The meaning of the word justice has been redefined various times by many different people. The interpretation of this word varies depending on the views of the person interpreting it. Over the past couple months we were taught some of the many meanings. From injustice and everything pertaining to it to environmental justice. We also learned about justice as compassion and fairness and utilitarianism, all while looking at real world issues such as mass incarceration, the forms of slavery we have evolved from and into, and environmental issues such as Bears Ears. We were properly informed and given a plethora of information about the many meanings philosophers have about justice in order to come up with our own meaning. We eventually evolved our own interpretations of this word and put them in monologue format creating our own solidified explanation of the word justice.
Justice Monologue #1 WHY?
“There's a history of untold cruelty that hides in silence, in this country.” From slavery, to lynching, segregation, to mass incarceration. Why is all black history a mystery?
“I don’t think people who live in america are free.” As Bryan Stevenson said I completely agree. We have a history of terror and suffering that needs to be brought to the light So mothers won’t have to tell their kids goodbye. Instead goodnight.
Everyone should be willing to change this narrative since most portray it as negative. “I don’t think we can get free until we're willing to tell the truth about our history.”
So tell me why? Why? Why should I deserve to die? The color of my skin shouldn’t determine who I am. The pigment in my skin tells nothing of within. The color of his skin shouldn’t determine who he is yet we live in a world full of injustice.
As Howard Zinn said “The rule of law does not do away with the unequal distribution of wealth and power, but reinforces the inequality.” How is this fair to me, when I've had to steal food just to eat?
Will this country ever truly care about my melanin or will I always be considered a felon?
“It is a system ingeniously devised for maintaining things as they are , while allowing for limited reform.” We need to break the social norm and realize we are being misinformed
“We have alternating currents of progress and paralysis.” When we need proper government analysis
As we continuously move to different forms of slavery and inequality what does the government expect from me, as they kill multiple black families.
This systemic racism must stop or I could surely be the next to drop.
Justice Monologue #2 “What is the most just way to balance our energy and economic needs, human and environmental health and protection of sacred lands?” “This is at the heart of the question raised when indigenous people lay claim to the land because of their cultural connections.” “They want congress or the president to create the National Monument called Bears Ears to protect almost 2 million acres of land sacred to Native Americans” “The land contains not only beauty, history, and energy resources, but the cultural resources that represent human intelligence and the source of ideas that make life better in ways we cannot yet predict.” “All of this is threatened-by destructive land uses…” “...to create wealth.” “To this day there are hundreds of open uranium mines that have not been cleaned up, which poison the water and health of the people.” “Their ancestors may be here but many of their graves are gone, dug up.” “We know there has been significant looting.”of “Ancient Native American Artifacts from public lands.” “That’s the threat and that's what's motivated the citizens of this county to come up with a proposal.” “...Finally putting an end to the inexcusable, centuries-long grave-robbing, looting, and destruction of some of the most precious archeological sites in the world.”“What value does the past hold?” “Traditional homelands and sacred sites.” “Occupied these lands…as far back as 12,000 years.” “It tells you something.” “Mother nature is not simply an expression…” “It is a place to connect…” “...a place for healing.” “It’s not easy for outsiders to understand the sacredness of this land.” “For Native American people…” “The spiritual aspect here is the people themselves who once inhabited these areas...their presence is still here.” “...native american people feel the presence of their ancestors everywhere.”
Final Justice Project
Project Defense: For this project my group decided to make and sell art. Different t-shirt and sticker designs were made to represent their views and these designs were put onto a website that I made. Our idea was to sell the clothing and stickers giving the money raised to different charities and different non-profit organizations. This project connected with my personal philosophy because every single creation from every single person in my group was an issue that I agreed with. So wherever they decide to send the money we make I will be content because I know we are all working with the similar goals in mind. I feel this was a just way to explain mine and my peers' philosophies because we are giving to what we believe in by working for it. We raised awareness for Durango trees, black lives, and females by my peers creating different images with little words that expressed their views. I did a bizarre amount of research because I was also doing research for my statistics project. I looked at multiple websites, best ways to make them, how to get more views on your website, how to get money, etc. All of this research helped me build a website that I'm proud of.
Project Reflection: I was pretty successful in completing all of what I said I would in my project proposal. Although I didn’t fully finish the website this was not due to me not doing it it was a couple of my peers that were unable to send me their projects. I did a great job on the website but haven't finished making it an actual website by paying for it to get the link. I should have used a different website to create it because I'm sure there's free e-commerce website builders. I worked on the website for hours creating an Instagram and rearranging the layout several times, I was extremely committed to making a beautiful website. I was accountable with myself. I should have started it sooner because I was a little stressed that I wouldn’t finish it. A few of my peers sent me their projects after a couple times asking them. I continued to ask the rest of the group members through emails, snapchats, Instagram they said they would send it but ended up not. I learned not to rely on others to just finish the project even if all aspects you wanted aren't on there. I also learned to get a ton of resources to get the best result.