“Weapons of the Weak” and “Race Rebels”

Melissa Chow
20^th April, 2017
ASA 04 – A04

“Weapons of the Weak” and “Race Rebels”

                       

                           The main focus of both of the readings was “everyday resistance”. In the first essay, “Weapons of the Weak,” Scott asserts that in history, a full peasant revolt rarely happens, and when it does, it tends to be easily overthrown and does not lead to substantial change. However, the “Weapons of the Weak” can actually be stronger than an actual revolution against the hierarchy. Scott brings up a lot of examples in history, for example the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. If those in opposition of the draft had revolted against the system, the Confederate army, and the wealthy upper class, it was likely to have failed. However, rather than openly stating their opposition, instead they silently resisted by just not showing up. Indeed this echoes the earlier readings stating that we as the people need to stand up against our hegemonic society. The second reading from, “Race Rebels,” suggests the same similar ideas as Scott, but in a more modern day context. Rather than the institution being the government, for Kelley it was McDonald’s work policies. For Kelley and his coworkers, their daily “shenanigans” were actually a form of silent resistance against the strict rules McDonalds expected from them. From making too much food for leftovers to simply the way their altered their uniforms, Kelley had won against the much bigger McDonald's by performing a collective of smaller acts of resistance while working there.