The role of literature in engaging society in issues of justice

The role of literature in engaging society in issues of justice is that it raises awareness and sheds light on issues ranging all the way from racism to immigration in society. Literature basically promotes social justice by because it serves as a portal to social change. Throughout history, there have been numerous issues of world injustice and our channeling of the past into our understanding of current affairs only exists because of literature. Literature is the vehicle for construction in social justice since it exposes issues. As a broad example, there have been so many political statements about immigrants such as why they leave/cross boundaries and about exile. Because of literature, we are able to better grasp some aspects of for instance refugees experience using literature, using biographies, or using individual accounts. I think those are absolutely precious for our understanding phenomena in places such as the Middle East. Literature has an immense impact on social justice because it brings to light matters of oppression, exploitation and global inequalities. Literature is technically the one that informs social justice.

Literature can transform minds by proving insight into societal issues since it is a reflection of society. Literature’s mere embodiment of words is a foundation of humanity’s beliefs and kindles new ideas, and by this, literature makes its voice heard, in turn transforming minds. For example, the poem “ So Mexicans are Taking Jobs from Americans” by Jimmy Baca transforms minds by discussing the mistreatment that Americans have of immigrants and then explains the reality of the situation. The purpose of the poem is to show how Mexican immigrants are misjudged for coming to the Unites States illegally and taking away jobs from American citizens. Baca’s poem transforms minds because he makes his voice heard through literature. His poem was essentially written to raise awareness of the prejudices that Americans have of Mexican immigrants. Baca uses powerful imagery and a series of sensory images to illustrate how Mexican immigrants are stereotyped as using violence to obtain employment. By using imagery, the reader is able to witness the stereotypes of Mexican workers. Hence, Baca points out and addresses social injustices of racial discrimination. Baca also expresses how he feels about those living in poverty and sheds light on the hypocrisy of the whole situation. Baca basically sends his message of how the American misconception and stereotypical view of Mexicans taking their jobs away is utterly wrong because Mexicans cannot take away something that Americans have given up in the first place. Baca basically ridicules the stereotypes and is thus in able to transform minds on this prodigious issue in society.

The author Jimmy Baca plays an extraordinary role in his poem of protest by showing how hypocritical Americans are of Mexicans since they categorize Mexicans with the apparent stigma of being dishonest, lazy peasants who only want to come to America to steal jobs. For example, in a sort of mocking and sarcastic tone, Baca explains how Americans view Mexicans as individuals who are sneaky criminals because they take away jobs. Baca asserts, “ I hear Mexicans are taking your jobs away. Do they sneak into town at night, and as you’re walking home with a whore, do they mug you, a knife at your throat, saying, I want your job”? Through merely these four lines, not only does Baca mock Americans by saying they act like victims when they are not, he also demonstrates the hypocrisy of the American people. More specifically, Baca expounds, “ I see the poor marching for a little work, I see small white farmers selling out to clean-suited farmers living in New York, who’ve never been on a farm, don’t know the look of a hoof or the smell of a woman’s body bending all day long in fields”. This renders that it is not that Mexicans are being sneaky and taking jobs from Americans, it is that Americans are too busy doing other things to see what Mexicans could be doing.

Americans don’t want to work in the sweating fields. Baca’s bitter statements are backed up with sensory images when he refers to the smell of a woman’s body who’s been working in the fields all day suggests that this is hard physical work that produces sweat! This is very different than the cool, clean board rooms of New York, and the executive that “ clean-suited farmers living in New York” know little or nothing about the labor of really running a farm, nor do they care. Therefore, Baca plays a massive role in protest because he calls to question many of the issues surrounding our (USA) southern border neighbors. There are many issues / social injustices in our nation that need to be addressed, and thanks to writers like Baca these topics reach a wide audience and draw the attention to a large demographic group poised to fix them.

The result of Baca’s writing is impressive and it talks to the heart directly. He show the tragic parts of the situation of discrimination and insults the responsible—Americans in a hinting manner. I personally think that him writing a poem like this was really very thoughtful of him as he uses his words to enrage the audience. To make them aware of the situation and to let the people around the world know about it. In short he was raising awareness about and taking an action again discrimination towards Mexicans in his poem.