Individual Civil Rights - Essay Example

Individual Civil Rights Carlos is talking about empowering the youth to be leaders in life at a young age. Dr. IsatouTouray is advocating for the rights of women who are undergoing life threatening health practices like female genital mutilation. De Anna is talking about how the black hair can promote salon business, and Armstrong is advocating for the civil rights of individuals even when faced with life threats. Thomas Armstrong is an African American who grew up in Mississippi. While growing up, he had a rough time because he grew up in a country where black people were regarded as insignificant. Their work was in the fields, and they were not permitted to mingle with the white because they thought that they were superior to the blacks. During voting, the African Americans were entirely removed from the voting list and were not permitted to participate in the voting process. This did not go well with Armstrong; hence, he began freedom rides commonly known as demonstrations. This was one way, to fight for the civil rights of the African Americans in order to participate in the voting process. After the demonstrations, they could come back in pain, but they felt valued because their message had been passed. Although they were wounded no people gave them attention and were forced to live in pain for years, but they were ready to fight for the quality of their future (Wisenberg 1). It is true that racism also exists in the American States. It is evident in some of their actions where some black high school students’ drop out of school at a high rate, and it is also evident in the prison population where the high percentage belongs to the African Americans, yet they have a low percentage in the general population (Garlock 1). De Anna who is an assistant professor in history at California is an activist who advocates for black hair entrepreneurs to start salons and shops and use them to educate the society, employ other people, as well as use them for charity purposes. Anna empowers women not to be afraid of the natural hair, but simply embrace the hair as a God’s given gift of pride. Black hair debate can be political she says. None blacks are bothered by how the blacks are able to put up with the kinky hairstyles, as well as how they are able to manipulate their hairs into various styles. They cannot imagine how the blacks do it. The white get attracted, and they sometimes may want to touch the black hair as if it were on display. The politics of hair is seen when president Obama came into the limelight, the media were interested in Michelle, Sasha and Malia’s hair, and this was not the first time media was doing this. It is also evident when a reporter by the name Melba was suspended from work for wearing an afro on-air. Also after 10 years, Reed was suspended from job as a news anchor for wearing cornrows on-air. A woman was complaining when she was topped by the transportation security administration screeners so that they could check her kinky hair (Viera 2). For several years, there has been pressure on the blacks to wear straight hair so as to conform to society and workplaces where a silky straight hair from that which is natural is preferred. The blacks are looked down upon by their fellow blacks for wearing natural hair, terming them as nonconformist and those that are against establishing themselves, which creates a negative stigma. Most mothers, who have daughters with natural hair, have many times used chemicals to make their hair look straight thinking that this makes them look beautiful, and the hair is easily manageable. They ignore the fact that these chemicals can bring a disastrous effect on the children after prolonged use. In the mainstream of entertainment, African Americans are forced to wear long, silky and with flowing dreadlocks and this is rated at the top. This encourages the blacks not to wear their natural hair, but to go for the artificial hair as this is what the society desires (Viera 2). Dr. Isatou is also advocating for the rights and in particular those that affect women and children healthwise. She comes up with the fight against female genital mutilation one that she believes is a health risk to this group of individuals. She talks about a systems approach that is geared to eliminate female genital mutilation (FGM). This system approaches communities who share the same cultural practices like that of FGM and who share the same circumcisers who is usually a representative from every community in three different regions in Gambia, are called to support the fight against FGM practice. She further explains that some religious leaders discourage the advocacy saying that it is not a religious obligation and especially if it has to do with empowering women. They also have influence on media who deny these organizations the right to promote the rights of women against FGM, but despite all these resistance, she goes ahead to explain that they are succeeding and have resorted to reaching out to the community through outreach programs, and it has given a positive feedback (Dibba 3). In African cultures, a girl cannot be considered an adult unless she undergoes FGM. This is simply termed as an initiation to womanhood. The removal of this practice will mean that an individual is despising culture. Also, the culture believes in practicing FGM has proven to be the main obstacle in reducing FGM practices. Some of this believes include; a woman’s sexual desire reduces and; therefore, sex before marriage will be unheard off. It is also believed that unless a girl undergoes this practice she is unclean and will not be allowed to handle food and water in the community. They also believe that FGM helps a woman to be fertile, and finally severe genital odors are believed to be eliminated if FGM is practiced. Hence, due to these believes, the organization has gone ahead to explain the dangers one poses if she accepts FGM. It goes ahead to give health practices that serve as an alternative to FGM such as seminars. In these seminars, women are taught various issues on becoming a woman. It is believed that culture can only change if the people themselves realize that some cultures are outlived and need to be scrapped off (Dibba 3). Carlos Ojeda Jr. is a young Individual from New ark, New Jersey, who has had a rough time in life and has risen from this life to a life that is admired by many. His passion and ambition made him overcome the obstacles he experienced and made it through life. In his life, he was quite obsessed with life’s events and had the urge to share his experiences with his fellow youth. Carlos is a writer, poet and speaker, and because of this he extended his ability through education in the media and directly spoke to the youth in workshops and educational seminars. He uses his words to transform the youth into young leaders (Ojeda 1). Carlos was demeaned in his early years of life in school, but never lost hope. He just thought that they were being harsh on him because he was a Latino and Latinos are seen as poor, and with no way forward. Little did his teachers know that Carlos believed in the sayings that do not judge a book by its cover but its content. Throughout his education, Carlos was able to prosper and emerge a graduate first from his family with honors and is now using his example to talk to the youth that they should never allow people to demoralize them, and they have to step up and shape to be somebody in society (Ojeda, 1). In conclusion, these four events have one thing in common they are geared to promote change in individuals’ life by advocating for their rights. That is the right to civil rights, the right of women and children to be protected and the right to live a life the way they dream of and the way they feel they are comfortable. These events also engage the citizen by making them participate in the change process. This then makes it easier for the process to be successful and yields a positive feedback. I tend to agree with all what the speakers are saying since they advocate for change in individuals life and protecting the rights of these individuals plays an essential role. I would take Carlos event to compare with my personal view where to get an education; we had to go through several challenges. I was brought in a patriarchal society where a woman’s place was in the kitchen, and there was no need to go to school. Through an organization in my community, I was managed go through with the school to a point where I have a masters, and this has made me lift my head up to prove to people that education belongs to everyone. Works cited Dibba, Omar. FGM in the context of women’s rights in Gambia. 28 April, 2012. Gamcoptrap.com. 29 April 2012. http://www.gamcotrap.gm/content/index.php. Web Garlock, Terry. Racism is alive and well in America. Peachtree city: Layette publishing. 2012. Print. Ojeda, Carlos. Cultural identity and pride. 15 September, 2011. Carlosojedajr.com. 29 April, 2012. http://www.carlosojedajr.com/index.asp. Web Viera, Bene. Hair politics of natural Vs. permed. California: Essence communications Inc. 2010. Print. Wisenberg, Sean. Freedom fighter Thomas Armstrong on segregation progress and trauma of war. Chicago: Foundation publishers. 2011. Print. Read More