Sunday, April 14, 2013

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression





In the world renowned novel and letter movie The Color Purple.  I recall the character Celie Johnson played by Whoopi Goldberg had experienced a great deal of oppression from her husband, Albert, played by Danny Glover. In the same film the character, Sophia played by Oprah Winfrey expressed both act of racism and prejudice and oppression by the White women and men in the town. The film reveals that during the 1900s in the south the type of oppression Blacks expressed towards each other and received from the White people in the town’s film.  The film highlighted how women were viewed and treated as second class citizen.  I was afraid for the character Celie as she was physical abused and raped by her father and then married off to a much older man who also abused her repeatedly both verbal and physically. In order for the women to be treated fairly and equally the mindset of the men in the story would have to changed and be open to viewing women as equals. Similar racial equality would have to take precedent in order for the Black family culture to be restored and strengthen. There would be less tearing of each other down within the race if social pressures weren’t so dominate.

1 comment:

  1. Rachel,
    It is amazing how prevalent racism still is today. It is difficult to believe that such blatant acts of discrimination is still taking place. The fight for equality is not over, nor will it ever be. We must continue to strive to be social change agents for all marginalized and disenfranchised people.

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