As America celebrates a very special holiday today, Juneteenth, I can’t help but think about all the people throughout history who fought for freedom. Speaking out at a time when one was told to keep quiet must have been nerve-wracking, but their resilience and fight for justice were stronger than the consequences they might have faced. I know it was difficult for them to stand up and speak out for what was right and humane. I am proud of not only my ancestors who fought bravely during a most crucial and dangerous time, but also of those who stood with them.
Today, as I reflect upon my ancestors and my people who sacrificed so much for freedom, I think about what I can do to continue their legacy. I start by speaking up for myself. My rights, my freedom, my justice. It’s the least I can do. Then I can work on speaking up for others (once I have all the information I need to make a sound conclusion of a situation). In the past, it wouldn’t take much for me to bring out the soapbox to stand on, but as I’ve gotten older and have gone through some experiences, I’ve learned to pick my battles.
I admit, I know some people who just like to talk aimlessly, but when it comes to offering valuable information, they fall short. I give them an “A” for effort because they have a right to speak up, too. But I certainly applaud anyone who stands up for what’s right, justice, equality, truth, and freedom, especially when it requires going against the grain. I think it takes real bravery to speak up and speak out when speaking has something to do with an unpopular topic or situation. The main reason I think it’s so brave is that speaking up and speaking out usually is the beginning of change for the better. It makes me think of a quote I once heard, “Some people see a problem, and they just need to do something about it”…I can’t remember where I heard that before or who said it, but it rings true.
I think about all the progress of change that has been made throughout the history of mankind, and it all started with someone thinking about a problem that needed to be fixed. It took men and women of different backgrounds and social classes to pull out their soapboxes and rally others to bring about change. Then there is the “Hedonistic theory”. The Hedonistic theory describes humans’ attitude towards change when the negatives of a behavior begin to outweigh the positives of that behavior. It’s this theory that makes me believe that when people see patterns that cause discomfort long enough, they begin to speak up about it. I think everyone at least once in their lives should speak up for a just cause if they are able to do so. It doesn’t have to be as grand as ending slavery, but still, everyone’s voice matters. Many people were trailblazers and advocates, and some made the ultimate sacrifice just so we could all have the right to speak our voice.