Writings and words are the most powerful weapons that man has at his disposal. Any poet or fan of poetry understands the magnitude of a word that is wielded correctly. A quick scan through even recent speeches, poems, and songs show us writers and speakers who know how to use their words, and understand the weight they carry.
“Don't tell me words don't matter. ‘I have a dream!' Just words? 'We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal.' Just words? 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself.' Just words? Just speeches?" - Barack Obama, Wisconsin Democratic Party- February 16th, 2008
“Words. Break these words down to the syllables they all are the silly bulls they represent, and what do I represent? Well its hard to say when my rep resents the fact I have to question myself for each time that question re-presents itself. I can therefore I am; and sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will always teach you.” -Shihan, “Flashy Words”
“The world's seen me lookin' in the mirror,
Images of me, gettin' much clearer,
Dear Self, I wrote a letter just to better my soul,
If I don't express it then forever I'll hold, inside
I'm from a side where we out of control,
Rap music in the 'hood played a fatherly role,
My story's like yours, yo it gotta be told,
Tryna make it from a gangsta to a godlier role,
Read scrolls and stow slaves,
And Jewish people in cold cage,
Hate has no color or age, flip the page,
Now my rage became freedom,
Writin' dreams in the dark, they far but I can see 'em,
I believe in Heaven more than Hell,
Blessings more than jail,
In the ghetto let love prevail,
With a story to tell, my eyes see the glory and well,
The world waitin' for me to yell ‘I Have a Dream’”
-Common, “A Dream”
If I weren’t writing for a grade, I would end this paper right here. These three people, speaking through their respective mediums, are telling us the exact same thing.
Does writing have the power to enact social change?
Consider:
On night of April 14, 1865, a shot rang out in Ford’s Theatre. After Abraham Lincoln exhaled his final breathe while in a coma 9 hours later, his Emancipation Proclamation never became a rescinded work.
Although Mohandas Gandhi may have been killed the night of January 30, 1948, his ideas never died. His fight for peace and his nonviolent tactics lived on, prominent in many phases of the Civil Rights Act.
April 4, 1968, while Dr. King’s body crumpled body fell, his life’s work never did. The SCLC did not cease to march, and men and women nationwide did not end their attempts to make America an equal place.
It is impossible for society to continue to change for the better without writings and words. While I believe that actions are needed, a lack of words makes a precious balance impossible. They say actions speak louder than words, but how can the power of actions be judged when there are no words to compare them against?
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I liked reading this. you had a good use of examples and quotes. They all showed different perspectives of the same idea and showed that words and writing are important to all types of people.
ReplyDeleteI liked the way you left us off with a question. The quotes were also a good addition to the piece. good job. <3 lol
ReplyDeleteAndrew. Wow. If you would have ended it where you indicated above, I would not have graded you any differently. Bringing to bear the words of poets/rappers is a powerful way to get your message across. These writers are truly influential and I agree that they become, in many ways, the voice of a culture and society.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, I am grateful that you continued on in the way you did. You make some incredibly powerful statements through the short paragraphs you have included on King, Lincoln, and Gandhi.
With your permission, I'd like to share what you've written here with others.