The problems of inequality, racism, and voting rights are of particular importance in the contemporary world. Social activists fight for freedom and equal opportunities for people at all times. In this regard, the 1964 Freedom Summer Project can be considered a remarkable civil rights event that aimed to draw public attention to the oppression of Blacks in Mississippi (Duran, 2021). This initiative meant to increase the registration of black voters, support their right to vote and establish a democratic party available for people of color (Nelson, 2014).
Furthermore, social activists attempted to promote black history, education, and social studies to emphasize the importance of equal opportunities for everyone. However, during the Freedom Summer project, acts of violence and harassment, beatings, intimidation, and killings occurred (Nelson, 2014). These events raised Americans’ awareness of the shocking disparities in the country. The purpose of this essay is to discuss to which degree the story of the Freedom Summer project illustrates the concepts of politics outlined in Karenga’s book Introduction to black studies.
Power and justice play a pivotal role in the political context, defining how resources and opportunities are distributed among different people or social groups. According to Karenga (2002), “a key element in politics is power which can be defined as the social capacity of a group to realize its will, in spite of opposition from others” (p. 294). In turn, justice is considered an essential component of ethics which focuses on fundamental human rights (Karenga, 2002). In this regard, the Freedom Summer project illustrates the concepts of power and justice by highlighting how white supremacy and power structure prevent the black population from exercising their basic rights, such as voting.
Another important idea presented in the film is social change, which is central to the whole initiative. Civil rights organizations united to make a change and improve the quality of life and access to voting for black people. In this regard, community control is another relevant concept mentioned in the book. Karenga (2002) defines it as “command of an authority over thr economic, political, and cultural institutions … as a result of community organization” (p. 297). The Freedom Summer project demonstrated how community control could implement change and help address inequality issues as more people became aware of disparities.
Finally, the problems of race and class division were showcased in the film, illustrating the concepts discussed in the book. For instance, it is evident that the Freedom Summer project was a result of the community’s attempt to address the presence of racial and class segregation in Mississippi (Nelson, 2014). Karenga (2002) emphasized the role of power in contributing to the repression of different social groups. Such politics of the officials increased the tension in the population and promoted a struggle against the segregation of Blacks.
To conclude, the story of the Freedom Summer project illustrates such concepts of politics as power, justice, social change, and community control, as well as race and class division, as discussed by Karenga in her book. These notions play an essential role in the political context and help explain the core concepts of black studies. The distribution of power, presented in the movie, was the main factor leading to oppression, inequalities, and associated adverse outcomes for the black population. Overall, studying these issues is critical to promote social change and addressing the conflicts between social groups.
References
Karenga, M. (2002). Introduction to black studies (3rd ed.). University Of Sankore Press.
Nelson, S. (2014). Freedom summer [Film]. Firelight Films.
Duran, J. (2021). Philosophy, Civil Rights, and Freedom Summer. Peace Review, 33(2), 270-278. Web.