Jenna Swain

English 2010
2/17/15

Notebook Week #5

2K: Visit WorldMapper.org and search for maps directly related to your issue.
Describe your first impression of the map(s). What is surprising to you about
the representation of the data? Explain how the map might force your
audience to consider/reconsider how culture and experience influence our
perceptions of places, regions, people, and your issue.
I wanted to do this assignment because I had never previously thought
to look up a map related to my issue. I visited worldmapper.org to have a
better understanding of the layout of the place the shooting of Michael
Brown took place. The shooting occurred on August 9th, 2014 in the Suburbs
of St. Louis Missouri, in the town of Ferguson. I wanted to look up a maps
that can give me insight to improve my writing project. I wanted to look up
maps involving the violent deaths that have taken place, the ethnicities of
America, and the amount of prisoners the nation has and how these maps
can contribute to my understanding of the social justice issue involving
Michael Brown.
I first looked up a map related to violent deaths that occurred
throughout the world. The map showed deaths that occurred by murder
and/or homicide. I was very surprised by my fist findings. The region with the
most violent deaths was South America, Southeastern Africa and Northern
Africa. North America was the third of the bottom on the list, meaning that it
is not overall violent. I agree that America is an overall safe place to be,
depending on who, and where you are. I previously thought that America
would be more violent than displayed considering all of the police shootings
that have occurred in the past. I also found on another map showing the
amount of prisoners the United States has. I found that the U.S. has the
highest amount of prisoners in the world, having 24%, which was surprising
to me. America is keeping us safe with the high amount of prisoners, but
they didnt think that Officer Wilson should be one of the 9.3 million in prison
worldwide?
I wanted to find a map representing the different ethnicities of people
living in the U.S. I wanted to do this to get an idea of exactly what
culture/ethnic backgrounds are dominant in the U.S, particularly in Missouri. I

found that Missouri has roughly around 4 million white people living there,
and about 693,000 are African American, which is the ethnicity of Michael
Brown. This information helped me have a clearer picture of the racial
injustices this violent death as caused, there are a lot more whites than any
other race in Missouri. Which contributes to the stereotypes affiliated with
black people. The data incorporated in this map was very clear and gave me
a better idea and understanding of what contributed to the violent unrest. I
think that by adding this information might surprise my readers almost as
much as it surprised me. I originally thought that Missouri would have a lot
more people who were black, but white people are more dominant. I thought
this because of the stories I hear on the news telling of deaths involving
white cops and black civilians, not just in relation to my topic, but others as
well. I feel that by looking up maps in relation to my issue helped me
understand my topic more, and gave me insight that I can incorporate in my
writing project.