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Importance of self determination short essay
Importance of self determination short essay
Importance of self determination short essay
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The quote "The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed” by Stephen Biko describes how ones who has powerful weapons without the mind would be useless, and only those who has the mind the utilize the power in those weapons turned out to be the greatest of all. The oppressor is someone who keep others or an individual in subservience and hardship, just like any leaders, he/she would be useless under his power if he doesn’t have a mind of success or will turn his society into corruption. Stephen Biko’s observation is coming true in a way because of how we can see that in our modern day where those who have money without the mind would end up being broke while those who only have a little bit of money and an
What is power to a human? As time has gone by, there have been many forms of control and influence in the world. Many strive to achieve total rule over a society or group of individuals. Yet the question still presents itself to the average man. Why does man desire power so greatly even though there is visible trouble that follows? Shelley’s Frankenstein, Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron”, and Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, whether through the situation or the character themselves, depict the evils and hardships due to an imbalance and poor management of power.
In the book titled “A People’s History of the United States” by Howard Zinn, Zinn points out and compares the different type of treatment that black and Indians were receiving from presidents Jackson, Jefferson, and Madison. To begin with Thomas Jefferson was a huge supporter of slavery. He believed that slavery was part of survival and was something that the American nation needed. In Chapter 4 titled “Tyranny is Tyranny” Howard Zinn emphasizes that Jefferson owned hundreds of slaves until the day he passed away. Jefferson supported the idea of equality but when it came to the concept of slavery, he saw the black population as less and unequal. In fact the black population did not agree with the ideas of Thomas Jefferson and a black man named
The article “There Is No Hierarchy of Oppression” by Audre Lorde explains that fact that there are no factors or boundaries that stop oppression. Lorde mentions that she as people in order to tackle a problem we go by one issue first then the next. However, she explains that every issue is interconnected with each other for example, in her situation she is black and a lesbian but both come in to play in all the groups she pertains in. Therefore, in both the communities they see her as vice versa. Lorde tries to emphasize that neither of the aspects that make up her identity are less or more important but equally accepted. In conclusion, Lorde wants society to stop treating just one particular oppression as more important than another because that will not us to come together and fight oppression. Instead, we should treat all oppressions as one in order to achieve change.
Andrea Smith’s “Heteropatriarchy and the Three Pillars of White Supremacy” introduces an alternative framework for the organization of women and people of color (Smith 67). Such framework is non-singular, contrasting the previous which have proven to be limiting to these groups (Smith 67). Through the discussion of the three pillars which are separate, but interrelated and heteropatriarchy within society Smith provides a helpful starting point for organizers to break from systems of oppression and ultimately deconstruct White supremacy (Smith 73).
The way I have come to understand what the Matrix of Privilege and Oppression means, is that everyone everywhere feels both privilege and oppression at the same time, and how much they feel of it depends on where they are on the scale of oppression and what position in society that they are in. This could mean that a Black man whom is judged by his skin color every day and it heavily oppressed in many ways, ends up getting into a college over a white man because of the school wanting to be a more diverse campus. The white man does not get judged by his skin color on a regular basis, but it did not work out well for him while applying to schools.
Individuals often describe their problems as physical things. What happens, however, when the problem is something that cannot be physically dealt with? What does one do, when the problem is one’s own self, a part that cannot be changed? Percy B. Shelley’s poem “Bigotry’s Victim” personalises a lifetime long struggle with one’s own character, as it causes emotional pain not only in one’s conscious mind, but in the lives of those all around. Though the way it relates to people in the 19th century and the way it relates in the modern world greatly differs, the symbolism in the poem and shift in tone throughout it shows a great appeal to human nature, and how desperate one can be to change it.
Due to the United States long history of slavery, racism is a social issue that is noticeably stronger in this part of the world. There are two forms of racism which are individual racism and structural/institutional racism. According to the article “The Perfect Example of Structural Racism” by admin, structural racism is “a system of societal structures that work interactively to distribute generational and historic advantages to groups of people based on race and that produces cumulative, race-based inequalities. This includes laws and policies with “unintended consequences based on radicalized behavior”. This type of racism goes sometimes unnoticed to the victim, making others believe that racism is a thing of the past when in reality it
The Post Civil War and The Reconstruction period was called “Slavery by another name”. This renaming is rightfully named correct because in that era slavery was at its worst form. From watching the video three key points to mention are as follows: new laws made for blacks, hazardous work environment, and Peonage labor.
It was Emerson who said it best, “For nonconformity, the world whips you with its displeasure” (Porter 1155). With a detailed look of Amy Tan’s “Two Kinds” and John Updike’s “A&P,” you will find that this quote is entirely applicable in the context of oppressiveness and in the likeness of “coming of age.” These two stories document the different perspectives of two characters’ growing up and how the role of the invisible hand of oppression guides developing adolescents into mature adults; without prejudice or even forethought. The characters in question are: Sammy, an A&P store clerk whose time spent at work reveals how oppressed by society he is, and Jing-Mei, whose life and every move is dictated by the iron fist of her high-expectations Asian mother. In comparing these stories, you will find how two characters, with very different lives, are essentially affected by the same forces of humanity.
2) Utilizing Glasberg and Shannon, Chapter 1 Introduction, and the works of Karl Marx explain to the reader the structures of oppression, in reference to power, politics and the state? Utilize the concepts of patriarch, racism and heteronormativity.
In society, a racial hierarchy is constructed in the form of racism, where each race is classified, such as the whites being the most superior, whereas the blacks are perceived as inferior. Oppression takes formation in several ways and can limit a certain group from excelling in life, and suppressing their own cultural values. In the autobiography of Assata, Skakur depicts how oppression is present in every day society and its impact on Blacks.
When somebody abuses a great amount of power, that individual can lose all their power. The struggle against someone who abuses power is perfectly depicted in the novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey. When someone abuses their power, they can impose certain feelings and actions onto others. If someone tries to conceal their personality, . Finally, if someone abuses power and is constantly challenged by another individual who is trying to take the power abuser’s power away from them, the power abuser will always be frightened of his or her challenger. When someone abuses power and takes full control, they can lose all their power and respect quickly.
types of oppression or issues. Each child goes through different life impacting experiences whether it is positive or negative. With understanding the experiences each child has had I can see why this child acts a certain way or does something that the other children might not. Also with an understanding of the different experiences each child goes through I know what to focus on and what topics to not address. With any other site and any other person knowing an individuals background and experiences you pull back a layer to that person and understand what experiences have shaped them into the person they are today. I think I can address this in my social work practice by truly understanding where a person comes from and what experiences have
“Oppression, to divide and conquer is your goal. Oppression, I swear hatred is your home. Oppression, you mean only harm.” -Ben Harper
“There is no perfect relationship. The idea that there is gets us into so much trouble.”-Maggie Reyes. Kate Chopin reacts to this certain idea that relationships in a marriage during the late 1800’s were a prison for women. Through the main protagonist of her story, Mrs. Mallard, the audience clearly exemplifies with what feelings she had during the process of her husbands assumed death. Chopin demonstrates in “The Story of an Hour” the oppression that women faced in marriage through the understandings of: forbidden joy of independence, the inherent burdens of marriage between men and women and how these two points help the audience to further understand the norms of this time.