By Madalyn Minnick, TWR Fellow ‘20
One of the most important struggles in the world is the fight for social justice. The history behind the term is complex, and full of lessons that can be applied to the present.
Social Justice Day, founded in 2008 by the United Nations, designates every February 20 to be a reminder of the importance of economic, political, and social equality. Even in 2021, communities of people still experience injustices and have to fight for the equal rights that should be guaranteed. Whether it’s the child who isn’t allowed inside a school because of her gender identity or the worker who is paid unfair wages for dangerous work, communities experience injustices everyday. However, in recognizing and supporting these communities, we can unite to create a better, more just world.
The idea of a just society has been idealized as an abstract because every society experiences some form of injustice. Thucydides, an Athenian general from 411 CE, stated that “justice will not come until those who are not injured are as indignant as those who are.” This message has been echoed in communities today where members of privileged societies join hands with those who are oppressed. This unity can encourage policy changes that create more just societies.
An example of communities uniting to exemplify social justice is in India today. Protesters emerged to support and fight for farmers who felt threatened by the increasingly authoritarian Indian government’s new agricultural laws, which would deregulate the agricultural economy and allow large companies to compete with the farmers. These protests began in September, but they stem from years of oppression. The farmers have garnered support from others in their communities who are tired of the oppression and injustices they face under an authoritarian government and share the farmers’ hopes for democratic rule. The international community has also turned its eyes towards India as the government adopts stricter and violent policies against protesters, and influential voices like Rihanna and Greta Thunberg have stood with the farmers and called for an end to the economic, social, and class injustices in India.
This example is not the first time that unity contributed to achieving social justice, and it will not be the last. Martin Luther King Jr. emphasized that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” When we stand with the oppressed, we echo their voices and let their message reverberate, demanding a change to unjust treatment. Rather than idly observing injustice, we must actively promote justice. Whether that means donating to social justice efforts or simply vocalizing our support to a marginalized group, this form of unity allows social, economic, and political justice to be within reach for our world today.
So, why is social justice important enough to be celebrated on an internationally recognized day? Alan Poton, a South African writer, believed that “to give up the task of reforming society is to give up one's responsibility as a free man.” In other words, social justice is vital to all of us. Whether we experience injustice ourselves or if we are standing with those who are oppressed, fighting for justice contributes to the betterment of society as a whole. Social justice can be achieved when communities unite and support each other despite their differences. Each of us has a responsibility to fight for justice, and when we do that, we can create a better world.
Madalyn Minnick is a high school senior from Wilmington, Delaware in the United States. She loves to use writing to connect to herself and relate to events in the present and of the past.
References:
https://time.com/5938041/india-farmer-protests-democracy/
http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/language/quotes_alpha4.html
Banner Image Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/modi-tries-to-placate-indian-farmers-protesting-new-laws-narendra-modi-farmers-farmers-government-farmers-b1763927.html