Most recent public comments by Amy Neale https://nowcomment.com/users/28333 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735793 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735793 I agree that while affirmative action can be extremely beneficial, civil rights organizations must also think about the importance of the racial divide in prison systems. In high school, I had multiple African American friends who said that they did not like affirmative action, because they wanted to get into schools on their own merit. They did not want people to think they got accepted to certain universities just because they were given a "hand out" through affirmative action. While I understand that this is certainly not always the case and that affirmative action provides amazing opportunities for so many people, I also think that the prison system issue is one that everyone would agree needs tremendous assistance. I feel like helping that issue would eventually just naturally lead to children staying in school and attending universities, because they would be less likely to have a father in jail or end up in jail themselves. Thu, 13 Apr 2017 10:26:44 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735791 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735791 The use of the phrase "slaves of the state" is distressing to me. The whole point of the 13th Amendment was to abolish slavery, but this phrase indicates how the amendment was far from immediately successful. The clause that specifies that slavery can be used as a punishment for crime literally provides an excuse for wealthy white land owners to continue owning slaves, and gives them an incentive to find any reason to arrest black males. Even from as early on as the passing of this amendment, we see reasons why there is not an even balance between arrests among races. Thu, 13 Apr 2017 10:19:44 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735759 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735759 I definitely agree with Nellie that people like Oprah and Obama are exceptions to the caste system. A specifically relevant example is Ben Carson. His mother raised him with only a third grade-level education and he was extremely poor. He learned his dad had a previous family and a wife he had not divorced, causing his mother to separate from Mr. Carson and eventually attempt suicide. Despite this and growing up in a small house without a father, Ben Carson grew up to be one of the most successful brain surgeons ever. He shows what hard work can do, but nothing about his story came easily. He is certainly one of the lucky ones. Thu, 13 Apr 2017 01:56:27 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735753 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735753 I agree with Alexander here that it would take a major social movement to eras the new caste system. This problem is so concerning because realistically, I do not see a simple solution to it. The use and distribution of illicit drugs is literally illegal, so the police would not be doing their jobs if they let people go. If drugs like heroin were legalized, it could definitely lessen the profitable appeal of participating in the drug war, but it would seriously endanger people's health. As we saw with Hamsterdam, that is not a popular plan of action. This makes me wonder what could be done to actually make a difference among the majority of people. Thu, 13 Apr 2017 09:54:07 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735752 https://nowcomment.com/documents/76206?scroll_to=735752 One of the biggest issues I see with the incarceration rates is certainly the denial of obtaining employment after a prisoner's release. While most companies certainly do not want to hire a bunch of murderers for their staff, there are, as we have learned, countless black males who get arrested for the selling/use of drugs. These men are often not bad people in any way, but rather, have been forced into their situation for any combination of social/institutional reasons. My friend's dad saw a problem with this lacking availability of employment opportunities in Baltimore. He owns a restaurant chain and started working with released prisoners by offering them jobs. When I first heard about this plan, I was a little bit wary, but this class in particular has really showed me how great of a program my friend's dad started. Sun, 16 Apr 2017 18:04:21 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=669254 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=669254 I definitely agree that people shy away from being outwardly decent for fear of being killed. That being said, I think that Anderson says this because there have not really been any clear examples of someone living in the projects who has been sober and clean of drugs, decent, positive and impactful. The witness and the girlfriend are killed, making it seem like no one can stand up for what is right. There is no "Coach Carter" character who does something moral and actually succeeds in doing so. We don't even see that on a smaller scale, like with a determined and positive school teacher (which there are plenty of in inner city Baltimore). Thu, 02 Feb 2017 01:24:43 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=669199 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=669199 I often hate it when shows confuse the audience as to whether a character is bad or good. When shows have the evil characters suddenly risk their lives for someone, for example, I get mad that I suddenly am grateful for the character I hate. With The Wire, however, I feel like this mix of emotions is exactly the response the audience needs. It puts us in the shoes of these people, often good people who do bad things simply because they are in a bad situation. My confusion about whether or not I like a character is so fitting because these people are not simply bad or good. Their surroundings force them into confusing and conflicting situations every day, forming what they do and often, therefore, who they become. Thu, 02 Feb 2017 01:16:02 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=669186 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=669186 I think that this is a very interesting point. I had not really considered the comparison of power relations among the police department and among the gang in the show. When reflecting on this, it is clear to see that people are identified as either superior or subordinate in this show. Some subordinates try to break that label, while the superiors are constantly reaffirming their position. I also find it interesting that this first season was filmed in 2002, more than ten years before the death of Freddie Gray, which took place in Baltimore in the spring of 2015. That led to an unprecedented amount of conversation about the relationship between the police and black youths, and I wonder how that would impact how The Wire would be filmed today - if it was even able to be filmed at all. Wed, 14 Apr 2021 22:08:00 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=669176 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=669176 While I agree that some of Simon's biases may cloud the validity of the show's plot at times, I have not yet seen that in the first season at least. Based on this article, it appears that the bias will come mostly in the fifth season when he discusses The Baltimore Sun. I can say, however, that Simon's "own Baltimore" in season 1 has been extremely accurate. I am from Baltimore, and although I live about 20 minutes away from where this show takes place, I know the area and have been around these neighborhoods when I go to Orioles or Ravens games, for example. While watching the show last week, my roommate asked, "Do houses there really look like that?" She was appalled by the state of how these characters live, but I didn't even think twice about it because I have seen the harsh reality of the living situation downtown so frequently. I also genuinely feel like I'm home when watching the show. I have known every single street they have mentioned, they discuss BGE (Baltimore Gas and Electric) at one point, and Orioles games are frequently playing in the background. I think Simon has done an incredible job of making the show as realistic as humanly possible. Thu, 02 Feb 2017 01:00:18 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=669125 https://nowcomment.com/documents/70146?scroll_to=669125 Reading or listening to a news story about the tragedies of the drug war or even a story similar to Bodie and Poot killing Wallace is obviously sad, but it does not have as powerful an effect. After seeing this unfortunate story, people may think about it a few more times in distress, but will most likely eventually get over it. However, I know that I am not alone when I say that I definitely get emotionally invested in characters in television shows, and The Wire does a fantastic job of getting the audience invested in these people and making them care about their health and safety. Because the show is such an accurate depiction of downtown Baltimore, it gets people informed and aware of legitimate issues the city faces constantly. Ironically, I think fiction allows The Wire to be probably the most informative show I've ever seen about a real issue. Thu, 02 Feb 2017 00:40:26 -0500