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=The Changing American Identity= = Team Diversity: = = // Kevin Kearney, Laura Joy Perales, Eric Taddei, and Christina Wilburn // =

=The Big Idea: Identity=
 * Societies change. That is a fundamental observation of history. The United States has undergone many shifts in its identity, and will continue to do so.
 * Music, literature, and technology have the power to change the American Identity of the past, present, and future.


 * Our Challenge**: By tracking the effects of music, literature, and technology on the identity of the American Revolutionary Era, the Harlem Renaissance, and the Contemporary period, we will determine how to make positive changes in the identity of our school. Scroll down for an historical overview of these periods

** What is identity and why is it important? **

media type="file" key="Identity Is.swf" align="left" width="360" height="270"Before beginning our research, Team Diversity completed a guiding activity to promote our awareness of Identity. Check out the results of our initial inquiry to the big idea of Identity, from a personal level to a much broader perspective. Using the results from our initial self-survey, we've developed a strong understanding of what identity is. Below are some important take-aways. View the full results here: [|Identity Survey Results.pdf]

All five surveys revealed that the definition of identity is: the conditions or characteristics that make a person or thing what it is. We noted "individuality" as an appropriate synonym. The results also revealed that identity can help people develop confidence in their abilities and achievements, give them standards to up to, possibly restrict them from becoming more they are, and help them more easily find their places in this world. By studying identity in America's history, we can see how we've changed, why we've changed, and how we might change in the future. One of us shared, "I can see how these areas have transformed and evolved throughout history, and, more specifically, I can see how those changes have affected the way America sees itself. On a personal level, I can think about how these things have made me the person that I am and give me ideas for changes that I want to make in my own identity. I really would like to see my school become a school of value and significance."


 * _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _           (Perales, "Identity Is")**

In response to the question, "How can music, literature, and technology make a positive impact on your school's identity?", the results varied by individuals in our group. Some are general, and some are quite specific, but all provide meaningful applications of this project.


 * "Music, literature, and technology can help change a positive change in the identity of my school by making learning better and more efficient. It can help make interacting with each other better. It could help make friendships easier by letting students have a topic of discussion."
 * "We need to take the good and leave the bad. Popular Culture has produced some positive music and some negative music. The music itself has less of an impact than the lyrical content. What message do we want to send our kids? Do we want them to see life as all about diamonds, sex, drugs, and violence? No. Literature teaches us about history and offers unique perspectives on the world. By studying great works of literature, we can learn how to express ourselves. Technology is needed to bring us into the 21st Century. Our teachers have us using word processers, but we want to use the internet, chat, and play around online. If we had a platform where we could collaborate, students and teachers, it would make learning more fun. In turn, this could change the identity of our school in that students would be more engaged and become lifelong learners."
 * "I think all students can relate to some sort of positive music that inspires them, which can ultimately influence their decisions. As for literature, I believe that all it takes is one really good book to get students hooked on reading."
 * "By adding improvements that will give a better education to students."

// **By cataloguing the changes in the American Identity through three eras of our history, we are able to see the way that evolution in music, literature, and technology have made an impact on the American Identity. That identity continues to transform through the influences on events, individuals, and other contributions. Through our findings, we have developed a strategic plan to make a positive change in the identity of our school. Access our plan:** // ** //Impacting Our School's Identity// **
 * What can we learn from America's changing identity? **

**A Historical Overview of the Eras Explored by Team Diversity**

media type="custom" key="6416159" align="right"Since its birth, in 1620 the identity of America has changed dramatically over time. From the Colonial Period to the present which is referred to as the Contemporary Period we as a nation have grown tremendously in the areas of music, literature, and technology. In more recent times this grown has become quite rapid. Although, these time periods represent America they too each share their own individuality which lends itself to Americas overall changing identity. Team Diversity has chosen to discuss and point out the identity of the Revolutionary Era (1750-1800), Harlem Renaissance Era (1920’s), and Contemporary Era (1970’s – Present).

From 1750-1800, also known as the Revolutionary Era had one of the biggest impacts on America as we know it. This time period truly started to lay the foundation of America as a country as we slowly crept away from England through bitter battles throughout this era. During this time period music was a way many Americans showed their patriotism; especially those in the military who wrote and played music to either pass the time, to march into battles, or to represent the strong love and patriotism for their country. An example of this type of music would be an adaptation of an old Irish folk tune of the time period called; “Johnny’s Gone For a Solider” (Johnson, 1776). This was adapted during the Revolutionary War and describes the sacrifices many men and woman made at this time going off into war. Another aspect of this time period is the extraordinary literature that was written during this era. Norman Wood explains the change in literature quite well in an excerpt from his writings:
 * By the time of the American Revolution (1775-83), American writers had ventured beyond the Puritan literary style and its religious themes and had developed styles of writing that grew from distinctly American experiences. The colonial fascination with science, nature, freedom, and innovation came through in the writings of the Revolutionary period. The colonists developed their own way of speaking as well, no longer copying the more formal style of British writers (Wood).

Benjamin Franklin is one person that stands out during this time period. In 1751 //Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind //, was written and considered by most to be the most influential essay written by an American Colonist (University of Houston). He also created one of his best known works during this era; the //Poor Richards Almanack //, which was first published in 1732 an contained stories, weather forecasts, poetry, and advice. This was quite popular among young adults and is still published today. This era was also about innovation and many new technologies were create during this period such as: Benjamin Banneker’s first clock, The Second Continental Congress issuing the first paper money, and Eli Whitney’s cotton gin just to name a few of Americas early technological advances (University of Houston).  The 1920’s brought the Harlem Renaissance era in American History which was heavy in the arts because it promoted African American advancement through artistic creativity. This “rebirth” was a true renaissance movement because Harlem, located in New York City’s uptown found many African American artist coming to the area in hopes of a new found creative outlet. Such artists to stimulate the movement were; poet Langston Hughes, writer Zora Neale Hurston, and many others (Ferris 393). During this period music was a huge influence; specifically blues and jazz music. Musicians that truly impacted this era with their musical talent were the “Father of Blues,” W.C. Handy, Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington, and Thomas “Fats” Waller. Jazz music saw a huge uprising during this time and Henderson, Ellington, and Waller were the reason that brought many whites to Harlem to hear their form of music. The transmission of blues and jazz through radio was a huge reason for the notoriety of this music in America. Now surprisingly, the Harlem Renaissance was considered a literary movement which transcended into music. Poetry during this time was known for its use of repetition and religious writing were soon transcended in to the birth of “gospel music.” All of which brought many African Americans to northern urban areas where more opportunities were available to them. Another great aspect of the Harlem Renaissance was the innovations of the time; not to mention Henery Ford’s decision to mass produce the automobile. Some of these extraordinary advancements of the time were; frozen food – 1924 by Clarence Birdseye, iron lung – 1928 by Philip Drinker, liquid fuel rocket – 1926by Robert Goddard, sticky plasters – 1920 by Earle Dickson, talking pictures – 1927, and videophone – 1927 (People History).

The 1970’s up to and including today, also known as; the Contemporary Era has brought fast paced change over the past four decades in America and continue to change every single day. The same can be said about music during this time. In the 1970’s the movie //Saturday Night Fever, // solidified and popularized disco music, towards the end of the 70’s and into the 80’s a blend of rock, jazz, soul, and African drumming brought the style of music known as hip-hop; which was popularized by the Sugarhill Gang’s //Rapper Delight //, a style of music known as grunge rock emerged out of Seattle, Washington though the likes of Nirvana and Pearl Jam, and the late 90’s through the new millennium brought the rise and star power of pop music from boy bands, *Nsync and the Backstreet Boys to singles artists like Justin Timberlake and Rihanna (Johnson). Literature during this time period saw quite a bit of narrative writing in both fiction and nonfiction along with autobiographical essays being written. Themes of these writings often consisted of anti-heroes, emotion and thought provoking, and humorous irony (Perales, "Introduction to Contemporary Literature"). Although many agree that the Contemporary Era in literature began in the 70’s, there are some that feel the Beat Movement that began in the 50’s throughout the 60’s were the beginning of this era in literature. Writers such as; Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and William Burroughs felt that poetry should be brought to the people and had reading at jazz clubs in California and New York City they also wrote about their experience on the open road. Jazz music was a huge influence to the “beat generation.” The last four decades have seen the biggest advancement in technology such as; floppy disk – 1971, Post-It-Notes – 1974, cell phones and Sony Walkman – 1979, IBM PC and MS-DOS – 1981, MS Windows – 1985, doppler radar – 1988, World Wide Web – 1990, Java Script – 1995, gas powered fuel cell – 1997, iPod – 2001, YouTube – 2005, retinal implant for the blind 2009, iPad – 2010. There are many innovations from the past four decades these are several that stand out.

American “identity” has changed and grown throughout time with many factors affecting how that has happened. Many would agree that Americas “melting pot” culture has contributed much to America’s “identity” over time. There are many themes that run through each era of time to lend to Americas “identity.” During the 1700’s patriotism, breaking away (from Britan), and innovation represent the time. During the Harlem Renaissance (1920’s) African American artistic rebirth, American advancement, and innovation again lend to America’s growing identity. Since the 1970’s up to and including present day themes such as; personal experience, media connections, and innovation run through the American identity.

It would be hard to name one thing to represent American identity, because there is just so much that goes into who we are as a nation. It would however; be safe to say that we are a nation that primes itself on personal experience, growing as individual people to represent a country, and the advance of innovative technologies to further ourselves as a leading nation in the world. All of these are evident in the overview of these three era in American time and they will forever be growing and changing.