Michael J. Rivera

Rivera’s bio:

Growing up as a Latino in the working class of Harlem, New York, Michael. J Rivera endured many instances of social inequality, bias, and radical gentrification from the criminal justice system and surrounding affluent communities. In an effort to minimize the chances of his daughter facing the same adversity, he writes on the issues of social dissimilarity and police brutality that occur in today’s society.

Rivera’s explanation of his creative process:

TAKE YOUR KNEE OFF MY NECK

Coming into my first year back at John Jay since the fall semester of 2009, I didn’t know what to expect. I knew that no matter the circumstance however, this was my chance to start making a change in the world in whatever way I could. I felt I had the tools to realize this but, I just didn’t know quite how to hone and focus them to make an impact. I was always told that I had a way with words, and, to an extent, I believed this; although I felt I lacked proper structure in the way I was writing.

With the school’s English curriculum, that’s what I got and more. My semester blew by, and even with the loss of my father, I persevered, earning a semester GPA of 3.9 and far exceeding my expectations for coming back to school.

One of the various instruments of John Jay is its professors. Professor S. Whitestone assisted me with connecting my story telling ability and passion for social justice into an interwoven piece of art. I was able to gather resources in media and literature to help argue my stance on people of color and their resiliency involving Police Brutality and racial injustice in our legal system. On of the essays I cited was an article that spoke about George Floyd’s murder and the various protests that followed immediately after.

Then, on April 20th, 2021, Derek Chauvin was finally convicted of murder. Since Floyd’s death, more injustices have occurred which have motivated us to find our voice in society and prove our resiliency to the systems that have steadily held us oppressed. John Jay’s process helped me find my voice, and I intend to use it. To those systems I say, “Take your knee off my neck”

Rivera’s full inquiry essay, titled “Enough Is Enough.”