By Delanda S. Johnson/HCBHC
As the Henderson County Black History Committee prepare for its Annual Scholarship banquet on Saturday, Feb. 22, in Malakoff at the Malakoff Community Center (7 p.m.), we wanted you the reader to view how our recipients explored the past and examined the future through their essays.
Alyssia Ned–Trinidad: “We were created in the image of the Lord, expected to be Christ-like; so why did man make thy neighbor inferior? How can one man own another? With the help of Harriet Tubman (and other runaway slaves), slaves escaped by what is known as “The Underground Railroad” during the 1840’s. It was not until 1868 that blacks would be declared as a United States citizen. Through the Civil Rights Act passed in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act in 1965, they saw the light at the end of the dark tunnel which changed the world indefinitely. 2 Samuel 22:29; “You are my lamp O Lord, the Lord turns my darkness into light.”
Jamila Murray–Athens: “In the world today, we as Americans face many different Civil Right problems. I believe women should be able to do what men do. I mean some women might not be as strong as some men, but then again some women are way stronger than some men. We should all have equal rights.”
Jakila Murray–Athens: “In 1942, Congress of Racial Equality was established by an interracial group of students in Chicago. CORE pioneered the strategy of nonviolent direct action, especially the tactics of sit-ins, jail-ins, and freedom rides. CORE was a great help with Civil Rights movement and with this organization it may have taken a lot longer. CORE’s motto is: “Truth, Logic, Courage” Anyone who believes that “all people are created equal” and desires to make equality a reality worldwide can become a member of CORE.”
Shaydi Paramore–CrossRoads: “The Civil Rights movement was a time of fighting for justice and equality for all American citizens. The time during the Civil Rights movement was a very dark time for African American citizens and supporters. Leaders like Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Little Rock Nine, they were able to shine some sort of light to help with the pain of what was happening in everyday life for all African American citizens.”
Cierra Chiles– Malakoff: “A lot of African Americans today say that racial discrimination still exists. The law isn’t the only thing that needed to be changed, it’s people hearts; which needs to be changed on how they view others.”
Gerinesha Barker–Malakoff: “In order to understand Civil Rights in America, we first must understand what Civil Rights means. Civil Rights is the rights belonging to an individual by virtue of citizenship, especially the fundamental freedoms and fundamental freedoms and privileges guaranteed by the 13th and 14th Amendments of the U. S. Constitution. We still have ways to go, but, if God is in it; there won’t be any limits. God is our refuge and our strength.”
Tori Barker–Malakoff: “Our nation’s journey toward justice has not been easy and it is not over. The Civil Rights Movement against discrimination was a major turning point in the lives of African Americans and other minorities. Today, our nation has made great strides in addressing prejudice and discrimination. However, statistics show that African Americans continue to lag behind whites in every possible category. The nature of racism in the 21st century is the first step to devising a strategy for confronting and building bridge or movement that not only stops racist activities or attacks, but that begins to win real gains for the future.”
Fernando Garcia–Malakoff: “Civil Rights are those rights given to the people of the United States, that protect citizens’ freedom. In past and present America, many of those rights were not given to various groups of people. The United States’ past was filled with darkness. Today, all people now live in a country that allows rights that were once denied. Although everything is not perfect, there is much more light in what once was a sad and oppressing darkness.”
Montrell Williams–Malakoff: “The bible breaks it down and truly explains the reason why Jesus is the light in darkness. Jesus is the light of the world and is here to help and mend the brokenhearted and help you through your test and trials. I choose to let my light shine because God is within me and He is the best of the best and I thank God for loving me and giving me the light, and letting me shine my light.”
Adriana Arvizu Rubio–Malakoff: “Civil Rights in America have been a very controversial issue. Not only have Civil Rights existed from the beginning of America; they are also a major issue in today’s society. Immigration rights are a major issue today. Many believe that immigration ruins the country, when in reality it helps America in many ways. America is a country that is built by immigrants hoping to live the American dream. America has become very hostile towards immigrants, but the fact are their ancestors were immigrants as well. With this being said, Americans who are against immigrants rights, are doing the same thing toward their ancestors.”
Chelsea Oliver–Eustace: “Civil Rights by definition are the rights that belong to a person through citizenship. One of the biggest rights that is focused on is equality. Many times people find it hard to look past their own preferences and ideas to notice that we all the same. I believe that we were all created equal and we were all created under God. We are all the same on the inside; we have the hearts that beat, lungs that breathe, and brains that think. To me, that is the definition of equality and we all each other’s equal because of that very fact.”
Walter Baker–Eustace: “Today, total equality has not quite been achieved, but it has gotten much better. One can see this just by casually observing people you know. It also isn’t difficult today to find an interracial couple, with no stigma attached. This has only even been legal for approximately half a century. We even have a biracial President of the United States, Barack Obama. Much effort is made by black churches and organizations such as the NAACP to continue this progress will into the future and if past growth is any indication, we may be able to see a point on my lifetime where the difference of skin color is simply that, a difference in a single chemical under the surface.”
Brianna Baines–Brownsboro: “Civil Rights movements were a series of worldwide political movements for equality beginning around the early 1950s. These political movements consists of nonviolent forms of resistance, like protest. The primary goals of the movements were to ensure the rights of equality for all people and to ensure they are equally protected by the law. Minorities and women are examples of such groups that have benefited from some of the political movements.”
Mayra Aguilar–Brownsboro: “President Abraham Lincoln once said, “Four score and seven years age our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Since his speech in 1864, throughout the years, one saw much discrimination to a variety of people including Native Americans, African Americans, and women. However, today Civil Rights are highly valued and defended. Truly, one can see that there really is a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Joshua Seale–Brownsboro: “We live in a world where everyday people are looked down upon by those around them because of things outside of their control. As I see and hear the intolerance rampant in today’s society, I am struck by a sense of deep sadness that society as a whole cannot accept people for their individual habits, loves, or hobbies. The light of hope in the dark world of intolerance would not be possible without the people who gave everything they had to the quest for Civil Rights for all.”
TaKerrius Lemons–Brownsboro: “Civil Rights for many America’s inhabitants have gotten better over the years, not only for African Americans, but also other genders and races of America. With each passing day the “light in the darkness” grows and opens every person’s eyes to a new way of life and a new mindset among the inhabitants of the world and thanks to the Civil Rights movement people are treated more as equals than ever before.”
Quentin McKenzie–Brownsboro: “In the words of Civil Rights Activist Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Dr. King and many more stood as lights for the African American population for all states not only in the South. Today’s African Americans wouldn’t be free from the bondage of hatred and cruelty and the world would still be full of Darkness without Light.”