The video is a TED conference speech by Charles L. Robbins about social justice and its relevance in this century. The author seems to pose a rhetorical question to the audience about whether society needs to talk about social justice. To put the issue in perspective, he references the civil rights movement of the 1960s and juxtaposes it against the fact that the US had a black president. From that point on, he talks about social justice issues affecting minorities today. The speaker highlights the various minority groups such as people of color, immigrants, women, children, and the LGBT+.
For African Americans, he addresses racism, poverty, and the consequences of a flawed criminal justice system. He also talks about gender discrimination, the wage gap, female genital mutilation, abortion, gender-based violence, and sexual assault affecting women. In addition, issues affecting LGBT+ people are raised, such as assault, discrimination, bullying, and homelessness. The speaker also addresses poverty and guns as pertinent social justice matters. Finally, to illustrate the sheer irony, the speaker talks about the wealth of the US and the implied unwillingness to address the issues.
Social justice is a pertinent issue in the modern-day age. While it is true that much progress has occurred since the era of the civil rights movement, humanity cannot get complacent about the challenges affecting many today. The rise of right-wing extremists in the Trump era has demonstrated that even the most liberal countries are never too far away from fascism. Noteworthy, Black people have been through a horrific time in the US, from slavery to Jim Crow. While these issues may have passed, the consequences of the injustice linger to this day, evidenced by the wealth gap, disparities in education, healthcare, and an unjust justice system. African Americans are just one minority group, but the issues cut across all other marginalized groups.