Avish Zindal Week 9: A Little More Equal
At the time of our country’s conception, it had been declared to be a land where “all men are created equal,” but evidently some people are more equal than the rest. Throughout the history of our country, the majority group in power has oppressed those whom it considers to be “less American.” From the enslavement of those of African descent to the massacring and forced relocation of Native Americans, the American government has long taken actions to render targeted groups powerless.
Recently, reforms have been made through movements like the Civil Rights Movement, but this inequality still exists. In our society, our power mainly comes from our right to vote. When one loses that right, they are essentially powerless in this nation. Let’s take the legal system and discrimination against convicted felons. Anyone convicted with a felony can lose the right to vote, can be denied jobs, and can have their passport revoked. On top of that, getting convicted for a felony has never been easier. Any possession of illegal drugs can be charged with a felony, and some charges of DUI can be considered as felonies as well.
On its own, this doesn’t seem THAT unreasonable, but when you consider that police officers are disproportionately targeting minorities for these crimes, then it becomes yet another instance of oppression faced by certain groups, silencing their voices. Another powerless group consists of citizens of U.S. territories like Puerto Rico, who must abide by U.S. laws but have no vote.
The power structure of the U.S. has been forged to give the most power to the dominant group, with minorities being pushed to the periphery and given less of a voice to enact change in the country.
Hey Avish. There definitely is a power imbalance between different groups of people. I’m glad you mentioned both race and status. Although there is still definitely a massive discrepancy in terms of equality between races, it is much, much better than some 100+ years ago. In my personal opinion we’ve done a ton to make all races equal in voice in the past few years, but maybe my judgement is clouded because we live in California. I can’t speak for the entire USA, but at least here in California I feel like the issue of power imbalance between income brackets is greater than that of race. Folks who possess immense wealth also tend to have good connections which benefit them. For example, nepotism, getting houses at cheaper rates, evading taxes, can all be examples of power imbalance that exists due to being in different income brackets.
ReplyDeleteSo when you say “minorities” I consider that encompassing those historically marginalized groups/races, newly marginalized groups/races, and the financially weaker groups too. We can continue to make our society more fair for all skin colors, but in terms of equality between financial groups I think that’s pretty much impossible.
Our society is built with a hierarchy that has richer and more powerful people at the top. The modern American company uses this model, and I wouldn’t be surprised if schools and other public institutions also employed this.
I enjoyed your perspective on power imbalance, looking forward to reading your next blog!
Hello Avish! The title of your blog intrigued me right away, reminding me of the “Animal Farm” quote, “all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.” Power imbalances between the oppressed and the oppressors come in all forms, including race and socioeconomic status as you mentioned. I especially found insightful how you discussed the unproportional conviction rates that certain minority groups face from law enforcement. It is important to note that oftentimes these minority identities can intersect, putting certain individuals at even higher risks of unfair treatment. To continue, I am glad you mention the importance of voting because that is one of the most effective ways American citizens can exercise their power; change cannot occur unless people put in the work to elect officials into office that truly align with their beliefs. It is possible to pre-register to vote, and that is something I believe every American student should do if possible! It is unfortunate that certain groups of people prone to unfair treatment can have this power revoked from them, even though their votes might have changed their lives. I look forward to reading more of your writing in this new blog cohort!
ReplyDeleteHello Avish! I really resonate with this topic. I think it is a common belief that we are equal now and have seemingly left the barbaric practices of the past. But inequality exists today and the power structures in America is still flawed. I love how you began your blog with a bold claim accompanied by a well known phrase. The concept that “all men are created equal” has existed for more than a century. However, what it has meant changed over many decades, (ex: slavery). In the modern era, individuals convicted of felonies may be stripped of the right to vote. And as you deduced that infringes on a person’s power in this country. It’s never “all men” but “some men” in America that enjoy the luxury of existing in a society that benefits them. Your blog highlights how we need to recognize the power imbalance that still exists within minorities groups to this very moment. Your blog was really insightful and my personal take away is that we need to be constantly educated about different perspectives that live inside of our country. Your blog was really enjoyable to read and I hope to read more from you soon!
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