Author Archives: Ashraf Talukder

Posts: 6 (archived below)
Comments: 10

Scalawags vs. Carpetbaggers

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Ashraf Talukder

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The Citizenship rights for Southern whites and former slaves were key controversies during Reconstruction. The first part of my Documentary movie shows the Reconstruction. Many white Southerners deeply resented the Reconstruction governments and the role of blacks in them. They branded the few white Southerners active in those governments as scalawags and the Republican Northerners who came South to take part in Reconstruction as carpetbaggers. The Documentary movie includes a Play titling Scalawags vs. Carpetbaggers.

Posted in 1960-1968, 1969-1988, Final Exam Component, Political history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Scalawags vs. Carpetbaggers

George Cohan’s “Over There”

Posted on June 26, 2010 by Ashraf Talukder

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Over There is a patriotic song during World War I written by George M. Cohan, and it was widely performed by various artists from its publication in 1917. Notable early recordings include versions by Nora Bayes, Enrico Caruso, Billy Murray, initiated by Charles King. Cohan later recalled that the words and music to the song came to him while traveling by train from New Rochelle to New York shortly after the U.S. had declared war against Germany in April 1917 (firstworldwar.com). This song was a nationwide hit in the months immediately following America’s enthusiastic entry into the war. On June 29, 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt awarded Cohan the Congressional Gold Medal for this and other songs.

Listen to The Song (Credit:Vintage Audio, firstworldwar.com)

Enrico Caruso – Over There by Enrico Caruso, Nora Bayes – Over There by Nora Bayes, Billy Murray – Over There by Billy Murray

Your Song–Our Song–Our Boys' Song! Over There.

Johnnie, get your gun,
Get your gun, get your gun,
Take it on the run,
On the run, on the run.
Hear them calling, you and me,
Every son of liberty.
Hurry right away,
No delay, go today,
Make your daddy glad
To have had such a lad.
Tell your sweetheart not to pine,
To be proud her boy’s in line.

Johnnie, get your gun,
Get your gun, get your gun,
Johnnie show the Hun
Who’s a son of a gun.
Hoist the flag and let her fly,
Yankee Doodle do or die.
Pack your little kit,
Show your grit, do your bit.
Yankee to the ranks,
From the towns and the tanks.
Make your mother proud of you,
And the old Red, White and Blue.

Over there, over there,
Send the word, send the word over there –
That the Yanks are coming,
The Yanks are coming,
The drums rum-tumming
Ev’rywhere.
So prepare, say a pray’r,
Send the word, send the word to beware.
We’ll be over, we’re coming over,
And we won’t come back till it’s over
Over there.

Posted in 1916-1920, Cultural History, June 28 assignment | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on George Cohan’s “Over There”

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Posted on June 21, 2010 by Ashraf Talukder

Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Pub.L. 88-352, 78 Stat. 241, enacted July 2, 1964) was a landmark in legislative attempts to improve the quality of life for African Americans and other minority groups. Although civil rights had a long history as a political and legislative issue, the 1960s marked a period of intense activity by the federal government to protect minority rights. It prohibitted racial discrimination in employment, institutions like hospitals and schools, and privately owned public accommodations such as restaurants, hotels, and theaters. It also banned discrimination on the grounds of sex- a provision added by opponents of civil rights in an effort to derail the entire bill and embraced by liberal and female members of congress as a way to broaden its scope. The Act did not resolve all problems of discrimination. But it opened the door to further progress by lessening racial restrictions on the use of public facilities, providing more job opportunities, strengthening voting laws, and limiting federal funding of discriminatory aid programs.

Posted in 1960-1968, Cultural History, June 21 assignment, Political history, Social History | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Civil Rights Act of 1964

1954 Legal Ruling a Major Victory in U.S. Civil Rights Movement

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Ashraf Talukder

 In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that establishment of separate public schools for black and white students is inherently unequal and therefore unconstitutional. 

Mrs. Pinkston enrolls 2nd and 3rd graders in the newly integrated classes at a school in Springer, Oklahoma, August 29, 1958. (© AP Images)

Brown v. Board of Education extended federal power to education, an area traditionally controlled by states and localities. The decision also signaled a new determination to interpret more broadly the U.S. Constitution’s promise of equality before the law and began an era of federal intervention to defend and guarantee the civil rights of all Americans. 

The Supreme Court on May 17, 1954, issued a unanimous opinion written by Chief Justice Earl Warren. Where previous decisions narrowly interpreted the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which forbade states from denying equal protection under law due to race, the Brown court looked instead to the impact of segregation. As Warren wrote: 

“[T]o separate them [black schoolchildren] from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone. … Segregation with the sanction of law, therefore, has a tendency to retard the educational and mental development of Negro children and to deprive them of some of the benefits which they would receive in a racially integrated school system.” 

The court concluded “that in the field of public education the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’ has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. Therefore we hold that the plaintiffs … [have been] deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the 14th Amendment.” 

 Source: America.gov

Posted in 1953-1960, June 15 assignment, Political history, Social History | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Gulf War: Operation Desert Storm with the Ghost F-117

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Ashraf Talukder

The Gulf War was the first post-Cold War international crisis, and the United States did nearly all of the fighting against Iraq in spite of having Coalition Force from 34 nations. The video clip contains a short live footage news of early hours of January 17, 1991 in the beginning of Operation Desert Storm. This was the First Air Strike by F-117 Stealth Bombers to destroy the Iraqi air force and anti-aircraft facilities. As mentioned in the video, it was the first major combat for F-117A’s.

This video clip is taken from the Youtube posted by BongHitBrian on May 26, 2008 titling “First Strike Gulf War Air Campaign 1991”. There are no credentials posted to this video, but it is assumable that it was a part of a live news telecast .

Posted in 1989-2000, June 8 assignment, Political history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Gulf War: Operation Desert Storm with the Ghost F-117

The Symbol of Freedom and Friendship

Posted on June 3, 2010 by Ashraf Talukder

The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World

To the sculptor form is everything and is nothing. It is nothing without the spirit – with the idea it is everything.

– Victor Hugo, May 13, 1885

The Statue of Liberty, standing in New York Harbor, is the most symbolic sculpture in United States. Since the inauguration on October 28th 1886, it is the first thing sea-borne visitors, immigrants, and returning Americans see upon entering New York Harbor and has been known as a beacon of freedom to much of the world.

The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World is the symbol of ideals of human liberty and friendship to the whole world. It was a gift, in 1884, by the people of France to represent the friendship between United States and France established during American Revolution. The statue is situated in Liberty Island in New York harbor, and French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi designed the statue. The Statue of Liberty was declared a national monument by Presidential proclamation on October 15, 1924 and it earned UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1984.

The image is taken from the “Statue of Liberty” article of Wikipedia posted on November 13, 2007. This image is originated by William Warby on Flickr captured from the Circle Line ferry, Manhattan, New York.

Posted in 1880-1890, Cultural History, June 7 assignment | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment