2. What is the relevant context that can help us, as scholars, to interpret the meaning of this story?
Historical: What do you want the reader to know about the time period in which this story happened (so that we can understand its cultural and historical significance)?
The protests are more recent because the events have been more acknowledged with the topics of police brutality, freedom of speech and more that are considered an issue.
UC Berkeley students are continuing to grow into letting out their opinions in unique ways without letting others affect them. Those who express their opinions did not let those who disagree affect how they feel with the topics. Robert A. Rhoads’ journal article goes into depth with racial inequality and other forms of diversity. Recently with the diversity and growth of sexual orientation in society, the article states “studying gay and bisexual males was just the beginning of a long research journey focused on the role college students play in addressing a range of diversity issues”(Rhoads, 189). Topics are meant to have different perspectives and opinions because people have the right to express how they feel towards it. Though, there are people who are still attempting to handle how they react to opinions or actions they do not agree with.
Omar Ricks and Kimberly McNair’s reading protested against racist violence. Black Americans let out their opinions on how they feel with racist violence and how their freedom of speech is lacking compared to others. The reading comments “Those black people – the truth of whose lives lies beyond Sather Gate, though they work within it – they won’t talk about slavery, except when they are just around you, and even then, they will express it indirectly, and usually only in a momentary glance, because they need the job and because they know that you are probably so rich that you might sell them out.”(Ricks, 5) Even though UC Berkeley is one of the top universities around the world that have unique people who speak freely, freedom of speech is not always easily accessible because they may have fear of speaking out due to how others may react.
Richard J. Jenson’s book that has a chapter written by David Henry and James Arnt Aune explains how individuals within UC Berkeley are wanting to express themselves with their own opinions without any consequences. Henry and Aune wrote “The University of California at Berkeley allotted that amount of space at the campus’s Bancroft Way-Telegraph Avenue entrance for a ‘free speech area’ when the campus expanded in the late 1950’s.”(Jenson, 2) The space that was allotted may not always seem given freely and respectfully. Every part of the world should be allotted with areas of free speech. People should be allowed to say whatever they want, when they want(with certain boundaries) because they have the right to free speech.
Conceptual: What concepts or themes—including concepts we have learned about in class and/or those you have researched on your own—are present in the story of your place, and therefore helpful for your interpretation of what happened at your place and why it matters?
Raising awareness – Some may not know what is going on at the gate when they see people closing it off for a protest. Even if people are not interested in wanting to know what is going on, as a society, people should still offer others information in order to educate them with a topic they may want to understand.
Equality – Society has always struggled with trying to provide the same opportunities towards everyone. The protests show how others get treated differently based on who they are as individuals.
Footnotes: Jensen, "Social Controversy and Public Address in the 1960s and Early 1970s A Rhetorical History of the United States", Vol. IX Lin, "Students Block Sather Gate to Protest Police Brutality, Express Campus Climate Concerns" Miller, “People's Park: Dimensions of a Campus Confrontation.” Nguyen, “After the Revolution, The Commemoration; At Berkeley, The Free Speech Movement of 1964 Is Saluted With Free Speeches" Rhoads, "Student Activism, Diversity, and the Struggle for a Just Society" Ricks, “Notes from the Blackout.”