Sample Essay-- Effective Style and Use of Evidence

Gaby Leon
Period 2

SYNTHESIS ESSAY



A country can’t claim to promise equality, justice, and freedom unless it does so. Since America was founded, everyone had in mind that it is the land where there is equality, regardless of what your social or economic standing is. However, it’s been years since its establishment and we are yet to see the day when everyone is given equal treatment. Inequality in America varies from being looked down upon for coming from a different country, or feeling limited by the fact that America isn’t their homeland.

There seems to have always been this feeling of superiority among the native born Americans. Nativism, or preference and favoritism to those born in America, can be dated back to the late 1800’s. When immigration was relatively high at this point tin time, all these immigrants had to confront harsh questioning and a feeling of concern for being of a different race in a new country. Although it’s been years since this time and there have been many immigrants since, America in one way or another still manages to put immigrants down and resent them. Such is the case in source A, where the Garcia family just isn’t accepted. Their neighbor refers to them as “spics”, and constantly complains about them. Where is the justice and welcome to them there? Instead of receiving them with open arms, their neighbor next door exclaims “Go back to where you came from,” as if they were beneath her. Therefore, we see how the years have passed, yet people still refuse to be of the welcoming kind.

It seems as though America has always and will always make itself seem full of freedom and free of any crime. However, anyone can date back to the time of slavery; when blacks were considered as a lesser race due to their skin color. People come to escape a harsh reality and yet cause others the same agony they might have gone through. Such was the case with the puritans and the hard time they gave people due to religion. The colonists were now free to start a new country and establish a new government. Apparently, they also chose to put African Americans to shame by utilizing them for their own interests. In source E, an African American woman states that “de white man is de ruler of everything as far as Ah been able tuh find out.” The fact that this woman thinks like this, demonstrates how Americans oppressed African Americans long enough for them to feel completely inferior.. This is another example of America’s lack of equality. Luckily, we’ve moved beyond the point of slavery and segregation. Yet, there are still cases today where people are excluded. Just the other day, my history teacher was telling me of a time when he and his friends were asked to leave a bar due to the fact that they were all of a different race. So, even today, we can still see discrimination.

Another way in which people are put don and not treated as equal individuals, is perhaps in the filthy, tiring, and downtrodden jobs that these people are left to do. In source D, the narrator of Nickel and Dimed expresses herself about doing “an outcast’s work,” which is true, because those who are left to do all the hard labor to earn a minimum wage, are seen as beneath the rest. They are also seen as not as efficient, not good enough, not intelligent enough, etc. The least people could do is show a bit of respect for those doing jobs to help others’ lives run smoother. Yet it isn’t completely like this. Because of their standing, people get stepped all over. Thus, they remain where they are, with no help towards progression.

America has definitely come a long way since its establishment. However, it seems as though it still ahs some progress to make. That progress is yet waited upon, considering the inequality shown by some Americans. People are still treated unjustly, and looked down upon for having a low economic status, for being immigrants, or of the wrong color. A lot has been done, but there is still more needed to get done. The day is still waited upon when America can truly say it has fulfilled its promise of freedom, equality, and justice.