Public Expression Of Social Division

A STORY FROM MEXICO OLYMPICS:

Two men Tommie Smith and John Carlos (African-Americans) won a gold medal and a bronze medal, respectively, in the 200m race at the 1968 Olympics held at Mexico City. At the time of the medal ceremony, as the American flag rose, the two closed their eyes, bowed their heads, and began their protest. Smith raised his right, black-glove-covered fist in the air to represent black power in America while Carlos' left, black-covered fist represented unity in black America. The black scarf around Smith's neck stood for black pride and their black socks (and no shoes) represented black poverty in racist America. The silver medalist, white Australian athlete, Peter Norman, wore a human rights badge on his shirt during the ceremony to show his support to the two Americans.

The actions of these three men were met with outrage. It was thought that such act brought political statements with it to the Olympics Games. Medals of Carlos and Smith were taken back. Back home, they were subjected to a lot of criticism. Norman too suffered for his action and was not included in the Australian team for the next Olympic.

In 2005, the San Jose State University installed a 20-foot high sculpture representing the protest by Tommie Smith and John Carlos. A photograph of the original medal ceremony in 1968 is on the top.

The motive behind this action of the three men was to draw the world's attention to the racial discrimination practiced against Africans in America. They thought that the protest would bring attention to the fact that America's civil rights movement had not gone far enough to eliminate the injustices that the black Americans were facing.

CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN AMERICA:

Civil Rights Movement in the USA (1954-1968) refers to a set of events and reform movements aimed at abolishing legal racial discrimination against African-Americans. Led by Martin Luther King JR. this movement practiced non-violent methods of civil disobedience against racially discriminatory laws and practices. African-American, Afro-American, or Black American, or Black are the terms used to refer mainly to the descendants of Africans who were brought into America as slaves between the 17th century and early 19^th century..

BLACK POWER:

The Black Power movement emerged in 1966 and lasted till 1975, which was a more militant anti-racist movement, advocating even violence if necessary to end racism in the US.

SOCIAL DIVISION AND SOCIAL DIFFERENCE:

A social difference means the difference in a group of people due to their race, religion, language or culture. It becomes a social division when some social differences are joined by another set of social differences. In other words, when two or more social differences join together, it turns into a social division. For example, the difference in the Blacks and the Whites in America is due to their different race which is a social difference. It becomes a social division when, say, the income factor is also seen. The Blacks tend to be poor, homeless and the Whites tend to be rich and educated. This creates a divide in the people, making them feel that they belong to different communities.

Reasons of social difference:

• Birth: Birth is the most important factor which is responsible for social differences. A person in India is considered of a low caste because of his birth in the lower class family. A black is discriminated from white because of his colour which is once again controlled by birth.
• Differences based on choice: Some of the differences are based on our choices. For example, some people are atheists. They don't believe in God or any religion. Differences also occur because of choice of occupation. Differences occur among the people because of different professions and economic activities.
• Differences based on religion: Sometimes religion can be one of the causes of social differences. It is fairly common for people belonging to the same religion to feel that they do not belong to the same community because their caste or sect is very different.
• Differences based on economic status: Economic status can also be responsible for social differences. Rich and poor people belonging to same community or religion or sect often do not keep close relations with each other as they feel that they are very different.

OVERLAPPING AND CROSSCUTTING DIFFERENCES:

• Social division takes place when some social difference overlaps with many other differences. The difference between the Blacks and Whites becomes a social division in the US because the Blacks tend to be poor, homeless and discriminated against. In our country Dalits tend to be poor and landless. They often face discrimination and injustice. Read these two poems by Dalit writers. Why do you think the poster is titled ‘Hidden Apartheid’?
• Situations of this kind produce social divisions, when one kind of social difference becomes more important than the other and people start feeling that they belong to different communities.
• If social differences cross cut one another, it is difficult to pit one group of people against the other. It means that groups that share a common interest on one issue are likely to be in different sides on a different issue.
• Social divisions of one kind or another exist in most countries today. It does not matter whether the country is small or big. India is a vast country with many communities.
• Consider the cases of Northern Ireland and the Netherlands. Both are predominantly Christian but divided between Catholics and Protestants. In Northern Ireland, class and religion overlap with each other.
• If you are Catholic, you are also more likely to be poor, and you may have suffered a history of discrimination.
• In the Netherlands, class and religion tend to cut across each other. Catholics and Protestants are about equally likely to be poor or rich.
• The result is that Catholics and Protestants have had conflicts in Northern Ireland, while they do not do so in the Netherlands.
• Overlapping social differences create possibilities of deep social divisions and tensions. Cross-cutting social differences are easier to accommodate.
• India is a vast country with many communities. Belgium is a small country with many communities. Even those countries such as Germany and Sweden, that were once highly Homogeneous, are undergoing rapid change with influx of people from other parts of the world.
• Migrants bring with them their own culture and tend to form a different social community.