The ARTS of the Matter: Tapping into Social Justice

The ARTS and SOCIAL JUSTICE have always tapped each other, sometimes the tapping has been gentle and at other times more like a hard shove. With the power to completely impact society morally, emotionally, and culturally, it is indeed a force to be reckoned! For instance, social justice has earned marginalized groups essential rights such as the right to vote. Social justice will ALSO be critical in maintaining this right to vote! Try to envision the Civil Rights movement without music…In 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the opening address to the Berlin Jazz Festival. "Jazz speaks for life," King said. The blues tell the story of life's difficulties — and, if you think for a moment, you realize that they take the hardest realities of life and put them into music, only to come out with some new hope or sense of triumph. This is triumphant music

(https://www.npr.org/songs-of-the-civil-rights-movement)." The point is that the arts and social justice are not just indispensable, but crucial. Millions of students depend on access to the arts as a safe space. The arts are social justice!

Educators must understand every student is valuable and ought to work selflessly for their common good. Those who represent social justice and equity are extremely invaluable. Social justice in education requires a conviction which stresses all students MATTER, without exception. Justice is the idea of uniformity. Social justice is uniformity as it manifests in society, and includes fairness in education, healthcare, employment, housing, and beyond.

Throughout history, the arts, have served as a reflection of society and times in which we are living. Why do some have a disdain for educators who reap positive outcomes for students by backing social justice? What is even more puzzling is when educators have this disdain for social justice. What purpose does this serve? Why would anyone espouse social justice as being fascist or evil? Let's begin with the the definition of Fascism. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, the definition of Fascism is:

"a political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition"

Fascists are openly opposed to the idea of social justice. Fascism is about defending those forms of inequality against certain categories of people and is targeted at upholding long established structures of disparity. Fascism thrives off blaming and scapegoating marginalized populations for society’s social misfortunes. Fascism is the absolute opposite of social justice. Fascism is to social justice what kryptonite is to the fictional superhero, Superman.

Why does social justice in education matter? A key component involves allocating resources equitably and considering all students so that they feel secure and safe both physically and emotionally. Unfortunately, a fair distribution of resources and equitable treatment does not consistently occur in schools. These systemic inequities have been more exposed by COVID-19. These inequities have added additional stressors on our students, our families and the most vulnerable. I realize some don't want to acknowledge these inequities and would rather attach negative connotations to those advocating for social justice. After all, it is far easier for them to do this rather than open their eyes to the issues of oppression. Social justice should not be a liberal or conservative platform, but one that focuses on humanity.

Advocating for social justice is necessary to the foundation of education in America.

It recognizes oppression exists and seeks to balance the scales. Issues of oppression involving race, class, gender, and sexuality impact our society. The arts are at the forefront of nurturing the creative space and social emotional learning for students. It strengthens students by sustaining them with a creative canvas to paint their own portraits, to write their own stories. Social justice in education provides a lens and context to assist educators in making decisions to help create equitable classrooms. Our students depend on the arts as one of the great equalizers, as an indispensable form of social justice. Art can reveal the bias experienced while illuminating hope for a world fostered by social justice. While schools are certainly institutions of education designed to provide learning environments, they mean so much more to communities who depend on them in helping children to overcome barriers. As a student, there were teachers in my schooling who went beyond the standard criteria of their job description. Thank Goodness! The influences of these teachers have surely impacted ME as a teacher. The Arts, in the form of music, was an balancing factor in my education from K-12 public schools to the university level.

In the case of educators, professional values should include beliefs that children should be helped to grow, should be treated with respect, should learn how society works, and should apply methods to validate what they are taught. Educators can simultaneously facilitate high-quality instruction in addition to establishing classrooms with social justice perspectives. Showing you acknowledge what students are bringing into the classroom is a valuable action in forming an environment for social justice. If this country is ever going to achieve its undertaking of equality for all students, then its schools need to work for all children, regardless of their background.

If you think social justice equates to fascism, then you either don’t understand fascism or you don’t understand social justice...or maybe you are just biased Regardless, you have a lot to learn.