Hallowhat?!

    Even with the economy being in the state that it is this year, Halloween accessories are definitely not gathering dust on the shelves, instead the shelves are empty and haunted!
     Halloween sales have increased by 9% this year, an average consumer's spending going from $66.28 to $72.31.  These numbers are setting a bright standard for this year's Christmas shopping. 

     It is said that the amount of increase in Halloween sales from year to year usually determines the success of the year's economy, and how much money Santa is willing to spend when Christmas rolls around. One article even mentioned that Halloween could be the biggest holiday of them all - because it sets the economic mood for the rest of the season! 
     Let's hope things don't get too spooky!

National Labor Union

     The National Labor Union was the first labor federation in the United States. The National Labor Union was a polyglot association, it had 640,000 members, which included a variety of reform groups that had little or no direct relationship with labor. The NLU was founded in 1866.

     Most of the support the NLU received was from the construction unions, other skilled employees were invited to join, even the unskilled farmers. Interestingly, colored peoples created their own union since they weren't exactly supported by the NLU, their union was called the Colored National Labor Union.
     The NLU was around for about seven years until the Panic of 1873 occurred and the union slowly disintegrated.

A Nation of Dreams

     I feel that because of immigration America has a lot of character and multitude of cultures, which have over time blended together to create a very diverse, beautiful, and free country. I feel that being a "nation of immigrants" has made us unique and appealing to people from all sorts of backgrounds. 
     I think the determination and hope that immigrants had when migrating to the United States helped to form and shape America into a land of dreams and opportunities. The people of America have very colorful family trees, and help to make up a wonderfully diverse nation. These traits have helped the country of America to strive and be successful - because it is a land full of people who have drive and want to go places in life. 
     I myself am not very aware of who my ancestors were, and I sadly don't feel a very strong connection to them. My dad, however, is often very engrossed in topics such as history and family lineage, so I'm sure that if I learn more I will be aware and appreciate my family background more than I do at the moment. 

Faces of America

         The "Faces of America" films were about tracing back into one's family lineage and discovering where they came from and who their ancestors truly were. In the films Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals multiple interesting facts and old documents to 12 renowned Americans about their ancestry and how they came to be "Americans". The films are basically the unwrapping and discovering of the 12 renowned American's engrossing family histories.
          I think watching theses fascinating films can help others to appreciate and understand the racial diversity of the United States. These films help recognize the multitude of different cultures that make up America. Everybody has an interesting story lying in the depths of their family tree. These films help you realize that!