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- Title
- A phenomenological study of Black fifth grade students' perceptions of social studies and a discussion with secondary students.
- Creator
-
Walker, Irenea, Russell, William, Hewitt, Randall, Hopp, Carolyn, Huff-Corzine, Lin, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The problem I address in this study is the lack of Black elementary students' knowledge and interest of the social studies content. Black students who lack a true identity of self, fail to develop into productive citizens. Although previous studies have examined Black students' experiences in secondary social studies classrooms, few have thoroughly examined Black students' experiences in the elementary classrooms. For this study, I analyze Black fifth grade students' perceptions of the social...
Show moreThe problem I address in this study is the lack of Black elementary students' knowledge and interest of the social studies content. Black students who lack a true identity of self, fail to develop into productive citizens. Although previous studies have examined Black students' experiences in secondary social studies classrooms, few have thoroughly examined Black students' experiences in the elementary classrooms. For this study, I analyze Black fifth grade students' perceptions of the social studies content. Identifying these perceptions is imperative so educators can adjust their pedagogical practices based on what they deem as important for educational growth, and the experiences of Black students. Allowing Black students to share their experiences and express their thoughts is conducive to their knowledge and awareness of the subject (Scott, 2017). To grasp an authentic analysis of student understanding educators must start in the primary grades. Previous research highlights that curriculum and instruction fails to align with what students, especially Black students need to be successful in the classroom. Identifying these areas in elementary school will create a smooth transition for students as they advance to the next level.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- Identifier
- CFE0007591, ucf:52547
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007591
- Title
- How Change Started to Come: Examining Rhythm and Blues and Southern Identity.
- Creator
-
Davis, Jennifer, Lester, Connie, Cheong, Caroline, Larson, Peter, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This project seeks a better understanding on how blackness has been peripheral to our understanding of the term Southerner. The purpose of this work is to examine an area where the intersection of race and region exists to more fully understand how blacks in the South have presented their sense of Southern identity. The chosen area of examination is the music of rhythm and blues. Rhythm and blues as a genre rose to prominence in the years following World War II. The main reason for analyzing...
Show moreThis project seeks a better understanding on how blackness has been peripheral to our understanding of the term Southerner. The purpose of this work is to examine an area where the intersection of race and region exists to more fully understand how blacks in the South have presented their sense of Southern identity. The chosen area of examination is the music of rhythm and blues. Rhythm and blues as a genre rose to prominence in the years following World War II. The main reason for analyzing rhythm and blues as an intersecting point of race and region is that the music is both a reflection and celebration of the Southern black musical tradition. Along with the sound there is an aesthetic to rhythm and blues that is distinctly of the black South. Within the scope of this work, the examination of rhythm and blues was done by first understanding the genres of music it was built upon; as a way to show the continuity of the Southern black musical tradition. From there, this work chose to identify three prominent rhythm and blues artist (Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, and Nina Simone) as a means to connect people, music, and region. The point in highlighting these artists is to demonstrate how aspects of black identity and Southern identity have intertwined through an institution like music. Through the prism of rhythm and blues there is evidence that Southern blacks did not see themselves absent of regional identity. In highlighting a point of intersection between blacks and the South that prioritizes their experience and sense of identity, this research represents a step in the importance of fully incorporating blacks into our understanding of the term Southerner.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- Identifier
- CFE0007620, ucf:52524
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007620
- Title
- THE WHITEMAN'S SEMINOLE:WHITE MANHOOD, INDIANS AND SLAVES, AND THE SECOND SEMINOLE WAR.
- Creator
-
Mahan IV, Francis, Cassanello, Robert, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This study demonstrates that both government officials' and the settlers' perceptions of the Seminoles and Black Seminoles in Florida were highly influenced by their paternalistic and Jeffersonian world views. These perceptions also informed their policies concerning the Seminoles and Black Seminoles. The study is separated into three sections. The first chapter covers the years of 1820-1823. This section argues that until 1823, most settlers and government officials viewed the Seminoles as...
Show moreThis study demonstrates that both government officials' and the settlers' perceptions of the Seminoles and Black Seminoles in Florida were highly influenced by their paternalistic and Jeffersonian world views. These perceptions also informed their policies concerning the Seminoles and Black Seminoles. The study is separated into three sections. The first chapter covers the years of 1820-1823. This section argues that until 1823, most settlers and government officials viewed the Seminoles as noble savages that were dependent on the U.S. Furthermore, most of these individuals saw the Black Seminoles as being secure among the Seminole Indians and as no threat to white authority. The second chapter covers the years of 1823-1828 and demonstrates that during this time most settlers began to view Seminoles outside of the reservation as threats to the frontier in Florida. This reflected the Jeffersonian world view of the settlers. Government officials, on the contrary, continued to believe that the Seminole Indians were noble savages that were no threat to the frontier because of their paternal world view. Both groups by 1828 wanted the Seminoles and Black Seminoles separated. The final chapter covers the years of 1829-1836. It argues that by 1835 both settlers and government officials believed that the Seminoles and Black Seminoles were clear threats to the frontier because of the fear of a slave revolt and the beginning of Seminole resistance to removal. Most of the shifts in the perception of the Seminoles and Black Seminoles by government officials and the settlers were the result of their white gender and racial world views that then in turn affected their policies towards the Seminoles and Black Seminoles.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFE0003616, ucf:48866
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003616
- Title
- Understanding faculty donors: Giving at Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the southern region of the United States.
- Creator
-
Proctor, Curtis, Cintron Delgado, Rosa, Welch, Kerry, Boyd, Tammy, Ehasz, Maribeth, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The purpose of this qualitative research study was to investigate the motivational factors that lead to faculty giving to their employing institutions. Giving practices in relation to the life experiences and independent influences of faculty members who were employed at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) were examined. In addition this study contributes to the limited amount of literature provided on HBCUs institutional advancement offices as well as the effectiveness of...
Show moreThe purpose of this qualitative research study was to investigate the motivational factors that lead to faculty giving to their employing institutions. Giving practices in relation to the life experiences and independent influences of faculty members who were employed at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) were examined. In addition this study contributes to the limited amount of literature provided on HBCUs institutional advancement offices as well as the effectiveness of their solicitation efforts as perceived by faculty members employed at the colleges and universities.Three research questions were considered in this study. First, what life experiences contribute to the predisposition of faculty donors in giving to their institutions? Second, what intrinsic motivational elements influence faculty donors to give to their employing institutions? Third, how are the strategies used to solicit funding from faculty related to giving?Basic interpretive qualitative methodology was used to analyze the data gathered from the research participants. In-depth interviews were conducted with seven faculty members employed at HBCUs in the southern region of the United States. It was determined that faculty members attribute their giving practices to many of their life experiences. Religious involvement, childhood experiences, and family history, were all discussed by faculty members as being instrumental to their giving habits. Participants also discussed the sense of community that is established at HBCUs as being inspirational in determining whether or not they gave of their time, talent, or financial resources. Responses to open-ended questions about the effectiveness of institutional advancement offices provided additional qualitative data that could be used by HBCUs to increase the amount of annual giving to the university.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004283, ucf:49531
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004283
- Title
- Quantum Algorithms for: Quantum Phase Estimation, Approximation of the Tutte Polynomial and Black-box Structures.
- Creator
-
Ahmadi Abhari, Seyed Hamed, Brennan, Joseph, Mucciolo, Eduardo, Li, Xin, Marinescu, Dan, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
In this dissertation, we investigate three different problems in the field of Quantum computation. First, we discuss the quantum complexity of evaluating the Tutte polynomial of a planar graph. Furthermore, we devise a new quantum algorithm for approximating the phase of a unitary matrix. Finally, we provide quantum tools that can be utilized to extract the structure of black-box modules and algebras. While quantum phase estimation (QPE) is at the core of many quantum algorithms known to date...
Show moreIn this dissertation, we investigate three different problems in the field of Quantum computation. First, we discuss the quantum complexity of evaluating the Tutte polynomial of a planar graph. Furthermore, we devise a new quantum algorithm for approximating the phase of a unitary matrix. Finally, we provide quantum tools that can be utilized to extract the structure of black-box modules and algebras. While quantum phase estimation (QPE) is at the core of many quantum algorithms known to date, its physical implementation (algorithms based on quantum Fourier transform (QFT)) is highly constrained by the requirement of high-precision controlled phase shift operators, which remain difficult to realize. In the second part of this dissertation, we introduce an alternative approach to approximately implement QPE with arbitrary constant-precision controlled phase shift operators.The new quantum algorithm bridges the gap between QPE algorithms based on QFT and Kitaev's original approach. For approximating the eigenphase precise to the nth bit, Kitaev's original approach does not require any controlled phase shift operator. In contrast, QPE algorithms based on QFT or approximate QFT require controlled phase shift operators with precision of at least Pi/2n. The new approach fills the gap and requires only arbitrary constant-precision controlled phase shift operators. From a physical implementation viewpoint, the new algorithm outperforms Kitaev's approach.The other problem we investigate relates to approximating the Tutte polynomial. We show that the problem of approximately evaluating the Tutte polynomial of triangular graphs at the points (q,1/q) of the Tutte plane is BQP-complete for (most) roots of unity q. We also consider circular graphs and show that the problem of approximately evaluating the Tutte polynomial of these graphs at a point is DQC1-complete and at some points is in BQP.To show that these problems can be solved by a quantum computer, we rely on the relation of the Tutte polynomial of a planar G graph with the Jones and HOMFLY polynomial of the alternating link D(G) given by the medial graph of G. In the case of our graphs the corresponding links are equal to the plat and trace closures of braids. It is known how to evaluate the Jones and HOMFLY polynomial for closures of braids.To establish the hardness results, we use the property that the images of the generators of the braid group under the irreducible Jones-Wenzl representations of the Hecke algebra have finite order. We show that for each braid we can efficiently construct a braid such that the evaluation of the Jones and HOMFLY polynomials of their closures at a fixed root of unity leads to the same value and that the closures of the resulting braid are alternating links.The final part of the dissertation focuses on finding the structure of a black-box module or algebra. Suppose we are given black-box access to a finite module M or algebra over a finite ring R and a list of generators for M and R. We show how to find a linear basis and structure constants for M in quantum poly (log|M|) time. This generalizes a recent quantum algorithm of Arvind et al. which finds a basis representation for rings. We then show that our algorithm is a useful primitive allowing quantum computer to determine the structure of a finite associative algebra as a direct sum of simple algebras. Moreover, it solves a wide variety of problems regarding finite modules and rings. Although our quantum algorithm is based on Abelian Fourier transforms, it solves problems regarding the multiplicative structure of modules and algebras, which need not be commutative. Examples include finding the intersection and quotient of two modules, finding the additive and multiplicative identities in a module, computing the order of an module, solving linear equations over modules, deciding whether an ideal is maximal, finding annihilators, and testing the injectivity and surjectivity of ring homomorphisms. These problems appear to be exponentially hard classically.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004239, ucf:49526
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004239
- Title
- EXTENDING THE TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTANCE MODEL USING PERCEIVED USER RESOURCES IN HIGHER EDUCATION WEB-BASED ONLINE LEARNING COURSES.
- Creator
-
KU, CHENG-HSIN, Sivo, Stephen, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The purpose of this research was to examine students' acceptance of the World Wide Web Course Tools (WebCT) online learning system. The Perceived Resources and Technology Acceptance Model (PRATAM) was created based on previous research to address the factors of perceived resources, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude toward using, behavioral intention to use and actual system use. The aim for this research was to investigate the critical determinants and provide the...
Show moreThe purpose of this research was to examine students' acceptance of the World Wide Web Course Tools (WebCT) online learning system. The Perceived Resources and Technology Acceptance Model (PRATAM) was created based on previous research to address the factors of perceived resources, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude toward using, behavioral intention to use and actual system use. The aim for this research was to investigate the critical determinants and provide the causal relationships regarding students' acceptance behaviors when using WebCT. While institutions are expecting to adopt online learning to reach more students, there are still many challenges for institutions to retain students in their online courses. The literature review conducted in this research indicated that the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) has successfully explained students' behaviors when they use educational information systems. In addition, the additional perceived resources variable in the PRATAM also showed a significant influence on the other belief and intention variables. The study analyzed a total of 115 students responses in two surveys administered during two WebCT based courses taught at a large southeastern public university. The beliefs, attitudes, intentions, and behavioral constructs of PRATAM showed significant goodness-of-fit indices and coefficient of determination after analyzing the data in both surveys. However, the results indicated several exceptions on PRATAM's constructs and causal relationships. First, the path coefficient between perceived resources to behavioral intention to use in both pre-test and post-test were insignificant. Second, the path coefficient between behavioral intention to use and actual system use in pre-test was insignificant. Third, the path coefficient between perceived resources and perceived usefulness in post-test were insignificant. In addition, the research also suggested an additional link between perceived ease of use and behavioral intention to use at the pre-test data. Overall, this research validated the influences of PRATAM's constructs factors to students' acceptance behaviors toward WebCT. The findings of this research could provide a guideline for future implementations of online learning systems in higher education.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- Identifier
- CFE0002635, ucf:48233
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002635
- Title
- Hard Luck Baby.
- Creator
-
Lipscomb, Tanya, Thaxton, Terry, Roney, Lisa, Nwakanma, Obi, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Hard Luck Baby is a collection that elucidates the life of a southern, black mother as she grapples with her culture, family, love and the complex reality of black life in America. Hannah, is a woman who was born in the bubbling 40s, raised in the racial 60s and raptured in the drug-infested 80s. It is through these decades that the rough edges of America are exposed. She discusses her life experiences in a manner that allows readers to touch, as much as empathy will allow, the feelings that...
Show moreHard Luck Baby is a collection that elucidates the life of a southern, black mother as she grapples with her culture, family, love and the complex reality of black life in America. Hannah, is a woman who was born in the bubbling 40s, raised in the racial 60s and raptured in the drug-infested 80s. It is through these decades that the rough edges of America are exposed. She discusses her life experiences in a manner that allows readers to touch, as much as empathy will allow, the feelings that contour the deepest areas of her barrel. She shares her first example of love and its reverberations along with various accounts of growth. With minimal mention that demands acknowledgment, Hannah achieves an accurate description of American culture, as it relates to poor black people. She juxtaposes multiple societal and familial norms that contributed to her personal development. She is participating in a self-assigned purge of gripping hard-truths, but the crowning moment starts to take shape as she begins to understand herself and her children. Hard Luck Baby is the music of pained grandparents, parents, siblings, and children played over an American landscape. It is a platform for a woman who has been silenced to speak. Written in first person, many of the poems are stories that might have been told from other perspectives with venom, malice or sorrow, but the speaker takes ownership of her role in creating such emotions. As Hannah speaks, the audience may as well, be sitting crossed-legged on a front porch as she rocks in her chair recalling events from her life. She speaks about love, loss, rejection, disappointment, growth, friendship, fight, and forgiveness. At its close, Hard Luck Baby is an elderly woman giving stern-faced lessons to anyone who would dare to sit and listen.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFE0005827, ucf:50900
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005827
- Title
- Vanadium Oxide Microbolometers with Patterned Gold Black or Plasmonic Resonant Absorbers.
- Creator
-
Smith, Evan, Peale, Robert, Khondaker, Saiful, Dove, Adrienne, Boreman, Glenn, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
High sensitivity uncooled microbolometers are necessary to meet the needs of the next generation of infrared detectors, which seek low power consumption and production cost without sacrificing performance. Presented here is the design, fabrication, and characterization of a microbolometer with responsivity enhanced by novel highly absorptive coatings. The device utilizes a gold-doped vanadium oxide film in a standard air bridge design. Performance estimations are calculated from current...
Show moreHigh sensitivity uncooled microbolometers are necessary to meet the needs of the next generation of infrared detectors, which seek low power consumption and production cost without sacrificing performance. Presented here is the design, fabrication, and characterization of a microbolometer with responsivity enhanced by novel highly absorptive coatings. The device utilizes a gold-doped vanadium oxide film in a standard air bridge design. Performance estimations are calculated from current theory, and efforts to maximize signal to noise ratio are shown and evaluated. Most notably, presented are the experimental results and analysis from the integration of two different absorptive coatings: a patterned gold black film and a plasmonic resonant structure.Infrared-absorbing gold black was selectively patterned onto the active surfaces of the detector. Patterning by metal lift-off relies on protection of the fragile gold black with an evaporated oxide, which preserves gold black's near unity absorptance. This patterned gold black also survives the dry-etch removal of the sacrificial polyimide used to fabricate the air-bridge bolometers. Infrared responsivity is improved 70% for mid-wave IR and 22% for long-wave IR. The increase in the thermal time constant caused by the additional mass of gold black is a modest 15%. However, this film is sensitive to thermal processing; experimental results indicate a decrease in absorptance upon device heating.Sub-wavelength resonant structures designed for long-wave infrared (LWIR) absorption have also been investigated. Dispersion of the dielectric refractive index provides for multiple overlapping resonances that span the 8-12 ?m LWIR wavelength band, a broader range than can be achieved using the usual resonance quarter-wave cavity engineered into the air-bridge structures. Experimental measurements show an increase in responsivity of 96% for mid-wave IR and 48% for long-wave IR, while thermal response time only increases by 16% due to the increased heat capacity. The resonant structures are not as susceptible to thermal processing as are the gold black films. This work suggests that plasmonic resonant structures can be an ideal method to improve detector performance for microbolometers.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFE0006004, ucf:51026
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006004
- Title
- Seal of North Carolina: Smoking Tobacco Marburg Bros.
- Date Created
- 1840-1880
- Identifier
- DP0015390
- Format
- Set of related objects
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/DP0015390
- Title
- Use Lautz Bros. & Co's soaps.
- Date Created
- 1880s
- Identifier
- DP0015444
- Format
- Image (JPEG)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/DP0015444
- Title
- Famous race between Robert E. Lee and Natchez.
- Date Created
- 1870
- Identifier
- DP0015379
- Format
- Set of related objects
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/DP0015379
- Title
- Exploring the Experiences Contributing to the Success of High-Achieving Black Female Undergraduate Students at a Predominantly White Institution.
- Creator
-
Watkins, Whitney, King, Kathy (Kathleen), Cintron Delgado, Rosa, Malaret, Stacey, Hopp, Carolyn, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Much of the literature regarding Black students at predominantly White institutions (PWI) focuses on these students' academic difficulty, while there is far less attention paid to the performance of higher achieving Black students (Fries-Britt, 1998; Fries-Britt (&) Griffin, 2007). Therefore, this study explored the lived experiences of high-achieving Black female students, focusing particularly on the experiences which contribute to their success at a PWI. The qualitative phenomenological...
Show moreMuch of the literature regarding Black students at predominantly White institutions (PWI) focuses on these students' academic difficulty, while there is far less attention paid to the performance of higher achieving Black students (Fries-Britt, 1998; Fries-Britt (&) Griffin, 2007). Therefore, this study explored the lived experiences of high-achieving Black female students, focusing particularly on the experiences which contribute to their success at a PWI. The qualitative phenomenological research design was used to highlight emergent themes revealed during the study. Eight purposely selected students participated in one-on-one semi structured interviews and a Sister Circle group process.The participants' stories were highlighted both independently and collectively, reflecting a wide range of sentiments. During the data analysis process, there were six themes that emerged from the data which highlighted the experiences which contributed to the students' success at a PWI. Those themes included: 1) Support, 2) Processing Situations, 3) Defining Success, 4) Involvement, 5) Motivation, and 6) Background. The emergent themes provided strategies and recommendations for Black female students, higher education practitioners, and institutions. These recommendations included areas regarding programming, retention and recruitment strategies, resource creation, and relationship building. Additionally, implications were made for future research initiatives. The data, coupled with the researcher's reflections served as the basis for the implications and recommendations for this study.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- Identifier
- CFE0006821, ucf:51788
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006821
- Title
- A Comparison of Students' and Parents' Mathematics Attitudes and Achievement At A Private Historically Black University.
- Creator
-
Childs, Kristopher, Dixon, Juli, Hynes, Mike, Haciomeroglu, Erhan, Swan, Bonnie, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The focus of this research was to compare students' and their parents' mathematical attitudes using the Attitudes Towards Mathematics Instrument (ATMI). The sample consisted of 476 newly-enrolled students and 263 parents attending the New Student Orientation and Leadership program at a private historically black university. The sample was predominantly African American, with 96% of the students and 95% of the parents identifying themselves as African American. The ATMI total score and...
Show moreThe focus of this research was to compare students' and their parents' mathematical attitudes using the Attitudes Towards Mathematics Instrument (ATMI). The sample consisted of 476 newly-enrolled students and 263 parents attending the New Student Orientation and Leadership program at a private historically black university. The sample was predominantly African American, with 96% of the students and 95% of the parents identifying themselves as African American. The ATMI total score and subscale scores of self-confidence, value, enjoyment, and motivation were explored to determine if there was a relationship between the mathematics attitudes of students enrolled at a private historically black university and their parents'. Analysis was conducted to determine if there was a relationship between the students' mathematics academic achievement as demonstrated on the ACT/SAT by the mathematics subset score and their mathematics attitude. Additional analysis was conducted to determine if there was a relationship between students' mathematics academic achievement as demonstrated on the ACT/SAT by the mathematics subset score and their parents' mathematics attitude. The researcher found a statistically significant relationship between mathematics attitudes of students and their mothers as measured by the ATMI total score and subscales: self-confidence, value, enjoyment, and motivation. The researcher found a statistically significant relationship between mathematics attitudes of students and their fathers as measured by the ATMI motivation subscale. No statistically significant relationship was found between students' mathematics academic achievement as demonstrated on the ACT/SAT by the mathematics subset score and their parents' mathematics attitude total score or the subscale scores. A statistically significant relationship between students' academic achievement and their attitudes towards mathematics total score and subscale scores: self-confidence, value, enjoyment, and motivation was found in this research. The findings of this study provide a line of research to further explore mathematics attitudes and its relationship to African American student achievement.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFE0005316, ucf:50514
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005316
- Title
- The Plantation police, or home guard, examining negro passes on the Lever road, below New Orleans, LA.
- Date Created
- 1863
- Identifier
- DP0015376
- Format
- Image (JPEG)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/DP0015376
- Title
- Baker's Delight Baking Powder.
- Identifier
- DP0015375
- Format
- Image (JPEG)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/DP0015375
- Title
- THE OPPRESSION AND SEXISM OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN: THEN AND NOWSUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HISTORY OF MUSICAL THEATRE.
- Creator
-
Owens, Kelli, Weaver, Earl, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
A wise Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Freedom is never given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed (King 1)." For as long as men and women have shared the planet, sexism has been a universal issue in civilization. In a social justice context, American society has found ways to oppress people for centuries. The Oxford Dictionary defines sexism as a "prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex ("sexism")." Voting rights in...
Show moreA wise Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Freedom is never given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed (King 1)." For as long as men and women have shared the planet, sexism has been a universal issue in civilization. In a social justice context, American society has found ways to oppress people for centuries. The Oxford Dictionary defines sexism as a "prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex ("sexism")." Voting rights in America were established in 1790, but it took years of petitioning at various women's rights conventions before the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution stating "the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex" was passed in 1920 ("Nineteenth Amendment"). Traditionally, men were supposed to be the strong, decisive, driven, courageous, money-making breed, while women were expected to be the nurturing, affectionate, weak subordinates. Today, we find men and women working in careers previously linked with sexism; men as nurses and teachers, women as CEOs and factory workers. Statistics show that today there are an increasing number of women providing the financial support in their families. As with sexism, people also have been oppressed by racism for centuries. According to The Oxford Dictionary, racism is defined as a "prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior ("racism")." It has been argued that African Americans have been one of the most oppressed groups in America. Even after they were emancipated in 1865, it was nearly one hundred years later that their rights were protected with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Before the act's passing, African Americans were denied equal education, employment, housing property, and a political voice. My interest in this topic was peaked right around the same time I became interested in performing on the musical theatre stage. I got my start in local community theatres, and up until college, was the only African American cast in the productions. I started playing multiple ensemble roles per show, and throughout the years advanced myself to "supporting character" but never the lead. Admittedly, there were times when I wasn't as talented as the women who snagged the leading roles, but many a time when I was just as talented or more qualified for the role, it went to another woman —most times of Caucasian descent. What did they have that I didn't have? When I got accepted into The University of Central Florida as a BFA Musical Theatre student, I auditioned for the plays and musicals every semester, and each season I began to see the same patterns of who was cast for each show. Roles I thought I would get often went to White actors. I felt victimized in this modern-day example of racism. But racism goes beyond black and White. Internal racism between the light-skinned and dark-skinned African American women I was competing with became a factor as well. There were many times when an audition notice called for an African American woman; however, an unsettling trend became very apparent to me; if the casting description was for a maid, or something of that nature, larger, dark-skinned women would get the majority of the callbacks, which would lead to them getting cast. On the flip side, if an audition notice called for an African American ingenue type, more of the slimmer, lighter-skinned women were called back and later cast. Has American society cast a racial stigma for African American beauty?
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- Identifier
- CFH0004545, ucf:45211
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004545
- Title
- Science occupational images and aspirations of African American/ Black elementary students.
- Creator
-
LaMothe, Saron, Hagedorn, W. Bryce, Hopp, Carolyn, Van Horn, Stacy, Blank, William, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Within the United States, more than a million jobs in science and engineering (S(&)E) are projected over the next few years; yet, the Nation lacks the workforce to meet these demands. Despite the need for a more diverse, qualified workforce, African Americans/Blacks remain disproportionately underrepresented in science occupations, science degree attainment, and in science postsecondary majors. The lack of science participation is reflective of how minority secondary students view science and...
Show moreWithin the United States, more than a million jobs in science and engineering (S(&)E) are projected over the next few years; yet, the Nation lacks the workforce to meet these demands. Despite the need for a more diverse, qualified workforce, African Americans/Blacks remain disproportionately underrepresented in science occupations, science degree attainment, and in science postsecondary majors. The lack of science participation is reflective of how minority secondary students view science and science occupations as many consider the pursuit of a science career as unfavorable. Moreover, minority secondary students, who do choose to pursue science occupations, seem to possess inaccurate (or a lack of) occupational knowledge necessary to do so successfully. Therefore, an understanding of antecedents to career choice will assist educational professionals in addressing the underrepresentation of diverse populations, such as African Americans/Blacks, within the science workforce. The purpose of this study is to garner insight into the science occupational images, occupational and educational aspirations of African American/Black fourth and five grade students. Gottfredson's Theory of Circumscription and Compromise, in conjunction with extant empirical literature, serves as the foundation for the study's conceptual framework. A qualitative case study design was used. The qualitative data provided a contextual understanding of science occupational images, occupational and educational aspirations. Participant-produced drawings, questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews served as sources for data collection. Overall, participants lacked some occupational knowledge. Participants viewed scientists as mostly male and Black. Additionally, the occupation of scientist was perceived as a dangerous and of high status. Lastly, half of the participants expressed aspirations to be a scientist, while a majority expressed college educational aspirations.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- Identifier
- CFE0007668, ucf:52493
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007668
- Title
- Confrontational Christianity: Contextual Theology and Its Radicalization of the South African Anti-Apartheid Church Struggle.
- Creator
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Rodriguez, Miguel, Walker, Ezekiel, Sacher, John, Zhang, Hong, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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This paper is intended to analyze the contributions of Contextual Theology and Contextual theologians to dismantling the South African apartheid system. It is intended to demonstrate that the South African churches failed to effectively politicize and radicalize to confront the government until the advent of Contextual Theology in South Africa. Contextual Theology provided the Christian clergy the theological justification to unite with anti-apartheid organizations. Its very concept of...
Show moreThis paper is intended to analyze the contributions of Contextual Theology and Contextual theologians to dismantling the South African apartheid system. It is intended to demonstrate that the South African churches failed to effectively politicize and radicalize to confront the government until the advent of Contextual Theology in South Africa. Contextual Theology provided the Christian clergy the theological justification to unite with anti-apartheid organizations. Its very concept of working with the poor and oppressed helped the churches gain favor with the black masses that were mostly Christian. Its borrowing from Marxist philosophy appealed to anti-apartheid organizations. Additionally, Contextual theologians, who were primarily black, began filling prominent leadership roles in their churches and within the ecumenical organizations. They were mainly responsible for radicalizing the churches and the ecumenical organizations. They also filled an important anti-apartheid political leadership vacuum when most political leaders were banned, jailed, or killed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004322, ucf:49484
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004322
- Title
- MIXED SIGNALS AT THE INTERSECTION: THE EFFECT OF ORGANIZATIONAL COMPOSITION ON RATINGS OF BLACK WOMEN'S MANAGEMENT SUITABILITY.
- Creator
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Bowens, Laticia, Fritzsche, Ph.D., Barbara, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Historically, Black women's workplace experiences have been understudied, partially due to an implicit assumption that their experiences are subsumed by research on Black men and/or White women. This oversight is even more evident in the field of management. However, considerable attention has been given to the debate about whether Black women are at a double advantage (i.e., as supposed affirmative action "two-for-one bargains") or at a double disadvantage due to their double marginalizing...
Show moreHistorically, Black women's workplace experiences have been understudied, partially due to an implicit assumption that their experiences are subsumed by research on Black men and/or White women. This oversight is even more evident in the field of management. However, considerable attention has been given to the debate about whether Black women are at a double advantage (i.e., as supposed affirmative action "two-for-one bargains") or at a double disadvantage due to their double marginalizing characteristics. Empirical research in the area has found support for each side, furthering the debate, but also advancing an overly simplistic explanation for a set of experiences that is certainly much more complicated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the conditions under which Black women, when seeking managerial employment, are at a double advantage or disadvantage, using Critical Race Feminism, Cox's Interactional Model of Cultural Diversity (IMCD; 1994), and theories of social categorization as the theoretical foundation. A 2 (sex) x 2 (race) x 2 (demographic composition of the workplace) between-subjects design was used to test the hypotheses that the Black female applicant would have a double disadvantage in a more demographically balanced organization and double advantage in an organization that is more White and male. Participants (N = 361) reviewed information about an organization (where demographic composition was manipulated) and three available management positions. They also reviewed a fictional professional networking profile of a job applicant where race and sex were manipulated through photos, and job qualifications and experience were held constant. Based on all of the information, they rated the applicant on his/her suitability for the jobs. Results of planned contrasts and ANOVAs showed partial support for the hypotheses. In the balanced organization, the Black female applicant was rated lower in suitability for entry-level management than the Black male and White female applicants. Likewise, she was rated higher than the Black male and White female applicants in the less diverse organization, when evaluated for upper-level management. Thus, the study clarifies the theories of double advantage and double disadvantage by identifying organizational composition as a moderator of the relationship between applicant race/sex and employment outcomes (i.e., management suitability ratings). The implications of these findings are discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFE0003761, ucf:48761
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003761
- Title
- The Effect of Morphology on Reflectance in Silicon Nanowires Grown by Electroless Etching.
- Creator
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Velez, Victor, Sundaram, Kalpathy, Kapoor, Vikram, Yuan, Jiann-Shiun, Abdolvand, Reza, Kar, Aravinda, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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The strong light trapping properties of Silicon Nanowires have attracted much interest in the past few years for the conversion of sun energy into conventional electricity. Studies have been completed for many researchers to reduce the cost of fabrication and reflectance of solar light in these nanostructures to make a cheaper and more efficient solar cell technology by using less equipment for fabrication and employing different materials and solution concentrations. Silver, a conducting and...
Show moreThe strong light trapping properties of Silicon Nanowires have attracted much interest in the past few years for the conversion of sun energy into conventional electricity. Studies have been completed for many researchers to reduce the cost of fabrication and reflectance of solar light in these nanostructures to make a cheaper and more efficient solar cell technology by using less equipment for fabrication and employing different materials and solution concentrations. Silver, a conducting and stable metal is used these days as a precursor to react with silicon and then form the nanowires. Its adequate selection of solution concentration for a size of silicon substrate and the treatment for post-cleaning of silver dendrites make it a viable method among the others. It is an aim of this research to obtain significant low reflectance across the visible solar light range. Detailed concentration, fabrication and reflectance studies is carried out on silicon wafer in order to expand knowledge and understanding.In this study, electroless etching technique has been used as the growth mechanism of SiNWs at room temperature. Optimum ratios of solution concentration and duration for different sizes of exposed area to grow tall silicon nanowires derived from experimentation are presented. Surface imaging of the structures and dimension of length and diameter have been determined by Scanner Electron Microscopy (SEM) and the reflectance in the optical range in silicon nanowires has been make using UV-Visible Spectrophotometer.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- Identifier
- CFE0006815, ucf:51807
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006815
