Equal Rights

The Suffragettes were one of the many groups of women who stood up for rights. They found a leader named Emiline Pankhurst, who’s daughter Christabel Pankhurst also joined the group. In 1903 she founded the women’s social and political union to fight for the right that women could vote, which they succeeded in 1923 when women could now vote. Even though the Suffragettes had to fight the liberal government, therefore having to go to jail many times along with other women who followed them and agreed that women are the same as men. Today it shows that Canada was the leader in women’s right’s because our highest state of government here is controlled by a women named Michaelle Jean.

“I have a dream” (Martin Luther King)

The goal of most African Americans went from voting rights to employment and housing discrimination. There peaceful stings and freedom rides were followed by violent race riots and violence in desegregating the education system. For some whites who tried to stand up for the blacks, they turned there backs on them after the violent race riots. The Africans thought by participating in the war would win them basic democratic rights and respect. Yet even after the war that the African Americans fought they still earned no respect and people stayed racist against them.

In 1964, the goal of almost all African Americans changed to wanting the right to vote. On March of 1965, Martin Luther King helped organize a demonstration in Selma, Alabama to demand the rights of blacks to register their vote. The blacks were also fed up with the economy and housing. In 1965, Lyndon Johnson supported the concept of affirmative action.

Today comedians such as Bill Cosby, Chris Rock, Sinbad and Arsino Hall have made their living highlighting history. Funny, of course, when they deliver it, however the message is very real.

As quoted by Barrock H Obama on January 20th, 2009 at the inauguration “A man who’s father who may not have been served at a restaurant 60 years ago now stands before you to take this most sacred oath”.

I feel that we have come a long way, but it is up to each of us to make sure that we take this challenge to another level. What are you going to do?