a collection of my essays, from 2022 to 2024
An Open Letter to the Sheriff of Nottingham
essay information
entered into the new york times' open letter contest.
˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹Renowned and victorious upholder of justice, Sheriff of Nottingham,
Today, you are renowned not for being victorious, nor for being the upholder of justice— in tales of folklore and legend, you are the embodiment of injustice. You are the antagonist, the impediment to the desires and needs of those poor peasants you mistreated, and your actions, though shrouded in the legitimacy of the law, are viewed as demonstrations of corruption.
Perhaps the greatest crime you committed was upholding the law— a morally bankrupt system of governance that prioritized the interests of few over the rights of many. That, combined with your penchant for unnecessary brute force, driven by biases against the lower classes, echoes the disproportionate violence and targeting of marginalized communities by law enforcement today. You are the inspiration for the officers who abuse their power to fulfill a personal vendetta against the innocent.
The antagonist of your story, yet the protagonist of ours, Robin Hood, was the one who took it upon himself to fight for the rights of the poor. In his actions, he represents a force of justice for those disenfranchised by the state. His deeds mirror the desires of the people rather than the law, two things that should not have become separated at all.
And to think that you, Sheriff, don't even exist.
There was no title of Sheriff of Nottingham in the earliest records of Robin Hood and yet the people wove your character into his tales through time. Sheriff, you must understand that in the eyes of the people, you were never the protagonist. Your existence was dictated through the culmination of the peasant population's collective hatred for corrupt authority figures such as yourself, those who perpetuate injustice in the name of the law.
This disparity is not unique to medieval times: recent events following numerous cases of police brutality, from the French riots to the conviction of the "Goon Squad," serve as reminders of the flaws within our system of law enforcement. Despite calls for reform, the cycle of violence and oppression persists, fueled by institutional biases and a disregard for the voices of the people.
Sheriff, your goal had always been to retire Robin Hood and create a lawful society—yet Robin Hood retired of his own accord when King Richard returned from war and restored a society that advocated for the rights of the peasants. Despite your past, you began serving the common people.
Come modern times, the sheriffs today don't have a King Richard to return to. We, together, must create our own King Richard and shift toward a fairer and more just society. Only then can you, Sheriff of Nottingham, become the hero.
Consider, I beseech thee, pay heed to my demands. Best of luck, Sheriffs of Nottingham.
