Jay Z: “Social Justice Isn’t a Political Issue, It’s a Human Issue”

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The power of one voice is strong, but when it comes to social justice, the power of our collective voices is unstoppable. Now is the time to recognize that through our voices we really can effect change. Some of us will do the important work locally at the micro level to awaken our neighbors. Some of us will work for progress regionally. And a few of us will be like Kalief Browder, a modern-day prophet whose death two years ago started a discussion that continues today about how poor, black juveniles are treated in the criminal justice system.

Jay Z was not just talking to celebrities in his Hollywood Reporter article. All efforts big and small will move us in the right direction.

Jay Z is focusing his efforts on creating documentaries on the injustices minorities have experienced, bringing shining a light on these situation will keep people from brushing them under the rug or pretending like they never happened. He started by creating the Kalief Browder documentary and is now working on a documentary about Trayvon Martin.

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“But social justice isn’t a political issue. It’s a human issue. It’s a story of empathy. When we are able to identify that we are all not perfect and have compassion for someone else, we can move forward as a society.”

In this statement Jay Z is recognizing the dehumanization of black people and because we are constantly dehumanized in the media, no one shows us any empathy. No one realizes that black victims have families, have people in their lives that will love and miss them. Animals are shown more empathy than black people.

It’s great to hear Jay Z encouraging us to do more, it’s great seeing him taking the time to humanize Kalief Browdry and Trayvon Martin. Especially when the media worked so hard to do the opposite.

There is nothing too big or too small that can be done to start creating change.