[JOSEPH HODEIB]

During our discussion this week, we talked about how discrimination against LGBT+ people can affect how people of that community access resources. We talked about how LGBT+ people were refused the right to marry for so long in this country, and we also discussed how LGBT+ faced discrimination in accessing things such as basic freedoms and healthcare. This discussion took place during the week of World AIDS Day (December 1, 2018). Historically, one of the biggest cases of discrimination against the LGBT+ community in healthcare is the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) discusses how LGBT+ people have been disproportionally affected by the virus. For example in 2013, gay and bisexual men (the population most affected by HIV in the US according to the CDC) made up 2% of the US population but 55% of all people living with HIV in the US. The Human Rights Campaign argues that discrimination against LGBT+ people further spreads the HIV/AIDS virus by discouraging people from getting tested or treated for HIV due to fear of getting harassed. Because of this reason, many LGBT people do not get tested for HIV and may not know they have it. For this week’s photo share I decided to share an infographic detailing how many people in the US and in the world live with HIV without knowing their status. This is a current infographic from the Human Rights Campaign, showing that of the 1.1 million people living with HIV in the US, 1 out of 7 of them do not know their status. This is also important because general public perception of HIV/AIDS is that it is a disease of the past, and it is no longer as big as it was. This is dangerously false, as HIV/AIDS is still present and many are still suffering from it. Learning more about HIV/AIDS is important for breaking down the stigma that surrounds the topic, so that more people can get access to the treatment and testing they need.

Source of Photograph/Information: https://www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-global-alumni-mark-world-aids-day-with-action

Source of Information: https://www.hrc.org/resources/hrc-issue-brief-hiv-aids-and-the-lgbt-community

Source of Information: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/msm/index.html

• This reply was modified 6 years ago by JOSEPH HODEIB.

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[JOSEPH HODEIB]

Our discussion this week continued on the topic of illegality and civil rights. We had a reading from the New York Times by Jose Antonio Vargas detailing his life as an undocumented immigrant. It was an incredible read detailing the life Vargas has had as an undocumented immigrant, and the obstacles he faced to get to where he is today. The photo I decided to share for this week is of a TIME cover featuring Vargas and 35 other undocumented immigrants with the title reading “We Are Americans”. A point we discussed during our discussion was how Mexican Americans became synonymous with the term undocumented immigrant, and how Mexicans were stereotyped and criminalized. One of the key points of this cover was that it included a diverse group of individuals, all from different backgrounds. This was done to show how there are undocumented immigrants coming from all over the world, from all types of religions and countries. This is important to note as we talked about how at one point there were more undocumented immigrants from other backgrounds than there were Mexican or Latino Americans, yet Mexican Americans were heavily stereotyped. Another point of this cover was that everyone who was interviewed had expressed their dreams and goals: some wanted to be doctors, some lawyers, and some teachers. All of them had come to this country or were brought here to pursue their dreams, just as everyone else is trying to do.

Source of Photograph Information: Gian Paul Lozza for TIME
http://time.com/3789293/behind-the-cover-americas-undocumented-immigrants/<span class=”Apple-converted-space”> </span>

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[JOSEPH HODEIB]

This week’s discussions focused on undocumented immigrants and their so called status of “illegality” in our country. We focused on the Mae Ngai reading, analyzing how the terminology of “Illegal alien” affects undocumented immigrants. Mae Ngai describes how Mexicans immigrating to the United States were subject to harsh and degrading situations. Mae Ngai also discusses how Mexicans and Mexican Americans, especially those in the agricultural industry, were stereotyped as “illegal” and “criminals”. A key point we discussed in class was the fact that immigrants were abused and exploited by such business and industries. The first photo I decided to share this week is a comic that represents these two points well. In the comic, two men representing ICE and Big Business are putting up wanted posters. The ICE officer puts up a poster of a man working in the agricultural industry, with the caption “Wanted for immediate deportation”. The Big Business man is putting up a poster of the same exact man but with a caption that reads “Help Wanted for cheap, disposable labor”. The photo puts into perspective how undocumented immigrants are sought out by government policies seeking to deport them, while at the same time being exploited by industries who take advantage of them. I decided to share a second photo on the topic of our class discussion from Friday. We discussed that one reason people may fear immigrants coming into this country is because of resources (such as those that are tax funded) and the perceived threat of those immigrants “stealing” resources. One point that was brought up was that undocumented immigrants do pay taxes, which I believe is a highly overlooked point in many political debates that argues immigrants steal resources when they come into this country. The second photo I shared is an infographic laying out how (in 2013) undocumented immigrants paid a higher tax rate than those of the top 1% in our country.

Source of Photograph 1: Khalil Bendib from http://www.otherwords.org
Found on website: https://ips-dc.org/help_wanted/

Source of Photograph 2/Information: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/12/undocumented-immigrants-taxes_n_3587378.html

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[JOSEPH HODEIB]

Donald Trump called for “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States” while campaigning for presidency in 2015, and later acted on these words by temporarily banning immigrants from a list of countries with majority Muslim populations. His rhetoric and policies are both racist and dangerous, but they did not start with this administration. The War On Terror, as we discussed in class, has been going on for several years. The War on Terror uses the veil of national security to allow the government to target and<span class=”Apple-converted-space”>  </span>further oppress minorities, mostly Arab and Muslim minorities, in the same way the War on Drugs targeted/targets African American and Latino communities. Unfortunately the same excuses are still used to justify attacks against minority communities today. The two photos I have shared for this week’s photo share show resistance against this oppression. Both photos were taken during protests against Trump’s travel ban. The first photo is a man with a sign that reads “without immigrants there would be no USA”. This is an important reminder that unless you are of Native American descent, you or your ancestors are immigrants that came to this country for essentially the same reasons that current immigrants are coming here for. Protesting immigrants from entering this country while simultaneously being the descendant on an immigrant is both ironic and dangerous. The second photo I shared is of a young woman protesting outside a US consulate in Canada. She holds a sign that reads “Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere”, a familiar quote to our class as it is by Martin Luther King Jr. from his Letter From Birmingham Jail. For those who believe the era of the civil rights movement is over, this is just another, sad, reminder that we are far from reaching equality for all. People in another country have protested the travel ban in the US, for the sake of fighting injustice anywhere it may exist, thus living by Martin Luther King Jr.’s words.

Source of Photograph 1/Information: http://globalspin365.com/encourage-love-not-hate-listen-to-this-machine-kills-racism-mix-by-vahtie/<span class=”Apple-converted-space”> </span>

Source of Photograph 2/Information: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/2/2/14452388/muslim-ban-immigration-order-islamophobia-racism-muslims-hate

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[JOSEPH HODEIB]

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt issued the Executive Order 9066, forcing the relocation of Japanese Americans into internment camps. Many of these Japanese Americans were American citizens. The justification provided was that it was done to protect the US from further attack or treason. As we discussed in class, we know that it was truly due to a combination of racial prejudice and oppression that forced these Japanese Americans away from their homes. I have chosen to share two photographs this week. The first photograph shows a Japanese American family in front of the American flag, with a woman holding a picture of a relative who served in the US Military. I believe that this picture is powerful because it shows the sad truth of the Japanese internment camps. The US entered world wars to bring about peace in the world, while simultaneously imprisoning their own citizens. It is crucial to remember that a majority of the Japanese Americans interned in the camps were of American citizenship. Many lost their homes, businesses and livelihoods. Furthermore, many of those forcibly relocated had served or chose to later serve in the US army. The second photo I shared was of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of FDR. Being from Eleanor Roosevelt College at UCSD, I was curious to find out what her stance was on the Executive Order 9066. Eleanor Roosevelt had opposed the executive order, the forced internment of Japanese Americans, and had tried to change FDR’s mind about the order. The picture depicts Eleanor Roosevelt visiting Japanese Americans interned at the Gila River Relocation Center located in Arizona, in 1943. Eleanor Roosevelt visited internment camps and attempted to persuade FDR into relaxing the executive order and allowing the Japanese Americans to return to their homes. She also urged the American public to not give into their fears of what was happening, and to remember that Americans come from countries from all over the world. She wanted the American public to be proof that people of different backgrounds could come together and live in unity with one another, a message that is still very relevant and important to<span class=”Apple-converted-space”> </span>hear in today’s society.

Source of Photograph 1/Information: https://fdrlibrary.org/curriculum-guide-internment

Source of Photograph 2/Information: https://www.thenation.com/article/what-we-can-learn-from-eleanor-roosevelt-in-a-time-of-xenophobia/

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[JOSEPH HODEIB]

James Baldwin is remembered as a key icon in the civil rights movement. Equally so, James Baldwin was an incredible writer and novelist. This is exemplified in some of his most famous works: “The Fire Next Time” and “Another Country”, but also in the reading we had for class, “My Dungeon Shook: Letter to My Nephew”. In this writing, he eloquently puts into words his devastating message to his nephew, warning him about the society he lives in. As I was searching for a photo to share this week, I came across this photo of James Baldwin in front of a statue of Shakespeare. I was intrigued by the fact that both of these men were iconic writers and playwrights, so I looked more into the photo and the relationship between both. I was surprised when I found out that James Baldwin, early in his career, had actually disliked Shakespeare, however he later came to gain respect for the English poet. In the beginnings of his career, James Baldwin had written that he felt Shakespeare was a “chauvinist” and an “author and architect of [his] oppression”. James discusses that he felt this way because of the nature of the English language used, and how his life and experiences are not reflected by the language. Baldwin later reflected that this came during his “anti-English days” and he later matured and said he hadn’t understood the true point. He reflected on language saying experiences tend to shape our languages, while language controls our experiences. He also added that language is a tool of love and a force for understanding and curing the world from its “otherness”. Referring to his relationship between the “language of Shakespeare”, as well as himself now and in the past, Baldwin says “the revelation…began slowly to open, perhaps the way a flower opens at morning, but more probably the way an atrophied muscle begins to function, or frozen fingers to thaw.” I believe this quote beautifully demonstrates the skill of Baldwin’s writing as well as thoughts.

Source of Photograph: Allan Warren
https://www.brainpickings.org/2016/02/08/james-baldwin-advice-on-writing/
Source of Information:
https://www.brainpickings.org/2016/11/11/james-baldwin-shakespeare-language-poetry/

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[JOSEPH HODEIB]

Coretta Scott King was a civil rights activist and the wife of Martin Luther King Jr. She is remembered as the “First Lady of the Civil Rights Movement.” Her role in continuing the message of her late husband, Martin Luther King Jr., is the reason why I chose her as my photo share. Coretta Scott King had dreams of being a musician and having a career in music, but ultimately dedicated much of her life to the civil rights movement. After the passing of Martin Luther King Jr., she continued to spread his message, and advocated for the increased presence of women in the leadership of the civil rights movement. She also fought for the rights of the LGBT community, world peace, and other issues. The photo I chose to share this week is of Coretta Scott King protesting on November 1, 1963 during a march on the United Nations Plaza in New York City. She is also joined by Dagmar Wilson (to the left of her in the photo), the founder for the Women Strike for Peace movement. Coretta Scott King, much like her husband and also Malcolm X advocated for nuclear disarmament. These civil rights activists combined their message for civil rights with a message of peace and global human rights. Martin Luther King Jr.’s stance against nuclear weapons and war were a big part of his advocacy in the last decade of his life. For example he believed that the funds used to push war should be used to aid education and schooling in poor communities. His views were inspired by those of Coretta Scott King, who took part in an international conference in Geneva to push for a nuclear ban.These views are also consistent with those spread by Martin Luther King Jr. in his “Beyond Vietnam – A Time to Break Silence” speech, as discussed in class this week.

Source of Photograph: Bettman/CORBIS

https://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/08/04/w-e-b-du-bois-malcolm-x-untold-history-movement-ban-bomb

Source of Information:<span class=”Apple-converted-space”> </span>

https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/coretta-scott-king-1102.php

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[JOSEPH HODEIB]

Aretha Franklin, also known as the Queen of Soul, was a legend, a musician, and a civil rights activist. She was born on March 25, 1942, and passed away on August 16, 2018. As a musician, her debut single reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100. Her role as a voice in the civil rights movement and later is why I chose a photograph of her as my weekly photo share. This week’s theme was about civil rights today, which involved a discussion of key figures of the civil rights movement. In terms of civil rights, she was given a platform to speak on and used her voice to speak on issues of civil rights and equality. She was also a key figure in the civil rights movement. In terms of civil rights today, key word being today, I believe music transcends generations. Aretha’s status as a legend is evidenced by her name being known in every household and her music reaching people of all ages. This is especially true now, with her recent passing, as her music lives on, inspiring people to this day. One of her most well known songs, “Respect” became a national anthem for the civil rights movement (and the feminist movement). Songs such as “Respect” reached a wide audience and inspired her fellow activists. Billboard also suggests that “Respect” reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart was proof that the song also reached a white demographic as well. Aretha also pushed for black pride, using African clothing and cultural symbols on the covers of magazines and her albums. Aretha also had ties to civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr., as her father, a close friend of King Jr., helped to plan the Detroit Walk to Freedom of 1963. Aretha also toured with King Jr. Aretha Franklin publicly defended, spoke for, and offered bail money to Angela Davis after she was arrested and labeled a “dangerous terrorist” by President Nixon. Aretha Franklin was given a voice, one she not only used to sing, but also push for equal rights for African American men and women.

Of note, many people refer to the civil rights movement as an era long gone. However, people like Aretha Franklin who have lived through the movement and certainly after it, have either recently passed away or are still alive today. They stand as evidence to show just how close we are to the era of inequality that so many like to believe is a thing of the past.

May she rest in peace.

Source of Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images (circa 1969)

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/soul-singer-aretha-franklin-performs-onstage-in-circa-1969-news-photo/74272082 

Source of Information/Photograph: Billboard

https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8470735/aretha-franklin-civil-rights-movement<span class=”Apple-converted-space”> </span>

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