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This essay is an argumentative essay about a reading discussed in class. In this essay, I was supposed to use Yoshino's thoughts with one other text from this semester (I used Andrew Cohen's RAce and the Opioid Epidemic) plus two outside sources in order to make an argument about corporate strategie...

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Akiba Miller Drew Hudnall ENC 1102 27 November 2019 A World Without Prejudice In the essay “The New Civil Rights” by Kenji Yoshino, he discusses the term “covering” in the United States. He identifies covering as in which, “the individual openly acknowledges the undesirable identity, but suppresses behavioral aspects of their identity that could draw unwelcome attention” (Yoshino 450). In simpler terms, covering is merely just an individual hiding their true identity from the real world; in order to not face any type of judgment upon themselves. For example, witnessing a gay male proudly walking down the street publicly holding hands with another male. Someone would rarely see this happening because of society’s perception of gay people. Yoshino explains that as a young gay Japanese American, he felt that, “His gay self, the True Self, was hidden behind an ostensibly straight False Self ”(Yoshino 455). In other words, Kenji had to hide his true identity in order to not be seen as something despicable in society’s eye. Similarly to Kenji’s term of covering, journalist, Andrew Cohen, discusses in his book “Race and the Opioid Epidemic” what he also believes to be the racial injustices within the United States criminal justice system. Cohen provides specific examples of real-world situations where the practice of racial injustice is shown. Cohen writes, “When the perception of the user population is primarily people of color, then the response is to demonize and punish. Whereas, when it’s a person of the white race, then we search for answers” (Cohen 98). Strictly speaking, if someone is black and is caught doing drugs, they are seen as evil and are needed to be put in a box. Rehabilitation is not an option for blacks as opposed to other races. Both authors, however, focus on the main reason as to why and how civil rights have yet to be equally expressed worldwide: Society.

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Society has caused many mishaps when it comes to discrimination, racial injustices, inequality, and limited liberty depending on race. Although, the U.S Equal Employment Opportunity law states that “Discrimination is forbidden when it comes to any aspect of employment: hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, fringe benefits, layoff training, and any other term or condition of employment” (Public Law 88-352). As Yoshino and Cohen can both agree on, this law does not prevent people from changing what they feel is right as opposed to what is really something that is wrong. There was a story published by a journalist named Ashley Wong through the Columbus Dispatch, a daily newspaper based in Columbus, Ohio. Ashley Wong is a journalist that has worked with The Center for Public Integrity for years now. The Center for Public Integrity is a nonprofit investigative journalism organization that reveals abuses of power, corruption, and dereliction of duty within the powerful public and private institutions. Ashley writes about a woman by the name of Kathleen O’Donnell’s experience of racial prejudice. While working at an auto dealership named Billings in Montana, Kathleen was fired by her boss because she was gay. Kathleen stated that, “The days she worked there before her boss found out she was gay, her coworkers would frequently sling insults behind her back calling her all types of names such as, “faggot” or referring to her as “Bob” or “Joe” because of the short haircut she rocked” (O’Donnell 1). Going back to Yoshino’s term of coverage, this is why many homosexual people today are not living up to their true selves based on what society has labeled them. As well as, the bullying that comes with being labeled as someone who is different. Therefore, granting a law that equally asserts liberty to all people no matter their sexual preference. This would allow homosexual people from hindering their true identities in the real world. In addition to society being the reason as to why civil rights have not been equally

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expressed worldwide, many religions believe that being labeled as a gay male or woman is considered a sin or a forbidden act that should be punished. In Christian teachings, people are taught that there is no such thing as having a liking to the same gender. Biblically speaking, Christians believe that “God created men and women ideally for them to join together as one and sexually reproduce offspring” (Genesis 1). Of course, there are many people who believe these teachings aren’t true and people should be able to express their love regardless of who they express it to. While many other religions, like the Islamic religion, feel as if being homosexual is an act of treason. In Islamic countries like Yemen, Iran, and Brunei, if someone is found doing homosexual acts, then that person, as well as the person they have been caught with, is sentenced to death by stoning. This just shows that society, which includes these religions that permit gay people has not yet come to an equal understanding of all people. If the world continues to run off of homosexual people not being accepted, then there is no chance of liberty being expressed equally to all people. Furthermore, there are many other aspects that prohibit homosexual people from having the opportunity of living a life just as someone who is not homosexual. As stated before, in many different workplaces, employers who despise homosexual people will immediately fire that person based on their personal beliefs. Although there are laws that prevent discrimination in workplaces, it still happens in the world today. Society is to blame for this. In other words, if society was not a thing, then there would be no punishment or holdings placed on homosexual people. Surely, there would be that one person or group of people who have a feeling of resentment towards homosexual people, however; with no society, those people would not act on their actions. It would all merely just be in their heads. Yes, they don’t like homosexual people, but they will have to tolerate them because they have no choice for that matter. By coming to a

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realization that these people are still humans in the long-run. It does not matter what their sexual preferences may or may not be. Moreover, Yoshino provides D.W Winnicott’s theory on having the ability to recognize someone’s true self and false self as well as tying in the paradigms of liberty and equality. He uses Winnicott’s theory to support his claim on how civil rights need to be rewritten for all people preferably the ones who are being discriminated against for their sexual preferences. Yoshino believes that “The liberty paradigm will protect the authentic self of people better than the equality paradigm” (Yoshino 458). This is because, in order to establish new civil rights, people must come to an understanding of what liberty actually means and why it should be expressed. Liberty is defined as being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior, or political views. Therefore, if liberty were expressed worldwide, no judgment or despicable acts would be targeted and placed on homosexual people. Homosexual people would finally have the opportunity to the lifestyle that they always wanted to live regardless of their sexual nature. In conclusion, Yoshino’s push for new civil rights should open many people’s eyes. As stated before, society is the reason as to why civil rights have yet to be equally expressed, granting liberty to all people. Society should either be wiped from the face of the planet or created into something better and equally acceptable to all people. There should be no discrimination, there should be no hate shaming or any racial targeting upon anyone. However, these things exist in the world. Without any of the things that were previously described, the world would be a better place. People would be able to walk outside without having the need to completely conform to something their not. People would be able to proudly expose their “true self” to the world as opposed to their “false self” due to society’s standards. Therefore, there

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would be no reason to be concerned with society’s perception. For this reason, people would be able to live a happy life.

Works Cited

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Kenji Yoshino. "Preface: The New Civil Rights". Emerging, Barclay Barrios, Bedford St. Martins,2019, pp 450-458. Andrew Cohen. "Race and the Opioid Epidemic". Emerging, Barclay Barrios, Bedford St. Martins,2019, pp 98. The Equal Employment Act law. (Public Law 88-352, July 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 253, 42 U.S.C. website:https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/ Journalist: Amy Wong. Center for Public Integrity. The Columbus Dispatch. Published August 25, 2019. Website: https://www.dispatch.com/news/20190825/patchwork-of-anti-discrimination-lawsdoesnt-protect-all-lgbtq-workers...