Feminist scholar Audre Lorde has thoroughly documented this phenomenon, having been on the receiving end of white feminist scapegoating more than once. In her speech "The Uses of Anger," which she delivered at a 1981 National Women's Studies Association Conference, Lorde recounts the the times she's been dismissed as "angry" for bringing critiques of racism into predominantly white feminist spaces.
The National Post media representation of Bissonnette entitled “Alexander Bissonnette Charged with Six Counts of Murder” uses Bissonnette’s whiteness as a focus of the article through description and imagery in a way that establishes a racial hierarchy (Satzewich and Zong 1996), through which Bissonnette is partially absolved of his culpability because he belongs at the top of the hierarchy. The article focuses on elements of Bissonnette’s life that signify whiteness in order to partially absolve him of guilt in the minds of the readers, such as his accomplishments in higher education, a patriotic member of the Canadian Armed Forces (National Post 2017), and white friends and family who vouch that Bissonnette “...was not necessarily overtly racist or Islamophobic...did not suffer from any mental illness....and didn't think he was part of an organized extremist group either” (Boissonneault, National Post 2017). This implicitly puts Bissonnette at the top of the racial hierarchy and is therefore invulnerable to stigmatized forms of crime such as
The primary source being analyzed in this article is an article/excerpt posted in a 1988 book. It is called "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack". It was written by Peggy McIntosh. The author is a white female who has lived a fairly gifted and accomplished life. She wrote this article because of her realization that her skin color and gender have both played major roles in the way she's been brought up and treated by others.
In an article by the Crunk Feminist Collective, it discusses a video of a white woman who was getting harassed as she walks down the streets of New York City. The article discusses how the Hollaback video was not only sexist but racist as well. The white men who catcalled the white woman were edited out. Meanwhile men of color are still represented in a “dangerous” way that threatens an innocent white woman. The article also discuses how Black women have the right to occupy public spaces without enduring street harassment.
Censorship in America can vary between the silencing of young voices and the prevention of exposing others of inappropriate material. Many people are afraid of losing their freedom of speech, as first amendment rights should be mandatory for American citizens. Polar to this argument insists the importance of censorship, as it can shield the public from information that can lead to fear or chaos. Leaving students ignorant to world problems, however, is argued by Sonja West that it removes their first amendment rights and creates a future working-class of Americans who are clouded from the truth. West is a law professor at the University of Georgia who is distinguished for her expertise in the first amendment law and minor in journalism.
Free speech is often a topic of debate in our society. Whether it is political debate between politicians, banter between friends, or a discussion amongst colleagues, most Americans in today’s society often concern themselves with free speech. In the article, “Should Neo-Nazis be Allowed Free Speech,” author Thane Rosenbaum makes a claim that free speech can have consequences. The author’s points and pleas would most likely appeal to those concerned with how free speech may affect those around them. In order to allow the reader a glance into his thought process Rosenbaum makes an appeal to pathos, logos, and uses anecdotal evidence.
Charles Lawrence in his racist speech tries to convince that racist speech needs to be regulated. He argues that hate speech is intolerable in the United States because it represents discrimination which Everyone defines hate speech differently. I define hate speech as anything that incites aggression regarding one person or a group of people. Now a day’s people uses free speech as a defense for saying anything but discriminating someone is not free speech.
Hate speech destroys the First Amendment because it doesn't allow a person to express their free speech. According to Lakoff, people who don’t experience hate speech, don't think
However, Charles also addresses the difficulty of speech regulation. Although people often recognize the pain that minority groups suffer due to racist speeches, it will be impossible to suppress racist speeches without suppressing other kinds of speeches that would’ve benefited society. There’s a risk that suppressing racist speeches might be used to dominate free speeches instead. Therefore, it is imperative that we fully understand the real harm caused by racial speech and know that this harm is far from
We go on about our day, not realizing how much freedom we truly have. As Americans, we never have to fear persecution for speaking out against our elected government officials. We can vote for who we want, practice our faith, and come and go as we please from across the country. However, can the same be said for the youth of America, specifically students of American high schools? In her article "Freedom of Speech v. Civility," I argue that Ann Wallace Scott employs logical reasoning to prompt a more profound conversation among students about the boundaries of free speech and other rights within American high schools.
Poetry Set 9: “At the Berkeley Free Speech Cafe” The Poem “At the Berkeley Free Speech Cafe” Written by Thomas R. Moore, is probably my favorite poem out of all of the poem sets that we have received this whole entire year. There are many reasons why I enjoy this poem so much. Firstly I think that it is hilarious while at the same time serves its purpose as being the tool for a social criticism.
“The purpose of protecting the life of our Nation and preserving the liberty of our citizens is to pursue the happiness of our people. Our success in that pursuit is the test of our success as a Nation.” The assassination of Kennedy put many American citizens on edge and many Americans felt sympathy for Johnson as he was sworn in as president under difficult circumstances. He was sworn in as Vice President of the United States in January 1961, after he had become the Kennedy's running mate in 1960. On November 22, 1963, after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the new President of the United States (History.com Staff, “Great Society”).
Hate speech includes, but is not limited to, gesture, conduct, writing, or verbal communication that might encourage discriminatory behavior to a protected individual or group of individuals. Many universities are committed to creating an atmosphere of equal opportunity that harbors talent, creativity and ingenuity. Speech codes are not only justifiable, but are also essential to campuses because they do not allow the use of hate speech. One who is for the use of speech codes on campuses may argue alongside Lawrence in saying that it is unacceptable to use hate speech in any scenario or environment because it suppresses the voices of minorities. Lawrence presents the idea that “the subordinate victims of fighting words are silenced by their relatively powerless position in society.”
In an effort to persuade Americans, especially those in the St. Louis region, the Editorial Board provides imagery to invoke a reaction from the reader. They set the tone by quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his use of the term “White America,” which raises questions on the word choice. “White America” provokes a feeling of surprise, striking people as to the meaning behind the phrase, as being a country dominated by white Americans who hold the majority of economic and social power. While the reader’s thoughts are still focused on how appropriate or inappropriate the phrase might be, the editor acknowledges this sense of unease and takes that opportunity to strike emotions again, with “it’s no more jarring than the image of a cop in body armor training his sniper rifle through a cloud of tear gas on young, black protestors” (Editorial Board, para 6). This imagery creates a sense of sadness and could lead to anger, as it directly targets “young black protesters” as the victims of the malicious acts of
White privilege was identified in her article by a list of fifty items that Caucasians never have to deal with as a daily concern. Matters such as leading a group, schooling that supports our race, living situations, institutions that do not judge our race. These are issues a Caucasian family will never have, and a child of that race will never face feeling judged, and never have to learn that the very entity there to protect you may be responsible for your death. Whites are privileged, though this way of life should be common for every race. Our privilege should not be taken away it should be granted and transformed into a greater idea American Privilege.
