interchangeable. A subtle difference is that may can indicate a more likely possibility than might. For example, consider the following sentences: â€Å"I may go to Billy’s game.† â€Å"I might go to Billy’s game.† The use of may suggests a greater possibility than might. The first speaker, for example, may be a parent, while the second speaker may have little interest either in sports or in Billy and is merely being polite. Either may or might is acceptable in the present tense; in the past tense, might is almost always going to be the correct choice. For example, â€Å"He might have won the election if he hadn’t been so truthful.† The present form may could be used to indicate uncertainty about something that may or may not have happened in the past: â€Å"She may have intended a compliment when she said that about your hair.† When in doubt, use might. Can and could derive from OE cunnan, â€Å"to be able.† Present tense can conveys possibility and ability: â€Å"I can help with the painting.† It can also be used to make a statement about the future: â€Å"I can help you with the painting tomorrow.† Can is often used to pose a question that is really a strong request or command: â€Å"Can you stop your whining and just do your work?† â€Å"Can you hold the door for me?† Could is used in the past tense to talk about past ability or possibility. For example, â€Å"I could recite the alphabet before my older brother.† â€Å"You could have taken a short cut and arrived before the others.† Could can also be used in the present tense to couch a request: â€Å"Could you please tell me where I can park?† Can, could, may, and might all take the bare infinitive: â€Å"I can remember everything.† â€Å"I could wish for a second chance.† â€Å"She may go to New Orleans next year.† â€Å"They might spend the night in Joplin.† Note: In its most recognizable form, the English infinitive is written with the particle to in front of it: to go, to sing, to feel, to believe. This is called the â€Å"full infinitive.† When written without the to, it’s called the â€Å"bare infinitive.† The bare infinitive is sometimes called the â€Å"zero infinitive.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Incorrect Pronunciations That You Should Avoid"Owing to" vs "Due to"Educational vs. Educative

Walmart Foreign Expansion Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Walmart Foreign Expansion - Case Study Example Walmart gradually changed the Mexican merchandising culture to American as it expanded its operations in this country. It customized its products and it lowered their prices which resulted in Mexicans changing their shopping habits as they begat to visit large retail shops. This attributed to Walmart’s success in Mexico. 2. In order to succeed in China, Walmart should adapt to the Chinese culture so that it can mesh it with its merchandising strategy. For instance, Walmart has discovered that the Chinese prefer that fresh food be harvested in front of them and this is the exact strategy that it has adopted. Walmart has also discovered that in China, success requires it to embrace unions and it has adopted this strategy which is in stark contrast to America where unionization is opposed. This has positively contributed to the company making inroads in China. 3. It is quite challenging for a company such as Walmart to change the culture of the nation where it is doing business. Consumers in different nations have their own culture which may not be easily changed. However, in order to be successful in such nations, it is imperative for the company to adopt the local people’s culture and try to mesh it with its strategy. This is likely to appeal to the interests of the customers rather than fully changing their culture which they will

Difference between non-profit public sector administration and private Essay

Difference between non-profit public sector administration and private sector - Essay Example The terms of employment and leadership also determine the administrative structures in each. In the public sector, job security is high and despite poor performance, separation requires extensive documentation over a long period of time.The span of control is low, which also means more individuals to a particular task and we see that job security, stability, and sheer size of organizations tend to foster well-defined bureaucracies. Educational qualifications and political affiliations play a major role in the selection of those at the top, regardless of managerial capabilities. Forced to be competitive in order to survive, the private sector companies value efficiency over all else. They have little use for bureaucratic hierarchies.Corporate bureaucracies consist of performance-driven individuals, who function in situations of large spans of control.The number of people required to do a job is strictly monitored and adhered to, any excesses are trimmmed immediately based on optimum efficiency and job security is low. Managerial capabilities are usually the sole determining factors for high positions in a private sector organisation. Thus it is easier for an excellent performer to rise on the corporate ladder, whereas in the public sector, â€Å"seniority† is the determining factor. In other words, we might see an individual promoted purely on the basis of the fact that he or she has been in the organisation for a particular period of time, despite possible poor performance, while diregarding cases of good performance from more recent employees.

Im African American, Not Ghetto Yet Im White Essay Example for Free

Im African American, Not Ghetto Yet Im White Essay I’m African American, Not Ghetto Yet I’m â€Å"White†? Stereotypes are a part of the reason why people are so judgmental today. In the world, speaking â€Å"like† an African American usually refer to slang/illiterate terms while speaking Caucasian would refer to intelligence. The stereotype I chose, â€Å"If you’re black but don’t act ghetto you’re considered â€Å"white†; is seldomly brought up but constantly judged throughout the business world and education systems or even in everyday tasks such as shopping. Deon Cole Black Box is a comedy show that The first media selected was an episode from â€Å"Deon Cole’s Black Box†. This video focused on an African American man working in a business consisting of mostly Caucasian people. The speaker, Deon Cole spoke to a moreover adult audience conveying that African American speaking intellectually and using words such as â€Å"awesome† are considered speaking white and is not acceptable. The purpose of this stereotype is to compare the speaking difference between African Americans and Caucasians. The speaker delivered the message with a humorous point of view. He consistently talked in a different way compared to when he talked to people of his same race. Although to his other coworkers he sounded normal, to people of his own race he sounded odd. The speaker confronted him on this saying how he talked â€Å"white†. This added to the stereotype ‘If you’re black but not ghetto, you’re automatically considered â€Å"white†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. The Second media I chose was an article called â€Å"Racism in High School I’m not Oreo or ghetto—I’m just being me†. The author Nesshell Rainford communicated her opinion on how others were considering her an Oreo. This meaning others felt she talked white on the inside but was African American on the outside. The intended audience was any teenager who may have experienced or is experiencing this. She expressed how she felt towards teasing, insults, racism and judgments she dealt with in high school.

Poetic Techniques of Wilfred Owen Essay -- essays research papers

Wilfred Owen can be considered as one of the finest war poets of all times. His war poems, a collection of works composed between January 1917, when he was first sent to the Western Front, and November 1918, when he was killed in action, use a variety of poetic techniques to allow the reader to empathise with his world, situation, emotions and thoughts. The sonnet form, para-rhymes, ironic titles, voice, and various imagery used by Owen grasp the prominent central idea of the complete futility of war as well as explore underlying themes such as the massive waste of young lives, the horrors of war, the hopelessness of war and the loss of religion. These can be seen in the three poems, ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’, ‘Dulce Et Decorum Est’ and ‘The Last Laugh’, in which this essay will look into. The sonnet form is commonly adopted by Owen to tersely present his numerous ideas and to evoke contemplation. The elegy, ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’, is written as a basic Shakespearean sonnet to mourn for the enormous loss of young soldiers from two distinct angles, the improper burials they obtained and the remembrance they deserve. The first two stanzas of ‘Dulce Et Decorum Est’ also adopt the sonnet form to explore two varying aspects of torment within war, the terrible conditions faced by all the men on a day-to-day basis and the sickening suffering of one particular youth. Owen uses this possible intertwining of contrasting thoughts within sonnets to emphasise that in every generation, there will always be different views with regard to the war. However, it is of key significance that the millions who died and suffered in this futility will be forever remembered. Their inconceivable experiences and horrifying statistics must be taken into... ... shells â€Å"wailing† their â€Å"shrill, demented† mourning. The last sounds these soldiers are forced to listen to are their killers’ ridiculing at their naà ¯ve decision to fight. Weapons in Owen’s poems are personified to mock the war and reinforce its futility. The poetic techniques used in Wilfred Owen’s war poetry sweep the reader from the surface of knowing to the essence of truly appreciating his ideas. Through sonnets, Para rhymes, ironic titles, voices and strong imagery, not only is the reader able to comprehend to the futility and the horrors of the Great War, but also they can almost physically and mentally empathise with those who fought. Through the three poems examined, it is evident that Owen goes to great effort to describe the conditions and thoughts of the First World War, thus his works are considered an invaluable asset to the modern literature.

A New Product Concept

Every parent wants his child to develop good logical thinking skills and learn new things. That is why many parents employ different tutors or coaches for their children. Certainly, it is impossible to underestimate the contribution of books and developing games, but frequently children are getting bored of solving different problems or puzzles and throw such games away.Therefore, a new product concept is a new type of a developing game, which will offer a reward for solving one or another puzzle or problem.It is a new generation of heuristic games, which uses a powerful stimulation – a bonus (it can be some money, a chewing gum, a cinema ticket, and so on), which can not be reached in other way but solving a puzzle.A number of the first bonuses will be placed into the game box by the manufacturer, and after those prizes are won by the child, parents can place new bonuses of their own choice and make different exciting surprises for their kid. In addition, it will be possible to choose a type of bonus stimulation: giving a bonus for every single puzzle solved, or giving some bigger bonus for a number of problems solved, etc.The game will have an option of selecting a level of difficulty, so it can be used for children of different ages, starting from 5 and above. Undoubtedly, this game develops not only logical thinking, but also, persistence, determination, willpower and perseverance. The main advantage of this game is the opportunity to transform the process of learning into some real fun and entertainment, which will also be rewarded in the end.I suppose that this innovative developing game will receive a good demand and find its market easily. This product does not require any sophisticated technological process of manufacturing and can be produced from a polymer material, which is safe for children.It is possible to use different color designs and decoration. At the most modest estimate, it is possible to start manufacturing of such games within 6-7 month, and receive the first profits in 3-4 month after entering the market. This business idea does not require huge financial investments and other resources, besides it has important social implication.Bibliography:Dotson, L. (2000, February 1). Top 7 Ways to Get New Product Ideas. Top 7 Business. Ed. Christopher M. Knight.. Retrieved April 3, 2007, from .

African American Characteristics Paper Essay

African American culture in the United States refers to the cultural contributions of Americans of African descent to the culture of the United States, either as part of or distinct from American culture. The distinct identity of African American culture is rooted in the historical experience of the African American people. The culture is both distinct and enormously influential to American culture as a whole. African-American culture is rooted in Africa. It is a blend of chiefly sub-Saharan African and Sahelean cultures. Although slavery greatly restricted the ability of Americans of African descent to practice their cultural traditions, many practices, values, and beliefs survived and over time have modified or blended with European American culture. There are some facets of African American culture that were accentuated by the slavery period. The result is a unique and dynamic culture that has had and continues to have a profound impact on mainstream American culture, as well as the culture of the broader world† (Rydell, 2010). Learning Team B has chosen African Americans as the culturally diverse group we will focus on. The subjects in this paper will be African American history, family characteristics, parenting practices, language, and religion. Also, the primary characteristics of African Americans and how those characteristics impact their experience as a subculture in American Society will be a topic. The last topic will be the implications of the characteristics for psychological theories and practices. History African Americans are the descendants of Africans brought to America during the slavery era. Many were owned as property and forced to work as day laborers in the fields or as servants in their owner’s homes. Others were allowed to work off their debts by being bough and sold on â€Å"the block†. An article titled â€Å"The Slave Auction of 1859 gives a brief account of what it was to be sold on â€Å"the block†: â€Å"The buyers, who were present to the number of about two hundred, clustered around the platform; while the Negroes, who were not likely to be immediately wanted, gathered into sad groups in the background to watch the progress of the selling in which they were so sorrowfully interested. The wind howled outside, and through the open side of the building the driving rain came pouring in; the bar down stairs ceased for a short time its brisk trade; the buyers lit fresh cigars, got ready their catalogues and pencils, and the first lot of human chattels are led upon the stand, not by a white man, but by a sleek mulatto, himself a slave, and who seems to regard the selling of his brethren, in which he so glibly assists, as a capital joke. It had been announced that the Negroes would be sold in â€Å"families,† that is to say; a man would not be parted from his wife, or a mother from a very young child. There is perhaps as much policy as humanity in this arrangement, for thereby many aged and unserviceable people are disposed of, who otherwise would not find a ready sale†¦ â€Å"(New York Daily Tribune, 1928). President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, as the nation approached its third year of civil war. The proclamation declared â€Å"that all persons held as slaves† within the rebellious states â€Å"are, and henceforward shall be free. † Despite this expansive wording, the Emancipation Proclamation was limited in many ways. It applied only to states that had seceded from the Union, leaving slavery untouched in the loyal border states. It also expressly exempted parts of the Confederacy that had already come under Northern control. Most important, the freedom it promised depended upon Union military victory. History pages often claim President Lincoln as â€Å"The Great Emancipator† which most educated adults come to learn is an over exaggeration. The general consensus is that Lincoln never freed a single slave, and only used the proclamation as a means to get what he wanted from the states. Once freed most African Americans still experienced racial violence and lived in fear for many years. In 1870 the fifteenth amendment was added to the constitution giving blacks the right to vote. Although blacks were free they were still segregated from the white people, made to go to different schools, stores, and even ride at the back of the bus. In 1954 the supreme courts declared segregation in school unconstitutional due to the Brown vs. The Board of Education of Topeka Kansas. The civil right movement was at its peak during 1955-1965. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, ensuring basic civil rights for all Americans, regardless of race, after nearly a decade of nonviolent protests and marches, ranging from the 1955-1956 Montgomery bus boycotts to the student-led sit-ins of the 1960s to the huge March on Washington in 1963. In 1968 President Johnson signed the Civil Right act prohibiting discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing. Some of the most famous leader of the civil right movement includes Martin Luther King Jr. , Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks and many others. Although civil rights were established many African American still struggled to be treated fairly in America. Affirmative Action was established in 1978 by a ruling of the Supreme Court to ensure that minorities are given an opportunity that they may have missed because of their race. In 2008 Barack Obama was the first African American to be nominated for a major party nominee for president. He was elected the 44th President of the United States on November 4, 2008, and sworn in on January 20, 2009. Family and Parenting Characteristics As with most cultures, African Americans place a high value on their families. In the United States African American family’s make-up 12. 9 percent of the population according to the 2003 US Census. The US census also shows that for African Americans over the age of 15 there are 34 percent married, five percent separated, eleven percent divorced, seven percent widowed, and 43 percent were never married. According to the First Things First website, â€Å"African Americans are the most un-partnered group in America† (Medium, 2011, para. 4). One major goal of African American families is communalism, which is very important for effective functioning (Hall, 2010). Hall (2010) describes African American families as having three family types. The first type is the cohesive-authoritative that is explained to be a family with high cohesion along with being supportive, nurturing, and involved with their children (Hall, 2010). The second type of family is the conflictive-authoritarian that is defined as families with conflict and the parents are controlling, critical, and express unhappiness with children (Hall, 2010). The last type of family Hall (2010) explains is the defensive- neglectful, that did not like other racial groups and also did not teach their children to be proud of being an African American. One significant trend that has been determined about the African American family structure is that the more interconnected the family is, the lower the rate of depression in African Americans (Hall, 2010). Based on these findings, a program called Strong African American Families has been created in order to strengthen the relationships between parents and children. According to Hall (2010), â€Å"The Strong African American Families program also has been found to reduce preadolescent risky sexual behaviors, preadolescent alcohol use, and parental depression among African American families† (p.95). This kind of program has been very effective in keeping families cohesive and helping to improve the goal of communalism. Language â€Å"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 pidginsimplified mixtures of two or more languages that speakers of different languages can use to communicate. Examples of pidgins that became fully developed languages include Creole, common to Louisiana, and Gullah, common to the Sea Islandsoff the coast of South Carolina and Georgia† (Rydell, 2010). It is sad to think that slave owners intentionally put Africans with people who did not speak their language to discourage communication, but is have been researched and proven to be true. Slavery is not the only element to African American culture, and it often seems that when discussing African American culture slavery is the main topic. However, when discussing language the centuries of slavery that they endured have everything to do with the evolution of African-American language. Now that we have covered the origin of African American language we can discuss the American perspective of where modern day African American language stands, and how this effects the culture. â€Å"African American Vernacular English (AAVE)—also called African American English; less precisely Black English, Black Vernacular, Black English Vernacular (BEV), or Black Vernacular English (BVE)—is an African Americanvariety(dialect, ethnolect and sociolect) of American English. Non-linguists sometimes call it Ebonics(a term that also has other meanings or strong connotations) or jive or jive-talk. Its pronunciation is, in some respects, common to Southern American English, which is spoken by many African Americans and many non-African Americans in the United States. There is little regional variation among speakers of AAVE. Several creolists, including William Stewart, John Dillard, and John Rickford, argue that AAVE shares so many characteristics with Creole dialects spoken by black people in much of the world that AAVE itself is a Creole dialect; while others maintain that there are no significant parallels. As with all linguistic forms, its usage is influenced by age, status, topic and setting. There are many literary uses of this variety of English, particularly in African-American literature† (Rydell, 2010). Of course this information does not imply that all African Americans speak a version of AAVE, only that it is very common and prevalent throughout the modern day African American culture. Religion In the African American community religion plays an extremely significant role. â€Å"The story of African-American religion is a tale of variety and creative fusion. Enslaved Africans transported to the New World beginning in the fifteenth century brought with them a wide range of local religious beliefs and practices. This diversity reflected the many cultures and linguistic groups from which they had come. The majority came from the West Coast of Africa, but even within this area religious traditions varied greatly. Islam had also exerted a powerful presence in Africa for several centuries before the start of the slave trade: an estimated twenty percent of enslaved people were practicing Muslims, and some retained elements of their practices and beliefs well into the nineteenth century. Preserving African religions in North America proved to be very difficult. The harsh circumstances under which most slaves lived—high death rates, the separation of families and tribal groups, and the concerted effort of white owners to eradicate â€Å"heathen† (or non-Christian) customs—rendered the preservation of religious traditions difficult and often unsuccessful. Isolated songs, rhythms, movements, and beliefs in the curative powers of roots and the efficacy of a world of spirits and ancestors did survive well into the nineteenth century. Historically during their most difficult times the African American relied on their religious beliefs to endure. During the civil rights movement black churches were often the target of racial violence because that was a place that African Americans spent most of their time. This was a place where they often held meetings to discuss their civil rights efforts. African Americans practice a number of religions, but Protestant Christianity is by far the most prevalent. Some African and African American also follow the Muslim and Judaism. According to Fife, Kilgour, Canter and Adegoke (2010), â€Å"African spiritual traditions have historically held a central place in African American communalism (Mbiti, 1990) and were vital to survival during the time of slavery. In African and African American culture the concept of spirituality is inseparable from all other aspects of human experience. The spiritual and the physical are indistinguishable (Mbiti, 1990). A deep connection exists between humans, God, family, and group (Barrett, 1974). Spirituality is not compartmentalized into systematized beliefs and practices but woven into everyday experience (Boyd Franklin, 1989). The Black church is the primary means through which many African Americans express their religious and spiritual beliefs and values (Richardson & June, 1997). This institution is a central force in African American childhood and adolescent identity and helps to shape ideas about what comprises community. † Many African American children have christen ceremonies for they can even walk or talk. African American families generally spend a substantial amount of time within their places of worship. Conclusion For review, the big questions the above research addressed were: †¢What are the primary cultural characteristics of this selected group? †¢How do the characteristics of this group impact its experience as a subculture in American society? †¢How might the cultural aspects of this group be applied to traditional psychological theory? †¢What are the implications of these characteristics for psychological theory and practice? We have found that the primary cultural characteristics of the African America culture are their history of slavery in America, distinct family and parenting practices, slavery based evolution of their language, and their dedicated religious beliefs. The characteristics of this group impact its experience as a subculture in American society by enticing others in to the culture and sparking curiosity around the world. African Americans make up a small percentage of the minority in America. However African American culture dominates the world of music, fashion, and professional sports. The cultural aspects of the African American group can be applied to traditional psychological theory when considering family dynamics, cultural perspectives, and how these aspects influence mental health. The implications of these characteristics for psychological theory and practice would focus on how the African American history of slavery in America influences their world view, how family and parenting practices mold their ideals of what a family should be, how religion influences their beliefs and actions, and how language distinguishes them from others and what psychological impact this has on them as a whole. For many years African-American culture developed separately from mainstream American culture, both because of slavery and the persistence of racial discrimination in America, as well as African-American slave descendants’ desire to create and maintain their own traditions. Today, African-American culture has become a significant part of American culture and yet, at the same time, remains a distinct cultural body. References Fife, J. , McCreary, M. , Kilgour, J. , Canter, D. , & Adegoke, A. (2010). Self Identification Among African American and Caucasian College Students. College Student Journal, 44(4), 994. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Hall, G. C. N. (2010). Multicultural psychology (2nd ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Medium. (2011). First Things First. Retrieved from http://firstthings. org/page/research/african-american-family-facts New York Daily Tribune, March 9, 1859 reprinted in Hart, Albert B. , American History Told by Contemporaries v. 4 (1928). Retrieved from http://eyewitnesstohistory. com Rydell, R. J. , Hamilton, D. L. , & Devos, T. (2010). NOW THEY ARE AMERICAN, NOW THEY ARE NOT: VALENCE AS A DETERMINANT OF THE INCLUSION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE AMERICAN IDENTITY. Social Cognition, 28(2), 161-179. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Shawn Hornbeck Kidnapping

Shawn Hornbeck Kidnapping It was a shocking discovery that prompted an emotional response from even the veteran police officers who made it. Looking for a boy who had been kidnapped four days earlier, they found another boy who had been missing for four years. But the miraculous recovery of the missing teen immediately raised as many questions as it answered. On January 12, 2007, the investigation into the disappearance of a 13-year-old Missouri boy  who was last seen four days before getting off the school bus, resulted in the discovery of Shawn Hornbeck, 15, in an apartment near St. Louis. Police serving an arrest warrant in an apartment complex for another person  spotted a white pickup truck that matched the description of one being sought in the disappearance of Ben Ownby, who was last seen near his home in Beaufort, Missouri, about 60 miles southwest of St. Louis. Why Didnt He Escape? When police served a search warrant on the apartment of Michael Devlin, listed as the owner of the pickup truck, they found Ben Ownby along with Hornbeck, who disappeared in October 2002 while riding his bike in Richwoods, Missouri, about 50 miles southwest of St. Louis. Immediately questions were raised as to how Devlin was able to hold Shawn Hornbeck in an apartment for four years without him being able to get away, although he had several opportunities to escape. Neighbors reported seeing young Hornbeck hanging around outside of his apartment complex, unsupervised. He would also ride along the neighborhood streets on his skateboard or bike, alone or with a friend from the complex. When he was nearing the age to get a drivers license, neighbors saw Devlin giving him driving lessons. Most assumed that they were father and son. Hornbeck also had contact with the police four times during his captivity. One time he spoke to the police after he and his girlfriend discovered that his bike had been stolen while parked outside of a shopping mall.   He also had access to a computer and posted on the website dedicated to Hornbeck that his parents put up. He asked in his post how long they would keep looking for their son and he signed it with the name Shawn Devlin. Why didnt he run away? Why didnt he reach out for help? Deal With the Devil When Michael Devlin pleaded guilty in four different courtrooms to charges related to kidnapping and assaulting the two boys, the answers to those questions were revealed. Shortly after Devlin kidnapped Hornbeck, back in 2002, he planned to kill the boy after repeatedly sexually assaulting him. He took Shawn back to Washington County in his pickup truck, he pulled him from the truck and began to strangle him. I attempted to kill (Shawn) and he talked me out of it, Devlin said. He stopped choking the boy and sexually assaulted him again. In what prosecutors called a deal with the devil, Shawn told Devlin at that time that he would do whatever Devlin wanted him to do to stay alive. We know now the details that made him not run away, said Shawns stepfather, Craig Akers. Over the years, Devlin used many methods to control Shawn. The details of the abuse Shawn endured are so horrific and graphic that it was not released by most media outlets, although the reports were readily available. Devlin admitted to making pornographic photographs and videotapes of Shawn and taking him across state lines to engage in sex acts. To continue to control Shawn, Devlin took him with him when he abducted Ben Ownby in January 2007, telling Shawn that because he was in the truck he was an accomplice to the crime. Shawn Protected Ben Ownby Authorities said Shawn was a hero, who tried to protect Ben Ownby from the torture that he had to endure. Devlin told Shawn that he planned to kill Ownby after keeping him a short time. I think that Shawn Hornbeck is really a hero, Ethan Corlija, one of Devlins attorneys, told reporters. He really threw himself on the sword many times so Ben would not have to go through any undue torture. Devlin entered guilty pleas to dozens of charges in four different courts. At last count, he received 74 life sentences to run consecutively, which will keep him in prison the rest of his life. Were just so glad this is the outcome, that the monster is caged and will remain caged, said Craig Akers.

Democracy in Ancient Athens and Democracy Today

Democracy in Ancient Athens and Democracy Today While wars today are fought in the name of democracy as if democracy were a moral ideal as well as an easily identifiable government style, it is not really that black and white. The inventors of democracy were the Greeks who lived in small city-states called poleis. Contact with the wide world was slower. Life lacked modern conveniences. Voting machines were primitive, at best. The people the ones who put the demo- in democracy were intimately involved in decisions that affected them and would be appalled that bills to be voted on now require reading through thousand-page tomes. They might be even more aghast that people actually vote on those bills without doing the reading. What Do We Call Democracy? The world was stunned when Bush was first named the winner of the U.S. presidential race, even after more U.S. voters had cast ballots for Gore. How could the U.S. call itself a democracy, yet not select its officials on the basis of majority rule? Well, part of the answer is that the U.S. was not established as a pure democracy, but as a republic where voters elect representatives and electors. Whether there has ever been anything close to a pure and total democracy is debatable. There has never been universal suffrage and Im not talking about voters disenfranchised by corruption or improper balloting and tallying. In ancient Athens, you had to be a citizen to vote. That left out more than half the population. Introduction Democracy [demos ~ the people; cracy kratos strength/rule, so democracy rule by the people] is considered an invention of the ancient Athenian Greeks. This page on Greek democracy brings together articles on the stages democracy went through in Greece, as well as the controversy Greek democracy caused, with passages from period thinkers on the institution of democracy and its alternatives.​ Democracy Helped Solve Ancient Greek Problems The ancient Athenian Greeks are credited with inventing the institution of democracy. Their governmental system wasnt designed for the enormous, spread-out, and diverse populations of modern industrialized countries, but even in their small communities [see Social Order of Athens], there were problems, and the problems led to inventive solutions. The following are roughly chronological problems and solutions leading to what we think of as Greek democracy: The Four Tribes of Athens: The ancient tribal kings were too weak financially and the uniform material simplicity of life enforced the idea that all tribesmen had rights. Society was divided into two social classes, the upper of which sat with the king in council for major problems.Conflict Between Farmers and Aristocrats: With the rise of the hoplite, non-equestrian, non-aristocratic army, ordinary citizens of Athens could become valued members of society if they had enough wealth to provide themselves the body armor needed to fight in the phalanx.Draco, the Draconian Law-Giver: The privileged few in Athens had been making all the decisions for long enough. By 621 B.C. the rest of the Athenians were no longer willing to accept arbitrary, oral rules of those who lay down the law and judges. Draco was appointed to write down the laws.Solons Constitution: Solon redefined citizenship so as to create the foundations of democracy. Before Solon, the aristocrats had a monopoly on the govern ment by virtue of their birth. Solon replaced the hereditary aristocracy with one based on wealth.city,coast, andinland. Cleisthenes and the 10 Tribes of Athens: When Cleisthenes became a chief magistrate, he had to face the problems Solon had created 50 years earlier through his compromising democratic reforms foremost among which was the allegiance of citizens to their clans. In order to break such loyalties, Cleisthenes divided the 140-200 demes (natural divisions of Attica and the basis of the word democracy) into 3 regions: Cleisthenes is credited with instituting moderate democracy. The Challenge - Is Democracy an Efficient System of Government? In ancient Athens, the birthplace of democracy, not only were children denied the vote (an exception we still consider acceptable), but so were women, foreigners, and slaves. People of power or influence werent concerned with the rights of such non-citizens. What mattered was whether or not the unusual system was any good. Was it working for itself or for the community? Would it be better to have an intelligent, virtuous, benevolent ruling class or a society dominated by a mob seeking material comfort for itself? In contrast with the law-based democracy of the Athenians, monarchy/tyranny (rule by one) and aristocracy/oligarchy (rule by the few) were practiced by neighboring Hellenes and Persians. All eyes turned to the Athenian experiment, and few liked what they saw. Beneficiaries of Democracy Endorse It On the following pages, youll find passages on democracy from some of the philosophers, orators, and historians of the time, many neutral to unfavorable. Then as now, whoever benefits from a given system tends to support it. One of the most positive positions Thucydides puts into the mouth of a leading beneficiary of the Athenian democratic system, Pericles.

JFK assassination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

JFK assassination - Essay Example Kennedy was a charismatic leader whose assassinationhas remained a debatable issue several decades after his death. Many years after his death, it has not been possible for the world to know who gave the official orders to kill him and what their motives were. Those who witnessed the shooting of Kennedy have never come to an agreement on where the shots were from, therefore making the issue more controversial. There have been further disagreements with some people arguing that there was more than one gunman involved in the shooting, while others conclude that it is impossible to know the exact location of the shooters and the number of shots fired. In the theories raised about the murder of Kennedy, arguments revolve around the role Oswald had to play in the killing. Theorists believe that he was not solely responsible for the murder on grounds that he did it on behalf of someone else. Oswald was framed by those who responsible for the murder so that they could cover up their involve ment. Those alleged to have participated in the assassination include the CIA and the American Mafia (Plouty et al, 2011 p 233). A number of circumstances are believed to have caused the assassination of Kennedy. ... This led to a lot of criticism fromthe Mafia, and it was the probable reason as to why they planned to assassinate him (West and Vernon, 2011). Another controversial issue leading to the assassination of Kennedy was the Bay of Pigs invasion in1961. The attempt by the Cuban exiles to overthrow the government of Fidel Castro was not successful. This was because President Kennedy declined to permit American troops and the CIA to attack Cuba. After the failure of the attack, the deputy director of CIA Charles accused Kennedy of being a traitor. As a result, the CIA was unhappy with Kennedy and they had to look for alternatives; they therefore sought the services of the Mafia to kill Castro (Plouty et al, 2011 p 234). After two years of his tenure as the president of the United States, Kennedy faced great opposition from both the democrats and the republicans in the congress. Most of the legislations that he proposed were rejected, and this meant that he had less support in the congress i n his position as the president. More so, his involvement in the affairs of Cuba was threatening his future in the American politics. The Republicans used the Cuban issue to object to the president and planned to assassinate him (Gibson, 2000 p 8). The Vietnam War had a part to play in the assassination of President Kennedy. Kennedy approved the National security memorandum, which declared America’s intention to pull out of the war by withdrawing their troops. Kennedy’s decision to withdraw from Vietnam was objected as it signified that America would cease to support its allies in the Vietnamese war. Kennedy stood as a threat and consequently there was a plot to assassinate him and end his rule so that America would continue taking part in the Vietnam War. The