Autumn Swartz
Modern Mythology 2021
Period 2What are your thoughts and feelings about issues of inequity, oppression, and/or power?
2020 and 2021 brought many issues surrounding oppression and inequity to the forefront of mainstream media. From Black Lives Matter to the rise in Asian hate crimes due to COVID-19, the general public has had a strong mix of reactions covering a vast array of issues. Currently the trial of George Floyd’s murder is preparing to begin, with jury members being chosen. Hopefully there will be justice in that case, but that one case is not enough. What Black Lives Matter fights for (equal treatment by law enforcement and overall against systemic racism) runs much deeper than the case of one man, but it will be a step in the right direction if the police officer is convicted. What has caused so much hope towards the country’s future and has been captivating to see is how so many people and communities can come together and fight for justice. With Black Lives Matter hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people came together to support the cause over the summer and people still continue to do the work and spread awareness today. Their efforts got new laws passed to make law enforcement safer for the public, which shows how being united under a cause is strong and effective. Furthermore, the rise in Asian hate crimes also shows how deep racism unfortunately runs in this country and how easily people turn to hate and violence when in fear. However, like with Black Lives Matter many people have come together to fight this hate. When someone’s Asian mother was violently attacked by a man, the public came together and figured out who the perpetrator was so justice could be achieved. There are so many issues regarding inequity, oppression, and power as they have always been a struggle in human history, and while that shows a weakness in people, the repeated events of communities working together to fight that weakness shows not only that humans can be strong, but that they’re stronger together.
How do you reflect critically on your own beliefs, assumptions, values, and experiences, and how these can influence your perception of self and others?
I constantly reevaluate my beliefs based around new knowledge and new experiences. My beliefs are constantly changing and evolving as I discover more about the world and who I am as a person. During this journey of my viewpoint evolving I sometimes also discover an assumption of mine that I must change and I learn what values are most important to me. This allows me to grow and try to become a better person, which I believe is an important thing to do in life. Things constantly change and people must be adaptable to those changes. If you become stagnant you may get lost in how things used to be instead of keeping up with how things are. As I learn more about myself and grow I also evaluate what kind of people I want to be associated with and surrounded by. If I feel that someone is mistreating me and it can’t be fixed due to a vast difference in values, then I will most likely distance myself from that person. Something I’ve had to come to terms with and learn is that even when you care deeply about someone they still might not be good for you. Whoever you surround yourself should ultimately come down to more how they make you feel about yourself and less how you feel about them. You could love someone deeply even if they make you feel horrible about yourself.
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