Resisting Oppression by ben

Rosa Parks: A Small Spark For A Blazing Inferno

bmazn814 — 2024-12-05 07:02:18 UTC

The story of Rosa Parks is of how one person's actions can create an immense chain reaction that'll forever leave an impact on the history of humanity. I'm sure that you've either read or heard her story (or both), so I won't bore you with a recap of it. What Rosa Parks did that day created an opportunity for those who were willing to fight tooth and nail for the fair and equal treatment they deserved, and those efforts did eventually pay off. While segregation laws may no longer be practiced in the U.S., there are other places around the world run by those who do not have the peoples' good interests as a priority, keeping others down so they can maintain control. It is why taking action like Rosa Parks did is important to standing against those who want total control over everyone and everything. Everyone deserves an equal chance to live their life regardless of their appearance, sexual preference, cultural traditions, and their opinions on other people; it's what you choose to do with that opportunity that really matters.

Women's Suffrage Movement: Over A Century Of Battles Against Oppression

bmazn814 — 2024-12-05 07:02:51 UTC

A long tale still being told today, the Women's Suffrage Movement holds many memories of women fighting for equal rights. While being recognized in the mid 1800's as the "official" start of this movement, it also has connections to the Haudenosaunee women (who as a collective group (not just women) date back to 500-600 CE). This goes to show how long women have been fighting to play on an even playing field with their male counterparts despite efforts from men with political power attempting to slow their progress. Indivuduals like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony have demonstrated their ability to work and fight with the same resolve men do, and while they may be icons of the past now, their spirit lives on in the women of today such as Kamala Harris and Michelle Obama. The battle may still rage on, with many others here in the U.S. continuing to be oppressed by the government, but in an ever-changing era of human history, I believe that this will mark a turning point in this ridiculous war. "It is precisely because of this growing power that the rights of women of color are increasingly under attack today, just as they’ve have always been, by those in power who are seeking to preserve a status quo and maintain their privilege at the expense of justice for all."

#MeToo Movement: An Online Rise Against Sexual Perpetrators

bmazn814 — 2024-12-05 07:03:15 UTC

While the war for equal rights for women has been going on for more than a century, the battlegrounds for these attacks against injustice have gradually shifted over the years, going from in-person protests (though that still does happen today, not trying to say it doesn't) to online media websites that span the entire globe. With this change, mass movements can start from someone's home, simply from a single person putting out practically any form of media-consumable content (like TikTok for all you zoomers out there :P). An example of this is the #MeToo Movement, where a large plethora of sexual assault survivors took to various media platforms such as Twitter (of X if you want to call it that) and Facebook to call out their perpetrators and have them face the consequences of their actions. It started from a single person, that being Tarana Burke, who originally coined the phrase "me too" back in 2006, though its peak in usage didn't occur until the 12th of October in 2017, where actress Alyssa Milano used the same phrase in a tweet calling out former film producer Harvey Weinstein and encouraging others to speak up like she had. Within a year of this singular action, the phrase had gone viral in over dozens of nations around the world, which only goes to show the influential power the Internet can give to those who need it most. Today, it's become a part of the century-long battle for women's suffrage, showcasing its ability to adapt to large-scale changes such as the widespread use of technology and the creation of social media platforms. The war may not be won yet, but each victory in every small battle is a step closer to achieving this monumentous goal.

"I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou

bmazn814 — 2024-12-05 07:05:14 UTC

This amazing poem by Maya Angelou uses the contrasting imagery of a free and caged bird to demonstrate freedom in the face of oppression. A free bird, unrestrained and free-spirited, represents those who live with privilege and access to many opportunities; in contrast, the caged bird represents individuals marginalized and oppressed by systemic barriers created to give the "free birds" the advantage. As a society, most of us have lived our lives in these cages, sometimes without realizing it. But a cage is not a home, nor was it ever designed to be a home. We are all free birds bound only by the rules of our own creation made specifically so no one bird flys higher than the others. In doing this, though, many individuals have been unfairly shackled down by unjust laws created by inherently corrupt people to keep a status quo of their liking, but that is not how we are meant to live. We are not creatures meant for a cage, but for the big open sky filled the infinite opportunites life gives us. We are not birds, but we can soar just as high as they can when given the chance.

"All Lives Matter" by Thomas King

bmazn814 — 2024-12-05 07:05:26 UTC

This masterpiece by Thomas King is a uniquely satirical poem that critiques the use of the phrase "All Lives Matter" as a dismissal of the specific struggles faced by marginalized groups, particularly within the Black Lives Matter movement; the poem uses juxtaposition alongside examples of systemic inequality, highlighting the disparity between the ideal of universal value and the reality of exclusion and injustice. With a sense of sharp irony, King emphasizes how "all lives" are not treated equally despite the efforts of many of the aforementioned marginalized groups trying to remedy this. From an outside view, it wouldn't make sense to not support a phrase like "All Lives Matter" (since, well, they do), but given the context behind the usage of the phrase, it makes it a lot harder to use the phrase in a positive way. We all are human, and thus, what we do with our lives does matter, to us and to those we consider important (such as friends and family members). It doesn't matter what race, gender, or sexuality you are, your life does matter, and it always will matter to someone, even if you have a hard time believing it yourself.

All Lives Do Matter.

Curation Statement

bmazn814 — 2024-12-05 07:06:02 UTC

Reflection Prompt

bmazn814 — 2024-12-05 07:06:23 UTC

The words of one can inspire thousands of others, but that can work both ways. How do you fight against oppression? What do you think others could do to better stand against oppression?