Society is an imperfect realm with a variety of standards, and opinions. These influential opinions lead to our worlds sense of inferiority. The beliefs against this harsh reality fall under the category of Egalitarianism. Egalitarianism is the ideal that advocates for the abolition of any form of inequality. These senses of inequality can range from gender, to social status, to race, etc. Martin Luther King, a highly influential human rights activist, once said, “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed”. This quote facilitates the perspective that in order to create change, and obtain a sense of freedom from a “superior power” those who are feeling as if they are inferior, need to fight back and show their worth in order for the world to revolutionize. In Martin Luther King’s main standpoint, the case of equality within the races, those of all races and cultures are affected by the worlds imbalance. In the song, Love Is Gone, by G-Eazy, the artist discusses modern day inequalities such as race. For example the lyrics,
“Until we all love each other nobody benefits
Minorities and feminists, trans, gays and immigrants
The government mix politics and religiousness
So a man's body's more free than a woman's is
The anger is real, the riots are limitless
And nothing's gonna change 'til we killing off all this ignorance”.
These lines explain, like Mr.King expressed, that the only way to get rid of hate, and the feelings of oppression or inferiority is to speak out.
Martin Luther King’s fight against racial inequality in America draws a great deal of parallels with the topics discussed in White Woman of Color, by Julia Alvarez. The text displays a storyline of a Dominican family that has fled to America in order to avoid persecution from Dictator Trujillo. After interpreting this extraordinary piece it is acceptable to point out that specifically in this story, and society; white is not a color; it is a way of behavior, attitude, and tradition. Throughout the piece there are a variety of examples in which the alvarez family is subjected to racism from inner and outer realms. Within the text the audience was able to establish the ideal of cultural aesthetics, and the fact that Julia appeared to be the most “socially acceptable” out of her siblings. For example, “We were lucky we were white Dominicans…” concluding that any darker skin would have made living in American society so much harder (1). The racism within the institutional realm was also prevalent. This was expressed when Alvarez says, “The oldest sister had the darkest coloring with very curly hair and “coarse” features...was considered the least pretty” (1). This section allows the audience to see that although they were not even a family of “dark” coloring, the levels of racism were still present. Looks were not based on who the siblings were as people, or their features other than the color of their skin.
Throughout our history, literal world, and current day society, racism and suppression of those who are considered “different” is always extreme. As Martin Luther King has expressed, “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals”. The extreme level of understanding of the world and its citizens within the quote allows for an important solution. The short story White Woman of Color, and song lyrics such as Love is Gone, specific racial concerns are brought to the table in order to allow the audience to see the struggle of all of those who are looked upon as inferior or different. As long as society has goals and motivation for freedom for all, someday the world will be an acceptable place for all.
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