Introduction
The song “Glory Days” is often viewed in relation to Nelson Mandela and his struggle against apartheid in South Africa. This song discusses the harsh realities of the fight for equality and racism. The song’s main theme is hoping for a world not characterized by racial boundaries, as it highlights the sacrifices and struggles that were made in pursuing racial equality. Its lyrics poignantly pinpoint the importance of racial unity and equity as evidence that they are advocating for a society whose differences are not in their skin color and that this does not cause division among people. This is depicted in the line, “Can we make no boundaries between colors?” The song remains a powerful call for unity and tolerance when faced with racial division. Also, it articulates the complexities of racism and the desperate yearning for equality and freedom, portraying the aspirations and struggle of individuals facing prejudice, among other key issues. This paper aims to discuss the political and social issues the song addresses while supporting the arguments with evidence from course readings.
The song ‘’Glory Days’’ attempts to transcend the narrative of struggle and embody a vision of harmony, inclusivity, and unity amongst individuals despite their race and skin color differences. It provides a direct inference that individual differences are not dictators of the people’s opportunities or values (Amina, 1983). It calls upon individuals to refrain from making boundaries based on differences and similarities in skin color. The aim of doing this is to promote inclusivity of all individuals without taking advantage of other people. In addition, this extends to diversity, which, based on the song, is achievable through blending different identities. Based on the context of this song, capitalist structures contribute to social injustices and economic inequalities. Although the economic systems promote growth and prosperity, they do this at the expense of other people, for example, black people. As a result, divisions emerge between have-nots and haves. This is supported by Marx (1867), who emphasizes disparities created by capitalism, such as economic inequalities whereby few individuals hold wealth while others struggle.
In relation to socialist theory, the song is a wake-up call for individuals to work collaboratively to address the negative issues caused by their differences. It urges for solidarity, particularly among the working class. This is evident by the rhetorical question posed in the song “Who else can accomplish this?” to highlight the unique resilience and strengths that individuals require to overcome the challenges they face (Amina, 1983). Equipping themselves with these abilities will assist the individuals in challenging and changing the exploitative system. Also, the song aims to show individuals that they have the potential to endure hardships while maintaining a belief in themselves regarding their ability to shape the future. From a broad perspective, it evokes the determination to hold onto freedom regardless of the present challenges and misunderstandings.
Systematic inequalities are a major challenge in the society. The song emphasizes the systematic barriers that the Hispanic and black communities face, such as limited access to quality education and employment opportunities. This is evident in the line “a lifetime of loss and struggle, believing in one’s ability to change the future”. This also translates to the psychological and emotional impact of living in a society where being black is disadvantageous while being white is advantageous. This still exists, as evidenced by research by Horowitz et al. (2019)) where the findings support the existence of systematic inequalities. The research states that the majority of Americans believe that racial segregation leads to limited access to jobs and quality education, which is the reason behind black people not getting ahead in society. It also evidences the point that a large percentage of adults perceive being black as a disadvantage while being white is seen as an advantage and is associated with success. Therefore, it is evident that systematic inequalities still exist and are associated with unsuccessfulness, hence marginalizing communities. The song strives to bring attention to the racial inequalities that exist in society. The persistence of these inequalities threatens the harmony and unity of individuals in society.
There is a dual focus between economic and racial perspectives. The racial equality struggles are directly related to economic justice (Marx, 1867). Reflecting on the racial and economic issues indicates they cannot be separated. This can be attributed to losses in society due to racial injustices in terms of opportunities and other possessions. It signals an urgency to revive and adjust to the initial essence of the roots of individuals in society. This is evident from the song as it insists on ending a period of struggle through fighting for freedom, fairness, and unity. Therefore, integrating economic and racial perspectives implies that effective solutions for societal issues can be derived by assessing the economic structures and racial disparities underpinning them. Doing this ensures a balance is created to eliminate racial inequalities’ complexity and prevalent challenges. This is because there is increased interconnectedness of various types of inequalities in society. They require capturing all different inequalities in society and addressing them accordingly. Therefore, it is crucial to pursue these issues to acquire more insights into the ongoing inequalities in society.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the song is still relevant in contemporary society, characterized by movements and debates seeking to address racial and economic inequalities. It acts as a reminder to show individuals how inequality issues in society have persisted, creating a need for a shared goal towards racial justice. Thereby encouraging individuals to ensure continued efforts to rescue themselves and society. The song is the basis for reflection on the state of society. It can drive change by inspiring individuals to adopt the necessary qualities that play a crucial role in assisting them to overcome the challenges they encounter. They include resilience and belief in their ability to transform the world they live in.
References
Amina. (1983). Beyond. 知乎专栏. https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/572015140
Horowitz, J. M., Brown, A., & Cox, K. (2019, April 9). 2. views of racial inequality. Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project. https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2019/04/09/views-of-racial-inequality/
Marx, K. (1867). Capital a critique of political economy. Economic Manuscripts: Capital: Volume One. https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1
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