You say in your speech “African rights and liberty is a subject that ought to fire the breast of every free man of color in these United States, and excite in his bosom a lively, deep, decided and heart-felt interest.” Well, I’m interested, and I’m definitely fired up. I want to start by saying that we haven’t come very far. It took women like you and Ms. Wells and Sojourner to tell both blacks and whites that slavery had to end. It took men like Martin and Malcolm to let the world know that the white man was keeping us down and we had to learn to fight back peacefully. But sadly, none of that matters. Not really. Not when we have a culture that glorifies being the wife of a rapper or professional athlete. Or even the wife of someone who isn’t famous and isn’t afraid to spend money on said wife. There’s no progress when men are openly allowed to disrespect females who disrespect themselves and their fellow sisters.
I believe initiative is hindered by fear and doubt. We doubt ourselves,that we can accomplish what we wish to, that success is inevitable. Nothing comes without hard work. However, knowing that there are “haters” out there, in this case, white people, who wish to see us fail because that’s what they believe we always do, stops this hard work in its tracks. I’m certain you had haters. I’m certain that your haters are the reason why after such a short lecturing career you gave your farewell address and spoke no more. And I’m sure that haters are the reason why slavery lasted for as long a time as it did.
I completely agree with the idea that revolution comes from education and that the notion of education should be fostered in the home. I look at my generation and the generation directly after mine and all I can do is shake my head. Progressively and quite bluntly, kids are getting dumber and dumber as the years go on. Technology has molded us into a completely new species of beings that don’t have to try or work as hard as we need to be. And this is not exclusive to African Americans, but everyone in general. Education has become an option instead of a priority and with parents being younger and younger, there is not as much emphasis on getting a proper education since parenthood has excluded or hindered these people in some ways. In order for us to get anywhere and instill a better opinion of our race in other races, we have to be the first ones to get things going. That immigrants see more success in this country than native born Americans has a lot to do with what is taught at home. We, especially African Americans, have this idea that we are entitled to the world “just because.” There is no ‘just because.” We got comfortable with affirmative action. We got comfortable with welfare. We got comfortable with the drugs and the pain and the disenfranchisement. Nobody is comfortable with progress, though. Or are we?
Many African Americans aren’t taught these values throughout their childhood. Ideals like equality and prosperity are only expressed in the face of adversity. It shouldn’t have to be brought up for us to realize that we are worth so much more and need to be doing way better than we are. The fact that it takes an innocent black male getting gunned down or the exposure of occupational discrimination in a sole corporation is just sad. I am happy to point out, however, that over the years, great strides have been made in the advancement of colored people. We are no longer slaves. We no longer experience a tangible oppression of our race by whites. We are no longer denied access to education and rights. And women, especially, have a greater role in society. There is much to be said about the amount of support and love we show for one another, though. There is also much to be said about the differences that exist between black and white women, but we no longer have to beg for recognition and acceptance in the eyes of a race that reaps the benefits of all with no actual labor put in.
I want to thank you, Ms. Stewart. For your sacrifice, your strength, and your bravery. I want to thank you, and women like you, for having the courage to overcome adversity and just do you. These characteristics are some that I envelop and carry down from you and women like you. These characteristics will ensure that your purpose and your legacy is not forgotten nor undervalued. There is no greater being than one who envisions a truly better future for all. So, I say thank you. Your strides will not be in vain.
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