Political oppressions that occurred in the past and are currently happening are all closely similar. In the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines oppression as, “unjust or cruel exercise in the of authority of power.” Many forms of this “cruel exercise in the authority of power” appears in past and present life. Ever since my fourth grade history class, we’re taught all of these different oppressions and the revolutions that unfold afterwards as a result of this exploitation. And even if we don’t realize it, injustice happens within our own homes and lives. In addition, current oppressions are constantly being covered by numerous news stations from all around the world, and each time there’s a new report of this injustice it’s in a different form …show more content…
Before the Egyptian revolution there were many different ways the people were oppressed. First off, President Mubarak stayed in power for over thirty-six years and refused to step down from his rule despite the people’s protests. This act of oppression angered the citizens and led to even more protests, for they were sick of the corruption within the law. Another political cause of the revolution would be how President Morsi issued a order that stated that the court couldn’t overturn any of his decisions. The president’s actions resulted in people flooding the streets protesting for his resignation from the president’s role. When the people of their own country aren’t allowed to have a say in there will always be a rebellion. This is because it’s a natural right for people to take part in their own union. Without this right the people are unhappy with the system and their government could become corrupt and the citizens wouldn’t be able to fight back. But the oppression didn’t just end there. The economy of Egypt was in a dreadful state. Many people were out of jobs and even if you did work your wage was terribly low. Don’t forget to mention the rising food prices the people can barely afford with the little money they have. The endless struggle to keep just enough food on the table encouraged the citizens to protest against the government …show more content…
I plan to solve my oppression in a similar way. To solve the oppression in my life I’ll hold my ground until I have been able convince my parents that being an artist isn’t as bad as they think it is. All I have to do is show them how people make really good livings as professional artists. If they could only realize how delighted I am when I create art then they would be able to see that I could never be happy as a doctor. If we never fix our society only bad things came become of it as a result. Many people are discriminated, abused, and humiliated for what they are or what they believe in. The Egyptians were beat when they fought for what they believed in, which was their natural rights and the resignation of both presidents. My parents humiliate me when they hear that I want to become an artist. And there are countless more examples of this unfair treatment in the world because of our society. Our society is very self centered. If they are different or less privileged they must be dealt with. But in reality it shouldn’t be this way. We must change our society to a more welcoming one, where everyone is treated fairly and equally. People shouldn’t be judged by race or their social status. Just because you have more power doesn’t mean you should abuse it and treat the people below you like they are less important. Is our society could
Today in the United States of America people are both privileged and oppressed based on their diversity markers and social locations. These advantages and disadvantages are put in place by the people whom are in power, or otherwise known as the government and other leading officials. This is a major issue in today’s society that often tends to be masked by the many other issues within the country as well as by the privileged people. Many people who experience privilege tend to believe that privilege and oppression do not exist and that everyone has equal opportunity, but that is not the case privilege and oppression does exist and it can be seen every day in society. After a careful review of Dena Samuel’s “Matrix Model of Oppression and Privilege” I identified myself as rather privileged due to my social and diversity locations on her model.
Oppression is not always brought on in a violent and oppositional way, it can take on a peaceful and silent form; however regardless of the way oppression is introduced, it maintains the same characteristics of “imposing belief systems, values, laws and ways of ...
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).
Before the revolution formally began, France was being ruled by the monarch Napoleon Bonaparte. All people under him, particularly the third party members also known as the working class, were oppressed in a sense that they were powerless against the laws that wronged them while bestowing the monarchy more power. The ruler of a country or empire should have one goal: to ensure that the people of the country are taken care of. As Napoleon was not adhering to this basic moral law of power the people grew upset about the little they could do to help themselves, and decided the best course of action would be to overthrow the government. Once the monarchy was overtaken the bourgeoisie temporarily assumed power which worked for a short time. Soon however, multiple rebel groups rose to power, subjecting all those not associated with them to the two year Reign of Terror. During this time, many civilians and previous government officials were executed. The consequence of the rebellion yielded predictable results. Like before, the people outside the direct government suffered as they could do nothing to prevent wrongdoing from befalling them. Both during Napoleon’s rule and the rule of the rebels, powerlessness influenced an ascent to despotism that left the people of the country
This oppression and discrimination is experienced through several forms of oppression including violence, racism classism and sexism not only at a personal level but also at the structural level. This high risk population is vulnerable for internalizing the oppression as an accepted norm. Mullaly believes that “people may be given certain rights but still be unable to exercise their rights due to particular social constraints based on class, gender, race and ethnicity.”
First, I remember my first experience with oppression. One day my mom and I went to Barnes & Noble so that I could get a book that I had been asking her to buy. While I was looking for the book, I noticed that one of the employees was following me, so I told my mom about it. When my mom confronted the employee she said that she wanted to make sure that I wasn’t stealing anything. Consequently, I started worrying that people wouldn’t treat me fairly because of the color of my skin. Second, as a child, I was marginalized every day. One example was when my 5th grade teacher took us outside to have a foot race and she picked two captains to pick the people they wanted on their team. I was overweight and I couldn’t run fast so my classmates never picked me. I was excluded because I wasn’t small in size and I cried each day and would only eat one meal and drink water to lose weight. Third, I was alienated because I was bullied in the 6th grade. Kids would tease me because of the way my skin looked due to eczema and wouldn’t sit with me during lunch time. Kids would look at me in disgust if I tried to talk to them. I dreaded going to school just to be teased and feel lonely each day. Fourth, I had one experience where I had a position of power. My teacher had to leave the classroom to discuss something with a parent and she put me in charge. She told me to write down the name of any student
Everyone at some point in time or another experiences discrimination; no one lives a sheltered enough life not to. As a society we need to admit that discrimination is present at all times and stop being so sensitive to how we are labeled or perceived. Pretending discrimination does not exists does not solve a problem, it makes it stronger. Until it is no big deal in the eyes of all involved it will still be an issue that no one is truly prepared to tackle due to the amount of hate that will then be heaped upon them. Dr. King’s example is also a tragic one, a man who preached love for all, equality for all, and a sense of the brotherhood of man, was gunned down by one man who didn’t agree with his views. So perhaps the individual approach will be the best for now as this shows us one man’s view changed a world and one man’s view ended a life.
The myth that “all men are equal” has created false hopes for the people of color, who continually seek opportunities to excel, that just aren’t there. They have been led to believe that intelligence and ambitions are key contributors to one’s success. Even if they do possess ambition and intelligence, the dominant majority of the white population oppresses them. This type of oppression points out that new methods of struggle are needed, such as whose employed by Martin Luther King, Jr., Franz Fanon and W.E.B. Du Bois.
Amazingly, we have people in our class who feel the same. I liked when Fred Hampton said, “They can jail a revolutionary, but they cannot jail the revolution. They can kill a revolutionary, but they cannot kill the revolution.” That lets us know that revolution is alive and well, we just have to ignite it. We have the ability to start a revolution and liberate ourselves, but we have to learn and teach our history. We cannot move forward, if so many people are complacent in the position that we stand. When we stop equating white with right, black with danger, and pro black with anti-white, we can make necessary changes. We will never be free if one of us is still enslaved. We have to stop believing that enslavement is just physical. So many African descendants believe they are free, but are still enslaved mentally and physically. The Black Panthers were united, and they believed in each other; we have to do the same. We have been oppressed so long we see it as a normality. Closed mouths do not get fed and quiet voices do not get heard. We will never get what we deserve if we do not request it, and we will never receive what we are entitled to if we believe we do not deserve it. It is time for us to stop feeling comfortable in a society that is unjust and cruel to our people. We deserve more and we need to demand
We live in a world full of many societal issues. The aspects that determine whether one will have a successful or unsuccessful life is due to their characteristics such as race, gender, and social status. In the book Is Everyone Really Equal, Ozlem Sensoy and Robin DiAngelo’s exigence is to express the following issues and to encourage the reader to work upon changing the world through social injustice, oppression, power, and community.
middle of paper ... ... These same oppressions are still happening today. People in America, as well as other countries around the world, still face unjust treatment from their governments. An example can be seen with the Taliban banning Pakistani girls from attending school.
Most revolutions occur because of widespread dissatisfaction with an existing system. Poverty and injustice under cruel, corrupt, or incapable rulers combined with social problems is a recipe for disaster. One can only push people so far. If other ways of establishing the changes that must be made does not work, then creating a revolution might be the only option left.
THE WAYS OF MEETING OPPRESSION IS AN ESSAY WRITTEN BY MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., ADDRESSING SEGREGATION THAT IS SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED TOWARD THE AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE. King’s primary audience is the African Americans, but also he has secondary audiences that he addresses, which are a combination of Christians or those who know of, or believe in the Christian views, as well as people in the legal system. He gives examples through his text that will demonstrate how he addresses mostly the African Americans, but also the various other audiences he is trying to reach to through his memorable speech. In his writing, he tells of three ways that they deal with oppression, and based on these he sends out a message to all who have read or heard his words. This message states what has been done in the past, as well as what should be done based on these past experiences. King chooses to speak to certain people through certain contexts and key phrases. In choosing certain phrases and also on how he states his words, he is successful in influencing all his audiences that he intended to persuade. The words that he carefully chose will tell how and why he wanted to focus on the primary and secondary audiences of his choice.
This is evident when the darker brother in Hughes “I, Too, Sing America” was oppressed from his employer. Even though he was oppressed, the darker brother hoped that one day he can stand as equals with his employer, and never have to “Eat in the Kitchen”(Hughes) again. It’s that hope that drives him, and drives the American Dream. Certain people chooses not to use the opportunities they were given. Oppression doesn’t exist in present America, but the people who do think so, dwells on the past rather than making a better future.
Oppression is not a friend, though it may be disguised as one. It takes what you believe in and makes it nonexistent. Oppression is what makes life hard. It tests you to see if you will make the stand for freedom, or be oppressed. African-Americans were oppressed for hundreds of years, and when it couldn’t get any worse, they found and fought with their leaders for what they believed in, freedom. Both the Egyptians and Hitler oppressed Jews for 5000 years, when he decided to wipe out their entire race. Women were oppressed for many years until they decided to fight for equality.