Analysis Essay

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Fight for Justice

            The United States has been called “the greatest nation in the world” (Muhamid Ali). Even in our country’s national anthem, it is said that we are “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” However, when taking a deeper look into what is happening in America right now, one might not be so sure. With ignorance, discrimination, and plain injustice going on, American citizens need to fight for what is right. Injustices are occurring constantly, and, like Martin Luther King Jr. said, fairness and equality “must be demanded” (King 1963). Activism is a large and important part of helping this country improve, and through it, one can educate, bring awareness to, and create needed changes to this country.

There is a lot of ignorance in this world, or what Chimamanda Adichie might call, a lot of “single stories” (Adichie 9:26). Single stories are created when only one side of the experience or event is known and talked about. When that does happen, only looking at one side of the situation, it is usually because of power differences (Adichie 9:37). The ones with more power have more opportunities to share their story, while the less powered people do not have the same abilities or opportunities to share theirs. The whole truth, however, has to include all sides to be fair. Without everyone’s input and side to an event, democracy doesn’t work as well; inequalities, injustices, and discrimination continues to take place with or without others being aware. To make an opinion, assumption, or take a stance on an issue, all of the information is needed to correctly assess the situation or issue. Yet, when high schools have textbooks that talk about minorities and ‘the losing side of the wars,’ but are only written in the perspective of the powerful, white-male winners, it is difficult to create the multiple stories that Adiche advocates for. By supporting the idea of having multiple stories and giving voices to all people, Adiche educates people about these possibly over-looked problems. Advocating is beneficial to the people who don’t have enough power to do it themselves, people who aren’t aware that there is an issue, and to everyone else. The powered people no longer can continue showing one side to things when others are being so active and vocal about the subject. Advocating is key, whether one is standing up about what they personally are feeling attacked about, or standing up for others who might need the help.

            Martin Luther King Jr. is a great example of how activism is largely beneficial, helps create changes, and can stop, in this case, some of the horrific discrimination that was occurring. In the 1960’s segregation was still very evident. King was the head of leading peaceful protests in order to make the injustices aware and to stand up for his people. While being in jail for protesting, King wrote a letter to the men who imprisoned him. In that letter, the powerful quote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” (King 1963) explains how important it is to have equality. To achieve equality where there isn’t already, one must fight and advocate for it. King had much success in result of his peaceful protests; he was able to influence the president into creating a law that banned discrimination on African Americans. That outcome of the terrible situation did not come easily, however. There were many who lost their lives while fighting this fight; but, because people fought for the change, the issue is now better for future generations. King says in the letter that “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” (King 1963).  People with power will never give that power up for no reason; one must fight and advocate if a change is desired.

Now, more recently, it is believed that there has been a rise in Islamophobia. With the media portraying the Islam religion negatively, the extremist group I.S.I.S., and the current president of the United States’ view and actions toward Muslim people, the religion is being viewed as immoral and dangerous. Bhutto Benazir believes that “the religion of Islam is not the root of the problem; however, the exploitation of religion by extremists remains a very significant and ongoing problem.” (Bhutto 180). Bhutto used the Quran to prove that Islam is a peaceful religion, and even though the terrorist who makes the bombs say that they take a religious edict, on Judgement day God will punish them justly. The United States does not understand the religion, and that is why Muslims are unjustly attacked. The media is the reason for this; the most of the news that includes Muslims and people of the Islamic faith are negative things. Even going out of the way, on occasion, the media gives a person’s religion when committing a crime, when it is not even related to the incident; “Religion is being exploited and manipulated for a political agenda, not a spiritual agenda.” (Bhutto 183). People do not deserve to be treated less than just because there is a terrorist who shares their religion. This is where activism and fighting for equalities become so important; especially if the injustice is not affecting you personally. In the film Selma, Martin Luther King Jr. led a march from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery, Alabama. The first time the march is attempted, only African Americans are present, and when trying to cross a bridge into Montgomery, they were stopped, brutalized, arrested, and some even killed. After that, King was looking for all the support he could get, so he called out to the public to join this march. In the next attempt made, others joined King from all across the United States, including white people. Now, this time, the police who had stopped and attacked the marchers before, allowed them to cross. In this case, having white protesters helped the march by showing the public, who had opposing opinions, that this march and the idea behind this march is important. Having people protest things that do not personally affect them, especially when those people are from a majority, can immensely help bring awareness to an issue. White citizens joining the black protest/march did not necessarily change the racist views people have, but by having support outside of the affected people forced one to rethink the situation; ‘if people who look like me are standing with this movement, maybe there is something going on that requires another look.’ As citizens of America, standing up to this injustice and fighting for what is right is a duty. Through activism, individuals can stand together and fight for the justice of all. If people can come together and advocate for Muslim’s equal rights, awareness will be brought to the situation, bringing the issue one more step closer to being resolved.

There are many unjust things happening in this country. With all of the hate, discrimination, and ignorance that infiltrates minds and leads to the negative actions of people who call this nation home, there needs to be more people fighting for all of the wrongs occurring. Alice Walker explains the necessity of activism; “For we can do nothing substantial toward changing our course on the planet, a destructive one, without rousing ourselves, individual by individual, and by bringing our small, imperfect stones to the pile.” (Walker 366). If change is desired, people need to fight for it. Yet, it also needs to be understood that change is not instantaneous (Loeb 3). Change takes time and perseverance to take place, people need to “believe that our individual involvement is worthwhile, that what we might do in the public sphere will not be in vain.” (Loeb 5). Without people fighting for what is right, society is nothing. Advocacy is the key to a productive and fair society; when individuals work together to make a difference, an unstoppable force is created.

Works Cited

Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi, director. The Danger of a Single Story. TED, July 2009,

www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story. Accessed 7 July 2017.

Bhutto, Benazir. Benazir Bhuto: Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy and the West. New York:

HarperCollins, 2008. Print.

King, Martin Luther, Jr. The Negro Is Your Brother. 2nd ed. Vol. 212. N.p.: Atlantic Monthly,

1963. 78-88. Print.

Loeb, Paul Rogat. Soul of a Citizen: Living with Conviction in Challenging times. New York:

St. Martin's Griffin, 2010. Print.

Walker, Alice. "Chapter Forty-Five: Only Justice Can Stop a Curse." In Search of Our Mothers'

Gardens. N.p.: Harcourt, 1983. 361-67. Print.