Reflection #3

In “The 1619 Project,” by Nikole Hannah Jones, the ideas of freedom are suppressed by how people think but more importantly affecting the African American population. Specifically the year “1916” refers to the year that slavery first started in America. Oppression was a big problem back in the 90s where slaves were mistreated on a daily basis. Although slavery was abolished it seems people of color are still being oppressed for their ideas or becuase of their skin color. When it comes to the protagonist which is Nikole who has lived through what her parents have told her of their ancestors not having the same alienable rights as what she has now. An unjust treatment as she refers to not having a voice when it comes to stories of her families, explains the unjust treatment that African-Americans had to face even though how the constitution in a way only helped the white population as she explained in the text. In a way I can agree with her because much of the time we’ve seen how the government undermines the minorities for example we’ve seen it Brown v Board of Education and in this case the whole “separate but equal” was applied. Something that shouldn’t be said or referred to but it hurts Nikole knowing that these types of things happened to her ancestors.
She also refers to how African American paved the way to how America is seen all about freedom and equality. We’re in the 20th century and referring to people who are homeless gives us a sense that no one cares about them as much as anyone else but them. When referred to a homeless person it relates to slavery becuase they are lynched to the idea of hard work and not doing anything. In the 1916 Project Nickoles summarizes that there can never be equality or freedom because the rise of racism has taken the concept of what is to be American.Other factors such as corruption and oppression has led to the idea of what should be said on today’s society.
When in the 90s era their would be huge protests in regards to racism and slavery but we see now you will see that there is a motion for defending those who need it such as the homeless,immigrants,and voices who are oppressed by the ideology of racism. Our conscience says not to help these people especially if we see them on the streets and for us it’s okay to do this. But we have to realize that these are people just like you and I. So theirs no way we shouldn’t help them but created a social hierarchy where we see ourselves for example because of economic status or because of the color of their skin. Now more than ever our nation is divided because we have a president who has followed this ideology of oppressing our idea and blind eye the minority population to only help those who look like him. Although I am no one to criticize him I am an American who has a sense of giving an opinion about a person and that’s fine because that’s what makes us American. The unification is the melting pot of what we are and perhaps not everyone looks like everyone but that’s not the point we are for who we are and we should accept everyone for who they are.