Looking back to the very beginnings of this country, the drive and the consistent fight for change is what brought upon the means to actually create it. The founders of this country wanted to make sure that rules and regulations would not be imposed but established in a way that The People were allowed to contest and abolish the laws that they deemed unfit for their country. Whether it be fighting for equality as an ethnicity, gender, or sexuality, social justice is something that America was built upon, and the people leading this fight are now seen as social justice warriors. Currently, these “warriors”, who find themselves fighting in this era for social issues, are crusading on Twitter and other social media platforms instead of the battle field. …show more content…
The use of social media to get important information out to the masses about a cause has been proven to be effective, as long as there are some actions being put forth to show just how important that cause truly is. In this paper, I will be establishing what both social justice and social justice warriors are and how they were perceived in America previously in comparison to how they are today. I will also be contrasting two political figures, Barack Obama, who is perceived as a social justice activist and Donald Trump, who is seen as a social justice warrior. I will demonstrate how their use of social media as well as their political platform have deemed them as a pre-or post-2010 social justice warrior. …show more content…
Through this, I will determine whether people who are fighting for social change should be categorized as a social justice warrior, and if the term should be restored to its original definition that has held a positive
In his article “Small Change: Why the Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted”, published in the New York Times on October 2010, Malcolm Gladwell looks closely into the notion of social change and the different means to achieve it. He makes a clear distinction between traditional activism, which implies sacrifices and physical devotion, and current activism, based on social networks. The writer considers that “social media can’t provide what social change has always required” (Gladwell, paragraph 1).
As a matter of fact, we already read about and watch many famed individuals who are already taking actions to stop social injustice. Their great examples make task of social justice less intimidating. Dr. West talked about Colin Kaepernick and Beyoncé as courageous individuals worthy of our admiration. He said that “Beyoncé compels you to ask if your soul is stirred,” which is definitely consistent with her new song that addresses police brutality. It is compelling to know that the social justice movement extends beyond our communities, and is now becoming a national
Social justice is the fair and proper law that shows everybody is equal regardless of their color, race, gender, religion, etc. The thought of executing another human being is completely harsh! My whole life I have been thought that killing is wrong and that no human being has the right to kill another induvial. To my surprise, it’s what’s happening in our society every day. Giving the death penalty, has no justification. It’s another crime being committed, but this time by the government. The death penalty is usually given to a person that’s found guilty of a capital crime. However, it’s not easy to consider the death penalty as an easy way to punish the guilty. Though many people believe that the death penalty is the right way to punish people that has done hideous crimes, it’s possible to kill an innocent person, citizens pay million for the death penalty, and people of color are more likely to be given capital punishment. The death penalty is a violation of human rights and it should be abolished.
Malcolm Gladwell’s article "Small Change: Why the Revolution Will not be Tweeted" raises a significant question about the prospective contribution of web-based social networking to the advent of progressive social movement and change. Gladwell bold declaration that "the revolution will not be tweeted" is reflective of his view that social media has no useful application in serious activism. Contrasting various elements of the “high-stakes” lunch-counter protests in Greensboro, North Carolina in the 1960’s with the “low-stakes” activism achieved through social media, Gladwell concludes that effective social movements powerful enough to impose change on longstanding societal forces require both “strong ties” among participants and the
Malcolm Gladwell’s article "Small Change: Why the Revolution Will not be Tweeted" raises a significant question about the prospective contribution of web-based social networking to the advent of progressive social movement and change. Gladwell’s bold declaration that "the revolution will not be tweeted" is reflective of his view that social media has no useful application in serious activism. Contrasting various elements of the “high-stakes” lunch-counter protests in Greensboro, North Carolina in the 1960’s with the “low-stakes” activism achieved through social media, Gladwell concludes that effective social movements powerful enough to impose change on longstanding societal forces require both “strong ties” among participants and the
Social Justice: Justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society.
There comes a time, in most citizens’ lives when they must stand against their government to produce change. Change can only be acquired if people take the necessary actions for it to take place. Nelson Mandela was a historical revolutionist who helped his people in Africa, to revolt against the government, in order to bring about change. As a result, he was sentenced to prison for 27 years for trying to overthrow the government. Many revolutionist, such as Arundhati Roy and Martin Luther King Jr., explain in their essays how the role of the citizen is to stand against injustice, and how the government labels them as anti-national because of it.
In the world, both rich and poor countries have got different forms of social injustices that their respective societies are going through. Briefly this paper will address social injustices in the United States and under the social injustices, the paper will focus more on Economy, health and society injustices. This will be approached with three questions; Firstly, why is it important for American people to know about social injustices in the States? Secondly, how has America’s social justice been violated and why? Lastly, what are some of the measures that the US government has taken to address the issue of social injustices, which include Unemployment, endless crimes and terrorism, social classes in American societies with different
In the United States and internationally, there is a multitude of indicators that the racial environment is changing. Environmental pollution and racism are connected in more ways than one. The world is unconsciously aware of environmental intolerances, yet continues to expose the poor and minorities to physical hazards. Furthermore, sociologist continue to study “whether racial disparities are largely a function of socioeconomic disparities or whether other factors associated with race are also related to the distribution of environmental hazards” (Mohai and Saha 2007: 345). Many of these factors include economic positions, health disparities, social and political affairs, as well as racial inequalities.
It has been proven that often, the fight for social justice and the common good comes at a great cost to those involved. Through writings such as Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” and Sophocles’ “Antigone”, as well as, lectures such as Dr.Colbourn’s lecture “Confronting History and the Good Life: Life after Rosewood” it is demonstrated how life, freedom, and a normal everyday life suffer as a cost of fighting for social justice and the common good.
Oftentimes, the definition of social justice can be misinterpreted or misunderstood. The true definition of social justice is often structured by governmental implications but is the fair and proper administration of laws to each individual conforming to the natural law. Equality is supposed to be equally distributed amongst individuals nationally, but can sometimes be taken advantage of and be taken away from people who deserve it the most. Generally, those who view social justices as a right, also value people above profits.
Social justice is not an “us versus them” mentality; rather it is a “were in it together” mentality where the powerful and powerless work together. Obviously those who are in need are the poor and oppressed: women, African-Americans, Jews, Latin Americans, etc. However, due to the fact that these people are in these oppressive situations, they gain insight into the injustices that surround them specifically, and society in general. Although they are made poor by those in power and the structures, institutions, and organizations run by those in power, they still possess “strength to resist, capacity to understand their rights, [and the ability] to organize themselves and transform a subhuman situation (Boff, 1)”. The poor and oppressed are held above the rich and powerful, in other words are given preferential treatment. Due to their oppression in life,
Over the years in our country’s history it has been apparent that the idea of same sex marriages is becoming much more popular, however in most states there is still one thing stopping them. That one thing stopping two people from the pursuit of happiness which they desire is a social injustice. Social injustices are situations where a person or group of people is treated unfairly due to certain factors for example discrimination, prejudice, racism, heterosexism, sexism, and so forth. In the case of same sex marriages, the factor playing a major role in this social injustice is where most people believe that opposite sexes attract, but in the case of a same sex couple wanting to be married, this brings about many topics to be discussed by
I believe that the statements and ideas listed herein this quote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (Martin Luther King Jr.) relates to how if one country is allowed to abuse, mistreat and terrorize their citizens that countries all over the world will fall like a domino and will eventually allow themselves to give similar treatment to their countries. I understand this quote as being a statement given by Martin Luther King Jr. against communism, fascism, civil rights abuses and unjust treatment in general because of the brutal and horrible lives that some people during his time had to experience and suffer under. The quote also states that injustice to any person of this planet is wrong and that regardless of rhyme or
When will we stop being unjust? Our society today is full of problems and issues. We not only experience economic and politic issues, but we face social problems as well. One main problem that our society must acknowledge is injustice. However, many members of our society are blind not to recognize that permitting unjust and unfair acts is an actual injustice. They believe it’s appropriate to judge others, to make inappropriate comments and to be disrespectful.