Wide reading logs- 2.9

Redemption song- Bob Marley

Text type- song

Redemption Song was written by singer, songwriter Bob Marley. Marley Wrote a total of 37 songs before the devastating death in 1981. Bob Marley influenced so many people, in his own country but also globally. He wanted people to not only listen to his music but for them to emerge themselves into the deeper meanings behind his songs. Bob Marley wanted to make a change and allow others to feel like they could as well. All of his songs were so personal to him and I strongly admire how all he wanted to do was re-enforce what struggles, himself and others had to deal with within society. 

Redemption song is sung heavily around the fight for emancipation and social justice, Throughout his hometown Nine Mile Jamaica, poverty, unemployment and gender discrimination were and still are a huge problem. “old pirates yes they rob I, sold I to the merchant ships” This was the first line to his song, which I believe was a powerful way to start. This line is referring to the Men, women, and children that were being sold into sex slavery against their will. This was seen hugely back then, especially with families sitting below the poverty line. Bob Marley believed that the only way to seek and bring out some form of justice was through his music. It saddens me that he had to even write about these unjust issues, However, I have great admiration for him knowing that he spoke his mind and never stopped doing what he was so passionate about. 

“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds” – this was also a seemingly compelling line, which heavily relates to the people around Bob at the time but I can also relate to it personally. I have experienced things that really take a toll on my mindset, however, I have been able to move on through time and acceptance. What I take from this was that while others might free your body from horrible things, you are the only one who can free your mind of them. There is no way that you will be able to overcome events if you don’t “free your mind” and accept it is what it is. My understanding of what Bob really meant by this was that he had been through his own share of tough times.  For instance, being discriminated based upon the color of his skin, being shot at in his home during a home raid and watching the people he cared for and loved, being treated with such disrespect. With such difficulty would he be able to move past those hardships without freeing his own mind. 

I have always loved this song, but until I got older did I truly understand what Bob Marley was really intending people to hear. There was such a negative environment that he grew up in, back then you were defined on your place in society. Nobody was treated fairly unless you were seen as financially dependant or born a certain race. “Won’t you help to sing, these songs of freedom”- Bob Marley was so determined to break this unjust cycle and he wanted “redemption” for all his people. He wanted everyone to come out of their shell and be able to confidently fight for what was right. Our world is becoming so much more diverse every day and I have definitely been brought up to be open-minded about everything and everyone. At the end of the day, we are all human, we all have the right to make our own choices and not be judged or discriminated by what we choose to do. It is really sad that some people just don’t have the mindset to see people as who they are. 

 Thinking about Redemption song made me reflect on my own life and what kind of society I live in. Living in Wanaka, which is a safe and friendly town, has shown me how grateful I am. We tend to get trapped in this perfect world and become somewhat delusional to everything else that is taking place in other parts of the world. I am not exposed to the scary reality that some endure every day which brings a sense of vulnerability to me if anything were to happen in Wanaka or New Zealand. In saying that I am still aware of what goes on outside our country especially where Bob Marley had to grow up.

To this day, Bob Marly is still an influencer.  If he could see what sort of impact he has made, I believe that he would be happy with all he set out to achieve. Even though I didn’t believe in all the choices he made during his life, I am so thankful to have experienced his music, which has made me appreciate him more as a person. 

The hate you give – George Tillman Jr

Text type – film  

The hate you give,  directed by George Tillman jr, is a brilliantly directed film that incorporated both social and criminal justice. While it was very entertaining, I still found this movie at some points quite emotional and hard to watch. It showcased real-life problems that people have to face every day and how the justice system is completely biased.  A predominant theme to this film is racism, especially how it leads to violence and police brutality. 

Starr Carter grew up in quite a poor suburb called Garden Heights, which was known for gang violence and criminal activity. Starr attends a very wealthy school on the other side of town to further her education, which opens her up to face discrimination and prejudice from her peers. As most of the people she lives in close proximity to are also of African-American descent,  there isn’t much stopping the police and other emergency services thinking they are all the same. During the film, prejudice becomes fatal when Starr witnesses her friend Khalil get shot to death by a white police officer. He was killed simply because he moved to grab a hairbrush when they got unreasonably pulled over. From this point on, I developed quite strong opinions on the justice system or the lack of one.  When the man responsible for Khalil’s death faces the judge and jury, he is placed with no criminal charges, it was ruled as self-defense down to the fact that his hairbrush got mistaken for a weapon. The police officer judged Khalil off his background, assuming that he would have been heavily armed. This just proves to me further that the justice system is biased to race.  

After going through something like that at such a young age, I felt great admiration for Starr, the way she handled it and how she got the unrecognized justice for her friend. She knew that the officer was at fault and as she couldn’t change the outcome she still made sure Khalil was known for all the good he did, not what the media was accusing him off. Starr testified under oath for the loss of Khalil and started a protest, fighting for “justice for Khalil”. In my opinion, if that isn’t true friendship and love, I’m not sure what is. The fact that she put herself in scrutiny to the public and law officials shows what kind of person she is. 

To this day, people are still so hung up on existing stereotypes, they let them control their perception of the ones who aren’t exactly the same. This film hugely relates to the real world, police brutality and misconduct is still an ongoing issue that affects lives every day. Events happen, even in New Zealand where people lose their life and the person responsible gets away with it. It’s really unfair to the families and victims knowing that there would be no justice for the life taken. I am lucky to have never been it that position and I am so grateful for the people close to me. 

The film also made me think that If there was ever a time where something like that happened to my friend, I would feel exactly the same way as Starr did. I may not be able to get that special person back but I would do anything possible to feel like justice was served. I believe that that would be the only way I could feel closure. 

Ten days in a madhouse

Text type- novel 

The novel, Ten Days in a Madhouse by Nellie Bly, is based on a true story dating back to 1887. Based on a true story, Nellie Bly, a reporter in New York seeks to bring justice to the patients at Blackwell’s insane asylum. Nellie realized that the only way that she could achieve this was to get herself admitted for ten days, which sounds crazy. In this selfless act, she risked everything to improve the living conditions for these women.

I found this novel to be an easy and interesting read which intrigued me more. Nellie Bly took a true story and made it a captivating, unleashing the inhumane conditions the poor woman had to suffer. Once Nellie got admitted into the so-called “hospital” she investigated thoroughly the lifestyle of the woman and the nurses to make a probable case for court. The theme of justice was shown through her determination to make a difference and change many lives. 

When reading ten days in a madhouse, I believed that the patients that got admitted against their own will were not insane. These women were just vulnerable and didn’t have the money to defend themselves. However, once they got to Blackwell’s island, the treatment that was inflicted on them proved to psychologically damage them. “take a perfectly sane and healthy woman, shut her up, Give her bad food and harsh treatment and see how long it will take to make her insane”- Nellie talked about many different women’s stories, which gave me a sense of empathy for them. A decent amount of patients grew sick from little amounts of clothing, malnutrition, and ice-cold baths. Many tried to complain but the nurses claimed that “they were receiving better than they would at home” and “the service that was provided was too good for charity patients” 

One woman whose story saddened me was a German lady. She was brought in by her husband because she was wanting attention from other men. To me, this doesn’t sound like someone who needs to be treated with torture and thrown into an asylum with no hope of getting released. 

On the tenth day that Nellie was at Black-wells, she got released by her editor. Her experience made her that much more determined to take it to court. Her selfless and courageous won in front of a judge and justice was served for the woman and conditions were hugely improved. This novel had a brilliant end, I felt myself getting so involved in the story and was relieved that Nellie achieved all that she wanted to from the beginning. 

 through reading this novel, it made me wonder how any of this could be legal. How could stripping anyone from all their rights be allowed and the fact that nobody did anything for years? It sickens me to know that if any of those women ever got realized, their lives would be changed forever. Through what they went through on a daily basis, it would make anyone mentally unstable and scarred for the rest of their days. 

In this world, we have to realize that mentally ill people should not be treated with any less respect. They are all humans and should be given the opportunity to get better and not be treated like criminals in prison. We sometimes have to put ourselves in other people’s shoes to truly understand the challenges they face. Ten days in a madhouse has taught me that if you don’t stand up for what’s right, nothing will be done. In this case, if Nellie Bly didn’t do what she did who knows what Blackwells would have become.  

Our law is not colour-blind

text type- article.

When I think about New Zealand as a whole I think of it to be reasonably fair when it comes to our justice system. However, when I say this, I know full heartedly that in the back of my mind this isn’t 100% true. Statistics say that 51% of sentenced prisoners are Maori but would this percentage be the same if a person of pakeha decent was facing the same charges. In 2013, our justice system was accused of  “affording soft treatment” to a rich man’s son and sending a Maori man to prison when their cases were not that diverse. Tom Hemopo is a Maori male who worked in the department of corrections for 25 years. Hemopo says that he only joined the department to help people which was encouraged by his Nana. “For me, I’d love to see the stats come down, that’s my greatest wish,” he said to reporters. 

The man facing charges claimed that the Nz justice system was “color-blind” and I somewhat agree with him. In my opinion, Anyone standing up before a judge, no matter what the charge was, what race, ethnicity or religion they are a part of, should be treated with the same respect and consequences. Maybe if everyone was treated equally we would see the pakeha to Maori percentage in prisons even out. When a friend, family member or colleague is affected in some way at the cost of someone else, all you want is for them to get their own justice and I totally agree with that. However, when someone gets treated differently based upon their income levels or race that becomes a huge problem. 

The article also touches on a huge issue surrounding cannabis usage. I know that this substance is totally illegal and consumption should come with its own consequences. I was horrified to read that if you are pakeha and you are caught with the drug, you are much more likely to come off with a warning or a diversion. However, if you are Maori, more cases end with the defendant being convicted and sent to jail. Our law is totally bias, does it come down to the old stereotype being that all Maori citizens are classed as being dangerous or is it because a massive number of us can’t afford the same legal representation as pakeha. Growing up being part Maori, makes me wonder if people saw my dad or even my grandparents were some kind of threat to people around them. From reading the statistics and the article, I wouldn’t feel as confident seeing my family face a judge knowing what I know about the justice system. I am a true believer that we are all the same, we only differ from the rest through the choices we choose to make. I feel very proud of who I am and I would never change who my family is and the way I was brought up in this country.

I Have a Dream- Martin Luther King

Text type- Speech

Known to be one of the most powerful speeches ever written, I  have a dream… A dream of equality and justice. As a leader of the nonviolent civil rights movement, Martin Luther King leads the USA in his quest for freedom. His speech was all about his dream to give justice and freedom to all the “Afro-American” and give them the opportunity to achieve the same goals as everyone else. 

Justice was tied into this speech through the fight for freedom. The need for social justice was huge in those days and putting myself in Martin Luther king’s shoes, he was trying to fight for every man woman and child who was discriminated by their skin color. What I thought about this speech was although Martin Luther King was an afro American himself, he didn’t let himself be trapped in a world where he was different from everyone else. He didn’t let people mentally break him and I feel great appreciation for what kind of man he was. 

Listening to this speech was somewhat captivating to me, it once again educated me about the inhumane and cruel world that we live in. If it was me, personally I would like to believe that If I put my mind to it, I could do something so revolutionary and powerful as he did. During his speech, he states ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere’. From what I take away from that is we are all caught in a dangerous web and whatever affects one directly will take a toll on everyone indirectly. We can relate this to the world, with the major bullying problem especially on social media. We are beginning to see less and less racism and discrimination as the years go by but online bullying has become an ongoing issue. I see a lot of comments on platforms like Instagram that affect me and the people around me. It makes me sad that people think it’s okay to attack someone behind a computer screen as it really does take a toll on people’s mindsets and wellbeing. 

In a perfect world, there would be an end to those terrible words racism and discrimination. If I had it my way, I would expect that everyone would be treated with the same dignity and respect and I would want every single person who was affected by racism to get justice. 

The part in Martin Luther King’s speech that really made me think was “100 years later the negros will not be free. One hundred dred years later the life of a negro is still badly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination”  This means that people can just sit around and do nothing and the problem will never get fixed. Justice will never come to those who don’t help in the fight for change and this was what his whole speech represented. “So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition” This is the man who got up and fought for the justice of America. To make people aware and have an insight into what their lives could look like.

In the end, what I have realized from reading this speech is that it only takes one person to start a revolution, one person to get up and speak for what they strongly believe in. No matter the color of your skin, everyone deserves a fair chance in this race we call society. Nowadays, we are seeing a lot more Afro-Americans in power eg Barack Obama. He led America for four years and thousands looked up to him as a positive influencer. This is how our world is slowly changing, we aren’t just judging people off their skin color but the way in which they can make a change.  

Wild pork and watercress by Barry crump.   

Text type- long text novel

The novel wild pork and watercress – written by Barry Crump,  Follows the journey of Ricky, a troubled city boy and his foster uncle Hec who isolates himself in the countryside.  I felt sorry for Hec at the start of the novel when Ricky Baker is sent to live with him and his wife (the only living relatives of Ricky). When a loud, obnoxious boy gets brought into your life, I understand why Hec did not welcome him with open arms. From the beginning, I always liked Uncle Hec as a character, it amused me the way he bluntly acted around new arrival, Ricky. He was a peaceful man who devoted most of his time to be out in the farmland, however little did he know he would be spending the next few years with Ricky by his side. Early on in the novel, Hec’s world gets turned upside down, when his beloved wife passes away. After this happens, all he wants to do is go into the bush. With all the dislike that Hek had towards the boy, I have great respect for him when he lets Ricky tag along instead of going back into foster care. 

As the novel progresses, they form quite a close bond and Hec teaches Ricky valuable life lessons and methods of survival. This whole experience is nothing out of the ordinary. For Hek, he has spent his years exploring the bush. When it comes to Ricky, he is so out of his comfort zone as this is all new to him. For example, when they encounter a fierce boar, Hek treats it as if it were a “tin of peaches”- leaving Ricky trembling in his boots. 

For Ricky, being with Hec was a whole new experience.  For the first time in his life, he has had someone who actually cares about him.  This makes me think of my family situation and I am very lucky in the way I have loving parents/family who only want the best for me. My happiness is very important to them and it has made me truly understand the value of family and relationships.  However, This is the complete opposite of how Ricky has grown up. He hasn’t been able to rely on anyone as he grew up in many different environments, which has had a negative impact on him and his attitude to people. 

Issues arise for the two as they find out that the police have named them wanted in the search for Ricky. This is the part of the Novel I  really got intrigued by. The intensity levels increased and I find myself getting more and more captivated. The Pair have to go into full survival mode if they want to be free from police custody. This chase goes on for some time until Hec decides to turn himself in, for the alleged kidnapping of Ricky. This is where the theme of justice is shown. By turning himself in, he was giving Ricky a way out and letting him be free from the never-ending chase. Hec showed his true personality by essentially giving Ricky justice and letting him go out to live a normal life. Over the course of the novel, I grew fonder of Hekt. He started off as a grouchy man who didn’t really like people, but Ricky grew on him and by the end, Hec was somewhat a father figure to him. 

Growing up I didn’t see my dad as often as  I would have liked to so I developed a strong relationship with my stepdad.  I can relate to Ricky and Hec’s relationship as for a long time, I have seen my stepdad as almost a father figure. He has been in my life for over ten years and has done a lot for me as Hec did for Ricky. I think that the most important thing in the world is to have a male who you can look up to as a role model and that is what Hek and my stepdad have in common.