Steps Towards Righteousness for the Minority
“A report from unoccupied territory”, by James Baldwin, describes the discrimination and violence that was erupting in the 1960’s towards Negroes. The narrative records multiple incidents between police officers and the Black citizens in Harlem. Baldwin says, “the police are simply the hired enemy of this population”. The actions police had taken were unjust and broke the rights of these citizens. Some rules/beliefs broken by the police were the rights to a fair trial, and the 4th amendment which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures, and requires any search warrant to be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause.
As a fieldworker we question different society’s to solve issues within them. During the 1960’s, if a fieldworker were to read Baldwin’s magazine description they might question, what is the driving force behind such discrimination? Why are men and women of color not treated the same as white’s? What can be done to support the minority? As a fieldworker it is key to learn how to adapt in society’s whether it is an outsider stance or insider stance. To require more sources of information as a emic – insider of perspective- a fieldworker would deploy themselves into where the damage Harlem. Examining and listening to the people of Harlem would lead them to resolve issues. All they need to penetrate this perspective is a cause such as the Harlem six.
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