These short stories about social issues, justice, injustice, fairness and human rights have characters who are seeking justice or are being treated unjustly. Some present a broader look at whether justice is being done or not, or have justice or fairness as a theme. Other stories look at human rights and could have characters who are suffering in some way or are seeking an improvement in their own lives or in society. Often, individuals will be in conflict with the government, community or individuals with power. See also:
Short Stories About Justice & Social Issues
“Busy Lines” by Patricia Grace
An old woman waking early can still see a star through the gap in her curtains. Her husband died fifteen years ago, and she’s lost everyone else too. Her appliances are also giving out. She takes care of her needs.
This story can be read in the preview of Freedom: Short Stories Celebrating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“The Effects of Good Government on the City” by A. L. Kennedy
You don’t want to break up with someone in Blackpool. You’re at your childhood home, at the beach. You don’t sleep anymore. It’s gradually revealed where you’ve come from.
This story can also be read in the preview of the above anthology.
“The Ones Who Stay and Fight” by N. K. Jemisin
It’s the Day of Good Birds in the city of Um-Helat, where everyone is happy. Decorations of feathers and wings are seen all over. The beliefs of the citizens vary, and all are honored. They speak many languages and have various backgrounds. They all care for each other. They know what needs to be done to make the world a better place, and they’re practical enough to do it.
This is the first story in the preview of How Long ‘Til Black Future Month? (25% into preview)
“African Morning” by Langston Hughes
Murai is a half Black, half White boy living in the Niger Delta. His mother has recently died and was African. His father is English and is the president of the only bank in the area. He’s ostracized from the community due to his mixed parentage. (Summary)
“Revolution Shuffle” by Bao Phi
A man and woman rest for a while at the top of a hill. They talk about the food they miss and prepare their guns. Below is the prison camp and the huge metallic pistons. Inside are the inmates who maintain the hydraulics. Outside, attracted by the noise and the bodies inside, are the zombies.
This story can be read in the preview of Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements. (29% in)
“The Token Superhero” by David F. Walker
Alonzo Ramey was born with the genetic anomaly that causes superpowers. Fortunately, his powers were of the Standard variety. His father warns him that white folks wouldn’t take kindly to a colored boy with superpowers. He ends up getting offered a position with Teen Justice Force.
This story can also be read in the preview of Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements. (53% in)
“One of These Days” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
A corrupt mayor needs treatment for an abscessed tooth. He goes to an unlicensed dentist. The dentist doesn’t want to help, and they exchange some words. (Summary & Analysis)
“The Weapon” by Jeffery Deaver
On Monday afternoon, a government man meets with Colonel Peterson. There’s intel on a weapon that can do significant damage, and it’s going to be used on Saturday morning. The government is looking to IAS, run by Peterson, to get the information they need. An Algerian professor and journalist is the best lead—he’s recently been in contact with the group in question. He’ll need to be taken to a black site.
This story can be read in the preview of Thriller 2: Stories You Just Can’t Put Down. (17% in)
“#DontTell” by Peter Cawdron
Lisa Zindani, a celebrity reporter, is at a secret location to interview a telepath. A Telepathy Act is before congress, with far-reaching consequences if passed. A camera crew hurries around her, catching the right angles. A guard leads her to a dark room with spotlights pointing out at her. The back of the room is dark, but she can barely make out the form of a man in a chair.
This story can be read in the preview of The Telepath Chronicles. (33% in)
Short Stories About Social Issues, Justice & Injustice, Cont’d
“The Finkelstein 5” by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Emmanuel wakes up after dreaming of the recent murder of five black children. He gets a phone call about a job opportunity. He adjusts the Blackness in his voice down to a 1.5. When he can be seen, the lowest he can get to is a 4.0. He prepares for the interview and also thinks about the Finkelstein verdict. George Wilson Dunn was acquitted of the murders on the grounds that the children were loitering and he felt threatened.
Some of this story can be read in the preview of Friday Black. (20% into preview)
“The Scholarship Jacket” by Marta Salinas
A fourteen-year-old girl in a small town Texas school has been a straight A student for eight years. This means she will be awarded the school’s scholarship jacket, but a complication arises. (Summary & Analysis)
“The Egg” by Andy Weir
You’re killed in a car accident on your way home. You’re concerned about the family you’re leaving behind, which the narrator tells you is what he likes to see. It turns out you’re going to be reincarnated. (Summary & Analysis)
“The Balek Scales” by Heinrich Böll
The narrator tells the story of his grandfather who lived in a village that was controlled by the Balek family. The people would bring their flax, mushrooms and herbs to Frau Balek, who would weigh everything on the only scale in the village, and then pay them. (Summary)
“To the Man on the Trail” by Jack London
A group of men are in the Malemute Kid’s cabin for the holidays. A stranger named Westondale comes in, tells a story about following some men who stole from him, talks about his family, and asks to be awakened in a few hours so he can continue his pursuit. Shortly after he leaves, the police arrive. (Summary)
“A Council of War” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
A group of women are gathered in a London drawing room discussing the progress of the last seven years. They’re holding strong but they want more. They know who their friends and enemies are now. They talk about going on strike, and how to do it successfully.
“The Hammer Man” by Toni Cade Bambara
After a verbal altercation with the narrator, Manny has been hanging out at her door for a while. She’s been hiding, saying she has yellow fever. Some adults intervene to no avail. It comes to an end when Manny falls off a roof. There’s an incident later at a basketball court.
“Children of the Sea” by Edwidge Danticat
A young Haitian man is on a boat headed for Florida. He was part of a group that protested the dictator. His lover has remained in Haiti with her family. They are surrounded by violence and terrible conditions.
“Dry September” by William Faulkner
Miss Minnie Cooper has accused a black man, Will Mayes, of attacking her. Some of the town’s men discuss the accusation at a barbershop. They are easily riled against Mayes and make plans to mete out justice themselves.
“Daniel the Just” by Heinrich Böll
Daniel is a forty-one-year-old man who is tired from the effort of wearing his “put-on” face all day. His wife is worried about a young boy, Uli, who is taking his entrance exams soon. She wants her husband to do something for the boy. Daniel remembers his uncle who used to always say, “If only there were justice in this world.”
Short Stories About Social Issues, Justice & Injustice, Cont’d
“Four O’Clock” by Price Day
Mr. Crangle is at home at 3:47 in the afternoon. Three weeks ago he realized he had the power to mark all evil people in some way. He would be the judge, and he has no moral qualms about using his ability. He sets 4:00 in the afternoon as the time when he will execute his judgment.
“Bontsha the Silent” by I. L. Peretz
Bontsha’s death makes no impression on anyone. He was not cared for, suffered many injustices, and lived in loneliness. He never protested his lot in life. While his death goes unnoticed on earth, it has the opposite effect on heaven.
“The Stub-Book” by Pedro A. Alarcon
“Uncle” Buscabeatas has cultivated a crop of huge pumpkins. He knows each of his forty pumpkins by look and name. He is sad when the day comes to cut them and bring them to market. When he wakes up that morning he is furious with what he sees.
“Sorrow-Acre” by Isak Dinesen
Adam returns to his family home in Denmark as he is now the heir. A barn belonging to his uncle was burned down, and the main suspect is a young man, Goske. His uncle offers the man’s mother a deal: if she can complete a near-impossible job he will free her son.
“An Official Position” by Somerset Maugham
Louise Remire is serving 12 years in a penal colony for the murder of his wife. He is the colony’s executioner, and this position of power and his attitude make him unpopular with the other inmates.
“The Augsburg Chalk Circle” by Bertolt Brecht
During the Thirty Years’ War, a woman flees while packing her things, leaving her baby behind. A servant girl, Anna, claims the child and escapes. She makes a new life for herself with the child, but eventually the biological mother returns.
“America and I” by Anzia Yezierska
Yezierska comes to the United States from Russia. She looks forward to experiencing freedom not possible before. Despite wanting to live a life of creativity and self-expression, she encounters many disappointments, hardships and injustice in America.
“Conscience of the Court” by Zora Neale Hurston
A maid, Laura Kimble, is on trial for beating a white man, Clement Beasley. He went to the house of her employer, Mrs. Clairborne, to collect on a loan. Beasley says that when he found her absent and saw the maid packing up the silver he thought Mrs. Clairborne had left town and was sending for her things—things she had put up as collateral for the loan. When he tried to take the furniture, Laura intervened.
I’ll keep adding short stories about justice, fairness, injustice, human rights and social issues as I find more.