Running head: CONCEPTUALIZING SOCIAL JUSTICE

Conceptualizing Social Justice

Pauline Abu-Tayeh
HD 361 Social & Political Contexts of Human Development
Luis Giraldo
November 27, 2015

CONCEPTUALIZING SOCIAL JUSTICE

Conceptualizing Social Justice

Racism is a poignant term used where insults make a person feel uneasy about who they
are in a privileged society of the majority. Social justice shares a familiar fairness where
everyone should have equal access for all human rights and resources for the freedom of living in
this world. The impact of racism may lead to isolation and depression. At this recent time of
racism and social justice, I have found that this social and political context course has shown me
an open view of how cultures survive in a world of a Euro-American society. I validate the
thoughts and feelings of cultural survival especially when it means to escape the turmoil of loss
of dignity, land rights, human values, and the rights to equality for all human beings. I have
acknowledged throughout this course how racism affects adults, children, and families with the
disrespect and devaluing of human existence. I have gained knowledge on the impact of how
peoples lives can be ruined when name calling or physical abuse are affected because of race.
Social justice is a new way for me to think about how to support myself and others. It is an
inspiring hope that we can stand up and make a difference.
In my first example, there was a presentation with The Trail of Tears of 1938-39. The
Cherokee tribe was forced to give up their land in Georgia and migrate to the Indian Territory.
The privileged wanted to grow cotton on the Indians land. About 10,000 Native-Americans died
from starvation and diseases as they traveled on their difficult journey (Ana, 2015). The Trail of
Tears went on for years. There were many promises made to the Native-Americans. However,
these promises were always broken as treaties were made to the Native-Americans. The Indians
lands deteriorated. As a result, in 1907, Oklahoma became a state where the Native-Americans
were forced to go (Ana, 2015). Indian Territory was destroyed and diminished. This resulted in
manifest destiny. The Euro-American privileged took what was not their land and did it in the

CONCEPTUALIZING SOCIAL JUSTICE

name of God. I felt saddened that Native-Americans were stripped of their land rights and
their dignity. The impact of racism on these Native-Americans made them feel less than who
they were as they were tortured and scarred by the loss of their human spirits. Their life
expectancy was reduced as they traveled a long and treacherous road to Oklahoma. The Racism
Free Edmonton, a social justice group, stated the impact of racism with the mistreatment of
others leads to increased fear and resentment ( 2009). Today, Native-Americans are still fighting
for their lands. In addition, many Native-Americans are holding forgiveness parades in order
to free themselves from the bondage of this mistreatment and forgive what was done to them.
In my second example of racism and social justice, there was a presentation and lecture
on the women suffrage movement. It started in 1848 in Seneca Falls where the first womans
convention was held (Erika T., 2015). Women supporters and leaders made proposals to
Congress to give women the right to vote. Social justice for women came as this was the
beginning to womens rights. Women decided to form two groups: the National American
Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) under Carrie Chapman Catt and the National Womans
Party (NWP) under Alice Paul (Erika T., 2015). These groups picketed until they were heard by
President Wilson and the Congress. In 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified with the womens
right to vote (Erika T., 2015). I learned that persistence to a rightful cause brought about the
need to belong. It was the impact of racial suffrage that made these women believed that they
were nothing in society. Social justice brought strength to these women so that their importance
was heard in government and in the world. These women started a convention that all were
created equal. I felt empowered to know that the women of this time stood up for the uniqueness
of womens priorities in life and the inclusion of institutional racism based on gender to become
a powerful start of including women in politics.

CONCEPTUALIZING SOCIAL JUSTICE

I believe that there is power in numbers. In todays society, I believe that we have moved
forward in some way to combat and conquer negative racism. Although there is a long road
ahead of us, I am hopeful that people of all color can stand up for what is right and support the
freedom of peace. Social justice will give us the opportunity to promote human rights. It is a
step toward respect for all human mankind. It will bring on more positive freedom toward
women. It will sustain the issues of culture, gender, religion, and other social justices. Finally,
social justice will help not only support the tolerance of others but also the acceptance of
individuals and groups of society. Then, the impact on racism can begin to take a reversal
negative connotation into a positive one. With that in mind, there will be less violence and more
peace in a struggling world for identity and dignity.

CONCEPTUALIZING SOCIAL JUSTICE

References
Ana. (2015). The trail of tears of 1938-39. Paper presented in HD 361 Social & Political
Contexts of Human Development. Covina, CA.
Erika T. (2015). Women suffrage movement. Paper presented in HD 361 Social & Political
Contexts of Human Development.
Racism Free Edmonton. (2009). Racism free Edmonton action plan. Retrieved from
http://www.racismfreeedmonton.org