In the Hulu series, The 1619 Project, there is a powerful scene in Georgia where a woman explains how black women were essentially groomed and how white men waited for the women to get their first menstrual cycle. This disturbing truth is a reminder of the horrific experiences that black women went through during slavery. It is heartbreaking to think that these were human beings who were treated in such a degrading and inhumane way. It is vital to listen to the voices of black women to create a world that is safer, happier, and more flourishing than the one we have today. By acknowledging and learning from the experiences of black women, we can move towards a more equitable and just society.
The conditioning of white Americans to believe that they need to “police black lives” in order to be good members of the community is a concept that has been passed down through generations. This stems from the fear of black people rising up, which has been present since the Haitian Revolution. The idea that white Americans needed to patrol their neighborhoods or pay a fine was implemented to ensure that black people were kept in their place. The police have been used as a tool of surveillance and control to monitor and suppress black people. This institutionalized racism has created a system that is inherently biased against people of color.
It is frustrating to realize that the principles and beliefs that this country was built on are riddled with racial discrimination. A system like the police force, which is supposed to “protect and serve” all Americans, was built on targeting African Americans. The racial discrimination that is consistently built into all of these “legal” structures makes it feel impossible to beat. It is important to create a personal connection with viewers and listeners, telling stories of how racism has affected individuals with emotion. This helps to provoke empathy and understanding and can inspire meaningful change in society.
In all, it is essential to acknowledge the role that gender and race play in society today and understand where it stems from in the past. By listening to the voices of black women and learning from the experiences of people of color, we can work towards creating a more equitable and just society. It is important to acknowledge the institutionalized racism that is present in our legal structures and work towards dismantling it. By creating personal connections and telling emotional stories, we can inspire meaningful change in society.
This is a well-written and thought-provoking analysis of The 1619 Project, which highlights the mistreatment of black women during slavery and the institutionalized racism that persists in American society. The author stresses the importance of listening to the voices of black women and emotional storytelling to inspire change.
Your art work was extremely eye-catching and definitely brought me to read. The specifics on how black women were treated was an important insight to bring attention to. Along with the other artwork you included the MLK speech at the end was a very inventive way of wrapping up your post. Great job!
The addition of MLk’s speech was amazing
I really enjoyed the various images, as well as the attached video clip of MLK. When reading I was drawn to your mention of how black women were groomed and treated during slavery. This was also a topic I reflected on and touched on, so I 100% agreed.
Nick, the first thing I was drawn to was your featured image, it connects perfectly with your title and I think it is very creative the way you used ai. Your mentioning that white Americans believe they need to “police black lives” to contribute to their community is so true! How do you think Dr. King’s speech can be applied to the next generation?
The addition of MLK’s speech really tied your whole post together
Not only did I enjoy your post, but your images really enhanced your thoughts here. I really like your featured image and its relation to the text and the title.
The use of MLK really helped me get a better understanding of where you were coming from and how you perceived the viewing.
I like the image you used to represent your title, it’s really fitting and shows how deep the racial prejudice in America truly is.
I totally agree with you Nicholas. However do you think the whole thing was just about race alone and not gender? If so whats your feelings towards gender?