Philosophy of Social Justice
Over my four year of attending Social Justice High School (SOJO) I have learned what social justice is. Rather it is how to approach sensitive issues that matter or how to execute them social justice has to come from within to achieve it. Social justice is for all people to be treated as an equal no matter their income, zip code, sex, or political view. I never really said the words growing up that something was “social justice” but instead I would say that is not right and that someone should do something. I have learned many things from SOJO in all my classes but that the phrase social justice happens everywhere with everything we do, say, and even act. Social justice is heavily implied in all our classes. Not just history where we find separate the right from the wrong but in all the courses I have taken in my high school experience we learned that there is no escaping the two words social justice. |
|
|
A social justice act that began our school is the reason why I even appreciate that there are people in this world willing to do something for others that can improve our community. A hunger strike is where it all started. In 2001, fourteen parents had just about enough from the board of education and took matters into their own hands to show that the people of the South Lawndale community want an education for their children but as well of those of the North Lawndale as well. These parents were told they would receive a school over a matter of time and over that period two other schools were constructed. This left the people of what is also know as Little Village, with a empty lot waiting to be built on. So the parents had wanted to make it clear that they are willing to do whatever it takes in order to see action take place. This movement was called a hunger strike that lasted long and stressful days. With theses 19 days a beautiful building called the Greater Lawndale Little Village High School campus was born. This school was the dream came true of activist that dealt with a lot of hardships that had such a beautiful ending. A brand new school that would be for all fields’ students would want to pursue a career in was the vision for the school. I so happen am lucky to say I have attended and will be graduating from the Social Justice part of the school. Social justice is not only the name of our school but also, what is to come after. Although social justice is a struggle it can happen if people can surpass that it can not. Do we decide to be bystanders or do we decide to show we our educated enough to handle a situation that others may find difficult and fight for a right we believe we deserve.
|
This school, Social Justice has not only gave me the high school curriculum but has taught each and everyone that walk down the SOJO halls the social justice curriculum. The hunger strikers had felt that this movement was so special that it needed to be told over and over again. And so, it has been. Entering this school I was looked and perceived as someone who thinks they are better than anyone else because I had came from a suburban elementary school. Little did many know that where I came from did not define me. I was the same color as my peers same race and yet, I was looked as an outsider because of where I came from. Looking back, I really open my eyes because my peers who were the same as me seen me different from where I had came from. This mindset that my peers had was not acceptable because that is how others view us. I easily could have done the same thing and judged them because they were city students and could have talked about all the cool stuff my old school had that theirs did not. But I was not going to stoop to their level because I understood as a freshman that I had dealt with enough because of my skin color and did not want it to be an ongoing cycle. At times I was the darkest in the classroom. I seen this as an opportunity to realize I have all beautiful shades of people around me that maybe I should give it some time so I can feel the weight off my chest I have felt ever since I began school. I soon grew to accet that I was a person of brown skin. This environment that I entered was when I felt I could finally breathe.
|
My role in the struggle has been stressful but also fun. Throughout my four years alone I have had to fight for social justice with my fellow classmates just to fight back for this school. It easily made sense after each injustice thing that happened around me that the struggle really does continue no matter where you go. I believe I have reached many points in my life of social justice rather it was educational or not. I will continue to live a social justice life because I believe and understand we have to see the change we want to see in the world, as cliché as that sounds it is absolutely true. Before attending Social Justice high school I would say let someone else handle it now I know to try my best to see if I can be that person rather than relying on someone else to take action before I can even process what is even going on. I chose my Fire Project topic to be education because I believe that because of all the injustices that happen in Chicago Public Schools alone is the reason why other schools in my district, country, and around the world lack the social justice education I do. I feel that the way I was looked at because of where I originally came from should not define me of what I am capable of. Just like how students should not be cheated out on educationally opportunities because of who they and a where they come from. |