Social Justice Project

Social Justice: Looking at the World Through a Lense of Justice and Fairness

            I read an article called “Where Do We Go After Ferguson?” This deals with a very serious issue, which the Ferguson case has recently brought light to-racial divide and discrimination in the United States. When people think of racism, they might easily think of what was “ending” less than 100 years ago. But clearly, this issue has yet to be resolved or ended, as it has found it’s way into many modern day situations, like this one. Police Officer Darren Wilson saw Michael Brown as a “demonic force”, as the article states-and solely based on the color of his skin, therefore taking it upon himself to shoot and kill the unarmed black teenager. I find it completely unjust that Brown was shot, as he didn’t do any harm or pose a threat and was just minding his own business. Additionally, the fear Darren Wilson possibly had of him that influenced his death was judged based on the fact that he was black. Had it been a white teenager that Wilson came across, most likely he wouldn’t have shot. That’s not to say that police brutality is only directed towards black people, but that obviously much police brutality from white officers in the United States can be traced back to a frankly very flawed and racist perspective that many of them have. Something this article said that proved this perspective did and still does exists is “…Then you didn’t really see what any Negro looked like, because ‘the Negro was never an individual’ but ‘a threat, or an animal, or a curse.” This line was very important, because while whites might not be as extreme as to consider black people were animals or curses, they obviously consider them a threat. Lastly, I believe that Darren Wilson should have been indicted, as he was wrong in thinking this way, but more importantly wrong in shooting this teenager. It is an injustice that he wasn’t and that even now, years after moments in history that should have brought closure to the issue of racism, unfortunately many black people in this country still have to deal with people who never let go of these feelings.


           Some things I observed in my neighborhood that I think are unfair to human rights are

the dress code at M.S. 51 and homelessness.

 Although I find both of these issues very important, I want to elaborate on homelessness. Homelessness is a big problem. Thousands of underprivileged people live right under our noses in this huge city. Some are right on the street. And it might be hard for each person to try and help, but even just the smallest thing like giving someone a little money is a kind act. For example, the other day on the subway, I gave a homeless man some money. It wasn’t a lot at all, but it wasn’t more than he asked for, and it felt good. It felt good to give for once.

Interview with Addie Lovell

What is good about the world?

Puppies, kittens, food, drama, summer, holidays, pools, hot chocolate, fall, the beach, movies, One Direction, Larry, Starbucks, Netflix, Tumblr.

What is unfair about the world?

Women don’t earn the same pay as men for doing the same jobs, women get blamed for rape, there is such thing as rape culture, gay marriage isn’t allowed in some states, it’s unfair that a white police officer can shoot an unarmed black teen and gets paid $500 thousand and is not indicted, a white male teenager can rape a female student and not face any consequences, Obama is dismissing the Michael Brown case, people believe there should be laws enforcing what they can and cannot do with their bodies, animal abuse, people choose not to believe sexualities including bisexual, a sexual and demisexual exist and genders like transgender, agender and gender fluid really exist, although they do, there aren’t enough gun laws to stop people from buying guns and killing people, animal abuse, when a white teenager comes into a school and shoots children, people pity him and think he had a “mental disorder”, Nash Grier and Justin Bieber.

Just by looking at the second question, it is so much longer. Things that are good about the world are simple pleasures that she enjoys, while things that are unfair about the world are complicated and troublesome-rape, not believing in sexualities, gun control, and the Michael Brown case. One of her answers that really made me think was when she said people choose not to believe sexualities including bisexual, a sexual and demisexual exist. I think that people need to understand that others should be allowed to be themselves without being judged or dismissed by anyone else. Everyone should be celebrated for who they are, nothing less. I think it’s unfair that people take it upon themselves to judge others wrongly. 

            Something I saw in the news was a story about a football player named Costa Karageorge. The news said that he had recently ran away, after a series of concussions he had from football. Apparently, he was confused by the concussions. This makes me think about how dangerous sports can be. People can get injured and ruined so easily. If you really think about it, you hear a lot about stories lately about serious repercussions of playing football. Also, this case is really sad because he was recently found dead near his school, apparently with a self-inflicted gun wound. I can imagine Karageorge feeling very confused and depressed. He might regret choosing to play football because it caused him so much pain in the end. I know I would. If I were the family of Karageorge I would feel devastated about the terrible situation.

            Someone who changes the world every day is my grandmother. My grandmother is an animal activist. She is a vegan and doesn’t believe in animal abuse. She tries to help animals find homes. Every day she gets emails about unwanted animals and tries as hard as she can to help them find homes, by telling everybody she can in hopes of finding an owner. I find it inspiring that she has dedicated herself to animal rights and never stopped trying. She is also a therapist, so she helps people who need support every day, which is very inspiring.

          When I think about stereotypes in shows, I think of Glee. Glee is a show about a number of teenagers in high school who join together in a musical group called Glee. They’re all different, however many of the characters perpetuate certain stereotypes. For example, the show portrays social stereotypes, including that the football players date the popular, cheerleader girls. Also, the Asian boys parents push him to get amazing grades. The only Asians date each other and there are very few black kids not only in the club, but also in the whole school. Also, the girls are sometimes portrayed as very needy and attention seeking (such as Rachel and Quinn). I think it’s very important that people watching shows like this understand all people are different and that one group of people aren't and shouldn't be all one way, so as not to let these stupid stereotypes get to them. However, I think that aside from the perhaps excessive stereotypes perpetuated in the show, Glee promotes a very positive message, which is that people can come together and do something amazing despite their differences. At many different points in the show, one member would quit because they were changing and thought that being in Glee made them a loser or a social outcast, but they would always come around and rejoin. They realized that Glee was something very special and something they all wanted to be a part of. This club made a lot the characters break out of their shell and change. For many of them, high school was a very draining and tough experience and so in many parts, despite everything they had gone through themselves and with each other, they came to love Glee as a second family, or an outlet. So despite the stereotypes used in this show I think one of Glees more positive aspects is that it promotes a strong message about coming together. Although, it is pretty hard to overlook these stereotypes. Teenagers and adults are different and unique in so many ways and can't be categorized by these standards.