professional advancement

"professional advancement"

at paragraph 27

1. On page 58 in "Master Harold...and the boys" Hally is getting mad and he says, "Your only a servant here, and don't forget it." Hally continues to say, "And as far as my father is concerned, all of you need to remember is that he is your boss." Sam replies with, "No he isn't. I get paid by your mother." Hally retaliates by saying, "He is a whiteman and that's good enough for you." Even though is taken place in Africa the concept is the same, the white culture not providing avenues for economic support and PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT for non-white people.
contributed by James R. Wagner Jr., 12/12/99

2. It is widely believed in our society that minorities are not given the opportunity for professional advancement. Therefore, we have affirmative action legislation passed to make it easier for minorities and women to experience professional advancement. I find this interesting because actually I got in an argument with my roommate about this yesterday. I feel that minorities are given a hell of a better chance today to move up in society. Many choose not to. If you take a look at the ghettoes in South Central L.A., it is apparant that these people don't really care for the most part. Is it because they truly feel that have no chance in the world because the white person is holding them down? Or do they just not aspire to try for the same opportunities. After California banned affirmative action, UCal Berkeley saw an increase in enrollment of white and Asian students as well as a decrease in enrollment of black and Latino students. Why? Because they are merely letting in the QUALIFIED students. I could go on for hours, but I'll just stop here. If a minority is qualified for professional advancement, there is no reason why they shouldn't advance.
contributed by Judy Worker, 04/26/00

3. I think that professional advancement has a part played in it based upon ethnicity, but strides can be made. In the Piano Lesson, Boy Willie shows that he has advanced and wants to advance professionally, and its not going to be based on whiteness or blackness, but on perserverance.
contributed by Chuck Trillingham, 05/03/01

4. An example of this statement being true is the play The Piano Lesson. The colored men are trying to sell the watermellons so they can buy land and have some of the same oppertunities as white people back then. Even though this play takes place in the past and many things have changed today, the concept is still very present in our country which is made up of white culture. Today, even the name on your resume can be discriminated against. If you have a culturally obvious name, there may be some form of discrimination in the workplace. you may not get an interview or the employers may not give you full credit upon coming in and interviewing with their stereotypes already in place. Although, just like in The Piano Lesson, minorities are always trying to do things that make them seem more white to get ahead in life, it still doesn't always work out.
contributed by melissa wuellner, 12/09/03