...Love / Hate War “There comes a time when silence is betrayal (King Jr.) “The movement called black lives matter could be said to be a more advanced Civil Rights Movement of 1868. Black lives matter is a more advanced movement from the Civil Rights. Focusing on the racism exhibited towards blacks (or people of color). The black lives matter movement got its uproar in 2013 when young, Trayvon Martin was shot and killed, he was subjected to an unfair trial and received no justice. The controversy of the black lives matter movement does not cause any harm as if it only benefits society. The awareness of what is really going on right now in the country would not be as focused on and addressed if it wasn’t for the black lives matter movement. The...
Words: 862 - Pages: 4
...All Lives Matter “All Lives Matter” is a slogan that has come to be associated with the criticism coming from the “Black Lives Matter” movement. This slogan is used to proclaim that the “Black Lives Matter” slogan overlooks the importance of every other race besides the African American race. A person does not have to be the smartest human being on earth to understand that the phrase explains that black lives also do matter. “All Lives Matter” helps to show that no life is more important than another. The Civil Rights movement “Black Lives Matter” originated in 2013 after George Zimmerman was found not guilty on second degree murder of Trayvon Martin (Black 1). George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain in Sanford, Florida, called 911...
Words: 909 - Pages: 4
...“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” During this week, several students here at Greenville College have embraced Maya Angelou’s statement wholeheartedly. Gabbie Hill and Katie Westbrook are just two examples of students who have refused to be reduced by the events that have unfolded around them. Both have worked together to organize a memorial in Claussen Plaza. Armed with passion and conviction they have sparked a conversation that they hope will continue. Gabbie felt motivated to create this memorial after having conversations with administration who, she felt, didn’t seem to understand the importance of affirming that Black Lives Matter. Katie felt motivated to create this...
Words: 785 - Pages: 4
...think that they both argue is for a shake up of the system that has allowed for racism to continue under the guise of necessity, and protection for so long which has inevitably influenced the crime and poverty within the nation. Two of the points they mention that I found incredibly interesting were the “All lives matter” discussion and colorblindness, as well as the solutions provided on how this situation can be handled and resolved. Judith Butler argues in the article “What’s Wrong With ‘All Lives Matter’?” that by trying to be inclusive and using the phrase, “all lives matter” it inadvertently diminishes the purpose of “black lives matter” by refusing to address and solve the initial problem presented by this movement. She states that “Claiming that 'all lives matter' does not immediately mark or enable black lives only because they have not been fully recognized as having lives that matter.” and also brings up the topic of “race-blindness” that is further elaborated on in the other article (Butler, 6). In “Post-Racial Racism: Racial Stratification and Mass Incarceration in the Age of Obama” Ian F. Haney Lopez mention “colorblindness.” This much like the “all lives matter” topic...
Words: 582 - Pages: 3
...Gabriel Rodriguez Professor Kimpel December 4, 2011 SOC 209 In Cornel West’s book “Race Matters” he discusses a few themes and gives his readers on thoughts on African Americans in society. He also speaks out on issues that he believes are very important to black America such as Nihilism, his views and the views of Liberal Structuralists and the conservative behaviorists, and the crisis of no leadership in black America. These to me are the important themes that need to be shown in order for there to be change in society. Before one goes into the views of the two comps and leadership issue one must understand the importance of Nihilism. Nihilism in definition is the total rejection of laws and institutions already established. However West’s makes it more than this as he makes references in his work that it has now become a disease, “ Like alcoholism and drug addiction, nihilism is a disease of the soul”. He continues on making references that this “virus” cannot be completely cured but it can be stopped and have its effects reversed. He believes that this threat of nihilism in black America cannot be stopped merely debates and analyzing the situation but can be controlled by love and care. Through these two cures it will give people a chance to believe that there is hope for the future and give meaning to struggle. With these two factors it supposedly increases the modes of self-valuation and encouraging political resistance in an individual’s community. West’s also...
Words: 1355 - Pages: 6
...Aaliyah Perry The Great Debaters The Great Debaters is a true story of the Debate Team consisting of four students and their professor from Wiley College, in Marshall, Texas. As an all-black school, Wiley College during the 1930’s trained young minds to believe in themselves and to use their educated minds to change the hearts and minds of society, to establish peace, and maintain human dignity, tolerance and acceptance for all people. No matter the color of their skin, origin of their birth, language they speak, or their occupational role in society. The story of The Great Debaters takes place at a time in America’s history when things were starting to change for both Whites and African Americans. The moral call for freedom, equality, and justice for all was beginning to resonate throughout the country. The students, James Farmer, Jr who was only 14 years old, Henry Lowe, and Samantha Booke, learn to lead through civil discussions using their minds as weapons and not violence. Under the direction of English Professor Melvin B. Tolson, these three students become the Wiley College Debate Team of 1935-36. This film also shows an understanding of how Professor Tolson sees these students potential as individuals and as a team. Progress is made one victory at a time. Under the intense and encouraging guidance of Professor Tolson, the students learn to speak with clarity and confidence. They learn to evaluate their own limitations. Defeat becomes an opportunity by which they...
Words: 1302 - Pages: 6
...living as a black boy in the 21st century? Many things are happening today, and people argue that equal rights are non-existent to this day. If living today, Richard Wright would be able to attain a proper education and would explore the truth behind myths about equality. In his autobiography, Richard would write about his experiences to tell his shifting views on Black Lives Matter, impact of education has on living condition, and that white privilege is false. Black Lives Matter was created in July 13,2013 with...
Words: 1829 - Pages: 8
...Topic: Do we still need Black History Month General Purpose: To Persuade Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience to view black history month as more than just a small lesson. That black history is not just for blacks, that it’s more than a month, and how it’s everyone’s history. Central Idea: Black history has been single out to one month as a way to make sure that blacks are remembered in history. Blacks has always been apart of history. Therefore is it reasonable to set a side just one month to illustrate the participation of blacks in our countries history? Introduction I. In Media That Matters Film Festival, August 2005, tittles A Girl Like Me by Kiri Davis a 17-year-old film student of Manhattan’s Urban Academy a doll test was duplicated. Kiri Davis who participated in the Reel Works Teen Filmmaking program, a free after-school program was supported by cable network HBO. A. In this documentary a female voice asks the child a question: “Can you show me the doll that looks bad?” The child, a preschool-aged Black girl, quickly picks up and shows the Black doll over a White one that is identical in every respect except complexion. B. Why does that look bad?” “Because she’s Black,” the little girl answers emphatically. “And why is this the nice doll?” the voice continues. “Because she’s White.” “And can you give me the doll that looks like you?” The little girl hesitates for a split second before handing over the Black doll that she has just...
Words: 2464 - Pages: 10
... Do Black Lives Matter? What is police brutality? “Many citizens define police brutality broadly to include a range of abusive police practices, such as the use of profanity, racial slurs and unnecessary searches, not entailing the use of physical force”. (Holmes and Smith 6) One of our nation’s biggest epidemics is police brutality and more specifically the rate in which it affects most African American communities. I stress the importance of this issue because law officers are supposed to serve and protect but in most communities comprised of mainly African Americans, the police are often looked at as the aggressor and the instigator in most altercations. I plan to show how this injustice affects African American communities. Due to the social networking sites we visit every day, and the fact that majority of Americans have portable audio and video recording devices right in their purse or pocket, we’re able to see some of these gruesome altercations unfold right in front of us. From the Watts riots in 1965 to the 2016 Jamal Clark incident, that happened right here in Minneapolis. Most of the people that chose not to accept the fact that the police officers their tax dollars pays to employ are committing a genocide of an entire race; typically argue that these individuals brought it on themselves. A tactic police try to use to justify these horrendous acts, is to refer to the individual as monsters that needed lethal force in order to be “put down”. As a black man who...
Words: 1421 - Pages: 6
...Before we start I should state one thing, All Lives Matter, but right now we are going to specifically worry about the black lives. With that in mind, everyone from a young age is taught safety rules, we learn how to dial 9-1-1 in the case of a danger. Now while in our different homes we are taught a different set of rules. In a white home, they would learn that the police is there to protect them against all crimes that they may cross in their lives, so they should never second guess on calling them in times of need. While compared to a black family, we are taught that even though we are taught in school to call the police in the face of danger, we should never fully trust them, and always be aware of our surroundings when they are around....
Words: 1280 - Pages: 6
...a lack of representation, along with voices that go unheard and unspoken. Zora Neale Hurston’s novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, delves into the significance of silence, and the ways that the protagonist, Janie Crawford, has had her voice silenced. This resonates with many people of the Black community, who feel as though even with the progression we’ve made as a society, that their lives and struggles matter less than a white person’s. With movements such as Black Lives Matter, and many other African-American protesters, there has been a cultural outcry from the Black community who want to be heard, who want to be represented, who want to matter as people. Many women in particular among...
Words: 1075 - Pages: 5
...Emotional Strength in Ellen Foster Many people often go through eye-opening events that leave a permanent impact on their lives. You learn countless lessons throughout your life from childhood to adulthood. These lessons can be considered positive or negative and shape and mature you as a person. In Kaye Gibbon’s novel, Ellen Foster, the main character, Ellen, undergoes many negative and positive events in her childhood. These events are what builds and matures Ellen as a person. Throughout Ellen Foster’s childhood, she dealt with racism, an abusive and rocky childhood, and learned the importance of friendship. Ellen Foster suffered from sexual and mental abuse from her father growing up. Ellen’s Mama was sick for many years in the hospital...
Words: 1512 - Pages: 7
...been there, with the recent protests of black lives matter this means a little more. Today, not only are there oblivious people to what is going on there are oblivious people that do not realize how largely magnified that the media has made...
Words: 744 - Pages: 3
...the same air, we all live on earth, and we all need the same things to live, so why can’t we all get along? The great Muhammad Ali once said “Hating people because of their colour is wrong and it doesn’t matter which colour does the hating. It’s just plain wrong”. This persons is against racism but he also doesn’t take sides. This quote is about equality he says “it doesn’t matter which colour does the hating”. This means that both race are the same. They both criticise each other. So you can’t only blame one side when he other one is just the same. Most people when they hear about racism they assume is the white people but it can also be the coloured people too. Most people when they see...
Words: 739 - Pages: 3
...Take back the night, held on Thursday, April 9th, encapsulated the essence of unity, belongingness, liberation, expressivity, and audacity. Opal Tometi, one of the co-founders of the Black Lives Matters movement, spoke about her movement and other controversial topics, in front of the Franklin and Marshall student body and faculty. She reiterated numerous sociological elements by addressing the different “isms”, including racism and sexism. She began and ended her speech addressing a quote by Martin Luther King Jr: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Tometi expressed the importance and the power of the Black Lives Matter movement. She projected race from a subjective dimension; a dimension that we created and positioned ourselves to extrapolate meanings about different elements concerning race, class, gender, etc (Tatum, 1997). She conveyed her love for each and every body, regardless of race, gender, socio-economic status, religion, and age. While she talked...
Words: 1118 - Pages: 5
