Slave narratives free essay sample

Slaves comprised one-fifth or 20 percent of the total population of New York City, making it a city with one of the highest concentration of slaves in colonial America. (See the introductory section. ) 2. Which statement describes African American slaves views on the American Revolution? A. They viewed it as an opportunity to gain their own freedom. As the battle for political independence from Great Britain intensified in the late eighteenth century, the rhetoric of the day that freely referenced liberty and freedom of oppression was not lost on the slaves. They fought on both sides of the Revolution because they saw the Revolution as an opportunity to gain their own freedom. (See the introductory section. ) 3. What was the attitude of white New Yorkers regarding the abolition of slavery? c. Their attitude was not much different than their Southern counterparts. Though New Yorkers lived with a constant threat posed by rebellious slaves, they proved no more willing to relinquish their slaves as their Southern counterparts had been in earlier times. We will write a custom essay sample on Slave narratives or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page (See section African American Life in Eighteenth-Century North America in your textbook.) 4. What led colonists to embrace slave labor more enthusiastically in the mid-eighteenth century? b. A diminished supply of European-born laborers Although demand for labor in the American colonies remained high, the supply of white labor from Europe diminished due to, among other factors, the Seven Years War of 1756-1763. (See section Slaves and Free Blacks across the Colonies in your textbook. ) 5. Which statement accurately describes the scope of slavery in mid-eighteenth-century New England? a. The use of slave labor expanded into occupational sectors where it had previously not existed By the mid-eighteenth century, slavery expanded into new occupational sectors and into new geographic areas. In both cases, the shortage of white immigrant labor prompted this changed dynamic. Enslaved Africans were employed as apprentices to skilled artisans and were used as laborers in grain-producing operations in southern New England. (See section Slaves and Free Blacks across the Colonies in your textbook. ) 6. How did the colony of Georgias relationship to slavery change in the1750s? b. The colonys ban on slave imports was lifted, allowing Georgia to become a slave society. Established as a military buffer between Britains lucrative Carolina colonies and Spanish Florida, Georgia did not permit slavery under the terms of its original charter. Succumbing to immense political pressure, the colonys trustees lifted this ban in 1751 and Georgia quickly transformed into a slave society, witne ssing an explosive increase in the slave population in less than thirty years. (See section Slaves and Free Blacks across the Colonies in your textbook. ) What sustained the black population in colonial New England? c. The continuous importation of slaves directly from Africa Domestic birth rates among slaves in New England remained extremely low. In response, colonial New Englanders relied on a brisk trade in slaves imported directly from Africa. By the early 1740s, 70 percent of all slaves imported into New England were brought directly from Africa, a reversal of a dynamic that existed earlier in the eighteenth century when 70 percent of all slaves imported into New England originated from Britains West Indian colonies. (See section Slaves and Free Blacks across the Colonies in your textbook. ) 8. What percentage of the total northern population did free blacks comprise? c. 10 percent In both the North and the South, black freedom contracted as the eighteenth century progressed. Free blacks represented a negligible portion of the total populations of any of the given Southern colonies. Although more common in northern colonies, their numbers never rose above 10 percent of the total population. (See section Slaves and Free Blacks across the Colonies in your textbook.) 9. How did New England blacks form a distinctive African American culture? b. Establishing their own rituals and celebrations Establishing new rituals and celebrations was one way in which the black population of New England created their own distinct culture that reflected the assimilation of the American-born population alongside the influence of recent African arrivals. Negro Election Day is one example of this phenomenon. This celeb ration was largely confined to New England and was an opportunity for blacks to cross cultural and linguistic divides. It also gave the powerless the opportunity to play the role of the powerful. (See section Shaping an African American Culture in your textbook). 10. What was the eighteenth-century revival movement that swept through colonial America called? d. The Great Awakening The Great Awakening refers to a religious revival movement of the eighteenth century that spread throughout the colonies and fostered a spirit of equality that appealed to both white and black Americans. Chapter 3 provides more in-depth information about its effects on the American slave population and how it influenced the American Revolution. (See section The Slaves Great Awakening in your textbook. ) 11. What was the name of the eighteenth-century intellectual movement that questioned traditional institutions, customs, and morals? a. The age of Enlightenment The age of Enlightenment was a time when thinkers in America and in Europe questioned traditional institutions, morals, customs, and values. American colonial leaders often framed their critique of their relationship with Great Britain through the lens this movement provided. (See section The African American Revolution in your textbook. ) 12. How did African Americans use the climate of the American Revolution in their efforts to bring about an end to slavery? b. They fought for both sides in the conflict. Slaves took advantage of the social disorder in the Revolutionary era to seize their freedom. Once the conflict with Great Britain began, fugitives could often secure freedom through military service. While more than five thousand African Americans fought alongside the patriots, approximately fifteen thousand black loyalists served with the British, who had promised freedom to those who would serve them. (See section The African American Revolution in your textbook. ) 13. What was the Somerset case? c. It was a lawsuit filed on behalf of a runaway African-born slave in a British court The Somerset case ultimately freed an American slave named James Somerset in 1772. Born in Africa, Somerset was later sold into slavery in Virginia, where he lived until his owner brought him to London while traveling on business. Somerset ran away, and was eventually apprehended when a British antislavery activist challenged his owners right to detain him. Ultimately, Somerset would gain his freedom as a result of the British courts ruling in favor of Somerset. (See section The Road to Independence in your textbook. ) 14. How did American patriots respond to African Americans demands for freedom during the Revolutionary Era? d. With indifference Although northern blacks tried hard to frame their appeals for freedom in the Revolutionary language of the era, with its emphasis on natural rights, equality, and freedom from tyranny and oppression, such appeals generally fell on deaf ears. Many leaders in the patriot cause, such as James Otis, chose not to link the struggle for their political freedom from Great Britain with the freedom struggles of the enslaved. (See section The Road to Independence in your textbook. ) 15. Who was Crispus Attucks? b. He was a runaway slave who became the first martyr of the American Revolution. Crispus Attucks was a free black man of African and Nantucket ancestry who had secured his freedom by running away from his master as a young man. He went on to join the ranks of Bostons working class, as a laborer on the citys docks. Attuckss resentment toward the British presence in the city of Boston, a resentment shared by his fellow dockworkers, ultimately led to his involvement in what would be known as the Boston Massacre. (See section Black Patriots in your textbook. ) 16. What was Lord Dunmores Proclamation? c. A document extending freedom to black men willing to fight for the British Issued in November 1775 by Virginias royal governor John Murray, the Earl of Dunmore, Lord Dunmores Proclamation promised freedom to blacks in exchange for their willingness to serve in the British army. (See section Black Loyalists in your textbook. ) 17. What ultimately convinced George Washington to allow black men to fight in the Continental Army? c. The idea that his own slaves could potentially fight for the opposing side The potential scenario in which Virginia slaves were fighting for the British convinced Washington to revisit his earlier prohibition against black troops serving under his command. The Continental Congress declared all blacks eligible for service in the army one week after Dunmore issued his proclamation. (See section Black Loyalists in your textbook. ) 18. What role did blacks play in Britains Revolutionary War southern strategy? a. They served as scouts and soldiers Blacks played pivotal roles in Britains southern strategy, serving as everything from scouts to soldiers. While their contributions would prove valuable, Britains southern strategy ultimately failed to bring forth the results the British had hoped for. Black participation in the British cause stiffened the resolve of southern patriots, an outcome the British had sorely underestimated. (See section American Victory, British Defeat in your textbook. ) 19. Where did black loyalists who sided with the British likely resettle when the Revolutionary War ended? b. The Bahamas Britains Royal Navy evacuated approximately fifteen thousand blacks at the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, and they were later resettled in Britains remaining colonies of Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, Australia, or the Bahamas. Some were transported to England itself. (See section The Fate of Black Loyalists in your textbook. ) 20. Where was the United States free black population concentrated after the Revolutionary War? b. In the Upper South and the North Free black communities in the Upper South and in the North grew substantially in the twenty years after the Revolutionary War. (See section Closer to Freedom in your textbook. )

Role of the Teacher in Obesity Prevention

Role of the Teacher in Obesity Prevention Introduction Obesity is a health condition that affects a person causing them to gain a lot of weight and body mass and subsequently causing a health risk in the individual due to related health implications. Research has proven that the risk of obesity has continued to increase especially for the younger generation in the society.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Role of the Teacher in Obesity Prevention specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to the government statistics and previous researches, 61.4% of the Australian population is either obese or overweight, a point that raises a lot of concern about the health status of the population in Australia. Also, according to the Medical Journal of Australia, the rate of occurrence of obesity has increased to more than a double in the past decade. This information is also close to the data for the USA and the UK (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2008). It has been note d that there is a large correlation between the occurrence of obesity and lifestyle, especially eating habits and physical activities. With the society decreasing its concentration from commitment to physical activities, it has become a major problem for many to engage in the activities that would aid in ensuring healthy living. This has been aggravated by the fact that there has been an emergence of a very dangerous trend in eating habits where most people have adopted the culture of eating processed foods and junk foods which are full of fats, chemicals and other hazardous components. This has resulted to a change in the formation of healthy bodies and as a result many people have become overweight and in extreme cases, obese (Sharma, 2011). Obesity and overweight are conditions that result to a high risk of health complications such as the victim being affected by type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, physical deformity among other health problems. With these th reats being eminent, there is a need for everyone to put effort in trying to prevent the condition, and in places where it prevalent, to manage the condition (Robinson, 2001). This study seeks to identify how the society, especially teachers who interact the most with the young children, may be involved in prevention or management of the condition (Danielzik, Pust, Landsberg Muller, 2005).Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Importance of Physical Activity The group that the study considered constitutes of the young people in the community ranging from 5 to 17 years of age. Research has shown that about one in every four children in Australia is either obese or overweight, with obesity taking the larger percentage. The problem is that when the condition develops at this early stage, it is hard to cure or manage it later on hence it remains to be a health threat for the v ictim. However, research has also shown that the condition of obesity is best preventable and curable at this early stage since most obese people become obese at this age interval and hence preventing this trend would have almost long-term results except in extreme situations of hazardous lifestyle (Hawks Gast, 2000). One of the most reliable and effective methods to prevent or manage obesity is through involvement in physical activities especially at the early age. In prevention of obesity, physical activities ensure that an individual utilizes a lot of energy that is injected into the body while eating, a factor that ensures that there is no excess energy going unutilized and which would otherwise be stored in the body as fats. Through involvement in sufficient quality of physical activities, a person is able to check their weight hence avoiding occurrences of obesity or even becoming overweight. In addition, physical activities ensure that a person remains fresh due to proper ci rculation of blood hence being able to utilize energy from the food taken not only through physical activities but also through the brain (Piran, 1998). Through engaging in physical activities, those that already are obese may be able to manage their condition and even with a lot of discipline be able to eradicate their situation. This is mainly possible due to the fact that during physical activities, stored fats are broken down to form energy which is then utilized in the activity. Hence, for someone with obesity, it is possible to gradually ensure that the stored fats under the skin are broken down into energy hence helping the patient recover from the condition.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Role of the Teacher in Obesity Prevention specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, in situations where the condition is impossible to treat, physical activities may aid in ensuring that excessive fats are broken down so a s to avoid them from getting deposited under the skin, a factor that may ensure prevention of other related diseases and conditions thus ensuring that the obesity does not pose a health threat to its victim (McDevitt Ormrod, 2010). Teacher’s Role in Obesity prevention and management The teacher is the person who spends most of the time with a child during the period between 5 and 17 years. The teacher hence observes a lot of the changes that take place in the child both physically and mentally (Robinson, 2001). The teacher therefore has the role of ensuring that he addresses all the issues involved in the proper and healthy growth of the child so as to ensure that the child grows up in the expected manner. The teacher may therefore be able to identify the possibility of onset of obesity in as child especially due to its weight gain and slow mental development. This may be a good point at which to react through engaging in preventive measures so as to overcome the probability of the child becoming obese. Involvement in physical activities as well as a change in eating habits may also be helpful (Meyers, Sampson, Weitzman, Rogers, Kayne, 1989). The teacher is at a good position to set time for the child to ensure discipline in engaging in physical activities. This may be done through integrating learning with co-curriculum activities with an equal emphasis on their importance such that children would not view the physical activities as optional but rather as part of the learning process. On the other side, the teacher is at a good position to be able to control the dietary part of the child’s eating habits so as to ensure that as much as possible the child takes healthy meals that would reduce the risk of becoming obese. Ways of addressing and helping prevent Obesity The teacher may be able to undertake a lot of activities so as to help manage and even prevent obesity in children. First, the teacher may be able to use their authority to control t he eating habits of the children.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Through emphasizing on healthy living ad as much as possible ensuring the children do not take junk and processed foods, the teacher may be able to help the child reduce the probability of becoming obese and for the obese ones, manage the condition and keep it at a low profile where the risk of related diseases and conditions is at its lowest. The teacher hence may be able to make decisions on the kind of food components tom include in the meals offered in the school while also educating the child on proper decision-making and consciousness so as to ensure they have a good and healthy choice for foods and beverages taken outside the school program (McDevitt Ormrod, 2010). The teacher may also be involved in formulation of a coordinated school health program (CSHP) which may be aimed at addressing the main aspects of life that may are associated to healthy growth including physical health, provision of physical, nutritional and health education, development of mental health through counseling sessions as well as involvement in activities carried out at the family and community level. All these activities may be able to engage the child in a manner that helps prevent or manage obesity (Meyers, Sampson, Weitzman, Rogers, Kayne, 1989). The teacher has the mandate to formulate and review the different policies endorsed by the school concerning healthy growth of a child. In cases where the school has laid more focus and emphasis on learning and neglected healthy physical growth promotion activities, the teacher may intervene to help ensure that there is a balance in all aspects of life so as for the child to grow up as an all-round healthy person and more so reduce the probability of getting obese (Kropski, Keckley Jensen, 2008). Through provision of nutrition studies, the teacher may be able to influence the decisions of the child in relation to their decisions pertaining to the kind of food they eat and also the physical activities they engage in so as to reduc e instances of obesity. References Australian Bureau of Statistics (2008). National Health Survey 2007-08. Melbourne: ABS. Danielzik, S., Pust, S., Landsberg, B. and Muller, J. (2005). â€Å"First lessons from the Kiel Obesity Prevention Study (KOPS),† International Journal of Obesity, 29(2) :78–83. Hawks, R. and Gast, J. (2000). â€Å"The ethics of promoting weight loss,† Healthy Weight, 14(1): 25-26. Kropski, A., Keckley, H. and Jensen G. (2008). â€Å"School-based obesity prevention programs: an evidence-based review,† Obesity, 16(5):1009-18. McDevitt M. and Ormrod, J. (2010). Child Development And Education (4th ed). Melbourne: Pearson. Meyers, A., Sampson, E., Weitzman, M., Rogers, L. and Kayne, H. (1989). â€Å"School Breakfast Program and School Performance,† American Journal of Diseases of Childhood, 143(10): 1234-1239. Piran, N. (1998). â€Å"The Last Word: Prevention of eating disorders,† Eating Disorders, 6(1):365-371. Robinson, E . (2001). Reducing Children’s Television Viewing to Prevent Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial. London: AMC. Sharma, M. (2011). Dietary Education in School-Based Childhood Obesity Prevention Programs. Available from: https://academic.oup.com/advances/article/2/2/207S/4591581

10 Ethnic Terms

10 Ethnic Terms 10 Ethnic Terms 10 Ethnic Terms By Mark Nichol The vocabulary of ethnicity identity is fraught with peril. It is unfortunate that humans must at times distinguish between various subgroups, but it’s best to keep up-to-date on which descriptions are considered valid or acceptable among those belonging to those populations. Here’s a guide: 1. African A person of African descent. Some people so described use this term even if they are US residents because, due to their recent arrival in the United States, they do not identify with black, or African American, culture. 2. African American An American of African descent. Most people answering this description have no problem with the term black, but some groups and publications prefer this term, and it’s useful, at least, as elegant variation. Unlike as with the case of people from Asia, African Americans are less likely to be identified by their specific country of origin, such as in â€Å"Kenyan American.† 3. Asian A person of Asian descent. 4. Asian American An American of Asian descent. More specific terms such as â€Å"Japanese American† are used when necessary; note, however, that immigrants from nations from which relatively few people come to America can also be identified by such a construction, even if the phrase is not common (such as â€Å"Pakistani American†). 5. Black An American of African descent; this term is generally lowercased but is capitalized by some groups and publications. 6. Chicano An American of Mexican descent. This is one of those terms best reserved for use by those it refers to. People of similar ethnic heritage from countries other than Mexico may share communities and philosophies with Chicanos, but they may prefer not to share the name. (The feminine form Chicana is used when referring specifically to women.) 7. Hispanic A person of mixed Spanish or Portuguese and Indian heritage. Some people of this description oppose the term because it emphasizes the European element at the expense of other identities. 8. Indian This term has two distinct meanings: a person descended from people who long ago immigrated to the Americas from Asia, or people of Indian descent (that is, from India). Many people in the first category so identified prefer this term to â€Å"Native American,† and some use â€Å"American Indian† only to distinguish themselves from people originating in India. (American Indians were originally misidentified as such by Christopher Columbus, who believed, in error, that he had reached India rather than the Western Hemisphere.) 9. Latino A person of mixed Indian and Spanish or Portuguese descent. This term, although no more etymologically valid than â€Å"Hispanic,† is preferable among many such people. (The feminine form Latina is used when referring specifically to women.) 10. Native American A person descended from people who long ago immigrated to the Americas from Asia. Many people adhering to this description prefer to be called simply Indians or to be identified by their tribal name. (Note that the terms indigenous and aboriginal are not strictly correct, because Indians did not evolve in the Western Hemisphere. Canadian Indians who call themselves the First Nations are more accurate.) Of course, many other descriptors for ethnic groups exist, including many broadly considered derogatory and even offensive. However, some people belonging to ethnic groups so labeled use such terms among themselves to reclaim them and diminish their painful associations. A final note: I use the term American (which need not be hyphenated to another proper name) to refer to US citizens, although Americans meaning people who live in the Western Hemisphere who do not reside in the United States outnumber those who do. This apparently arrogant appropriation of the term is objectionable to some people, but it is unrealistic to expect that it will be abandoned. 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 Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:The Yiddish Handbook: 40 Words You Should KnowBody Parts as Tools of MeasurementInspiring vs. Inspirational

Perceived Stress for Middle School Principals Essay - 1

Perceived Stress for Middle School Principals - Essay Example The climax of these sanctions is evident when considering the repercussions it places on school administrators. Such is the case that it provides parents with alternative schools away from those which fail to meet AYP. Here, parents are given permission to transfer their children to a school of their choice within the district that meets the requirements. The next set of AYP sanctions falls under the title corrective actions. The first section of correction action employs the same approach as that implemented in school improvement except for the major modifications realized in the areas of curriculum, leadership, or other strategies. In this premise, a principle leading a school that has consistently failed to meet the AYP for four years on account of low subgroup scores is at risk of losing his/her job even when the school is still better in all other tested areas. Under such kind of laws, that are well written, thousands of low performing schools could in theory lose their principles following the subgroup rule. Corrective 4 actions II addresses schools that fail to meet AYP in a consecutive five to six years. The remedy for such schools is total reconstruction of staff, privatization, charting and other related government changes (Decker, 2008). Schools that meet the AYP target for two successive years are exited from this cycle. As a measure to boost openness in the AYP and NCLB for two successive years, the federal lawmakers have authorized that respective states maintain their accountability to the public by publishing their school report cards. The report cards maintain information drawn from all schools in a particular district and incorporate information on proficiency/ AYP rates, teachers professional qualification , data by sub group, and establishes schools in dare need of improvement(McKinney, 2008). The NO Child Left Behind Act and its actual provision were passed to become a law

I Think, Therefore I Kant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

I Think, Therefore I Kant - Essay Example The essay "I Think, Therefore I Kant" overviews the philosophy works and the revolutionary thinking of Immanuel Kant at the turn of the 19th century and his philosophy of reason still resonates in the Western world. In his attempt to reconcile religion and science, he drew criticism from all sides. His works, often heavy and lengthy, have at times made Kant difficult to understand. Yet beneath the surface lies an eloquent approach to philosophy and morality. Whether being praised or criticized, he has been called the "finisher and conqueror of Illumination". A close examination of Kant's ethical theory reveals why it drew such controversy and why it continues to persist. Kant's individual uniqueness stems from his belief in what is called deontological ethics or the study of duty. According to Kant, an action's moral value does not stem from the consequences of the action, but rather from the motivation behind the will to act. When the action is universal and is motivated by only good will, it is a categorical imperative. In Kant's words, "Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law". Thus an action that is motivated by good will is universally good. Kant criticized the Utilitarian theories that evaluate the action based on the happiness it produced. According to Utilitarianism, whatever produces the most happiness in the most people is the moral course of action. This could lead to the happiness of many at the expense of a few people's misery.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Essay Example for Free

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Essay All typical detective stories have features in common. They all contain a detective, also the stories contain a crime and a criminal, also in typical detective stories the criminal usually has a motive. Another detail in a murder story is: the detective always begins an investigation and this leads to the discovery of the criminal.  The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes were set and written in Victorian England by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The Hound of the Baskervilles is about a big black vicious hound that is haunting the Baskerville Family and after the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville; the legend of the hound was revived. A man goes to tell Holmes and Watson. Holmes and Watson take up the case. The Speckled Band is about a woman who tells Holmes that her sister has died. The woman thinks its her stepfather, Dr Roylott. She believes that he has killed her for her inheritance  The Man With The Twisted Lip is about a woman who sees her husband in a window of an opium den and goes in to see him but he isnt there. She asks Holmes to investigate.  Sherlock Holmes stories are unusual in that they are not written from the detectives point of view. It is written from Dr Watsons point of view. This means that the reader knows the events as they are happening and doesnt know what the detective is going to do next. This enhances the murder mystery quality because the reader wants to know what happens next and it builds suspense with the reader Typical Sherlock Holmes crime settings are normally dark, damp and gloomy places. These are normally places such as dark alleyways and streets. Also big stately homes made to look like eerie haunted places. Another setting is out on the moors in Hound of the Baskervilles, the moors are foggy and it is usually raining.  The Manor House settings used in the Hound of the Baskervilles and The Speckled Band contain large portraits on the walls of large old rooms. They also contain old wooden doors that creak as they open and the doors lead into large open passageways. A large wall surrounds the whole manor and at the entrance were two large iron gates. This enhances tension because it makes the reader feel the tension that the characters are feeling and it places a picture of the setting in their mind. The moors around the manor house in Hound of the Baskervilles are foggy and mysterious, they are barren and inhospitable. They seem abandoned and lonely. The moors contain dangerous quicksand. This creates tension, by the reader knowing, that something spooky or dangerous is about to happen. The opium den in The Man with the Twisted Lip is dark, dank and smoky. There are bodies spread all over the floor in different positions. The untypical story is the Hound of the Baskervilles because its set out of London, on a moor whereas all of his other stories are set in homes or London. The criminals in Sherlock Holmes are not typical because they have obscure ways of doing things. We know that Dr Roylott has a criminal nature because he is aggressive and shows his strength when he comes to see Holmes. This quote shows Dr Roylott when he bends the poker in Holmes apartment He bent it into a curve with his huge brown hands. This shows his strength and aggressive nature. Another quote that shows how everyone became scared of him, because when ever he went out he either got into brawls or quarrelled with the locals. He became the terror of the village  We doubt Hugh Boone as a criminal because he doesnt really commit a crime, he was a man in lots of debt so he ran away and disguised himself as a beggar and started life again. Which suggests he is a proud man but not a criminal

New Way To Spend A Holiday :: essays research papers

An experience in life that forces you to grow up and to take on responsibility, can only be rewarding and uplifting in the future. When you look back at all you came thru and the courage that possesed you at that most trying time. I only have one moment that really sticks out in my mind. Christmas on 1997 my family and I went to The Banquet which is a local food provider for the less fortunate in Sioux Falls. Being thrilled about this certain project my mom decided we should do was not quiet my attitude. I didn't want to spend Christmas in a dusty old high school serving food to people. Why could we just be normal and stay home with family. But despite all my protest it was set and we were going. For volunteers your day starts rather early we were to report to Thomas Jefferson Middle school by 10:00 A.M. sharp. As the thoughts ran thru my mind of what to expect when we got there. I started to make up the crazy ideas that we would get there and all around us would be these drugged out, filthy, and uncivilized people. People who choose not to try or to make a difference with there lives. People who were happy taking handouts and living on the street not wanting to change anything. We pulled up into the parking lot and the first thing i saw was 3 other guys my age. Not all that bad looking either. So I'm beginning to think maybe the day won't be so bad after all. A tall, broad, and boisterous woman walked up and introduced herself to my family and told us how happy she was to have us here. I quickly began to feel a little more at ease when i saw the rest of the volunteers. We walked into the building and into the gym. My mouth dropped there must have been 50 long cafeteria tables in their if not more. We quickly were each given a different set of jobs to do. My mom helped with the decorating of the tables. My little brother well I'm not sure exactly what he did but there was a lot of hammering. I went with two other ladies onto the stage of the gym where there were hundreds and hundreds of toys. Our job was to sort them out into gender and age groups.