Week 8
Spring 2011- 5/1/11
This week, we explored the definition of "power" and which entities exert power over immigrants. We defined "institutional" power as power used by corporations and organizations, and "people power" as power used by communities and individuals who organize to improve the world they live in. We focused particularly on the workplace, employers, money, jobs, and the economy. During class, students and mentors acted out a scenario in which garment workers worked in unsafe conditions, and organized to put pressure on their employers.
As the assignment for the week, students wrote about other instances in which individuals used "people power" to create institutional change.
People Power
By Fatima:
People are considered to be the far most important power in the world. If we all get united, it’s not hard to achieve anything at all. One example for such a group, who united for their rights, is the women suffragists. Those were the women who fought for their rights to vote. The movement started back in 1776 when Abigail Adams wrote letters to her husband, John Adams, about the women rights in the constitution. But one of the most important personalities, who are not even mentioned in the books are Alice Paul and Lucy Burns. These are the two women suffragists struggling for women rights to vote. They used many techniques but the most important one was protesting in front of the White House and being put in jail. Apart from all the hardships they had faced, it ended up being really beneficial for them since they were able to achieve their goals. And their demand for a constitutional amendment for women’s rights was gained.
By Jing Ling:
Chicano is one of the groups that gained power by organizing people together. In the 1960s, Chicano students did not have many rights. For example, only a few people could go to college and students in high school were forced to speak English. If they did not speak English, they would be punished very seriously. The bathrooms were always closed during lunchtime so students could not use the bathroom during their lunch breaks.
At the beginning, only one group of students decided to go against the government. They had meetings secretly and decided to walk out during the class and protest on the streets. They handed out many fliers to students and asked them to join the protest. On May 11th,1968 at 9am, students organized together, and they went through each classroom and asked students to walk out to join the protest. This behavior gained the attention of society and the government. Later, their parents, neighbors and workers, all united together to walk on the street. Finally, the government changed the policy; more students were able to attend college. The high schools changed their rules too. The Chicanos were finally able to gain equal rights.
By Ming:
I did research about Rosa Parks’ strike. She and other Black people were discriminated by white people, especially on the bus. Rosa Parks refused to move to the colored section of a city bus and she got arrested. So, they decided to boycott the bus company. The boycott would continue until people who rode the buses were no longer "intimidated, embarrassed and coerced.” The bus company eventually changed their rules and the problem was solved. So, I think “people power” is really useful especially when you don’t have enough money to strike.
As the assignment for the week, students wrote about other instances in which individuals used "people power" to create institutional change.
People Power
By Fatima:
People are considered to be the far most important power in the world. If we all get united, it’s not hard to achieve anything at all. One example for such a group, who united for their rights, is the women suffragists. Those were the women who fought for their rights to vote. The movement started back in 1776 when Abigail Adams wrote letters to her husband, John Adams, about the women rights in the constitution. But one of the most important personalities, who are not even mentioned in the books are Alice Paul and Lucy Burns. These are the two women suffragists struggling for women rights to vote. They used many techniques but the most important one was protesting in front of the White House and being put in jail. Apart from all the hardships they had faced, it ended up being really beneficial for them since they were able to achieve their goals. And their demand for a constitutional amendment for women’s rights was gained.
By Jing Ling:
Chicano is one of the groups that gained power by organizing people together. In the 1960s, Chicano students did not have many rights. For example, only a few people could go to college and students in high school were forced to speak English. If they did not speak English, they would be punished very seriously. The bathrooms were always closed during lunchtime so students could not use the bathroom during their lunch breaks.
At the beginning, only one group of students decided to go against the government. They had meetings secretly and decided to walk out during the class and protest on the streets. They handed out many fliers to students and asked them to join the protest. On May 11th,1968 at 9am, students organized together, and they went through each classroom and asked students to walk out to join the protest. This behavior gained the attention of society and the government. Later, their parents, neighbors and workers, all united together to walk on the street. Finally, the government changed the policy; more students were able to attend college. The high schools changed their rules too. The Chicanos were finally able to gain equal rights.
By Ming:
I did research about Rosa Parks’ strike. She and other Black people were discriminated by white people, especially on the bus. Rosa Parks refused to move to the colored section of a city bus and she got arrested. So, they decided to boycott the bus company. The boycott would continue until people who rode the buses were no longer "intimidated, embarrassed and coerced.” The bus company eventually changed their rules and the problem was solved. So, I think “people power” is really useful especially when you don’t have enough money to strike.