Bob Marley's Redemption Song Analysis

Lift up yourself from mental slavery not but ourselves can free our minds”.
Bob Marley
Bob Marley’s redemption song is emphatically a protest against discrimination. He used his music to bring to the forefront the oppression of the people of African descent. Burke (2014) explained, “Marley advocated freedom for all people and in “Redemption Song,” Marley sang “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery/ none but ourselves can free our minds.” Marley called upon the individual to rid him or herself from the constraints prohibiting freedom”. “The United States population has increased and is consistently growing. We live in a society of cultures and subcultures that are rich with differences. The more we are exposed to, learn about, understand, and tolerate that which is different from us, the more harmonious a society we create,” Manvell (2012).
Discrimination and harassment are two negative fractions of the workplace and has been going on for years now, from the very existence of the human race to the

twenty-first century. Evidence of this can be read in John 15:16 when Jesus selected the twelve disciples and said to those who believe in Him, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you”. Even though, many have embraced change within the world there is still evidence of discrimination. Discrimination is the act of being prejudice. This is the unfair treatment of an individual because that individual may be different in race, gender, age or sexual orientation. Discrimination within the workplace is prohibited. Manvell (2011) explains, “To discriminate is to make a distinction in favor of or against a person or thing on the basis of group, class or category rather than according to actual merit”. Harassment, on the other hand, is to continuously badger or to annoy someone. This is borderline bullying. Being employed in the school system both of these offences are evident and as such there are federal laws and school policies that students and employees have to abide by.
In the case of Herx v.

Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Mrs Herx filed a lawsuit against the Catholic School at which she was employed. She was diagnosed with a medical condition which makes it difficult for her to conceive therefore, she and her husband decided try In vitro Fertilization (IVF) for which the first rounds were unsuccessful. To do these rounds of treatment Mrs. Herx had to use her sick days. This took about a year (2009-2010) to which her teaching contract was renewed for the school year 2010-2011. Nearing the end of the school year (2010-2011), Mrs. Herx was informed by the school that they were not renewing her contract for the school year 2011-2012. The school cited improprieties related to church teachings and law. Mrs. Herx then sued the school base on gender discrimination and filed the case with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It was ruled that the Diocese had discriminated base on gender and Mrs. Herx was awarded $1.9

million.
As the principal I would speak with Mrs. Herx and together we will look into the number of leave she has left and how much she is given each year and base on the findings, I would suggest to her ways in which she can use them without her students losing too much quality teacher time. As the principal I would work with her as long as the student’s she is teaching is catered for. The student’s education comes first. I would not bring this to the attention of the Diocese unless Mrs. Herx had abused her time off or violated a school policy. To address the situation, I would make arrange with the local radio, newspaper and television station make an address. I will kindly explain that base on the policy of the Catholic School Mrs. Herx had to be released from duties. It is understood that the students and parents with whom she has formed a bond will miss her but it is imperative that all do allow due process to take place.
Base on the fact that I am looking at this in the eyes of the Catholic doctrine the strategies I would put in place is when teachers are being interviewed for the job that they understand the policies of the school and include it their contracts. I would prepare a booklet for staff that they would use to guide them in their employment at the school. I would prepare a monthly newsletter with policy reminders and activities that needs to be done for the month.