In Kim Stanley Robinson's "The Gold Coast" and Charles Chesnutt's "The Sheriff's Children," the authors explore the intricate dynamics of justice and violence against the backdrop of contrasting societies—a dystopian future characterized by relentless technological advancement and a post-Reconstruction South scarred by deep-seated racial tensions. Through their narratives, both Robinson and Chesnutt critique the pervasive structures that perpetuate injustice, revealing the often insidious ways in which systemic violence undermines true justice. Robinson's portrayal of a hyper-capitalistic future underscores the moral ambiguities and ethical dilemmas posed by the dominance of the military-industrial complex, while Chesnutt's historical setting …show more content…
This moment of introspection reveals the sheriff's recognition of his own moral failings and the systemic injustices that have shaped his son's life. The shift from anger to pity represents a fleeting moment of human connection and understanding, highlighting the personal and societal consequences of entrenched prejudice. Both authors underscore the profound impact of systemic structures on individual morality and societal justice. Robinson's depiction of technological deterrence mirrors the sheriff's internal struggle, as both grapple with the ethical implications of their actions within flawed systems. Furthermore, we can see the pervasive influence of systemic injustice on individual morality and societal values in both texts. Robinson critiques the commodification of human experience in a technologically advanced society, highlighting the disconnection between the affluent and the impoverished. He writes, “The memory of his night in Egypt is overlaid on his sight, like the heads-up display of a fighter pilot’s helmet. IR images in a faint green wash: of beggars in Cairo, too poor even to live in the jammed, miserable tenements around
The novel ‘Jasper Jones’ and the film ‘Jindabyne’ both use the representation of characters and their relationships to challenge the treatment of individuals with regards to race, class and gender. The historical contexts surrounding these two texts sets the basis for the stratification and racial discrimination present. The lack of dignity that is depicted between the relationships formed between characters displays the regard in which communities treat each other. ‘Jasper Jones’ and ‘Jindabyne’ are comparable texts as it is clear that the gap between these communities has reduced since the time period of ‘Jasper Jones’ when compared to ‘Jindabyne’, however, it is identified that this gap still exists.
Her description is full of emotional words and phrases which enable the reader to feel indignant about the case’s verdict-Nelson is convicted of vehicular homicide following the death of her son. Malchik emphasizes that “[T]he driver who had two previous hit-and-run convictions pleaded guilty,” but the mother who lost her son is forced to be jailed for a longer time. This part of description shapes a poor image of a mother who in order to feed her tired and hungry children, has no choice but to jaywalk. The author explains to the reader that Nelson chooses to jaywalk not because she is crazy, but because of her mother’s identity as well as lack of safer road for them. The purpose of the author is touching readers to sympathize with the mother, assuaging the mother’s guilt, and proving that walking should be human beings’ freedom and liberty. Adding to this idea are words and phrases such as, “instinctive,” “injustice,” “the narrowest,” “lost right,” “Orwellian fashion,” “more treacherous,” “laziness,” and “scorn” (Malchik). All of these emotional words are awkward for Americans. As the author indicates, “[T]he ability to walk is a struggle, a fight, a risk”, which can help to arouse readers’ awareness of protecting their lost opportunities and rights. Apart from these, at the end of the article, Malchik uses several imperative sentences like: “Open your door; go for a walk; feel the spring”, to strengthen the tone. It is also an effective way to attract readers and create strong emotional
Some individuals struggle with using personal civility to their advantage, this is something both Flammang and Orr employ. Gregory Orr’s experience in “Return to Hayneville,” is full of violence presented by his own government, which towards the end leads him to realize that people have their own agendas. In spite of Flammang and Orr’s observations, manners and citizenship can lead to conflict down the road to change. Manners and citizenship form civility or a civil society, however, if relied on heavily and used in a negative way, it can lead to misunderstanding or maltreatment.
The beating of Rodney King from the Los Angeles Police Department on March 3, 1991 and the Los Angeles riots resulting from the verdict of the police officers on April 29 through May 5, 1992 are events that will never be forgotten. They both evolve around one incident, but there are two sides of ethical deviance: the LAPD and the citizens involved in the L.A. riots. The incident on March 3, 1991 is an event, which the public across the nation has never witnessed. If it weren’t for the random videotaping of the beating that night, society would never know what truly happened to Rodney King. What was even more disturbing is the mentality the LAPD displayed to the public and the details of how this mentality of policing led up to this particular incident. This type of ethical deviance is something the public has not seen since the civil rights era. Little did Chief Gates, the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, and the LAPD know what the consequences of their actions would lead to. Moving forward in time to the verdict of those police officers being acquitted of the charges, the public sentiment spiraled into an outrage. The disbelief and shock of the citizens of Los Angeles sparked a mammoth rioting that lasted for six days. The riots led to 53 deaths and the destruction of many building. This is a true but disturbing story uncovering the ethical deviance from the LAPD and the L.A. riots. The two perspectives are from the Rodney King incident are the LAPD and the L.A. riots.
Beyond buzzing courtrooms of segregated townspeople and skies raining ashes reeking of kerosene, Harper Lee’s Atticus Finch (To Kill A Mockingbird), and Ray Bradbury’s Guy Montag (Fahrenheit 451) are both sui generis characters in their own stories because of their shared similarities deeper than eyes, ears, and noses. From their burning passions for knowledge and literature to their patient, unbiased hearts, the two men shake their communities to new realizations. Their idiosyncrasies made the relentless lawyer and runaway fireman standout in a society where laws are governed by people blinded in the bliss of oblivion.
Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird explores the concept of injustice and her readers are introduced to a society where the social hierarchy dominated acts of humanity. We are often put into situations where we witness member of society be inhumane to one another in order to fit into the community and to act selfishly to save yourself. Within the text, we are also commonly shown the racial discrimination that has become society’s norm. Because of the general acceptance of these behaviours, it is explicitly show to all that the major theme Lee is trying to portray is ‘Man’s inhumanity to man’.
As the American people’s standards and principles has evolved over time, it’s easy to forget the pain we’ve caused. However, this growth doesn’t excuse the racism and violence that thrived within our young country not even a century previous. This discrimination, based solely on an ideology that one’s race is superior to another, is what put many people of color in miserable places and situations we couldn’t even imagine today. It allowed many Caucasian individuals to inflict pain, through both physical and verbal attacks, and even take away African Americans ' God given rights. In an effort to expose upcoming generations to these mass amounts of prejudice and wrongdoing, Harper Lee 's classic novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, tells the story of
There are several significant, as well as less significant, themes that are put forth by the author. Some themes that are not as meticulously elaborated on, but still contribute to the book, include the idea that war can corrupt the government and it’s actions, police brutality was part of the norm of the 1960s, and the word “power” had more than one meaning during the civil rights era. All these themes are important to take into consideration upon reading this book; however th...
By coming into the country, other races are denied of superiority and are exposed to an already “racialized society”. (pp.78) Oppression also comes into place with hierarchy, such as the “Bonds of Sisterhood” by Romero that portrays a difference between African American servants and housewives. It sets up an inequality between both women, showing inferiority over African American woman. One last reading that has emerged and captivated attention is Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. Stevenson expresses oppression in one of his own narratives when he was discriminated by two S.W.A.T officers. He describes his experience terrifying yet shocking since he had done nothing wrong. He was accused of a burglary based on the color of his skin because he lived in a white neighborhood. Not only that, but he was also investigated and searched which violated his rights. This unlawful act portrayed the ignorances for complex, multiple, and cross cutting relationships because Stevenson was an educated lawyer; yet, was seen different by the two officers in his own residence. Overall, Stevenson’s book has captured attention since it has given an experience of what he went
Growing up Jack’s dad’s had a “keen eye for spotting criminals of all stripes was impressive” because he would always point out people that he thought were druggies, criminals, or ex-convicts. He would tell him as a kid that there is no coming back from certain things and being in jail was one of them (Gantos 7). “His eye “wasn’t perfect. He never pegged [Jack] for being one of them” (Gantos 7). Along with his dad trying to help his son not become a criminal his high school tried to help the community as well, In the town's high school there was a presentation where criminals came to share their stories and how they regret doing the things they did because doing the time and wasting their life was not worth it. Jack believed this to be useless, “What could they say that could possibly change my life? I was enjoying my life just fine. I wasn’t going to become a criminal. I was going to be a writer. And if not a writer, I wasn’t sure what I might do, but I certainly had no interests in becoming a criminal,” (Gantos 28). Little did he know that later in life he would become a prisoner
During the course of our class we have encountered plenty of important topics and vital information that is essential to the field of the Criminal Justice system. Such as; Crime and justice including laws, Victimization and Criminal behavior, Laws, Police officers and Law enforcement and the criminal justice system in itself. These topics are daily situations yet individuals are oblivious to what's going on and that in it can be a major problem to the community. On that note this paper will express the ignorance and selfish values of twelve individuals by fully explaining the movie "Twelve Angry Men"
One of the stereotypes portrayed regarded urban dwellers as criminals, alcoholics, and violent. The garage owner openly express his distain on numerous occasions throughout the film for people who live in the slums. He deemed these people as liars who place no real value on human life. The idea that the slums were a “breeding ground for criminals” was also tossed around and largely affected many of the juror’s initial decision to vote the defendant as guilty. Another inference that warranted mentioning was the messenger service owner’s assumption that the adolescent generations are increasingly growing worse (behavioral wise). He not only based this assumption on limited and faulty information, he used his relationship with his son as a means to characterize others in the same age group of his son. These inferences were not only accepted by the individual jurors themselves, they were magnified by the entire jury. The defendant was judged commodiously by where he was from, which in turn are unrepresentative generalizations of the young
Dr. West’s basic argument is that race matters in all aspects of American culture, as well as abroad. He attempts to raise the awareness of his readers (and audiences) about the importance of race as an integral part of American society. In addressing the Los Angeles riot, Dr. West, wrote, “The riot of April 1992 was, neither a race riot, nor a class rebellion, rather, this monumental upheaval was a multiracial, trans-class, and largely male display of justified social rage.” These events were unfortunate, and attempts were made by ‘the powers that be’ to blame them on “the black underclass, the action of criminal hoodlums, or the political revolt of the oppressed urban masses miss the mark.” Instead, Dr. West attributed the cause He stated, “Race was the visible catalyst, not the underlying cause.”
"Leo Frank." Violence in America. Ed. Ronald Gottesman and Richard Maxwell Brown. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1999. U.S. History in Context. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.
For sure, there are criminals who have no conscience to guide them as they walk these streets. For sure, there are sick people in the world who rather molest a child before one of their age, which neither is justified. And for sure, they are people who would act as God and take ones life away because they feel like it. It is the reality of society, however, we must not incarcerate people for the small things, instead we must help them as citizens. Works Cited: Linklater, Veronica.