Equality
You declare you see me dimly
You announce my ways are wanton,
That I fly from man to man,
- Maya Angelou
Today we do not just celebrate a man. We celebrate a possibility. A possibility that our nation can create a new banner of freedom that clothes all men and women of every color. A possibility in which the message of equality and justice can be spread all around, here in this continent and the ones across the seas.
The fight for this possibility has long been fought in all the pages of history. Since the dawn of mankind, humans have separated themselves from others, inhabiting different parts of the globe. As we develop into civilizations, we created new cultures, ideas, governments, and societies. Since the world is a diverse place in terms of geography and climate, our appearances became distinct. These distinctive features of our appearance should be something trivial, for our humanity is not defined by skin color, but by our character. But, mankind has proved himself to be discriminatory, hateful, and blind. This came at a cost of unimaginable size: genocides that nearly wiped out religions, wars that nearly or perhaps destroyed cultures, and the odious apparatuses of slavery that destroyed families and individuals.
In the darkest days of our nation's history, the submissive became strong and the quiet became loud. The ones who, for so long, were stuck in the dark abyss of slavery rose from that abyss to fight for themselves and for their brothers and sisters. The ones up North and the ones perhaps in the South who cherish just principles fought along with them. The battle did not end in 1865. It expanded through the 1960s into 21st century.
Today, the battles takes on another form. There are still people among us who still hold archaic Confederate ideals and those who still have hatred in their hearts. But, there are those walking down the streets. Those holding up signs and those at home who are contributing to the fight for equality. Among these people are those went above and beyond and chose to be ambitious: they sacrificed and worked to gain political offices of the upmost status in our state and federal governments to enact the changes that the people wanted.
However, there are still new rights to be gained and new battles to be won. There are people around the world fighting for the same goal and are suffering from similar injustice. The Muslims in China, stuck in the inhumane facilities and camps. The people in the Middle East suffering from war and the actions of soul-destroying tyrannies. The ones in South America, Africa, and many parts of Asia who do not have the same benefits, privileges, and rights that we enjoy.
The fight for fairness, equality, and justice is not over, but it will be over if each and everyone of us contributes, participates, and fights. We will go on to the end with restless determination and vigor, no matter the struggle, no matter the hardship, no matter the pain.
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