The Importance of Democracy

The struggle for democracy and freedom is a constant uphill battle that brings into thought all the questions surrounding humanity. One major issue that is brought up by Cornel West, is race and what it has to do with achieving democracy. In West’s writing he compiles the ideas of many writers including W.E.B. Du Bois, who puts the problems with different races into focus. “Du Bois asserted that race in this country is the fetishization of a problem, black bodies in white space.”(212) In the United States, black people were considered a problem, instead of being associated with a problem making it easier to assume all black people were a problem. However, West explores how new democracy is to the world because throughout human history elites, queens, kings, and squires were easily allowed to exploit people who’s voice was never heard, but with democracy all voices can be heard. When discussing democracy and freedom you must also bring up the economy of that country to put into focus the decisions of the government. In the United States large corporations determine the health of the America economy, if a company fails many people are without a job or resources to make their lives better. When people become in desperate need for money or a job they will listen to anybody who tells them that they can provide that, even if it sacrifices their freedom through democracy. All of these reading encourage citizens to be informed and to use the voice that they are given, so that the practice of democracy will continue. These writings have also noted how unique the democracy of the United States is compared to other places around the world, and how it lets truly everyone have a voice no matter the social class of that citizen.