The Age of the Internet

As the world grows and America develops, the need for a centralized base of all information is necessary thus the creation of the internet is perhaps the most influential in my life time. The internet centralizes all of this information but it also provides a meeting point for people around the world. Never have so many people been able to work, live, and play off of one invention.

Although initially expensive the internet and in turn computers are are an almost necessity and even citizens like myself of the lower middle class have fully functioning computers and internet. This is something that 10 or 15 years ago would have been irrational to think about and foolish.

The internet has come so far and it is scary in a sense to imagine where it could go next. With FaceBook and Skype where you can view your friends live, half way around the globe, the internet beholds great possibilities. I often times work from a computer and work on the internet and I have friends that meet with clients in Tokyo and have video conferences with partners in Prague. It is truly one of the most influential technological advances and where it goes from here nobody is sure. But one thing is known, the internet is here to stay for a long, long time.

Life is a Highway (What's a highway?)

The national government has just made it public that they plan to begin creating roads called interstates in an intertwining series of 'highways' for the apparent improvement and efficiency of travel. As we approach a time where almost every house hold middle class and above has a car, efficient travel is important. The congestion on most roads, especially for myself, a commuter to a large city from a suburb is a major problem and hassle. Hopefully with the completion of these roads I will be able to make my way into the city in less than 45 minutes.

It excites me to think that perhaps one day I may be able to take my family and go on a road trip to visit our relatives in Delaware and the trip will not take hours upon hours. As roads connect our country we become smaller and smaller in a sense, really getting a true feeling for what is going on around us not just what is going on around our town, city, or state.

Labor Strike At Home

Yesterday as I was heading into Philadelphia for work, I could not ignore the immense amount of people who were apparently striking at one of the larger factories in the city. They created a huge detour for me, however, I enjoyed watching them fight for their rights. Later, I noticed that the police force was brought in and althought the crowd was rowdy I do not think they were violent and many of the cops appeared to be using excessive force. When will our laborers get the rights they deserve, and not be oppressed by police or the people they work for?

Labor Strikes Create Stir

Word has made its way to our town that in Chicago mass riots have been occuring in Haymarket Square and also in Pullman, Ill. As a member of working class America I cannot help but cheer on my brothers in Chicago. The wealthy and powerful continually take advantage of lower class America and it is time we banded together and took a stand. We need to work towards pay raises, minimum wages, maximum hours, and basic rights especially ensuring our safety in the workplace. Together we stand, divided we fall.

Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all across the nation. Hopefully you all celebrate this wonderful day and have something to give thanks for. Here in Pennsylvania at my household we are thankful for my recent pay raise that has allowed my family minimal wiggle room economically. Although we are lower middle class, we still get by and my wife has recently been looking for a part time job as my children begin to get older and hopefully attend an African-American school. This is an exciting time for my family as we enter a new, more successful chapter of our lives.

Model T

My neighbors recently just purchased one of Henry Ford's Model Ts. It is rumored Ford is using an assembly line, and this is promising for me as I hope perhaps one day my family could afford a vehicle. I dream that the middle class, even lower middle class like myself will be able to enjoy luxuries in life.

I Don't Want to Work in a Factory

This whole work for your pay stuff in the new factory in Philadelphia is a little bit out of hand. They treat us laborers like trash and all of the management assumes we are the dumbest thing next to rocks therefore they herd us like animals and attempt to keep us "focused". As if there is anything else in a big rectangle with no windows and a bunch of machinery that is distracting us. Also, because I am an African-American man I get passed over quite often for jobs. The factory will lay off workers during a slow period and I always struggle to get rehired. But, for all my gripes and complaints, it is possibly the best paying job I could get considering my status other than my former part time teaching job. It is a give and take job, that I am not necessarily so sure about giving myself to.

Carnegie comes to Philly

The entrepreneaur and tyrannical man himself, Andrew Carnegie has set up his first plant here in Philadelphia. Although he personifies the true rags to riches story that I, Malcolm Gaye hope to one day live, one cannot help but notice the wrongs Carnegie does and the monopoly he runs in our country. How is it that one man can run an entire industry and control all the wealth especially in an industry as large as the steel industry? It is no wonder that all the wealth in this country runs through few people. But perhaps his factory will be a good thing for the city and surrounding towns like my own. It will draw workers and business and turn Philadelphia into the great hub it has been. Also it will only draw more help and minds to our school of all black collegiants.

Let's Move!

In regards to the uprising of reform movements, I cannot help but be an active member of the abolition movement. As a fellow, FREE, black man I look to my southern brothers and hope that one day we can all be together, free. I propose, perhaps not radical reform but a moderately paced movement to eventually unite our country and it's people. Are all people not created equal according to the minds and pens of Jefferson and Washington when they wrote our Declaration? It is simple to me and others like Douglass and Truth, all men, black, white, or yellow are equal and should be treated so in this great country of ours.

Telegraph in Philadelphia

Word has just come from Philadelphia that a telegraph has been received from Pittsburgh. The message was in regards to an influential mayorial decision in Pittsburgh. This exchange of news as it happens is enlightening and revolutionary.

The possibilities of this technology, if advanced, are endless and I am engaged to hear what my African-American students think about this new way of exchanging information across distances. For the first time, information can be spread around the world as it happens. This could possibly change the world, thank you Mr. Samuel F.B. Morse for your brains and efforts.

Response to the Erie Canal

The newspapers have been reporting the completion of the great canal, the Erie Canal connecting the Great Lakes to the Hudson River and then in essence to the Atlantic Ocean.

Personally this story has no relevance to me, and quite frankly it makes me bitter to see the government continually spending their money in the wrong places, addressing non existant problems. With it's completion, the canal will surely increase and improve trade, but in turn it will further tatoo slavery and the concept of it into our country's skin.

As a teacher, I must acknowledge the superb technological feat that is the canal. And the benefits of its creation appear to be endless, once again another engineering feat that has further connected our country.

Who Am I?

Hello all,

My name is Malcolm Xavier Gaye. I am 27 years young. I live in the small town of Havertown, Pennsylvania. I am only a short (approximately one hour) ride outside of the bustling city of Philadelphia where I have begun working at the Institute for Colored Youth as a part-time teacher.

My wife of 8 years, La'Quisha and I have two children, DeAndre (age 4) and Babila (age 7). As Babila approaches the age of schooling I hope to some how manage to get him an education, for education is the key to freedom and success. My father, Marvin Gaye, was a slave who escaped his way to freedom before I was born and he implemented education upon me.

Quite frankly, I am very fortunate for my job and oppurtunity. It allows my family to live a decent life, but by no means do we have any perks. I am very active in the abolitionist community and I am working my way up the anti-slavery activism totem pole.