Thoreau And Audre Lorde: An Analysis

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For as long as humanity has existed there has been injustice. Whether it’s because of class, race, ethnicity, sexuality or religion there has always been oppressors and the oppressed. Understandably so, the oppressed peoples very rarely accepted their fate and would find ways to fight and gain their freedom. The tactics used by the oppressed or their allies varies greatly and there has yet to be one tactic used to create a more just world, free and sustainable world that works every time. However, throughout history there have been many people who were able to make great strides towards a more just world using techniques that made for effective and positive social change, Nelson Mandela, Henry David Thoreau and Audre Lorde are just a few examples of people who were willing to fight against their oppressors. All three of these people had different ideas and all had different tactics but they were all able to make noticeable and positive changes in society regardless of their differences. Because of Mandela, Thoreau and Lorde we as a people are able to see how important the fight for social justice is for all organisms living on Earth and Earth itself. …show more content…
. Thoreau's fight against social injustices and beliefs in nonviolence was followed by famous activist such as Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr who truly believed that Thoreau's tactics could be used to create positive social change. In 1846 Thoreau wrote one of his most famous essays, “ On the Duty of Civil Disobedience” after being jailed for refusing to pay his cord poll taxes. Thoreau's refusal to pay taxes was not out of sheer