Black is NOT a Priority
Antigone’s Claim illustrates the way limitations to kinship will determine or establish the value of life. The body of her brother is of no use to Creon who is bound to the duties of rule. However, Antigone’s marriage becomes more opportunistic to Creon, than her death, after her defiance was committed. The order Creon demands is a powerful exemplification of the controversial ways that beneficial circumstances are more powerful than those which obtain no interest.
In the case of the Oregon Occupation, the protestors explored the notion of White supremacy. This social order allowed the protesters to remain in a peaceful environment with authorities, while threatening to die in the name of justice. The FBI chose to take their protest into consideration in order to negotiate an outcome without resulting in human casualties. And though this performance by the FBI was beneficial to the entire human society, it may have not transpired in such a way if the occupants consisted of African American or Muslim individuals.
The unfortunate terrorist attack on Paris, France caused great social unity. People from all over the world took to social media to empower the people of France through an illustration of unity explored through the image of the French flag on Facebook. With France acquiring the position of a first world country, Americans had the information in our televisions instantaneously. This was not the case for Nigeria who also suffered a terrorist attack shortly after the attack on French territory. The differences between these two occasions is that for one, the media completely ignore Nigeria and two the Paris attack though disturbing lost less lives than the massacre that enveloped in Nigeria.
People also lost their lives in the attack on Nigeria yet we only empowered the country of France by exploiting the image of their flag. Where were all the supporting Americans for the civilians in Nigeria? It may be possible that the attack on France was more traumatic to the American population as there were two American citizens who were killed. But it is nonetheless unfortunate that as a first world country we ignore those who don’t hold the same status.
In other terms, Nigeria as an alliance to the Unites States is far less important than the company France will provide. King Creon in Antigone’s claim, determines the importance of certain individuals, our status and race too conflicts with the value of life. The Oregon occupation could have resulted in the loss of every protester if it consisted of Muslim or Black individuals as we see in every day news about the brutality that occurs when a black individual is shot without hesitation. Or the terrorist associations that are made with every Muslim.
The #JeSuisCharlie made a profound impact on social media in the protest which occurred due to the 12 deaths of people who were gunned down by a person who pledged allegiance to ISIS. Nigeria however, days before, experienced a profound massacre of 2000 people who were not mourned as profoundly. The majority of these individuals who died were women and children, yet not important enough to overshadow the deaths or mourning in France. African lives are still deemed less newsworthy, thus implying that they are less valuable than western lives. Major General James ‘Spider’ Marks spoke to CNN regarding the matter claiming that, “Black West Africa is not a priority.”
Obama took to the time to express his anguish and support to France while Nigeria’s attack goes unnoticed by most people in the United States and throughout the world. Unless we are interested in a particular country we will not be informed as thoroughly as we are with the occurrences in France which overpowered our social media outlets. Antigone makes a revolutionary decision that challenges the established social order. The Oregon Occupiers are also looking to challenge the social order by using weaponry to prohibit the discontinuation of their protest. Unfortunately our government officials like Creon are entitled to decide the importance of human individuals and the devaluation of others who serve no beneficial outlets.
