Freedom can be defined in different ways, therefore people try to experience it in many ways. But what happens when it seems that freedom is being abolished every day? Sometimes freedom is associated with life, now in the days is obvious that lives of minorities are being attacked. Angela Davis is a political activist, scholar, and speaker, who always set up outstanding thoughts about controversial topics. Chapter 6 of one of her books, Freedom is a Constant Struggle, she illuminates the connection between the issues of racism present in the United States of America, violence, and justice. The purpose is to make the audience aware and reflect about how to keep fighting for justice and stop the unacceptable acts of racism.
Racism violence has been a persistent theme trough the history of people whose roots are in Africa and live in North America. It reached the climax point when an African-American male conquered to be the president of the United States of America. It was expected to decrease the violence and attacks to the minorities, but the hurtful reality is there have been countless numbers of Black people killed by police or vigilantes. Trayvon Martin in Florida and Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, are only the world wide known cases of racism violence in the United States of America.
The fear of going out in the streets and try to enjoy the beauty of life vanish every day. Michael Brown case is still presented in the heart and mind of people around the world. Angela Davis manifest how Michel Brown was killed by a police officer. This allows to think carefully about how people who are supposed to protect and save lives are taking lives away. Therefore, Michael Brown is a perfect example of racism. It reflects how people still think about the difference in skin color, race, beliefs and many other categories. Moreover, it also confirms how people cannot control their anger when it comes to deal with individuals from different races. All human beings should have the same civil rights; therefore the rights needs to be respected.
Racism has to be a fight through all the history of the world. Angela Davis presented Assata Shakur case to explain how racism can come with a priority in the FBI system. Assata Shakur granted a political asylum by Cuba; a country where she has live, study and develops as a citizen. Davis expressed how she was falsely charged on numerous occasion in the United Stated of America during early 1970´s. she was placed on the ten most wanted list for the FBI. Davis provides some of the charges she had to face on the court such as armed robbery, bank robbery, kidnap, murder, and attempted to murder a police officer. After decades where she had lived as a regular citizen in Cuba the FBI decided to start the process again. It does not make sense how the FBI prioritize to investigate an old woman, whose cases was very questionable for the lack of evidence. In contrast, of how sometimes the system neglect the same effort when the story is flipped and a police officer is a murderer.
Angela Davis in her book Freedom is a Constant Struggle set the scenario for critical thinking of the existence of racism in the United States. The worldwide response to the murdered of Michael Brown in a small town by a police officer is a perfect example of racism. People live with the illusion that racism has been abolished a long time, but, the fear of going out for a walk is increasing every time with numerous death of minorities in the United States.
LIZZY GABRIELA URBINA HERNANDEZ 