ETHNIC AND RACIAL MINORITIES Discussion

Ethnic Study 121 Unit 3 Research Paper

Human rights has always been a matter of great importance in the United States and

many countries around the world. With rapid changes and developments in the United States,

citizens need some time to adjust to new social norms and break apart from their traditional

views on the world and social issues around them. Unfortunately, not everyone can get a costume

to these new changes and they remain in their small bubbles with a view that might have been

the norm when they were growing up, but as time changes, those norms have been modified to

fit the current day social norms. Because of this we have individuals who believe their views are

superior to others, disregarding basic human rights and having a “my way or the highway” logic

often backing it up by cultural and religious beliefs or traditional way of thinking and lifestyle.

Two movements that fell victim to this mindset were the Freedom Riders, African-Americans

focused activists who demanded they be treated like any other citizens and have access to basic

public transportation and the Reproductive Rights advocates who demand that women have the

right to make decisions about their own bodies and well being. Thesis: Although these two

movements have different demographics, one focused on men and women of color, and the other

focused on all women, everyone involved shared some similarities. Both groups experienced

violation of basic human rights and freedom, as non-violent citizens they were physically and

mentally violated, and both groups received criticism and push-back from their same

demography.

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Violation of basic human rights and freedom. Both movements have had cases escalated

to the Supreme Court where it was ruled in favor of them, however, those rulings have lead to a

push-back from others not associated with the movement/issue. In this paragraph that focuses on

human rights and freedom amongst the two movements, the third stage of social movement can

help readers understand the extent of the points that are going to be made. The third stage, known

as bureaucratization “is characterized by higher levels of organization and coalition-based

strategies. In this stage, social movements have had some success in that they have raised

awareness to a degree that a coordinated strategy is necessary across all of the SMOs.” This

holds true in this example because both movements had Supreme Court cases ruled in favor of

their movement, which drew greater attention to their cause and movement, a success favored by

the leaders and advocates. HM: In the documentary “Freedom Riders” a Supreme Court case

called Morgan vs. State was introduced. The case stated that Virginia's state law enforcing

segregation on interstate buses was unconstitutional. The ruling concluded by the Supreme Court

should have, by law, been in affect and enforced by every State in the United States. In “Freedom

Riders” Southern states did not follow the law, resulting in segregation. Whites and “Colored

People” had separate restrooms, and waiting rooms. When traveling from Washington, DC to the

South, states like Alabama and Mississippi made it very clear that Freedom Riders were not

welcome. Upon their arrival to Alabama, the first bus was set on fire by the locals, and they were

met with violence and death threats in both states. In both incidents, law enforcement either

intervened late or were not present at all, which resulted in US Marshals to step in and provide

aid. These riders, both Black and White, were met with so much hate and racism, all for a bus

ride— a “day to day” task which was proven to be anything but normal for the people in the

southern states. African-Americans did not have the basic freedom to ride in a bus through the

United States, even after a Supreme Court ruling stated that it was their given right protected by

the constitution. This violates humans rights and prevents people of color from practicing their

freedom. CM: Similar to the Freedom Rider’s movement, the Reproductive Right advocates also

had a Supreme Court case that ruled in their favor. The case was known as the Roe vs. Wade,

ruled in 1973, the Supreme Court was in favor of abortion rights in the landmark case, citing the

right to privacy (The History & Impact of Planned Parenthood). “Roe vs. Wade guaranteed the

right to safe and legal abortion within the first 3 months of pregnancy in all 50 states. Roe vs.

Wade remains the law today. A short-lived but crucial era of abortion rights expansion followed.

Laws requiring spousal consent for abortion and strict parental consent rules for minors seeking

abortion were soon struck down in the courts, removing harmful obstacles to abortion” (The

History & Impact of Planned Parenthood). As stated previously, a case ruled by the Supreme

Court, regardless of personal emotions and beliefs should be followed by every state. This was

until Alabama governor, Kay Ivey, wrote and signed a bill into law that is described as “the

single most punitive abortion law in America, and one of the most restrictive in the Western

world" (Merelli, Annalisa). This law was aimed at physicians who provided abortions, citing that

any physician who offered services in relation to abortion would be a treated as a felony,

punishable with up to 99 years in prison except to save the mother’s life, with no consideration

for incest or rape. This goes against the oath every doctor takes which states “to treat the ill to the

best of one's ability, to preserve a patient's privacy...” (Jr, William C. Shiel). The key phrase is

“preserve a patient’s privacy” which is fully lawful based on the Supreme Court case Roe vs.

Wade. Although this law is intended for doctors and care providers, women are the ones that fall

victim to this, they will not have the right to control their body, their reproductive choices, and

their own future (Merelli, Annalisa) which are all against their basic human rights. The following

block quote is from an article title Alabama governor Kay Ivey is just the latest white woman to

advance American misogyny. It states, “This legislation stands as a powerful testament to

Alabamians’ deeply held belief that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from

God,” Ivey said of the law, while acknowledging it is currently unenforceable because it is at

odds with Roe v. Wade. The aim is to overturn the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision,

Collins said. Reproductive Rights are Human Rights and no one deserves to have their basic

rights ripped away from them, not in the United States, not in other countries. Often times,

people who fall victim to such matter are non-violated and are simply asking for justice or

equality.

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Individuals who were involved in both the Freedom Riders and the Reproductive Rights

movements were non-violent group of individuals who asked for equality and right to practice

their freedom without violent. However, the people who were apposed to these movements were

violent and expressed their disagreement in forms of anger and violence. As MLK once quotes

“Non-violent means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of

spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him.” The actions carried out by

both movements had many talking and had a lot of media coverage. Which is why they surpassed

Stage 2: Coalescence of the social movements stages. “At this point leadership emerges and

strategies for success are worked out. Also, at this stage mass demonstrations may occur in order

to display the social movement’s power and to make clear demands.” HM: In “Freedom Riders,”

riders were faced with seriously threats including death. They were violated both physically and

mentally. They were attacked by bats, and almost burned to death. In the documentary Bond

stated “The freedom riders typified one of the standard contradictions within the civil rights

movement. On the one hand, it’s nonviolent, doesn’t hit back when hit. On the other hand,

they’re really courting violence in order to attract publicity to that will forward the cause” and

Gebevieve believed that “With our nonviolent behavior and good well, I think we could do

anything.” And they sure did the unthinkable. Getting their point across to the Southern states

and to the America and the world was very important as they were fighting for a cause without

violence. Congressman John Lewis stated that “I was a solider, in a non-violent army.” Yet they

were attacked so violently that some had to be hospitalized for days. Violence does not have to

be physical. Reproductive Rights advocated experience violence mentally and psychologically.

CM: Women seeking abortion are often publicly booed and humiliated in from of the abortion

clinics. In a youtube video by VOA News titled “Alabama Clinic Open Despite State's Near

Total Ban on Abortion” talks about the affect the new law have affected the locations, specially

those who are seeking abortion. The video takes us into an abortion clinic, where the narrative

states that “ it’s already difficult to get reproductive service in Alabama. Patients of the Alabama

Women’s Center are often harassed by activists.” The patients have to be brought into the clinic

using big umbrellas to protect their identity and create a thin barrier them them and the violent

protesters. However it is not only women who are harassed and threatened. Doctors who perform

these services are often sent death threats, and killed. It is stated that “doctors who perform

abortions say they also get harassed.” Dr. Willie Parker who is the OBGYN at the clinic stated

that “there have been 12 people killed in the context of seeking or providing abortion” adding

that the last doctor to be “assassinated” for providing reproductive services was Dr. George Tiller

in May of 2009. (YouTube). The people who threat one another are sometimes people from the

same demography.

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Often times the people who are advocating for rights are not supported by their own

gender/race out of fear of failure or pure disagreement. In both movements the main victims of

the movements receive push-back from their own demography. This could lead to the final stage

of social movement, Decline. Although that is not the case for the two movements being

discussed in the paper, often social movements decline is “popularity” or mainstream media and

carve the oath for an improved social movement that roots from the past one. This is a common

trend amongst movements. (Pro-choice movement enhanced to Reproductive Rights movement)

HM: In the “Freedom Rider” many riders were very passionate about the cause and did not

hesitate to join the cause and ride those buses to the Southern states. However, MLK who was

one the the most powerful spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement initially asked

the riders to stop and not proceed to the South in their very first attempt. This is not necessary

mean that he was not supporting the movement of getting African-American’s equal rights, but

he was against the method being deployed, taking busses to the South. Later in the documentary,

other leaders of the movement and some riders displayed their frustration about the fact that

MLK did not want nor would he ride the bus with them in support of the cause. This does not go

to say that he didn’t support the movement, because he made great efforts to communicate with

the federal government to provide aid to the riders. But it does show that sometime, people from

the same demography might not support the cause in general, or might not agree with the

methodology being used. CM: As for the reproductive rights advocates, many women, who

claim to be “pro-life” often bring down women who are seeking or considering abortion. As

stated in the video above, protesters, which include women would stand outside clinics and

harass families going inside the clinic for the reproductive servers. Even the governor of

Alabama who is a women, not only wrote but signed into law the strictest abortion law. Is it not

always out of hatred, often they have a strong beliefs in religion and use that to make their

judgment.

Conclusion:

As argued, these two movements have different demographics, one focused on men and

women of color, and the other focused on all women, everyone involved shared some

similarities. Both groups experienced violation of basic human rights and freedom, as non-

violent citizens they were physically and mentally violated, and both groups received criticism

and push-back from their same demography. Both movements had the backing of the Supreme

Court ruling, however, it was not honored nor enforced by some states. Both were/are

movements led by non-violent people, that were violated and harassed both mentally and

physically. Both organization also had push-back from their own demography. However they

both fought (non-violently) for what they believed was right, which is to be treated equally and

to practice their freedom. To this day social movements are being formed and expanded and

enhanced. They change the world and often create new social norms. Movements can range

anywhere from causes effecting the current day Black Lives Matter (BLM) or for the future

(Global Warming) which can be argued that it is considered a current day issue, as it is. The two

movements discussed in this paper were both examples of social movements, however, both

steamed from different decades, but the basic foundation of a social movements still stands to

this day. That is not to say that all movements are alike, “social movements have varied in scope

as well. For example, many movements are limited to local policies while others have been

international in their focus.” Social movements often influence a positive change that affects

either a group of people or the society as one. When a group of individuals find that there is a

problem in society that needs to be fixed or addressed they stand up to what they believe is right

and make changes, to make this world a better place for everyone!

Works Cited

Jr, William C. Shiel. “Medical Definition of Hippocratic Oath.” MedicineNet,

www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=20909.

Merelli, Annalisa. “Alabama Governor Kay Ivey Is Just the Latest White Woman to Advance

American Misogyny.” Quartz, Quartz, 18 May 2019, qz.com/1620691/alabama-abortion- law-

kay-ivey-and-the-white-women-for-trump/ .

Parenthood, Planned. “The History & Impact of Planned Parenthood.” Planned Parenthood,

www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/who-we-are/our-history.

YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxDmXIhSeiI