In this unit, we discussed the topic of representations of history and memory with respect to global issues around the world. Viewing the documentary: 13th, I discovered the hidden secret regarding the history of the United States. I think the most resonating scene is the comparison between the world map and the US and emphasizing the comparison by saying the 25% of the prisoners are in the US while the US just only stood as a small portion of the world. It emphasizes the severity of the US regarding security and the land of free.  The idea of racial discrimination and injustice toward people of color, then, is introduced through mass incarceration in the documentary. Inequality presented that against people of color is also highlighted through the evidence backed up by real-life examples and personal experiences which leads us to really discuss deeper into this continued racial discrimination process after the slavery era, just in another way.

We, then, have been introduced to the articles written by Michelle Alexander, specifically in the form of an op-ed. Michelle Alexander expresses her arguments about racial discrimination, violence, and corruption in the articles respectively.  I found the article named “Reckoning with Violence” the most attractive as it talks about how prison might not be the best way to sanction people with crime and preserve peace in the world. The article mentioned that the alternatives of prisons including mental therapies, restoration, and building bonds with communities are better choices than prison. Alexander believed that the way prison operates will only cause more tensions and hatred between people, ultimately worsening the situation regarding violence and peace.

If I were to write an op-ed, I would be writing about a current issue that is significantly affecting the way the world operates and is detrimentally doing so. With that in mind, I would like to write about injustice and discrimination specifically toward Asians and people wearing masks. It is a very serious issue as our health are depending on it. In many places, some tend to discriminate against people who wear masks and claim them to be wrong or sick. Most of the people being criticized through this are Asians and this has caused them to feel discriminated especially in Western countries, which they shouldn’t deserve to be treated like that by doing the right thing to protect not just his/herself health but the entire population. It is a severe issue because the way we combat the covid-19 pandemic is significantly important, and wearing masks is probably the best way to do so. Discriminating people wearing masks, then, become a serious issue that should get attention globally, and it would be a strong topic that I can write about with my op-ed especially relating this unit to the current event happening around the world.