Category: Black Lives Matter

Introduction

In the course of history, people of African heritage in the United States have not always had equal access to the same life and opportunities as other Americans because of racism. Research believes that recognizing racism as systemic and deep-rooted in both and the US demonstrates the inadequacy of piecemeal solutions. (Garner, 2010). Garner characterizes racism as a personal advantage, racism as a pathological desire to introduce race into circumstances where it is irrelevant. (Garner, 2010) Racism takes two closely related forms Individual racism and institutional racism, this is individual whites acting against individual blacks and acts by the whole white community against the black community. (Garner, 2010). Fanon links racialization to ‘European domination and to colonialism’ and conceptualizes racialization as a process of dehumanization and a process of objection which gives meaning to a black-and-white binary and naturalized differences, this meaning that colonized people seeing not as their own terms (Fanon, 1986). Racism is never just about racism, according to racializations. However, it always has complicated ramifications in terms of nation, race, class, gender, and sexuality. As a result of the colonial process, being racialized meant being dehumanized., is a social connection. This implies that there is always a power imbalance manifested through access to information. (Garner, 2010). This essay will discuss the possible explanation for the rapid spread of the US Black Lives Matter movement and black lives movement as well as the criticism of the black lives movement. Ending with an overall conclusion.

Main

The Black Lives Matter movement was a demonstration that was not restricted to the United States, despite its origins there. Black Lives Matter is a global movement that opposes white supremacy and violence against black people. It happened on every continent and received widespread media coverage. Protests were staged all around the world, for example, a memorial service for George Floyd was conducted in Nigeria. Protests took place in Tokyo, Paris, Sao Paulo, and Cape Town. Since the Civil Rights Movement, BLM has ignited the greatest racial justice protests in the United States. But the campaign had an impact well beyond the country’s boundaries, inspiring a worldwide reckoning with racism.

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Black Lives Matter is a global political movement that opposes racial injustice and prejudice against black people. The movement, which began in the United States in 2013, has gained support as a result of several incidences of black individuals dying in police encounters being presented as signs of systematic police racism. For example, George Zimmerman was convicted of following, shooting, and killing Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old Black youth who was walking home from his neighborhood shop (Mardell, 2012). After the death of another Black teenager from a similar background, Michael Brown, who was also a young victim of police violence, it developed and gained traction. However, the movement experienced worldwide unity and recognition, Following the murder of George Floyd, an African American man from Minneapolis, Minnesota, in May 2020, officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s back and neck for approximately 10 minutes. Floyd’s last words ‘I can’t breathe’ then became the rhetoric utilized by both protestors and those who engaged in riots, which spread to other cities across the West such as. The parallels between the two assaults, which occurred almost 10 years apart, were shocking. Both victims were Black, both were visiting the areas where they were killed, and their attackers were acquitted of murder in both cases. And in both cases, the sorrow and fury felt by Black people upon learning of the two perpetrators not being convicted at the start spurred massive social movements. Furthermore, the Black Lives Matter movement has grown in popularity as a result of rising police violence against people. For example, The Guardian reported 950 incidents of police brutality against citizens and journalists during the George Floyd Peaceful movement in 2020, which were in direct response to racial police assault. Over 500 cases of police deploying less-lethal rounds (rubber bullets), pepper spray, and tear gas to arrest protestors; 60 instances of unlawful assembly to arrest protesters; and 19 instances of white supremacists being tolerated., (The Guardian, 2020). These figures are a big reason why the Black Lives Matter movement continues to raise awareness about injustices against people of color, despite the fact that a peaceful rally turned violent, they still kept going to be able to have their voices heard.

#Sayhername

Despite the fact that Black Lives Matter is an important cause that impacts many present and future lives, Black women’s lives are typically disregarded or included as an afterthought. The most popular #sayhername topic is Breonna Taylor. After riots occurred and arrests were made following the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, her name began to appear in the media. Plainclothes officers Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankinson, and Myles Cosgrove fatally shot Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old African American woman, at her apartment on March 13, 2020, as part of a drug-dealing investigation.

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Outside of the United States, had the largest Black Lives Matter protests last summer. Even before George Floyd, a death in their own nation had motivated protesters. Protesters have demanded that the identities of the countless Black persons killed by police be released. (JosephSalisbury, Connelly, and Wangari-Jones, 2020). For example, on Thursday, August 4th, 2011, Mark Duggan, 29, was riding in a cab through Tottenham. Armed officers pursued him and ultimately pulled him over. Mark was shot twice and pronounced dead at the scene (BBC NEWS, 2011). Others were almost definitely witnesses to this terrible event. Mark’s family, on the other hand, feels that one of the reasons Mark was presented as a ‘gangster’ in the media was to scare and prevent witnesses from coming forward. This instance was the catalyst for a demonstration that brought attention to the. On Saturday, August 6, 2011, about 300 protestors gathered outside Tottenham police station after marching from the Broadwater Farm estate. They demanded that Mark Duggan and his family be brought to justice. According to sources, the violence started when officers harassed a juvenile during a traffic stop. (BBC News, 2011). As a result of these and other less-publicized homicides, there has been widespread outrage about the police and the Black community’s relationship, resulting in civil unrest and making the police the focal point of protests. Citizens staged protests or marches in response to a specific incident to express their displeasure with the police. For many, the outrage was about more than just one man’s death. Other complicated societal factors were at play, and it was a combination of these that prompted the fury and contempt that culminated in an uprising against injustice. Furthermore, also it was recognized for the need of drawing attention to racism and the police. Racism and violence are exclusively American issues, we are constantly taught. ‘Isn’t Black Lives Matter just a US issue?’ the argument goes. (JosephSalisbury, Connelly, and Wangari-Jones, 2020).

Social media

Black Lives Matter has transformed racial injustice into an issue that can no longer be ignored by inciting protests throughout the world. Its reach and speed were aided by modern technologies. Bystanders now record assaults on cell phones and broadcast news and indignation across the world nearly instantly. Social media assists movements in rapidly mobilizing people and generating international demonstrations. Acts of police aggression were generally unseen and unbelieved before the age of cell phones. Deaths like George Floyd’s have prompted everyone to take a closer look at how people utilize digital technology. For example, If Mark Duggan had been murdered today, there would very certainly have been at least one recording that might have been used at an inquiry. And lying about what happened would have been far more difficult for the authorities. Duggan allegedly opened fire, wounding one officer, despite the lack of video evidence. Newspapers described him as a thug and a vicious gangster. Misinformation was spread to justify police actions and imply that he deserved to die, and many people believed it. Minds had already been made up by the time the truth was revealed.

Colonialism

BLM is a civil rights organization that opposes racial injustice resulting from slavery and indigenous genocide. White supremacy obscures its inherent violence and savagery, which justified slavery and colonization by racializing Afro-Americans and Black people in former colonies. Black Lives Matter is an endeavor to oppose the dehumanization and devaluation of Black and minority ethnic people caused, among other things, by racist criminal justice and educational systems. This suggests that the black lives movement spread in popularity because was that black people wanted to fight for their rights and were fed up with the number of people being murdered continuously. As a result, the movement empowered many Black people.

Paragraph 3 Critic of the BLM movement

On the other hand, the movement has the condemnation of one criticism of the movement’s tactics, which are forceful, disruptive, and lack a stated goal. Others believe the Black Lives Matter movement is too responsible for inciting violence, especially against police officers. Furthermore, while many of the protests started off peacefully, a few turned violent. For example, a nonviolent demonstration for Mark Duggan in 2011 devolved into violence. As a result, individuals who peacefully demonstrated were labeled as violent and rebellious, and their cause was dismissed.

The denial of racial violence was another critique of the black lives movement. ‘All Lives Matter’ erases the United States’ long history and current of systematic injustice; it indicates a refusal to admit that the state does not place equal value on all life; it reduces racism to individual prejudice and portrays African Americans as aggressors in a post-civil rights colorblind world in which White people no longer ‘see race’ Reni explained this as white privilege is an absence of the negative consequences of racism. In the absence of structural discrimination, white privilege is the thought of the privilege of not being able to see racism. (Eddo-Lodge, 2017)

Conclusion

The Black Lives Matter movement was seeking to highlight racism discrimination and inequality experienced by black people. These protests were characterized by rage as well as a strong hope that a brighter future is possible. These are fantastic moments to fundamentally remake our societies, trying to Develop the relationships between police and the communities of color they serve could improve these worrying patterns. The BLM movement’s strength across Europe demonstrates the need for substantial reform to address systemic injustice. Dealing more honestly with challenging historical legacies is one part of this. For far too long, countries have swept their colonial atrocities under the rug in order to show a progressive face to the world. However, the amount of change brought about by the protests in such a short period of time is significant.

‘Black Lives Matter is a movement that was brought to light around 2013 after a man was acquitted after murdering 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, who was African American. Many believed that the trial decision was based on the fact that Martin was Black and this sparked the Black Lives Matter Campaign, highlighting the racial inequality in the USA. Since the beginning of this movement, it has grown internationally and protests are held in the name of this movement after instances where Black lives are stifled. YouTube is an online platform where users can upload videos from anything to funny cat videos or their own political views. It is the second largest search engine and second most visited site on the internet, only after its parent company, Google. There is an estimated 8,000 YouTubers that have over one million subscribers each and 1.9 billion users log in monthly. This is an incredibly large platform that reaches over 90 countries. Because of these statistics, Black Lives Matter would thrive on this platform.

Currently, there are numerous Black YouTubers that could use their platform to spread the message of Black Lives Matter which would resonate with some of their subscribers but also teach those who do not realize the problem to actively learn about this issue. A lot of these YouTubers tend to only stick to their brands, such as gaming YouTubers who rarely talk about “real world” issues as they are often worried about losing subscribers if their followers don’t also share their opinion. If they moved pasted the capital side of YouTube and focussed instead on the power of its reach, they could really change the course of the Black Lives Matter movement.

They can do this simultaneously with their regular videos. While not all of their subscribers would click on a video that is not about their regular videos, enough people would view it to make a difference. After all, even if one person’s mind is changed or enlightened, it has worked. One YouTuber by the name of KSI, a gaming YouTuber held a boxing match with controversial Logan Paul this past November. The fight gained about 60 million views worldwide and after the match, he posted to Twitter reminding his followers to vote in the upcoming UK election, and immediately after, numbers for young voters registered surged to record numbers On Twitter, KSI has about 5 million followers but on YouTube, he was over 20.8 million subscribers so imagine what he can do with that reach. Overall, YouTubers can be used to actively promote social justice in ways that other platforms can’t due to their sheer size and reach and it’s almost “face-to-face” interactions where someone is talking to you through a screen to support movements like Black Lives Matter. The more people that know about this issue, the more support it can get to dynamically change the course of racism and inequality among humans.”

In the words of Frank Zappa, “Without deviance from normality, there can be no progress” (Deviance quotes, n.d). Deviance is needed for a society to advance. Things that were deemed acceptable back then would not relate to the era that we are living in right now which is why deviance is important. The group that I decided to analyze is the Black Lives Matter Movement. Black Lives Matter is a voluntary organization that campaigns against violence and systemic racism toward black people. I will be analyzing this voluntary organization using the strain, power elite, and control theories of deviance.

Strain theory, according to the Sociology 2e textbook, is when an organization has a socially accepted goal but lacks ways to do it by socially accepted methods. Out of the five ways people respond to this inconvenience, I determined that the Black Lives Matter movement utilizes the innovation method; whereas the way they attempt to achieve their goal of equality for black people is through protests which are seen as deviant. Protests can be peaceful or violent, but that all depends on the response of the audience. Many people resort to this form of campaigning simply because this is usually the only way to be heard and seen. Yes, you can make posts on the internet or hashtags on Twitter, but will that really result in change? The answer is no. There has to be something actively occurring to show that you do, really want change. The Bible says, “Faith without work is dead”, therefore we cannot rely on our hope for a better future to occur, we have to work for it. After the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s killer, George Zimmerman, the Black Lives Matter Movement bolted for the streets to advocate for justice in the black community (Black Lives Matter [BLM], n.d). A young man’s life was taken from him for no other reason but fear due to the stereotype that blacks are dangerous. The court then persisted with no remorse, to let the man go free without repercussions. How would you feel if your friend, family member, or child was taken from you due to racism? I too would result in protests. Black people are basically invisible to the naked eye of white people; therefore for a change to come, we must be seen. Moreover, the white society and police officers viewed this as appalling since protests of that nature rarely occurred and the majority of the people witnessing this did not care for equality or justice for blacks. Because this act was out of societal norms, it was viewed as negative deviance; however, this was later discovered to be a positive deviance because equality brings us closer together and alleviates conflict. An example of these deviances that was brought up by a colleague would be the issue with Muhammad Ali. Muhammad Ali’s refusal to be drafted during the Vietnam War made 1968, his first full year of exile from boxing, both humbling and empowering. The fact that he did not want to be in the war was seen as negative deviance to the government officials who felt as though he would be fighting for his country, but later on, it was seen as positive deviance because he refused to participate in the mass killing of innocent people.

The Power Elite theory occurs when a small group of influential people get to decide what is considered the norm due to their status (Griffiths et al., 2017). This can be used to relate to white supremacy. Since the beginning of time, white people have been viewed as superior and as the era of technology has progressed they are still seen as such. Regardless of all of the evidence that has shown that black people are equally as intelligent or even more, whites refuse to accept this fact. This therefore displays that they get to decide what are considered as norms.

Crime and social class are vital subcategories of this theory. Inequality pertaining to crime is a major issue seeing that the people who suffer the harsh end of the stick are black individuals.

There were many occurrences with the Black Lives Matter movement where they have been treated unfairly. Zellie Thomas, a black lives matter leader, was arrested, charged with obstruction, and issued a summons for protesting peacefully against the murder of Jameek Lowery ( Malinconico, 2019). Jameek Lowery died at the hands of our ‘wonderful’ men in blue for again, no reason at all. However, a white police officer shot and killed Pamela Turner, a black woman, for simply walking to her house (Jazeera, 2019). This officer was then given paid administrative leave and convicted as not guilty. How is this fair? How is this just? Even going back to 1955, Emmett Till was brutally abducted and murdered by white men because a white woman by the name of Carolyn Bryant accused him of whistling at her. These men were quickly acquitted of the crime. The ‘justice’ system has rarely been in our favor and racism is the reason why. This is why the Black Lives Matter Movement is trying so hard to create new social norms and introduce white people to something called ‘change’. Although it is seen as deviant, at least these new norms would be acceptable to all races.

Lastly, Control theory refers to the feeling of exclusion from a society which promotes deviant behavior (Griffiths et al., 2017). The greatly idealized version of the world would be one where everyone feels included. But it’s when the creation of outcasts occurs, that individuals and society are greatly impacted. One of the most vital bonds out of the four that connect people to society is belief. When people feel like they are included and valued, that’s when their mindset changes. The Black Lives Matter Movement tries its absolute best to make people feel included in a society where they are excluded. This organization does not only consist of black people. It accepts people of all sexual orientations, races, and religions who believe in equality.

Because of the presence of democratic leaders in this group, who encourage group participation in decision-making, actions like these can take place. They provide safe spaces for families and friends of persons who died of police brutality and injustice; as well as teaming up to protest for justice. If the rest of the world would get to that state of mind where everyone is included, crime, injustice, violence, and hatred would cease.

In essence, Black Lives Matter draws attention not just to police brutality, but to the many deep imbalances in how the state values human life. I believe that the three theories that I used to analyze this specific group were suitable and fit the purpose. Deviance has always been categorized by what the ‘superior’ group deems fit for it. Everyone should be able to actively contribute to this growing list of deviances rather than one group. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” (Equality Quotes, n.d).

Introduction

The film Black Panther and the social justice movement Black Lives Matter (BLM) are two influential cultural phenomena that have captivated audiences and sparked important conversations about race, identity, and activism. While Black Panther is a fictional work set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it addresses themes of empowerment and representation for the Black community. In contrast, BLM is a real-world movement that advocates for racial equality and challenges systemic racism. This compare and contrast essay examines the similarities and differences between Black Panther and Black Lives Matter, exploring how both entities promote empowerment, combat racial injustice, and inspire change.

Empowerment and Representation

Black Panther and Black Lives Matter share a common focus on empowering Black individuals and communities. In Black Panther, the fictional nation of Wakanda represents a symbol of Black excellence, technological advancement, and cultural pride. The film showcases strong Black characters, challenges stereotypes, and promotes the importance of representation in media. Similarly, Black Lives Matter advocates for the empowerment of Black individuals by elevating their voices, experiences, and contributions. It seeks to dismantle systemic racism, highlight the value of Black lives, and foster a sense of empowerment within the Black community.

Combatting Racial Injustice

Both Black Panther and Black Lives Matter address the issue of racial injustice. In the film, the character of T’Challa, also known as Black Panther, becomes the king of Wakanda and faces the moral dilemma of whether to share the nation’s advanced resources with the world to combat global oppression. This parallels the goals of BLM, which aims to address systemic racism, police brutality, and social inequalities faced by Black individuals. Both Black Panther and BLM challenge the status quo, exposing the deep-rooted racial biases and calling for systemic change.

Approach and Methods

Black Panther employs a fictional superhero narrative to explore themes of racial justice and liberation. It showcases the power of unity, cultural pride, and the importance of community mobilization. On the other hand, Black Lives Matter adopts a grassroots approach, utilizing peaceful protests, social media activism, and community organizing to raise awareness and drive change. BLM emphasizes the importance of collective action, allyship, and intersectional solidarity, bringing diverse individuals and communities together to challenge systemic racism.

Pop Culture Influence and Real-World Impact

Black Panther’s release had a profound impact on pop culture, breaking box office records and serving as a cultural milestone for Black representation in mainstream media. The film resonated with audiences worldwide, sparking discussions about representation, diversity, and the power of storytelling. In contrast, Black Lives Matter has had a significant real-world impact by bringing issues of racial injustice to the forefront of public consciousness. BLM has mobilized people globally, sparking protests, policy reform, and challenging societal norms. It has ignited conversations about systemic racism and inspired individuals to take action in their communities.

Conclusion

Black Panther and Black Lives Matter may differ in their mediums and methods, but both entities play crucial roles in promoting empowerment, combating racial injustice, and inspiring change. Black Panther showcases the power of representation and cultural pride, while Black Lives Matter actively challenges systemic racism and advocates for the value of Black lives. By recognizing the parallels and differences between these cultural phenomena, we can appreciate the transformative impact they have had on promoting equity, justice, and inclusivity in our society.

Introduction

In recent years, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has sparked passionate debates and garnered significant attention. Unfortunately, it has also faced unfair accusations, with some labeling it as a hate group. This persuasive essay aims to debunk these misconceptions and argue that Black Lives Matter is not a hate group but a powerful movement fighting for equality and justice. By examining the movement’s origins, goals, inclusive nature, and commitment to peaceful protest, we can understand the importance of supporting BLM and recognizing its vital role in addressing systemic racism and advocating for positive change in society.

Origins and Goals

The Black Lives Matter movement emerged in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s killer and the subsequent deaths of countless unarmed Black individuals at the hands of law enforcement. Its primary goal is to challenge and dismantle systemic racism, police brutality, and social injustices affecting Black communities. BLM seeks to create a society where Black lives are valued, protected, and afforded the same opportunities and rights as others. This focus on racial equality and justice reflects the movement’s inherent commitment to uplifting marginalized voices and addressing the deeply rooted inequalities that persist.

Inclusivity and Intersectionality

Contrary to the claims made against BLM, the movement operates on principles of inclusivity and intersectionality. It recognizes that the fight against racial injustice must encompass the experiences of all marginalized communities, including Black women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those from various socioeconomic backgrounds. BLM embraces diversity and acknowledges the interconnectedness of different struggles, aiming to create a more equitable society for all. By amplifying the voices of those most affected by systemic racism, BLM fosters solidarity and collective action, promoting empathy and understanding.

Peaceful Protest and Activism

Black Lives Matter is often misrepresented as a violent or hate-driven movement. However, the overwhelming majority of protests organized by BLM have been peaceful and rooted in the principles of nonviolence. While isolated incidents of violence may occur during protests, they do not define the movement as a whole. BLM actively advocates for peaceful protest, channeling anger and frustration into productive dialogue, community engagement, and policy reform. The movement’s commitment to peaceful activism aligns with the legacy of civil rights movements throughout history, echoing the strategies of figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi.

Effecting Positive Change

Black Lives Matter has had a profound impact on raising awareness about racial injustices and influencing public opinion. Through social media campaigns, community outreach, and public demonstrations, BLM has sparked crucial conversations about systemic racism, police brutality, and the urgent need for reform. The movement has compelled individuals, institutions, and policymakers to confront their own biases, examine systemic inequalities, and work towards meaningful change. BLM’s efforts have led to tangible outcomes, such as police department reforms, the reexamination of biased policies, and increased accountability for law enforcement.

Conclusion

Accusing Black Lives Matter of being a hate group misrepresents its true mission and undermines the critical work it is doing to address systemic racism and promote equality and justice. BLM’s origins, inclusive approach, commitment to peaceful protest, and impact on society demonstrate its dedication to effecting positive change. By supporting Black Lives Matter, we stand in solidarity with marginalized communities and advocate for a more equitable and inclusive future for all. It is essential to reject unfounded accusations and instead recognize the vital role that BLM plays in the ongoing fight against systemic racism and social injustice.

Policing race is something that has been around in the United States since the times of slavery and now exists in the form of the prison system. It’s been put before us by those in power that some people are more human than others, but this fact isn’t something we have to accept, it’s something that needs to be challenged if we want to see anything done about it. This dominant view that black men are less human and therefore deserve less humanity, is something that’s been legitimized by those who hold the most power in our society so therefore people believe that it’s a just a fact of life.

In the case of police brutality, the “power trip” stereotype is proven to be very true. It seems that many of the officers feel as though they can treat people, especially black individuals, as lesser than because they’re in the uniform and the individual is not and because of the color of their skin. They feel so empowered by the institution they are a part of and the uniform that comes along with it that they feel they can treat these black men as though they are undeserving of any kind of humanity or privacy at all. These officers are using the power of white supremacy to make sure that there is an even bigger bridge to cross for those black individuals to have the same access to wealth and opportunities that come with white privilege. Many people continue to believe that the police force is there to protect us, but in reality, it’s only there to protect those in power or those who the people in power tell them to. Also, because of this trust, the force feels as though they can do whatever they want because that level of trust will still be there. It’s been socially constructed that these white people are more human than those of African American descent and it’s become something that many people accept as a fact of society. This isn’t a fact, it’s something that those in power want us to believe is a fact so we don’t pose any kind of challenge to them and their authority. This is something that’s been legitimized for such a long time by so many people that society would just rather believe and accept it than do something to change it.

Even though it has become commonplace to just accept the fact that black individuals are deviant solely because of their skin color and go on with life, there are people refuse to accept this fact and have even created a social movement dedicated to changing it. The Black Lives Matter movement is something that has only gained traction in the last decade as a result of many fatal incidents involving police officers and black individuals in the United States. Despite its popularity, you rarely see those with the power addressing it, especially President of the United States, Donald Trump. There is barely any news footage of him talking about this movement, this could be because he knows that if he is on camera talking about it, then it will gain more attention and he will have to acknowledge and do something about it. However, if it is brought up, he will talk about it because he wants the population to believe that it is something that he believes in and supports. It is easy to say that the main reason he doesn’t talk about it is because he wants to protect his power. He knows that if he talks about something that the broad majority of his supporters don’t believe in, then he will lose them as potential votes in the next election. He’s more concerned with pleasing those who keep him in power than addressing an issue that’s affecting a good proportion of the United States. By picking on it, he is trying to appeal more to those who can keep him where he is rather than acknowledge that it is actually a step towards changing the way we view black lives in the United States.

In retaliation, there is actually “counter movement” called White Lives Matter (“White Lives Matter,” n.d.). This phrase was born not long after the Black Lives Matter movement was created. It’s been made even more popular by the notorious Ku Klux Klan, an organization known for its staunch white supremacist stance. The fact that a counter movement or phrase even had to be created just shows the sheer terror that appears in people when they are faced with the unknown. These white supremacists are so deeply entrenched in their values that they refuse to accept anything other than the fact that they are better just because of their skin color. They are scared of the sheer fact that these black individuals are different than them and they believe that because they are different then it automatically makes them bad. This movement was a culmination of the belief by white people that they, in fact, are not any more of a human than black individuals. White people also are more predominant in government, which only furthers the extent of the oppression that black individuals experience in different institutions of society, like the prison system.

The prison system has all of the characteristics for a governmental system of power. They use punishment, they are legitimized by the law, it is an institution created in the interest of society, it takes away rights and it touches the soul. This power trip taken by police officers seen in everyday life is only made worse on the inside, particularly for black men. They seem to be the ones who have become the scapegoats for all of America’s problems, so in the interest of society, they are all placed in these prisons to “keep society safe”. In the news today, it is not common to see black men getting much longer prison sentences for similar crimes committed by white men. When it comes to drug related offenses, a black man will likely serve a sentence that is seven months longer than white man charged with the same thing (Rowell, Wu, Hart, Haile & El Bassel, 2012). Although, there are many things that can be factored into the length of a prison sentence, the number shows it all. The fact that black men make up almost half of the prison population of people serving time for drug offenses shows how powerful the idea of black equals bad is (Rowell et al., 2012). It is something that has been engrained in the minds of our society for so long that we do not think anything of it and just accept it. The prison and justice system are legitimized by the law, which is something that people put a lot of trust in. This is why people feel like they do not need to challenge anything the prison/justice system is doing to these black men because they believe that the justice system is always fair and because they are saying that something’s the case, then it must be. Not only are black men used as scapegoats for a lot of America’s problems, they are used for its capital gain too.

The labor of black men is something that has been exploited since the times of slavery. The current prison industrial complex or justice system has done nothing to change this. The Rockefeller Drug Laws were implemented to “deter citizens from using or selling drugs and to punish and isolate from society those who were not deterred” (Smith & Hattery, 2010). These laws also had a policy that resulted in longer sentences for those who possessed crack cocaine over powder (Smith & Hattery, 2010). It is not hard to see that when these policies were made, the creators wanted to keep as many black men out of the labor force as they could. They made the assumption that black men were more likely to possess or sell crack cocaine over powder, so they paired the charge with a longer sentence as a legal way of kicking these men off the labor force and out of society. Research by Smith and Hattery (2010) supported the idea that by putting these men in prison, they removed what they saw as competition, kept all of the possible capital and jobs for themselves and the white individuals still left in society. They are taking advantage of these men for their own capital gain and it is at the expense of these individuals, their families and communities. They are made to do jobs in prison for industries that are a part of the prison industrial complex and these jobs are often not paid and things that nobody else in society wants to do, like picking up roadkill or trash off the side of highways. All of these different parts of the industrial complex are working against these black men, trying to keep them down and out of society just so it can be better for them and their businesses. This complex makes it very easy to compare the prison system as a whole to slavery.

Not only have men experienced the unfair exploitation of the American prison system, but it also has had a damaging effect on African American women as well. The same capital greed that is taking jobs away from African American men is doing the same thing to women. It is not hard to imagine the difficulty that these when it comes to finding and keeping jobs and the impact that this has on their families as a result. Like the Rockefeller Drug Laws, the law saw groups like The Black Panthers as a way of criminalizing black individuals because they are already doing something that was seen as deviant, so it was easier to justify putting them in jail (Sudbury, 2002) . The deviant thing in this case would have been being proud of being black. Sudbury (2002) states that as the white population saw it, these black individuals protesting could be equated with violence and lawlessness. Criminalizing these men and women was seen as the easiest way to deal with them rather than fixing the social issues that they were protesting about. This criminalization also is not something that has just taken place in the United States. It has been stated by Elkins et al (2001) that certain British officials have actually even changed the way that they report on someone’s ethnicity, so the actual number of black men and women incarcerated is reduced compared to what it actually is. Also, much like how the male prisoners are exploited for their labor in the American prisons, the same thing is done to black British women. As a part of the prison industrial complex, keeping these women in prison is helping to make sure that the capital stays exactly where they want it, in the hands of the wealthy, white men. Back in the United States, minorities like black and Latina women are more likely to be given a minimum sentence that they have to serve (Waters, 1998). There are more black women being charged with possession of crack because of its low price and its invasion into poorer neighbourhoods, where the black individuals live. This also supports the fact that black women are seen as a cog in the working machine that is the industrial complex. They are seen as something to help increase the wealth of the white man in America. They are basically kept away from the rest of society as a way to keep them of gaining their own capital that the white man so desperately wants to keep. Not only are black men and women subjects of this oppression by the treatment system, transgender individuals in prison are the victims of this horrible treatment both inside and outside of the prison walls.

Although this is not unique to this group of people, it is important to acknowledge that transgender individuals also experience unfair treatment by society and those in power, especially those in the prison. Our society sees transgender individuals as being deviant for a couple reasons. One being that they identify as something other than heterosexual. Also, there is an increased number of black transgender individuals that do sex work, so their deviance is masked as being because of their sex work when it’s really about their race. The fact that they do not conform to one gender is also seen as a problem and a way to deem them as deviant (Marksamer, 2008). These people are only seen as deviant because they are doing something to survive that is not deemed by society as acceptable, for black people anyway. Their transgender identity often makes it difficult for them to find jobs, which leads them to resort to unsafe means like sex work. The police often treat them differently because of their sex work and because of this, many black transgender sex workers are physically assaulted and blamed by police officers (Graham, 2014). Actions like this make it very difficult for them to have any sort of positive relationship with the police and even if they are having a serious problem, they will not talk to law enforcement about it (Graham, 2014). This stems from a fear of being further stigmatized or becoming a victim of another sexual or physical assault at the hands of someone who is supposed to protect you no matter your skin colour, gender identity, socioeconomic status and so on. Instead, they use the fact that these individuals are doing sex work, something that is illegal no matter what, to hide their closeted racism and transphobia and criminalize them for it.

The theory of intersectionality can also be applied in this case of black transgender individuals. This is because these individuals are black, transgender and do not identify as straight so there are multiple systems of oppression at work here. In the case of the transgender black individual, the layers of oppression are piled on top of each other. In terms of intersectionality, the more systems of oppression that are at work as a result of powerful institutions, the more likely it is that your life is going to be negatively impacted by it. When it comes to all three roles of being black, transgender and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, all three intersect in many ways. All of them face oppression from the governmental power/prison system. The prison system/prison industrial complex keeps them all in prison as holding the labor force in the hands of white people because white people want to keep the black individuals from gaining any sort of capital over them. The people in power, in this case society and the prison institution want them to have less of a voice. They are all seen as being deviant solely because of their skin color but other things are conveniently used (laws, protesting behaviour) so the racism is not as blatantly obvious. The people in power want us to view them as bad because in this case, being normal is being a straight, white, wealthy man so being transgender, black, a woman or all 3 goes against the “normal”.

The systematic oppression of these groups is not something that we need to accept as a society even though that idea has been legitimized by those in power for so long.

The American Civil War stands at the central spot of American history and defines a pivotal movement that would change the course of the nation’s politics and economy. The war, which started in 1861, split America into two factions (Kingseed 3). The central element of the American Civil War was slavery. As slavery flourished in the South, it gradually died out in the North. The then-President Thomas Jefferson condemned slavery as an inhumane act (Kingseed 4). Even though he was a slave owner, he saw the need to abolish legalized slavery. After Jefferson died in 1826, states’ rights and nullification came into conflict, but the significant issue that underscored them was slavery (Kingseed 4). With the end of the civil war and the ratification of the 13th amendment in 1865, slavery was legally abolished (Lebron, “Opinion | Who First Showed Us That Black Lives Matter?”). Nevertheless, the violence against black people increased at an unprecedented scale.

Similarly, the Black Lives Matter movement started in 2013 with the death of Trayvon Martin. George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, shot seventeen-year-old Martin due to unfounded suspicions (Lebron, The Making of Black Lives Matter: A Brief History of an Idea x). Later, for the shock of the American black population, Zimmerman was acquitted for the murder of Martin. Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi created #BlackLivesMatter to find justice for Martin’s death. The movement gradually gained traction and started to mobilize actions against discrimination and racial prejudice embedded in the American justice system.

Both events have parallelisms between each other in terms of the aspects of discrimination and slavery. African Americans, during the time of slavery, were lynched, tortured, and killed. Even after the Civil War, African Americans still underwent discriminatory treatment from the system. Although the American Civil War was fought to abolish slavery in the South, it is also a movement created to eradicate inequality and restore humanity. On a similar scale, the Black Lives Matter movement represents a renewed fight against inequality perpetrated against the black community. Trayvon Martin’s murder is one in a series of incidents targeted against blacks, and it stems from prejudice and racism still existing within the layers of the social and political system.

However, the American Civil War differs from the Black Lives Matter movement in terms of the period of both events. Furthermore, white society played a significant role in driving the fight to the fulfillment of its goals. On the other hand, African Americans stand at the forefront of the Black Lives Matter movement. Also, in the second movement, a significant share of the fight is done through online platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. Furthermore, unlike the American Civil War, which was between two factions of America, the Black Lives Matter was a fight against the entire justice system of America to push for reform laws that will protect African-Americans from the discriminatory and racial assaults.

Both events reflect the fact that despite the American Civil War, racism and discrimination still exists within the American society. Moreover, the event is only the beginning of the African-Americans’ efforts to eradicate racial prejudices. Despite the American Civil War and the abolishment of slavery, African-Americans still struggles under discriminatory practices, which only denotes that the fight against inequality and racial injustice is far from over. Therefore, the Black Live Matter movement signifies the evolving nature of the struggle against racial injustice, prejudice, and discrimination.

Works Cited

1. Day, Elizabeth. “#Blacklivesmatter: The Birth Of A New Civil Rights Movement.”

Speaker: I’m qualified to speak about this issue because I’m passionate about learning history. I think it’s crucial to draw ties between similar social movements because you might be able to prevent repeating history.

Purpose: The purpose of this letter is to inspire those in the Climate Change movement to learn from their opponents and not view the incoming hate as necessarily detrimental.

Audience: My audience is the Climate Change movement. I chose this movement because they have recently come under fire due to a controversial speech given at the UN (see: Exigence). They have the most to benefit from their opposition.

Context: The Climate Change movement is a group that advocates for policies that contribute to the conservation of our planet. Specifically, their biggest concern is global warming, caused by harmful pollution and agriculture. As politicians refuse to accept demands for renewable energy, global warming becoming more and more of an issue. However, the climate change movement is controversial because of individual outspoken global warming deniers.

Exigence: Last Tuesday, child advocate Greta Thunberg presented a highly emotional speech to the UN to convince lawmakers to implement climate change policy. Ever since there’s been an ongoing debate if her angry address was warranted. Some critics have gone so far as to speculate Thunberg of being a victim of child abuse. Regardless, the current situation with the Climate Change movement requires a different mindset going forward. This is what I’m trying to change in my letter.

Choices: Throughout most of the essay, I utilize an extended analogy for the Climate Change movement with the Black Lives Matter movement. This is effective because I draw links between the two movements. Furthermore, I implemented repetition to create emphasis on the traits of supporters and nonsupporters. For example, I repeated, ‘they are … they don’t… they spread.’ (2) My usage of this technique increases the prominence of the opposition. This adds additional effect and makes it a bit easier to read.

Appeals: I have integrated logical appeal the most throughout my letter. This truly helps with keeping a level tone and bolstering my credibility.

Tone: I have taken an advisory, informative tone throughout the letter. I’ve laid out the facts, and near the end, I give some advice that is backed by evidence. This neutral tone helps with persuasion in two ways. First, convincing on a logical basis gives me a lot more credibility. Second, having a neutral tone vividly stands out from the rage-charged arguments happening in the Climate Change debate today.

Dear Members of the People’s Climate Movement,

It’s clear that recent events – such as the Greta Thunberg’s divisive UN speech – have stirred up hatred against your cause. However, as the great Martin Luther King Jr. once said, basic supportiveness ‘is much more bewildering than outright rejection.’ Simply put, the opposition of others is more beneficial to your cause than people who mildly support it. Similarly, how strongly a group feels about an issue correlates to the group’s overall influence – whether or not it supports your cause. I advise you to perceive the incoming hatred against your movement as beneficial to the cause since your opposition can serve to bolster awareness of Climate Change.

Take the Black Lives Matters movement, for instance. There’s one side with individuals who perceive the entire movement as racist and anti-police. They are your keyboard warriors on Twitter; they are your ranting online bloggers. In general, they don’t succeed in spreading their views. However, they spread a crucial awareness of the problem. In fact, the BLM movement would not have become so big without the controversy surrounding it. The debate, the division, and the discussion all help fuel the fire of activism and change. Meanwhile, there are lukewarm supporters. These are people that agree with the issue halfheartedly. They understand all the statistics and keep up to date with the news. But how many of these ‘casual supporters’ will show up to BLM rallies? How many will post online as fervently as the radical opposers do? How many ordinary sympathizers will send notes to Congress and rally for reduced police brutality? In terms of actual contribution to an organization, a shallow supporter isn’t worth much, whereas an avid opposer will draw massive attention to an issue.

And then there are your hard-core supporters. They will educate others on the racial shooting statistics. They will spread the impact and lobby for racial equality. But perhaps most importantly, faithful supporters will benefit from the critiques given by their opposition. One such counter-argument to the Black Lives Matter movement is the ‘All Lives Matter’ movement, which serves to promote the defense of police brutality of all races. They argued that defending specifically black lives is inherently racist. BLM wisely revised its message. According to Alicia Garza, an advocate at the forefront of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, black lives are critically ‘important for [white people’s] liberation.’ (Smith) Garza’s crucial argument sufficiently addressed the opposition and strengthened the movement’s purpose, simply by extending the benefits of equality to whites as well. This debate is just one example of the impact of successfully using critiques to bolster an argument, or in this case, an entire movement.

Finally, those that oppose your cause are at least consistent in their beliefs. They have and will repeatedly reject your claims and substitute pseudo-science as an explanation. It’s incredibly easy to disprove their claims. However, the lukewarm supporters are unlikely to advance their cause or push for additional regulations. In a study done by the American Resistance, only ’12 percent of the people who were new to protesting’ in a gun-control rally, ‘was motivated to join the march because of the gun-control issue.’ (Fisher) This baffling claim leaves a critical question – what were the majority of participants passionate about? The article later reveals that these participants were protesting President Trump and peace issues. Clearly, a significant portion of gun control supporters was interested in pushing a completely different agenda. This goes to show that the most venerable opponents are at least more reliable than a mild supporter.

Now – how does this talk of the Black Lives Matter movement apply to your Climate Change movement? Some might say that the former is much more controversial than something that might as well be fact. Yet the Climate Change movement could do well to learn from their political opponents – or what not to do. View your opposers as an asset against the dangers of global warming.

Works Cited

1. Fisher, Dana R. ‘Here’s Who Actually Attended the March for Our Lives. (No, It Wasn’t Mostly Young People.).’ The Washington Post, WP Company, 28 Mar. 2018, www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/03/28/heres-who-actually-attended-the-march-for-our-lives-no-it-wasnt-mostly-young-people/.
2. Getsos, Paul. ‘Our Vision.’ Peoples Climate Movement, peoplesclimate.org/our-vision/.
3. Khan-Cullors, Patrisse. ‘About the Black Lives Matter Global Network.’ Black Lives Matter, blacklivesmatter.com/about/.
4. Smith, David. ‘The Backlash against Black Lives Matter Is Just More Evidence of Injustice.’ The Conversation, 29 Aug. 2019, theconversation.com/the-backlash-against-black-lives-matter-is-just-more-evidence-of-injustice-85587.

Short history & key studies where it is used

The social network analysis method for research began as an analytical tool to describe relationships within a community by structural anthropologists and sociologists, but is now an extremely useful tool for so many other social (and even nonsocial) sciences due to its versatile and relatively accessible nature. Social network analysis has become increasingly popular in studying social movements, where the collective mobilization of the group quite literally depends on/grows out of the relationships and connections of the individuals as well as the group as a whole; social network analysis stresses the notion that an individual’s behavior is very heavily influenced by its community and socialization, and the idea that “how an individual lives depends on how that individual is tied to larger webs of social connections” (Caiani 371). Social network analysis is very useful with studying social movements because it recognizes how these movements are comprised of many different individual actors each of which have their own extensive set of relationships, and how these collective networks and ties transmit not just information to one another, but shape the group’s values, frames, and even identities (Caiani 370). It is the recognition of the impact and influence these shared values and identities have on collective group action that make this method especially useful for researching violent and/or radical groups, who share very strong opinions on certain matters, which often leads them toward terroristic acts – whether they are a radical right or left group, or any other terrorist organization.

Basic how to on how to use the methodology (800)

Social network analysis is a great method for studying social movements because it recognizes these movements as a product of a social framework, which is comprised of actors and ties – or the group members and their relationships – which shape the group’s beliefs, decision making, and their collective action or mobilization. With that being said, the first step in analyzing the social network of a chosen social movement is identifying these actors, or determining which members or associates of the movement belong in the network. This part of the process can be rather difficult, as it can be hard for an outsider to determine who should be considered an actor in the chosen movement, but for the most part when determining who should be included in the network all of the following should be included: all actors who have self-identified as being members of a group or movement, all individuals who personally took part in a group’s actions, and even individuals who are only briefly involved with the group, or only played a minor role in the eventual actions of the group.

Once the nodes – or actors of the network have been decided, researchers then create a graphical representation of these nodes and map out the ties or relationships between actors. When mapping ties, it’s also important to categorize or rank the ties. There are many different categorizations of ties – they can be binary or not, symmetrical or asymmetrical, and even negative or positive (Perliger Pedahzur 8). And while it is important to differentiate each tie “type”, it is more important to differentiate the strength of ties, because that is thought to have a far more significant influence on the social dynamics and eventual actions of the group. When differentiating ties, you have weak ties – which are relationships with acquaintances, and then strong ties – which are relationships with family and close friends. When determining the strength of a tie, the most important factors to consider are the magnitude and frequency of interaction between actors. Many vital internal group processes and dynamics, such as solidarity, cooperation, and conflict resolution depend on the strength of the ties between members, so it is important to pay close attention to those components of the network.

How can this method be used to study social movements?

Social network analysis can be used to study social movements in a multitude of ways. As we know many of today’s social movements have a vast number of relationship networks from vocal leaders who act as public figures to the movement, as well as their followers, and the many lower level members who are more involved with direct grassroots organizing. Looking specifically at a movement such as Black Lives Matter (BLM), we see the extensive network the movement has built, from their strong online presence and connections, to their nationwide organization which has chapters in most major cities, as well as their strong alliances with many influential political figures, activists, and other grassroots organizations. Black Lives Matter is an especially interesting social movement to look at using social network analysis, not just because of the extensive network of personal relationships they have built through their demonstrations and organizing, but also how their social media presence has amplified their voices, and helped to grow their social network in ways previously impossible to social movements.

By using the social network analysis to study a movement such as Black Lives Matter, we can learn not just how these groups interact or function internally, but also how these groups are influenced by outside actors or connections. We would first analyze and rank the actors of the group, looking at who the leaders of the group are and setting a hierarchy or chain of command. In this specific case, Black Lives Matter is a heavily surveilled social movement, and has been since the very beginning, which in one retrospect aids the social network analysis process, because many of the important actors in the network – as well as many of their close connections – have already been identified by law enforcement agencies. One could analyze the movement both as a whole, and/or by comparing each chapter’s social networks. Because social network analysis aims to uncover the specific relationships and internal dynamics that drive a movement to act a certain way, it may be better to compare chapters rather than looking at the movement as a whole, since one chapter may act radically different than another simply due to a specific connection or relationship said chapter has developed. For example, if the Cincinnati chapter of Black Lives Matter works directly with someone who has been a victim of police brutality, or has a history of violent run ins with police, they may operate their chapter in a much different and potentially more “violent” way than a chapter who directly works with organizations who stress nonviolent action. We can also use this method to investigate the public response to the movement, and what recruitment process look like/produce; we can study this by looking to see if joining a specific chapter of the BLM movement increases the likeliness of one to partake in more violent or “radical” demonstrations, or if the relationships they build in a specific city leads to more peaceful protests against police brutality.

We would also look at the online nodes of these city movements. Black lives matter basically grew out of social media, so it is clearly a pivotal node in the movement. Twitter and Facebook are two of the biggest places where the BLM movement has a lot voice and does a lot of it’s recruiting, so it can give a lot of insight into group dynamics and interactions. Social media allows us to observe who individuals are interacting with online as well as in person, what they are sharing, and who is responding to these posts and visiting these websites.

Ethical concerns (300 words)

The social network analysis methodology does raise some ethical concerns that can and should be examined – specifically around consent and privacy. As we know privacy is a right Americans hold very dear, and when using the social network analysis methodology you would be monitoring American citizens; This means that individuals of interest are being heavily surveilled, not just in their activism, but in their freetime, their online presence, and their interactions with other individuals (ex. catching up with friends or spending time with family members). This could be seen as a breach of privacy, not just to those people of interest – but also the unwilling and possibly completely uninvolved individuals such as family members who are unaware of a loved ones involvement in a movement or some sort of illegal activity. Incorrectly associating someone with a movement, especially a violent or potentially violent movement could put said individual in danger – either through political or state violence, or retaliation by the “real” members of interest who may feel as though they can no longer trust this person. In addition to surveilling unconsenting individuals, this method could also lead to the inaccurate categorizing – and even criminalizing – an entire movement or group of people based off the actions of a few members of the network. Also, since your online footprint never goes away, another risk this method runs is linking a person’s past online activity to their current beliefs or behaviors, when in reality they may not actually hold such beliefs or engage in said actions anymore.

Works Cited

1. Caiani, Manuela. “Social Network Analysis.” Methodological Practices in Social Movement Research, Oxford University Press, 2014.
2. Perliger, Arie, and Ami Pedahzur. “Social Network Analysis in the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence.” OpenSIUC, Working Papers, 2010, opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/pn_wp/48/.

It is clear the study of Black Lives Matter and ‘RhodesMustFall’ needs to put such emphasis on global history due to the disparity between blacks and all races not just within the UK and the US but also in India, Spain, etc. Becoming victims of many forms of racism including structural and institutional, but also subjected to constant threats, verbal abuse, and exploitation of the law, these political movements highlight every aspect of black history for several reasons. Reiterating the issues decades, years, or centuries ago that have led them to this moment will inform new generations of the past as well as to never repeat them again. Also, historically a lot of individuals from the past have now been idolized for their work and contribution to society, but their hindrance has been overlooked such as Winston Churchill, for instance during their era it was normalized to be a racist or to colonise different countries, arguably he played a big role in helping WW2 but clearly figures like him should not be glorified as such heroes.

Firstly, BLM is a political organization that puts a lot of emphasis on its past due to the many altercations between the government, police, institutions, and public perspective which have been severely hindering any change in literacy, rights, numeracy and even affecting the area which people live in. The author of ‘From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation’ by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, plainly exclaims the key importance of history by claiming that ‘to unfold Black history would include understanding the repression of the federal government exacted against its ‘internal enemy’ to break their influence among ordinary African Americans’ (Taylor, 2016). This quote is evident considering the past injustices that have happened over the years whilst people turned a blind eye to it, notably; one of the most incriminating forms of injustice that has happened to Blacks would be the case of George Stinney Jr., although this case happened in 1944 it holds the utmost significance of injustice towards Blacks by being the youngest person to be executed legally in America only to be overturned after his passing in 2014. (Routine, 2005) This is not the only injustice that has impacted modern black Americans on their actions, living standards, jobs, and education but also the institutions that derive from governments such as the Police. The criticism that comes with policing institutions is when they purposely find ways to instigate more crimes by enforcing smaller crimes such as broken windows, possession of marijuana, and broken taillight, commonly known as ‘behavior of the disproportionately poor and working-class people’, by pushing minor offenses on Black Americans it would impact their reputation or any job opportunities since this tends to happen in poorer regions some may not be able to afford to pay off their petty crime bill which would thus lead to more black prisoners. (Ben Mabie, 2016) Relatively, blacks have been hindered through institutions from advancing through jobs or simply moving onto better areas since police heavily focus their attention on policing and enforcing the law mostly on petty crimes to hinder any progress. Unfortunately, the sole purpose of this would send black people to prisons which historically have made US funded through prison camp labour, depending on the state they could make as little as $0 and up to $5.15. (Criminal Justice Institute, 2000) Hence, BLM emphasizes history the most due to the illegitimacy of judiciary that takes place but also to hold it against them.

Furthermore, equally to BLM the movement of #Rhoadesmustfall movement protested at the University of Cape in 2015 which was commemorating Cecil Rhodes which was followed up by large amounts of attention. The movement is described as a ‘collective in which students and members work together for direct action against the racist university institution’ (Fall, 2016), the symbol of that statue reminded many students of the Imperialist politician who took part in the annexation of South Africa, although he founded the University of Cape Town the situation of his past cannot be overlooked due to his deplorable crimes. The protests which include the falling of the statue of Rhoades are founded by the principle that any South African life has ‘improved either negligibly or not at all’, thus a symbol to dedicate a statue to a war criminal would be viewed as a symbol of oppression and white privilege. (Nyamnjoh, 2016) Equally, another protest that occurred during the same year was the removal of Mahatma Gandhi from the University of Ghana, history is upheld on behalf of all South-South Africans, even though he was an iconic leader in non-violent protest inspired rebels and revolutions around the world, his ideals were very chaotic. For instance, his conservative views displayed racism by referring to blacks as ‘Kaffirs’ and numerously attempted to segregate browns and blacks from each other, after forming the NIC (Natal Indian Congress) one of his first acts was campaigning against equality for Indians and black South African, he also instituted for a third door at the post office for the sole purpose he does not share with black people, thus it was achieved. (Anon., 2021) To conclude, the two protests of BLM and the statue protests equally suggest the emphasis on history playing a major role in the perception of black Americans, and black Africans everywhere, it seems overtime ‘national heroes’ are always overlooked for their racism and though they may have had some significance on society there is no room for glorification.

Overall, the emphasis on history does not solely rely on just ‘blacks’, but over history, leaders and their achievements have been overlooked severely, thus leading the next generations to glorify racists, they may have been significant heroes for a certain race but also diminishing another with the example of Rhoades should hold its criticism, funding a university solely based off annexation should be seen as appalling and not something to adore.