Iris Young and Malcolm X Flashcards
Be capable of describing Iris Young’s two criteria from her “Five Faces of Oppression” that indicate when violence constitutes a face of oppression
Violence becomes a face of oppression when it is systematic, meaning it is part of a repeated and organized pattern targeting specific social groups. This kind of violence is not random but built into social systems and institutions. Violence is also a face of oppression when it is accepted as normal or legitimate by societal norms, allowing it to continue without accountability. This includes situations where the blame is placed on victims or violence is justified as just the way things are.
Explain Malcolm X’s response to those (e.g., the media) who claim he is advocating violence, including what Malcolm X takes himself to actually be advocating.
In “Advice to the Youth of Mississppi”, Malcolm directly addresses the misconception that his calls for self-defense are an endorsement of violence. He argues that his position is not about promoting violence but about empowering oppressed people to defend themselves against unjust aggression. Malcolm X takes himself to be advocating self-defense, not violence for the sake of aggression. His advocacy centers on survival, not the pursuit of violence as a first choice but as a last resort against oppression and harm.
Be prepared to take stance on whether or not you think Malcolm X is accurately said to be advocating violence
Malcolm X’s stance has been misunderstood because he was only supporting self-defense, not violence. He believed people had the right to protect themselves from unfair attacks. In Introduction for Fannie Lou Hammer, he references how Jesus was a figure of peace and nonviolence but also faced violence and oppression. Jesus’ actions can be seen as justified violence because his responses were not about hatred or aggression but about standing against injustice. This comparison shows Malcolm wanted equality and dignity, not violence for its own sake.
Be prepared to take a stance on whether or not you think Malcolm X is responding to violence as a face of oppression (as per Young’s two criteria)
Malcolm X responds to violence as a face of oppression because he sees it as systematic and targeted against marginalized groups. According to Young’s two criteria, violence becomes a face of oppression when it is systematic and normalized by societal norms. Violence is normalized when it is accepted, expected, or not held accountable, such as the way Black communities are often blamed for their suffering or are expected to avoid violence rather than addressing the systemic causes. He supports self-defense as a necessary response to systemic violence. This is not about aggression but shows his understanding of how violence is used to oppress marginalized communities.
