The Crimson Legion

Suzuki Haronubu (1765)

Maggie is first described in Stephen Crane's Maggie, A Girl of the Streets as a prostitute when she is identified as "a girl of the painted cohorts" (71). At the start of the chapter she is walking down the street, avoiding the gazes of "metropolitan" men while "giving smiling invitations to men of rural or untaught pattern." When she finally reaches her destination, there is a man who is first described simply as a "great figure" (62). Crane's word choices used to describe not only Maggie's customer but also used to describe Maggie herself and their surrounding at the time are very Satanic in nature. The man is then described as having small eyes "sparkling from amidst great rolls of red fat" and Maggie is simply "the girl of the crimson legions." Here Crane references the Crimson Legions of Hell and puts the man in the position of the devil who is working to lure Maggie into Hell by having her solicit her body to him. In the last paragraph of this chapter, Maggie has been completely lured into Hell by the "great figure" when Crane says that "at their feet the river appeared a deathly black hue... varied sounds of life... came faintly and died away to silence." (63).

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Salon at the Rue des Moulins, 1894

Prostitution can be simply defined as the act of sexual services in return for payment. The global prostitute industry is estimated at over $100 billion. While easy to define, prostitution gets far more complicated when it comes to its history as well as its legal, social, and economic statuses. In Ancient Greece, brothels where not condemned but rather regulated. In fact, prostitutes were recognized enough that they had to pay taxes which is in stark contrast to the US where prostitutes can be charged a felony and receive a 15 year jail sentence.

Capturing the City

Building Something Out of Nothing

"The Empire City, the City That Never Sleeps and the City of Sky Scrapers" are just a few common nicknames that are used when talking about this colossal city: New York, New York. Home of the ever shinning bright lights, yellow taxis, Yankee Stadium and outrageously priced Starbucks Coffee. One can mention the "Big Apple" to almost any person in the world and they will highlight Broadway, Saks Fifth Avenue and the infamous Central Park. However, underneath all the glitz and the glamor, the flashing lights and exhilarating celebrity sightings lies a darker shameful past that can still be seen today.

Since the mid-20th century New York City developed into one of the most powerful cities in the world. It has become the center for trade, communication, commerce and sets many of the world’s trends. In addition, New York has opened its arms to the many thousands of immigrants who have left their homes in attempts to achiev

Picture taken by Jacob Riis

e the "American Dream" or escape racism and persecution. But with that, comes negative side effects. Majority of immigrants were illiterate, uneducated and not familiar with American customs. Because of that, immigrants and other racial minorities where forced to live in squandered, overpopulated housing areas called Tenements. There all of the immigrants tried to make a home out of nothing. They do not possess the luxuries that privileged people have, but in their own way they formed a community.

This picture truly demonstrates the diversity of the many cultures that can be found in the slums of New York City. It was taken by Jacob Riis, who during his career attempted to highlight the true horrors of the poverty. However, this is picture at least in my opinion, does not highlight the horrors of extreme poverty but rather shows the good that can come from it. These people in this photo have taken something as abstract as an alleyway, something that most people would over look, and transformed it into something of importance. This alleyway is a gathering place for their community. The men sit nonchalantly amongst the grime and the filth as though it does not bother them. It is their home and they are trying to make the best of it. Their posture shows how they are not flustered by the presence of visitors, rather, they are intrigued by the people who have come to visit them. Though some may view the laundry hanging from the buildings as conventional, it decorates the building and adds character to the community, bringing the tenements to life.


Photograph by Camilo Jose Vergara



New York City is a "Dog Eat Dog" world. People are continually trying to climb up the social ladder, leaving those who were underprivileged and are not able to adapt fast enough behind. In Kevin Rudolf's song "In the City" he states that "they will eat you alive in the city, while the pull up in fancy cars" meaning that the wealthy, although they embody elegance, are able to rip others apart at their free will. However, in this modern picture of poverty in NYC, we are shown the complete opposite. The kids have turned an abandoned lot with cracked pavements, overgrown weeds and a dilapidated building into their own full court arena. They are not afraid of this spaces ugliness for they have acknowledged their circumstances and have decided to make the best of them.

Overall, through these pictures we are shown that one does not need extravagant luxuries in order to become closer to others and form a sense of community. Perhaps, that is what makes these photographs so beautiful. They have found use for the ugly, broken down and ruined items in their lives. They have claimed it as their own and have refused to remain helpless and suppressed because of their circumstances.

Bellow, I have attached a music video and song lyrics of the song "Across 110th Street" by Bobby Womack. I think this is song is interesting because it show an artist point of view from living in the ghetto. He was always surrounded by temptations avoided them which eventually allowed him to escaped poverty.

Music Video

Across 110th Street Lyrics

B.I.G. in N.Y.C.

Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G.

     Born May 21, 1972 in the heart of New York City, Christopher George Latore Wallace is considered by many, including myself, to be the greatest rapper to ever live. His father, George Latore, left his mother when Christopher was two, leaving his mother, Voletta Wallace, to work two jobs and raise Christopher by herself in the Brooklyn borough of New York. At the age of 12 Christopher began selling drugs, meanwhile excelling in his middle school english class, even winning several awards. He attended high school with two other highly acclaimed rappers, Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes, laying the foundation for his future rap group Junior M.A.F.I.A. Christopher Wallace represented the East Coast in the East/West Coast rap feud of the early 90s, as well as his place of origin, Brooklyn, which was a common topic in his songs. Christopher blew up with his album that went platinum "Ready to Die," released September 13, 1994. His song Juicy topped the top 40 chartes and stayed there for weeks. However, Christopher was killed in a drive-by shooting March 9, 1997 (aged 24) in Los Angeles, California by an unknown assailant. Only 15 days after his untimely death, Christopher's album, aptly named "Life After Death," was released and went Diamond (10 million copies sold), the highest certification the Recording Industry Association of America has. Even today, Christopher's songs are still relevant and widely popular as he maintains his stati as savior of east coast rap and legendary MC.   

    I think Biggie and his music pertain to this class because he not only is a perfect example of "from the corner to the corner office," he also portrays the modern poet. His songs tell the story of his life as going from "ashy to classy." I think that is almost the exact same idea that Jay-Z is trying to get across in his song, also on this blog.


*Note: I do not endorse or condemn any lyrics in any of Biggie's songs 

If you don't like Biggie's incorporation of "bad language," or cursing, into his poetry, do not watch the video.  

One of my favorite songs by Biggie: "Sky's the limit" 

[Notorious B.I.G.]
Good evenin ladies and gentlemen
How's everybody doin tonite?
I'd like to welcome to the stage, the lyrically acclaimed, ha
I like this young man, because, when he came out
he came out wit the phrase, he went from ashy to classy
Ha, I like that
So everybody in the house, give a warm, round of applause for
The Notorious B.I.G. *clapping*
The Notorious B.I.G. ladies and gentlemen give it up for him ya'll

Uhhh
A nigga never been as broke as me, I like that
When I was young I had two pair of Lees, besides that
The pin stripes and the gray (uh-huh)
The one I wore on Mondays and Wednesdays
While niggas flirt, I'm sewing tigers on my shirt
and alligators
Ya wanna see the inside, huh, I see ya later
Here come the drama, oh, that's that nigga wit the fake, blaow!
Why you punch me in my face, stay in ya place
Play ya position, here come my intuition
Go in this nigga pocket
Rob him while his friends watchin
That hoes clockin, here comes respect
His crew's your crew, or they might be next
Look at they man eye, BIG man they never try
So we roll wid em, stole wid em
I mean loyalty, niggaz bought me milks at lunch
The milks was chocolate, the cookies, buttercrunch
In here, eyes crossed from blue and white dust
Pass the blunt

[112]
Sky is the limit and you know that you keep on
Just keep on pressin on
Sky is the limit and you know that you can have
what you want, be what you want
Sky is the limit and you know that you keep on
Just keep on pressin on
Sky is the limit and you know that you can have
what you want, be what you want, have what you want, be what you want

[Notorious B.I.G.]
Uh-huh, I was a shame, my crew was lame
I have enough heart for most of em
Long as I got stuff from most of em
It's on, even when I was wrong I got my point across
They depicted me the boss, of course
My orange box-cutter make the world go round
Plus I'm fuckin, bitches ain't my homegirls now
Start stackin, dabbled in crack, gun packin
Nickname Medina, make the seniors tote my ninas
From gym class, to Englass, pass off a global
The only nigga wit a mobile, Can't You See like Total
Gettin larger in waist and taste
Ain't no tellin where this felon is headin, just in case
Keep a shell at the tip of ya melon, clear da space
Ya brain was a terrible thing ta waste
Eighty-eight long gates, snatch initial name plates
Smokin spliffs wit niggaz, real life beginner killers
Prayin God forgive us for being sinners, help us out

[112]
Sky is the limit and you know that you keep on
Just keep on pressin on
Sky is the limit and you know that you can have
what you want, be what you want
Sky is the limit and you know that you keep on
Just keep on pressin on
Sky is the limit and you know that you can have
what you want, be what you want, have what you want, be what you want

[Notorious B.I.G.]
After realizin, to master enterprisin
I ain't have ta be in school by ten, I then
Began to encounter, wit my counter-parts
On how ta burn the block apart, break it down into section
Drugs by the selection
Some use pipes, others use in-jec-tions
Syringe sold seperately, Frank the deputy
Quick to grab my Smith-n-Wessun, like my dick was missin
To protect my position, my corner, my layer
While we out here, say the hustlas prayer
If the game shakes me or breaks me
I hope it makes me a better man
Take a better stand
Put money in my moms hand
Get my daughter this college plan, so she don't need no man
Stay far from timid
Only make moves when ya heart's in it
And live the phrase Sky's The Limit
Motherfucker... see you chumps on top

Links:

Biggie info.

Lyrics

The Philosophy of Cities

Crito is a short semi-fictional dialog written by Plato depicting the way in which the government of a city operates in relation to its citizens. Plato wrote many short pieces set as conversations of Socrates trying to express his philosophies, called Platonic Dialogs. One of the more famous ones is as Socrates is held prisoner awaiting his execution. Meanwhile, his dear friend Crito is planning to sneak him out.

Socrates was arrested, technically, for presenting new gods, not respecting prior ones, and corrupting the youth -- to put it more bluntly, teaching. His real crime to Athens was that some of his childhood friends had recently been removed from a terrible tyranny over Athens. In Athens at that time, it was illegal to charge people for political crimes, and since the "Tyranny of Thirty" got off, Socrates was awarded the brunt of the misplaced aggression. Though, to Athens' credit, they weren't planning to kill him. They were planning to exile him or fine him, and then move on. But Socrates had a rather spectacular reaction. In Athens, you defend yourself and suggest your own punishment, and the jury must then pick either your suggested punishment, or the prosecutions. When choosing his sentence, Socrates asked for free room and board and to be honored throughout Athens. Compared with that and death, when the jury could only pick one, they had no choice but to fall to the latter.

Strangely enough, as Crito explains his great plan for Socrates' rescue, Socrates argues him down. His opinions about the city, (at least according to Plato) lead Socrates to accept his unfair execution.

Socrates argues first that he should obey this law of Athens to protect Athens itself, asking if "a city can still exist without being overturned, if the legal judgements rendered within it posses no force" (27). Socrates believes that if he should escape his punishment, he is proving the laws of Athens have no power, and without enforceable laws, the city is doomed to crumble.

But then some would ask: Hey wait. Why does he care what happens to Athens? Aren't they about to kill him just because he used to be friends with some tyrants who got off easy? But Socrates has reasons for feeling so honor-bound to Athens. Without the city, of Athens, there'd be no Socrates. His parents were married under Athenian law, and Socrates was born in Athens. By the laws and regulations of Athens, Socrates was educated well enough to become the brilliant philosopher he was. Socrates felt he belonged to his city "as [its] offspring and slave" (28). Socrates felt indebted to his city, for raising him and housing him and teaching him to be Socrates.

Still others would say: Well still. That's a bit excessive. I don't want to be a slave to a place just because I grew up there! Socrates has a response for you too. If you don't like it, MOVE! The city of Athens gave him every right to leave at whatever time he wanted. If Socrates "wishes to emigrate to a colony, or to go and live as an alien elsewhere, he may go wherever he pleases and keep his property, if we and city fail to satisfy him" (28). Socrates could have left Athens at any time if he didn't agree with the laws, and yet he didn't. By staying in Athens, Socrates accepted any future judgement it may have for him.

What I find sort of fascinating about how indebted Socrates felt to Athens is that now people would cringe at that concept, and yet environmental determinism results in the same sort of slavery Socrates agreed with, only unconsciously obeyed. When Jimmie feels the need to fight and blindly hate the upper class, it is because the city has shaped him. The slums of Jimmie's city, in a way order him to become what he does; without one complaint he does it. When Maggie dies, she's accepting her unjustly awarded death sentence, just as did Socrates.


(PS, Don't fret if my quotes don't match my link for Crito. This was originally written in Greek, and some of the translations differ, it wasn't exactly the same one I found online, but it expresses the same ideas.)

Cahn, Steven M. Political Philosophy: the Essential Texts. New York: Oxford UP, 2005. Print.

"No Irish Need Apply": Anti-Irish sentiments in 19th century America

“Scratch a convict or a pauper and the chances are you tickle the skin of an Irishman.” - Chicago Evening Post

During The Great Famine of 1852 over one million Irish citizens starved to death due to a loss of that year's potato crop, and another million people immigrated to America. This influx of poor, and for the most part uneducated, people moving into cities of the East such as Boston and New York gave rise to a number of social problems. Among these problems was that jobs were harder to find, there was an increase in panhandling in the cities, and crime rates rose. In response to the increase in job competitiveness as well as crime rates, many native born American workers and citizens joined the nativist "Know Nothing Party." This political party ran on an anti-immigration platform and exacerbated the hostility toward the incoming masses of Irish immigrants. For example, when advertising for help some store owners would add the words "No Irish Need Apply"(or NINA for short). Due to a lack of income many of the poor Irish immigrants turned to crime or panhandling in order to survive. This cycle of poverty and crime kept many of the Irish immigrants in slums and tenement houses, which meant that the children of Irish immigrants were also disadvantaged and as such they too were likely to turn to crime or panhandling. These and other undesirable behaviors generated even more prejudice against the Irish, making it increasingly difficult for Irish people to get jobs and rise out of poverty. For example, if the man in the song "No Irish Need Apply" did in fact hit the store owner because he was insulted, his actions would have reflected poorly on the Irish immigrants and would make it harder for any store to hire the "angry" or "aggressive" Irish people. However, this treatment would make them even angrier (as in the video), resulting in a cycle of continuing poverty and aggression.

In the book, "Maggie, Girl of the Streets," Author Stephen Crane shows how the city environment in which the Irish immigrants live actively keeps them in poverty. In the first scene in the book Jimmie yells at the children of Devil's Row, "these micks can't make me run"(3). The fact that his remarks cause "renewed wrath" from the boys shows just how much of a sensitive topic this is in both the boy's life (since it obviously aggravates them) as well as the author's time period. In fact, this is the only insult in the whole fight that the character actually says rather than being explained in third person using words such as "roaring curses" or "words of challenge"(4,5). By bringing attention to the problems of the Irish in the first page of the book, Stephen Crane leads the reader to assume that all the main characters in the book are Irish, not just the kids from Devils Row. One stereotypical trait that is attributed to the Irish is their habit of excessive drinking and fighting, something which is shown to exist in the Johnson household in the first chapter when a fight erupts between Maggie's parents due to the mother's drinking problem. The excessive domestic strife that is caused by liquor eventually leads to Maggie's departure from her abusive and unstable household. The sad reality of this book is that from the very first chapter the domestic and social problems (excessive drinking and domestic instability) that the city environment causes for its citizens in effect seals Maggie's fate at the end of the book. What started as racism against the Irish evolved into a system in which the city itself keeps the unfortunate in a state of perpetual poverty and disgrace, even if not all the people involved are Irish.

More Prejudice against the Irish people in newspapers and satires:

However, prejudice against the Irish people praciticaly no longer exists. On the contrary Irish people are quiet successful. For Example, Take some of these well-known Irish actors:

Colin Farell: Dare Devil, The Minority Report, S. W. A. T.
Liam Neeson: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Batman Begins, Clash of the Titans

Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Irish_sentiment