Social Darwinism - Term Paper Example

 Social Darwinism Social Darwinism is a situation that is used to describe an ideology where human beings struggle to survive in the society just like any other creature and living things. This idea has in many circumstances been referred to as “struggle for the fittest”. This theory was developed by Charles Darwin, a naturalist who discovered the evolution theory and it is from this theory that Darwinists base their arguments. Those who are in support of this theory are for the opinion that even the government should leave the people alone to conduct their social, economical or political lives the way they feel fit. They feel that people should learn to be competitive and struggle to get what they want in life which typically translates to the idea that those who have are the ones who will survive in the society. Darwinists go ahead to support the imbalances in the society based on race, social status and nations as some people are more fit than others. Social Darwinism can be used to refer to anyone who describes the society in terms of biological features, competition or natural law (Hawkins, 1997). This theory can be used to describe various theories both past and present ranging from the theories that judge people according to their biological characteristics to the attempt to reduce the amount of power that the government should have on the people. Most people though disregard this theory as they term it as socially irresponsible and a maltreatment of fellow humans in the society based on physical and biological characteristics (pg 173). In America, it has been noted that the black people have been sold out by their black leaders so that they (the leaders) can be assimilated by the white Americans. They are seemed to be in favor of the Social Darwinism against their fellow black people. This has been despite the fact that they have been disadvantaged in many ways in their own country and their white counterparts do not seem to care. Although there are no clear reasons as to why the blacks could be an enemy of their fellow brothers, there are a number of reasons that explain the reasons behind this phenomenon. First, the black leaders felt that they would gain more power and favor before their white counterparts. This was based on the fact that they originated from the slave community that were sold to America and it was natural that they would have wanted some recognition to enable them gain more ground, politically, economically and socially. Again, it could have been due to the fact that through selling out their fellow blacks out, they would gain more wealth individually as opposed to the Black Power policy that later came to show that all blacks were equal and should not be discriminated against. Black Power was a movement that was started in the 1960s to address the problems that the black Americans faced. These problems included those of racial segregation and discrimination. It aimed at promoting the pride of the blacks and ensuring that they developed their interests through the building of self-sufficient economy. The policy was adopted by many leaders, for example, Adam Clayton Powell Junior who referring to the black power said that “To demand for these God-given rights is to seek black power” (Weinberg, 1996). This movement was viewed as a means of uniting the blacks in America not only to fight racism but also to gain a ground in America as their white counter parts. This movement had great impacts and members reaped benefits from it. The black people were encouraged to vote for the blacks into power so that they could have someone to fight for them in the government and also voice their needs. There was an introduction of black studies in the institutions of higher and further learning in America. Among the most remarkable impacts of the black power movement were its effects on the Black Politics. Black Power, being a successor of the Civil Rights Movement, helped to change the politics that were carried out by the blacks in one way or another though not immediately. Through this movement, many activists were able to look ahead and became more enlightened and creative even from the ways they solved their future political problems. The politicians became more aware of the problems that were facing their people and were ready to act with more zeal to create an image of the blacks and give them some level of dignity as opposed to those earlier leaders who had no regard for their fellow blacks (Newman, 1978). Through the convention that was held exclusively by the blacks in Indiana, major resolutions were passed that were to favor them and improve their ways of living. Among the many resolutions that were passed included that there would an equal representation by the blacks in the congress, a medical insurance would be reviewed to cover the blacks and that the schools would be communally managed. This though did not get down well with the white leaders who felt that there should be some level of integration between the two communities. This was a great milestone in the liberation of the blacks’ politics in America (Hawkins, 1997). The movement also affected other political and social movements’ strategies and development. Through its active participation in the fight against racism, other movements that came much later found it as a corner stone of how the society should be structured generally. It created a way for social justice and responsibility through the abolishment of Social Darwinism. Other movements that fought for human rights were also started in America both of which based their motivation from the black power movement, for example, black feminism and environmental movements. The movement also tried to fight issues related to gender based violence and discrimination according to social class (Muse, 1968). Members from the black movement later formed other movements that became so vocal in the fight for the rights of the black people in America. It also saw the formation of women groups that sought to empower women and give them status different from what they had earlier been given especially by the whites. Black Power also went a long way to improve on the Africa-American identity. When this movement was formed, it was viewed by the white Americans as a movement that was formed to destroy everything that had been formed by the whites. This though was not the main aim of the movement though as it was formed to fight racism in America. The effects of the movement left great effects that were felt even long after the movement ended. The movement had impacted the people psychologically and this gave them the feeling that they were as good as anyone else and all they needed to do was to come out of the prisons they had created for themselves. It gave them a sense of solidarity as a race and tried so hard to understand their true identity. Political leaders were always fighting among themselves as to whether racism should be ended or not. Black power on the other hand had already reached a balance of ethnocentrism (Deglar, 1991). Today, the effects of the movement are still largely felt in different institutions of learning and other institutions in America. As a means of elevating their pride, the blacks produced products that demonstrated their culture and their capability in art. This gave the back Americans a chance to express them through art and send a signal that they had come to self-actualization and they had regained their true identity. This brought an integration between the Americans and created a cross culture that is still celebrated to date in America. Through art, the black movement was able to non-verbally criticize the white Americans “better than thou” attitudes and mannerisms. The black-Americans expresses their inner feelings of beauty in being black and even came up with a slogan dabbed “Black is Beautiful” (Deburg, 1992). This continued to give them a sense of belonging and built confidence in their identity as blacks without being like other people. They even started a Black Arts Movement which was founded by in Harlem by Amiri Baraka. This was a big inspiration to the blacks to start ownership businesses in America. Today, Black people have united on the same front are always ready to support their fellow blacks both politically, economically and socially. This has mostly been contributed to by the fact that they have come to realize that no matter how much they hate other blacks, they are the same and there is no one time that the whites will care as much about them. This has been demonstrated by the blacks coming out in large numbers to support Obama during his presidential campaigns. The whites are though coming to the understanding that they need to unite in one way or another and they are integrating with the blacks towards development of America. Work cited Deburg, William L.. New day in Babylon: the Black power movement and American culture, 1965-1975. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1992. Print. Degler, Carl N.. In search of human nature: the decline and revival of Darwinism in American social thought. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. Hawkins, Mike. Social Darwinism in European and American thought, 1860-1945: nature as model and nature as threat. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997. Print. Muse, Benjamin. The American Negro revolution ; from nonviolence to black power, 1963-1967. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1968. Print. Newman, Dorothy K.. Protest, politics, and prosperity: Black Americans and white institutions, 1940-75. New York: Pantheon Books, 1978. Print. Weinberg, Meyer. Racism in contemporary America. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1996. Print. Read More