Structural Oppression, Marginalization and Alienation

There are various instances in the Bible where structures oppressed, marginalized, alienated, or created or enhanced privilege and power. The stories of Moses and Jesus discussed below are such occasions. In Moses’ narrative, he is hiding and placed in a reed basket by his parents so he could float on the River Nile and escape death that was ordered on all newborn Hebrew males (Exodus 2:5-10). Still afloat on the Nile, Moses is found in the reed basket by Pharaoh’s daughter, who went bathing in the river. He is brought up as a prince in the Egyptian court, thus, acquiring privilege and power.

He evidently received instruction in matters of religion and the military while at the palace. He later fled after killing an Egyptian who was beating an Israelite (Exodus 2:11-22). The Israelites were Moses’ people and were enslaved and oppressed by Egyptians. While in the wilderness, God chooses Moses to deliver the Israelites from slavery. With so much power bestowed upon him as the chosen leader, he safely led God’s people out of Egypt.

Jesus, on the other hand, was born and raised in a humble household. He showed and taught his followers how to live in a manner that is acceptable in the eyes of the Lord. He endured harsh treatment and oppression from the Romans and was also alienated by the Jews. He was beaten, spat on, ridiculed and slapped (Mark 15:19). He was later crucified and died on the cross for the sins of humankind.

The life experiences of both Moses and Jesus were influenced by privilege and power and marginalization and oppression, respectively. Through education in the Egyptian court, Moses learned civil and religious matters and realized that he was a Hebrew. His concern and sense of curiosity made him seek his people and see firsthand how Egyptian masters oppressed them. In a bid to ease their suffering, he commits murder – an act that sets him on a life-changing path as God’s chosen leader to free His people. Jesus’ oppression and alienation also enhanced his reputation as the savior and enabled him to complete his mission of dying for the sins of humanity.

Structural oppression, marginalization and alienation exist in the present day. An example is the exclusion and segregation of African Americans in the United States. African Americans suffer disparities in almost all spheres of life. For instance, in the justice system, African Americans are overly represented in correction facilities and are a target of discriminatory laws (Hinton et al., 2018). It is the same structure that marginalizes and oppresses the African American community that provides power and privilege to their white counterparts.

Privilege is deep-rooted in any interpretation of whiteness, and the dominance of white people in America has resulted in institutions that upgrade opportunities for the white population over others (Lindner, 2018). Such institutions include the media, school authorities, and law enforcement.

The differences in how the United States culture treats whites and blacks influence the experiences of the communities and their members. Since black people are marginalized and oppressed by the system, they are more likely to be poor, unemployed, attend schools with less qualified teachers and be targeted by the police. On the other hand, white people are more likely to be treated better by law enforcement, attend good schools, easily secure employment, and have good houses in safer neighborhoods.

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Another example is the LGBTQ community which has historically been oppressed and discriminated against. Until recently, the community’s members were physically abused, not allowed to marry, and suffered discrimination in employment, housing, and accessing services. The same society that oppressed the community is currently ensuring that the members are protected against all kinds of prejudice. The community is so influential that many famous people have lost their jobs or significant investments by just uttering words the community considers offensive. The difference in the treatment of the community has ensured that its members are safe, have equal access to services and can fully live their lives just like other citizens.

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