Essay: Analysis and Evaluation of Jesse L. Jackson's 'Ferguson' Essay

This essay provides an analysis and evaluation of Jesse L. Jackson's essay, 'There is a Ferguson Near You.' The essay examines the socio-political context of racial inequality and social injustice faced by African Americans in suburban areas of the US, particularly in Ferguson, Missouri. It explores themes of protest, civil rights, and the challenges faced by the African American community. The analysis delves into the essay's arguments, evidence, and the author's perspective on the double standards of political parties. It also touches upon the historical background of racial tensions and the impact of events like the killing of Michael Brown. The essay highlights the significance of Jackson's work in raising awareness about these critical issues and its relevance in the context of the time it was written, emphasizing the need for critical thinking and reflection on societal problems. The essay also includes references to other relevant works on the topic.

Running head: ESSAY: ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION
ESSAY: ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION
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Short summary of “There is a ‘Ferguson’ near you”
The respective essay “There is a ‘Ferguson’ near you” written by Jesse L. Jackson is a protest
piece showing the struggles and stereotypes faced by the African- Americans living in the
suburban areas of the US, such as Missouri, Mississippi and so on. The word “Ferguson” is a
name of a suburban town in Missouri, North America which is racially fluid and has
subsequently higher number of African Americans. The essay is a protest and a rebellion against
the injustices and inequality faced by the natives of the “Ferguson” since the beginning of civil
rights movement in America respectively. The essay has explicitly and implicitly talked about
the life and ordeals of the African Americans from different sections of the American society
thereafter.
Detailed analysis of the essay
Point: The essay “There is a ‘Ferguson’ near you” that is composed by the famous African
American civil rights activist Jesse L. Jackson is an interesting essay that focuses on the
struggles and hardships faced by the racially different people of America, especially African
Americans in the unequal and unjust American society.
Evidence: The very title of the essay “There is a ‘Ferguson’ near you” is itself a picture of
psychological and social torture of the African Americans on the grounds of toxic racist
supremacy. The essay begins with the narration of the killing of Michael Brown, a high school
graduate African American male of approximately eighteen years in the suburban area of
Ferguson, Missouri done by the white police officers who claim to have been done the act on the
grounds of “fear” and “self- defense”. The area of Ferguson and suburban places of Chicago has
certain issues regarding gang violence by African Americans but it has to be remembered that

1ESSAY: ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION
the African Americans have been institutionally denied to live peacefully since the time they
have put their feet on the land of America. The institutional prejudices against them that have
denied them basic rights throughout history are the causes and the reasons for such violence,
which is written in this essay by Jesse L. Jackson.
Explanation: The essay is a narration of events and explanation of the causes and effects of the
events without much complications; the essay is to- the- point and exactly means what it tries to
say the readers. The essay has commendable data and information regarding the demographic
dynamics and socio- economic dynamics of the African American community, beginning from
the middle class to the working class.The essay has talked about certain problems of American
society, such as the incidents of gun crime and hate crimes that are triggered and fueled by racist,
toxic mentality of the white, European origin Americans. All such incidents have given rise to a
nascent anger and hatred of the Blacks towards the mainstream white population of America.
The essay targets the general public in America (and across the globe) who are aware of the
conditions of the African Americans, and Africans at large in the international platform despite
of major social upheavals and movements done against racism and apartheid. The essay carefully
examines, analyzes, understands and evaluates the gaps in the American society that denies the
African Americans the rights they deserve despite the fact that they have significantly
contributed to the GDP of America and got educated, took white collar professions and excelled
in different academic and professional fields as much as the white population has done. The
essay is an eye opener about the double standards of the political parties functioning in America,
where the Republicans are always “no” towards such issues and the Democrats have always been
“don’t know” and passive even regarding such sensitive matters. The essay has been written in
the year 2014, during the time when America was facing financial and social crisis. The
population of America was turning radical and a deep prejudice against Latin Americans, Blacks
and Asians were being triggered among the masses which paved the way to hate crimes and gang
violence (Hare and Poole 2014). The activist has judged correctly about the situation of the
nation and the impending danger of the American society which is not far away. The essay, in a
subtle tone, strongly protests and opposes against the killing of the high school graduate in
Ferguson and compares it with “hate crime” against the Blacks. The essay is a strong disapproval
of the American government that questions the competence and abilities of the government that
has done absolutely nothing for the African Americans till date. It questions the institutions and
establishments of its legitimacy and its behaviors to the weaker sections of the society thereafter.
The activist has successfully raised the voice of dissent and rebellion, even though in a subtle
manner, through the essay that compels the readers to at least think twice and/ or thrice about the
issues instead of neglecting it or avoiding it completely. Thereby, it can be said that the essay is
significant and capable to make the readers think about political and social issues.

2ESSAY: ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION
References:
Hare, C. and Poole, K.T., 2014. The polarization of contemporary American politics. Polity,
46(3), pp.411-429.
Usatoday.com.(2014). Available at: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2014/08/12/jesse-
jackson-ferguson-riots-column/13957197/