Social Issues Essays

Aboriginal beliefs and cultural influences have existed for thousands of years. With the movement of European settlement to Australia, many Aboriginals ways of life and attitudes were changed to fit those of aliens, the British. The staged drama, ‘Kullark’, written by Jack Davis, represents a time of injustice of a group that were considered to […]

Wifredo Lam (1902-1982), a notable Cuban surrealist artist, garnered attention due to his distinctive approach that blended his cultural roots with the societal themes that motivated him. Having traveled extensively throughout his life, artist Lam had the opportunity to learn from some of the world’s most renowned artists, including Pablo Picasso. Today, Lam is recognized […]

Black music serves as a means of defining the culture and community of its people who lacked literary and artistic talents and used singing as their outlet. Originally, the roots of jazz music can be traced back to African American churches where they sang the blues as a means of expressing themselves. Eventually, jazz gained […]

In the Declaration of Independence of 1776 it was declared that ‘all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their creator with inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness’. In 1791 the Bill of Rights reinforced this and stated that all men have equal rights and […]

Capital punishment is being punished in the worst possible way, by being put to death. Capital punishment has been around for many centuries. Although some see it as a deterrent, it has yet to be proven. With the exception of Turkey and the United States, the whole of NATO do not wish to use this […]

The ideology of racism is a fascinating area, we shall explore the profound impact racism has had in shaping the characteristics of inequality as demonstrated in all contemporary western societies (Thompson, 2003).H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie declared peace unattainable while the ideology of racism is in application. Speaking to the United Nations he reminded world leaders […]

In this essay, the focus will be on how racism is depicted in the film Malcolm X, which takes place during the 1960s and recounts the genuine story of Malcolm X’s life. Racism entails unfair treatment and animosity towards individuals of other races, while representation involves utilizing symbols or descriptions to define a person or […]

In comparison with the European urban heritage, which stretches back roughly 5500 years, the American transformation from village to city was achieved in an amazingly short space of time. From the eighteenth century on, Americans experienced the painful yet rewarding metamorphosis of an agrarian nation becoming an urban industrial giant that left few of her […]

Howard Zinn is arguably the most important American historian. He brought a radical transformation to the construction of history that was previously unheard of. By siding with the oppressed, the underprivileged, the victims, the poor and the weak, he made their voices heard through his writing. The People’s History of the United States is a […]

In her essay ‘The Possessive Individual and Social Death: The Complex Bind of National Subjectivity’, Grace Hong provides valuable insights into the historical social constructs. She delves into the evolution of American history since the Declaration of Independence, presenting a clear depiction of how the socio-polity hindered progressive changes. The book focuses on women of […]

Booker T. Washington delivered the “1895 Atlanta Compromise Speech” at the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta in front of a predominately white audience. Washington, who was born a slave in Virginia, went on to work as a child in the salt furnaces and coalmines of West Virginia. He was determined to receive an […]

I have been watching the FIFA World Cup ever since and I cannot help but be fascinated every time I see the rowdy and festive fans dancing and cheering for Brazil (see fig. 1). I recognized their moves – those hip swinging, feet stomping, very quick body movements – it was samba. I wondered why […]

In his book, The Louisiana Native Guards, James Hollandsworth gives a brief description of the initial African American Army division during the Civil War and the unfairness experienced by black people from both Southern and Northern white societies. Hollandsworth claims that this division was unique in Civil War records since they began as a ceremonial […]

In the novel, “If He Hollers, Let Him Go…”, the author introduces us to Bob Jones, a black man in America in the 1940s. We learn in the first few chapters that Bob dreams of a place where he can live free, where he is treated as a man and judged based on his actions […]

The foundation of belonging is often associated with the loss of a person’s individuality. Indeed, as the construction of one’s identity is highly intricate and ever – changing, several authorities often considers its development to be associated with our relationships. From this, it can be shown that belonging can be associated with the degradation of […]

Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon depicts African hero Milkman Dead’s exploration of his family’s history and his own upbringing, while also shedding light on the experiences of black individuals in society. The theme of “flying” carries significant meaning throughout the book, symbolizing different traits embodied by Milkman’s grandfather, father, aunt, and friend(s?). Within the black […]

Written in 1969, Dudley Randall’s poem “The Ballad of Birmingham” illustrates a mothers struggle to keep her young daughter away from harm during a civil rights rally in Birmingham. Throughout the poem, symbols such as a church, a child, and a shoe represent African-Americans and their fight against segregation. These symbols represent the struggle for […]

Audrey Lorde was a self described “Black lesbian, mother, warrior, poet. ” Her struggle against oppression on many fronts was expressed with a force and clarity that made her a valued voice for women, African Americans, and the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. However, in terms of dimensions of oppression that Audrey Lorde has […]

The membership in a particular group, like a specific race, can greatly influence an individual’s perception. Experiencing exclusion is common in social interactions as people choose whom to associate with or avoid. Discrimination based on factors such as race, gender, and religion is often practiced. Throughout history and even today, identifying with a specific race, […]

Popular phrases such as, “the Blacker the Berry, the Sweeter the juice,” and “If it’s White, it’s gotta be right,” have held opposing views in the African American community on the concept of skin complexion. This idea of a “Color Complex” has psychologically altered the way many African Americans perceive beauty, success, and their personal […]

Through many tolling years, the culture and development of women has changed significantly over centuries. Women, both Caucasian and African American alike, have overcome many obstacles to obtain their rightful places in society. The improvements have been few and far in between, and the progress slow and morose. Yet, even through the challenges of change, […]

The root of Caribbean Society and Culture is on the plantation. Mustapha (2009) posits that “The plantation played the principal role in the development of Caribbean culture. ” Indeed there are remnants of Plantation Society in present Caribbean, especially if one examines our class system. According to www. capesociology. org (n. d) “Academics contend that […]