The Untold Story: Baseball

The video above is about a story we should all be familiar with. This is the story of the segregation and integration of baseball. Before attending a class focused on Afro-Latinos, I had been very aware of how segregated sports, especially, baseball was. I had learned about the discrimination of African Americans and how Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. But the untold story of America's favorite pastime is that Latino baseball players were experiencing similar struggles with a lot less publicity.

In fact, according to Left Out by Adrian Burgos Jr., there needs to be a revision when it comes to baseball's racial history. Too frequently stories are told about baseball's history that minimizes the impact and contributions of Afro-Latinos.

"The lack of recognition black Latinos receive as contributors to, and

beneficiaries of, the legacy of black baseball reveals how lines have been

drawn within popular understandings and within the historical literature ("Left Out")."

I feel that this is such a sad reality because people of color are constantly being swept under the wrong as if the struggles that they overcame is not of importance to the progress of their people. I had never even thought about the fact that Afro-Latinos were a huge part of desegregation in regards to professional sports. But apparently, Latinos had been integrated into Major League Baseball even before African Americans or more specifically Jackie Robinson. I personally am sick and tired of people of color being overlooked when they are the reason much of history we study today is what it is.

"Among those left out, Buck O’Neil drew the most notice. O’Neil’s endearing personality, homespun storytelling style, and tireless work on behalf of the Negro Leagues helped spark a revival of popular interest in black baseball history. His lack of bitterness made him the symbol of the Negro Leagues for countless Americans and assuaged the guilt of many about the national pastime’s Jim Crow past ("Left Out")."

Works Cited

Burgos, Adrian Jr.. "Left Out: Afro-Latinos, Black Baseball, and the Revision of Baseball’s Racial History." Social Text 98 • Vol. 27, No. 1 • Spring 2009. Duke University Press, 2009. Web. 7 May 2012.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZHP0w5DgxQ

http://what-the-hall.info/pix/oneil.jpg



How do you authenticate race?

I am who I am. I am a black young woman. And I am sure that if I ever decided to trace my family tree, I would find that African descent is not my only lineage, but that discovery would not make me any less black or any less of anything else I could be. In Authenticating Race by Sarita Cannon, there is an ongoing  tug-a-war in the fight to prove that Afro-Native Americans are in fact Native Americans and should be included in their culture.

"In the past several years, cross-cultural dialogue between Blacks and Indians has

arisen in publics spaces throughout the United States, such as the 1998 conference ""Eadng

Out of the Same Pot': Relating Black and Native Histories" at Dartmouth

College, which was co-organized by Tiya Miles, a Assistant Professor of

American Culture, Afroamerican & African Studies, Native American Studies

at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. But interactions between African and Nadves

in the Americas were not always characterized by harmony and cooperation ("Authenticating Race").

Although, African Americans and Native Americans have gotten along in the pass because of their similar struggles under tyranny, they continue to perpetuate segregation and discrimination. I believe the reason Native Americans do not want to be affiliated with African Americans or Afro-Native Americans is because of the negative social stigma that is in association with African Americans. African Americans are treated as second class citizens and have countless negative stereotypes. A part of me can understand why Native Americans want "blood proof" in order for the Afro-Native Americans to accpet their membership into their tribe. But I also think it is wrong to prevent someone from trying to embrace their own culture.

Above is an image of Native Americans working among African Americans. This was why they began to interact and "interbreed." Since the days of slavery, there has been the existence of Afro- Native Americans. Being an Afro-Native American is just as valid as being an African American or Native American and should be accepted as such.

Works Cited

Tiya Miles, "Preface: Eadng Out of the Same Pot?" in Crossing Waters, Crossing Worlds: The African Diaspora in Indian Country, edited by Tiya Miles and Sharon P. Holland (Duke University Press, 2006), xv.

 http://www.freewebs.com/black-legacy/UNDERGROUND-RR.jpg

Overview: Change of Pace

Introduction: I have decided to add posts about what I have learned this entire semester in terms of Afro-Latinos and Afro-Native Americans. Before I took this course, I really had not ever given much thought to the fact Afro-Latinos and Afro-Native Americans are such a huge reality in the African American community as a whole. I became surprised when I discovered connections between all three cultures, and I will expand on those similarities in my other posts. I have learned that we are all so much more intertwined than we think or choose to accept. This blog is my view and interpretation of my fascination of these cultures. It is my reasons for finding their history and people to be so captivating. This semester I was able to really appreciate the experience of being of mixed culture. And to be able to appreciate that it is okay to embrace both or all of them. It is okay to be both Black and Latino or to be both Black and Native American. I happen to believe that it is a beautiful thing to embrace all of who you are.

The video above is a short video of Zoe Saldana at the 2011 Latin Grammys. Zoe Saldana is a known Afro-Latina actress that has always made it known that she is of both African and Latin descent. In this video, she briefly voices the pride she has in being a Latina and how honored she is to be apart of the 2011 Latin Grammys.

Works Cited

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6-td1O7cUI

Argument Fallacies

An argument should be valid in order for it so carry much weight. If an fallacy is found in an argument, it makes it hard for it to be very convicing. Below is a link to a list of Argument Fallacies.

http://www.don-lindsay-archive.org/skeptic/arguments.html

Evaluation, Ethical, or Proposal Argument

What is an evaluation argument?

"An evaluation argument tries to convince the reader that the criteria that a writer uses to evaluate a situation are the appropriate criteria, and therefore, that the writer's evaluation of a situation is an accurate one."

What is an ethical argument?

http://www.freewebs.com/thinkingstraight/Ethics.htm

What is a proposal argument?

"Proposal arguments are extended arguments, made because the author wants something to be changed or wants to stop something from being changed. Usually, the hope is that others have something to gain if the problem is solved or at least made a little bit better."

Resemblance Arguments

"Resemblance argument essays are essays based on comparisons. The purpose of a resemblance argument essay is to explain why X is or is not like Y. The X is usually solid while the Y is more typically an opinion. The best topics have multiple causes and effects or pros and cons and are not solely based on opinion."

Read more: How to Write a Resemblance Argument Essay | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5749288_write-resemblance-argument-essay.html#ixzz1tVhzBc5q

What is a Categorical Argument?

"A categorical argument is a type of argument that occurs when a given X belongs in category Y. There are two kinds of these categorical arguments: simple categorical argument where the writer and audience agrees on the meaning of the term Y and definitional argument where the meaning of the term Y is controversial."

What is a Definitional Argument?

"Definitional arguments are essays whereby you begin with your introduction of your theme, then for each body paragraph establish your points of view or reasonings, followed by detailing the evidence, proof, or facts that support your view or reasonings. This can be the thoughts of icons, matter in books, etc. Then you write a conclusion. Beware you own personal beliefs if you can't find support for them, or it becomes too flimsy and impact on the reader is lost."

What is a Causal Argument?

"These arguments examine the underlying cause for any particular situation or argument. A causal argument analyzes in depth what causes a trend, event, or phenomenon."