Midterm Social Justice

Social Justice

In class we went on a field trip to see a skit called the “Tunnel of Oppression”. We viewed scenes dealing with situations that have happened on campus recently or in the past relating to religion, sexuality, and race. I was able to relate to each situation shown in many ways, but the one thing that stood out to me was the last scene about how my white classmate, the people that I am around everyday disrespect my race on social media and acted as if African Americans do not matter and do not belong here. So I decided to do my essay on racism because I was hurt and disappointed about the things I saw and heard. In the beginning of my freshman year I joined a club called Project Care and they told me that even though African Americans, Hispanics, and other non-white individuals are the minorities at this school we are treated equal and should not be threatened or uncomfortable at Western Carolina. They told me that I made the right choose, but the actions that have taken place since I have been here make me second guess my decision. This project gave me another reason to research and express my opinion about a situation that affects a lot of people and me, but it’s the situation most people are trying to ignore.

“The Cost of Balancing Academia and Racism” brings up the situation where minority feels disconnected from their school and their white peers.  This is happening at schools across the country, from the University of Missouri to Ithaca College to Stanford. This article gives you an explanation for the actions of the black students at these predominately white schools. “The Cost of Balancing Academia and Racism” gives you facts comparing the majority and minority, statements from students that have been protesting and quotes from famous people who have studied things that relate to the situation like W.E.B. Du Bois (the Cost and Bal...).

“The basic assimilationist offer that schools make to blacks: You can be valued and rewarded in school (and society), the schools say to these students, but you must first master the culture and ways of the American mainstream, and since that mainstream (as it is represented) is essentially white, this means you must give up many particulars of being black—styles of speech and appearance, value priorities, preferences—at least in mainstream settings. This is asking a lot … For too many black students school is simply the place where, more concertedly, persistently, and authoritatively than anywhere else in society, they learn how little valued they are.” (The Cost and Bal...). This was in a 1992 article in The Atlantic, “Race and the Schooling of Black Americans,” by Claude M. Steele (The Cost and Bal...). To get treated like an equal you need to act like something or someone you are not and that is black people need to act white and that may get you the approval of society. There is nothing equal or acceptable about that statement, Black people should not have to change themselves to get the acceptance of others.

“No Benefit of the Doubt” is about a Netflix documentary "Making a Murderer" that highlights the issues African Americans go through every day. This article talks about how the documentary talks about unfair police officers. In “Making a Murderer” it suggest that assuming that a police officer is honest, good and decent is not smart. Dean Strang, the attorney, is trying make an argument to defend his client who he believes was framed by the police. He says that it is hard to try to convince people that the police are not good. Then reading more into the article it talks about national black civil rights movements and the deaths of black men like Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Eric Harris, Walter Scott, Freddie Gray and Laquan McDonald at the hands of police, followed by the non-indictment or non-conviction of those officers. It also says something about how it is not just with police but with society more broadly. We as Black Americans are not accorded the benefit of the doubt, not given a chance to explain themselves (No Benefit of the Doubt).

“Black Americans are not accorded the benefit of the doubt, not given a chance to explain themselves. Young black men are regarded as lethal criminals by the police, the courts, the public” (No Benefit of the Doubt). Nicole Hemmer has wrote a few articles for the US News and I think in every one of her articles she pulls the right information out that people do not want to say. Finally someone says that society as a whole thinks every black man in a murder. Hemmer also writes that the documentary was “disturbing”. It’s disturbing because it told the truth or you knew nothing about that situation and the visual shocked you. She was looking to get a point across and she publicized this documentary so now more poplar know about it. Now more people will be able to see what is going on and not just people like myself who use Netflix on occasion.

“No Part for Racism” talks about how republicans have a special obligation to denounce Donald Trump's blatant racism (No Part for Racism). This was another article written Nicole Hemmer. This article talked about when Dylann Storm Roof walked into Charleston's Emanuel AME Zion church and murdered nine people. Then it talks about Trump and how over the last eight months, Trump has shown that the racism in his announcement speech was just his opening bid. Hemmer writes how he has a national database of American Muslims and a visa ban for Muslim travelers. He has ridiculed women and people with disabilities, lauded Japanese internment, and goaded his supporters to violence. Towards the end she says that the party must take responsibility for cultivating a base receptive to Trump's message.

“Republicans have a special obligation to stand against Trump's racism. “ Trump should not be able to disrespect some many people and get away with it when he is a candidate running to become the president of the United States. That statement is very direct and is talking to republicans and the government saying that racism is not what you need in office.

These articles all go back to the main focus of racism and racial inequality. Each article was different and talked about different situations that are going on in today’s society. I think each article brings a good argument to the table that makes you think and help you understand where black people are coming from. One helps explain why we do the things we do meaning the protests and rallies we conduct in the streets and on campuses. These things make the situation known so people can’t say that didn’t know anything about it. Publicity and standing up and speaking out are the best things to do to better the situation to try and resolve it. Even if it doesn’t work completely you know you did everything possible and you got the point across.