An Examination of How Music Mirrors Societal Issues
Perspectives of Institutionalized Racism Although the United States government is currently engaged in stopping foreign civil rights atrocities, it turns a blind eye to violence acted out against African Americans within its borders (PR N., 2014, para. 4). In South Carolina, the “rebel flag hang[s] from the state house walls” (Bryan, 1994, line 2), serving as a constant reminder of the institutionalized racism that reflects U.S. social tensions today. Another discriminatory racial injustice that occurred during the 1990s was the Anti-Drug Act of 1986. Possession of 5 grams of crack (90% of crack defendants were African American) and 500 grams of powder cocaine (more popular with
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4). Not only is racial tension portrayed through brutality and violence, but it is also apparent in various aspects of public education such as unfair character labeling, racial stereotypes, harsh school punishments, and discrimination from teachers. These inequalities present in what is supposed to be a “color blind” society create the notion that “America does not love [all] children” (Manzama, 2015, p. 11) and engender distrust in the education system. Moreover, impoverished minorities feel a sense of resentment as a result of discrimination based on economic racism and injustice. These minorities tend to rebel when they can no longer bear the weight of their anger and they believe the sentiment favours change (Chavis, 2015, p. 4). Thus we discover that throughout the history of the United States, racism has played a factor, ingraining its malicious effects into the moral fiber of American Society.
Historical Perspectives
Several aspects of racial prejudice today, demonstrated in both police brutality and unjust treatment of minorities, evidence atrocities that can be linked to a national history of violence and resentment towards one another. To take racism back to when freedom seemed achievable is to travel back to the Civil Rights Act of 1960s which sparked national controversy not exclusively in the South. The modern interpretation of this backlash is most accurately portrayed in the movie Selma, in which Martin
As a legacy of the Civil Rights Movement, blatant racism is no longer viewed as acceptable social behavior. However, the absence of blatant individual racism cannot be equated to the absence of structural racial discrimination. With the Thirteenth Amendment preserving slavery as punishment in the prison system, criminality is being manipulated by the media to be associated with race. We see the full effects of the overrepresentation with War on Drugs legislation, which are policies that categorized drug use as a crime instead of health issue pushed forward by the Reagan administration. The master narrative of the criminality painted the legislation as colorblind, or nondiscriminatory, policies that will benefit all citizens and created
In today’s modern world, many people would be surprised to find out that there is still a racial caste system in America. After witnessing the election of a black president, people have started believing that America has entered a post-racial society. This is both a patently false and dangerous mindset. The segregation and stigma of race is still very much alive in our society. Instead of a formalized institution such as slavery or Jim Crow, America has found a new way to continue the marginalization of blacks by using the criminal justice system. In Michelle Alexander’s book “ The New Jim Crow”, she shows how America’s “ War on Drugs “ has become a tool of racial segregation and how the discretionary enforcement of drug laws has
The movie Selma is about 1965 campaign by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to protect the equal voting right for African-American citizens. So the main theme of this movie is that every citizen should have a right to vote and all citizens should have equal voting rights. This movie is likewise loaded with religious and profound themes in regards to the power of love, encounter with insidiousness and abhors, the power of confidence, the power of religious groups, boldness, and freedom. Selma demonstrates a significant occasion in current U.S. history and with remedies for its deception identifying with President Johnson, can upgrade a unit on the U.S. Civil Rights Movement and additionally
Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness outlines how the criminal justice system has systematically designed new methods of discriminating against African Americans. The book advocates for racial justice, specifically, for African Americans and contends they [African Americans] were targeted and subsequently incarcerated, by white voters and public officials, through the War on Drugs campaign. President Reagan and his Administration exploited racial hostility or resentment for his own political gain and administered cash grants to law enforcement agencies that made drug enforcement a priority. “Nothing has contributed more to the systematic mass incarceration of people of color in the
Statistics have shown that three out of every four black men are expected to be imprisoned at least once in their lifetime, normally associated with the usage, selling, and or handling of drugs (Kerby, 2012). Regardless of the evidence that shows that all races are equally susceptible and apart from the drug epidemic, African Americans have been number one in charts. In the article “The New Jim Crow: How the War on Drugs Gave Birth to a Permanent American Undercaste”, Michelle Alexander discusses how to this day African-Americans remain as the most prominent target of America. Alexander acknowledges how the rising drug war has labeled African Americans as “Bad Guys”. Alexander’s mission is to expose the racism in America and its influence
Racism and racial stereotypes have existed throughout human history. The radical belief associated by thinking the skin color, language, or a person’s nationality is the reason that someone is one way or another has become extremely detrimental to society. Throughout human existence it has sparked tension between groups of people and ultimately influenced wars and even caused slavery. Racism in America dates back to when Native Americans were often attacked, relocated, and assimilated into European culture. Since then, racism within the states has grown to include various other cultures as well. In the essays by Brent Staples, Bharati Mukherjee, and Manuel Munoz, they discuss the various causes as well as the effects that racial stereotyping can place on a victim and the stigma it leaves behind for the society to witness.
Berardinelli speaks on how most Civil Rights movies down play the violence, but it does not offer the truth to the viewers that want to learn more. Nashawaty compliments DuVernay on the brilliant directing with the excellent cast that offer compelling yet abstract and realistic eye in King’s 3 months in 1965 in Selma. The Brussats stated that their favorite thing about ‘Selma’ was “that it is so convincing in its portrayal of how nonviolent action can effect social change.” The Clifford’s rated ‘Selma’ a “B+” saying it couldn’t be overstated, also said that ‘Selma’ is a good history lesson about a great man doing a great thing. Johnson is basically said that it’s a magnificent film, vital and alive, with the most profound sense of immediacy I think have ever felt in a historical story.
Michelle Alexander talks about racial justice and mass incarceration in The New Jim Crow. There is such a high rate of incarceration in the United States. The drug war today is doomed to fail, especially because drugs dealers will replace one another. This war consists of drug related crimes and violence. Suspects of drug wars are racially discriminated by law enforcement officials. Most dealers and users are white. Three out of four of imprisoners for drug offenders are Latino or African American. Police subject the poor and look into ghettos for drugs. In the 1980s, police officers focused on white crack users rather than black, later shifted its attention and gave everyone
As crowds listened with bated breath on a warm August day in 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. pronounced “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.” Over half a century later, prejudice and discrimination on the basis of race and ethnicity still exist in societies around the world; Dr. King’s dream has yet to be realized. The three sociological perspectives provide an understanding for what causes racism in our world.
As a young educated African American women, I value up holding a strong reputation, equality, and being unbiased. Throughout my life I have notice how judgmental and hypocritical our society has become, which has not only impacted the way we view each other but it has also changed our values and morals. However, in order to understand our society you must understand what has impacted it over the years and one of those was music.
What does music mean to you? Do you think it’s changed from the different styles of music and the way that music sounds from when it started? Music can play a big part and role on society. There are many different types of music and music festivals in today’s society. Music has changed a lot within the past few decades. Music festivals have pretty much stayed the same. People can be judged on the type of music that they listen to as well as the way that they dress. In this essay I will consider how music relates to a sociological theory, three social concepts, how music has changed, peoples clothing appearance, race in relation to music, TV in relation
Throughout the history of mankind, music has existed in an irremovable capacity in our existence. It has pervaded through every culture, every country and even through the deepest reaches of the dark void of space. Music has also existed in every religion known to the human race. But can music itself be considered a religion in its own right? Music is celebrated and revered by almost all who listen to it, and the health benefits associated with music are growing with every bit of research performed. It would seem appropriate that music would enjoy the status of a major religion, especially since very nearly every art form is bound to music in one way or another, and considering that without music our society as a whole would quite possibly cease to be in its entirety. To get a better idea behind the religion of music and what qualifies it for religious status, a closer look must be taken at three specific points. The music of the religious in terms of history, the music of culture and country, and the music of our daily lives.
The relationship between music and society is an exceptionally powerful and crucial one. In some cases, this relationship is viewed as one that is harmonious and beneficial to large communities of people. However, that exact relationship could also be scrutinized as one that is extremely discordant to other communities. Green Day happens to fall precisely in the middle of that musical spectrum, depending on who is asked. Regardless of opinion, songs are much more than just music and are essentially retained as pieces of history. These songs help showcase the trends, behaviors, and even struggles of different time periods. With that being said, one may ask “What all did the musical group Green Day contribute to society?”.
Music has affected lives in many ways. It affects emotions, fashion and even the way people live. Music has affected society. Music has been around for more than thirty thousand years, and has been evolving ever since. It has played an important role in every human culture from the past and present. Whenever an individual is feeling unhappy the person usually listens for entertainment or to soothe their environment. Certain type of music can change an individual’s mood. Music has been used in movies, fairs, parties, and ceremonies. Almost every occasion has music involved but before the 1850’s, outdoor public music in American cities was barely developing. Public music like festivals, outdoor band concerts did not exist. By 1871 most of the music people would listen to was “church” music. Not many genres have been known and most of the popular artist were from Europe. Great artist from Europe would consider America the last place of visiting on a professional tour.
Statistics show that the average American listens to around four hours of music each day (Stutz 2). This means that Americans listen to roughly 1,460 hours of some type of music every year. If people listen to this much music, there has to be a way to use it for good. Once people stop thinking about music as just an extracurricular or a way to pass time, the music movement will grow by showing others what crazy things it can do. Right now, America is all about using everyday activities and making them into something more. Being engaged in music, and all fine arts, is a perfect example of an underdog exceeding people’s expectations and doing great things. Music has been shown to make connections in the mind, aid patients with alzheimer 's and dementia, and help students succeed more in school.