Things are changing daily in our world, even how we perceive the world, and how we go about our work. Change can be hard and difficult at times. But oftentimes, change is helpful and good for us. It has always been my belief that in order to have good mental health you need to feel safe and connected. We need to have the power and say over our lives. The recent protests I feel are about allowing all of us the opportunity to change and grow for the better.
Protests are Woven into the Fabric of America
The first anti-slavery protest occurred in 1688 in what is now Philadelphia. The protest was sponsored by a young German attorney and four Germantown Quakers. The 1688 petition was the first American document of its kind that made a plea for equal human rights for everyone.
Asking for Basic Human Rights Goes Back Even Further,
Notably a protest in 1152 BC, against King Ramses III. The King was considered to be the last good pharaoh of the kingdom of Egypt. The protest involved grievances about human injustices, loss of wages and, feeding the poor. I imagine you might ask, what those “old” occurrences have to do with Black Lives Matter and other interested supporters’ who are protesting today? Protests in the past and the one's today are shining a light on the multiple injustices that continue to exist in America and even the world. The motivating factor in all being, basic human rights for all.
Essentially, then like now a peaceable assembly was/is used to assure, in this case, people of color are given equality, collective and not separate but equal. With the protest occurring I have had a strong desire to blog about the recent life-changing events, changes through welcomed; however, in pre-thought, such changes were often seen as impossible. Ergo, many dreams have become a reality.
Our founding fathers developed and ratified what is known as the U.S. Constitution. This document, speaks clearly of granting a voice for redress and grievances brought by the American people. The 1st Amendment reads as…. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
It is not my intention to give a history lesson but to remind us that we do have a right to assemble in a peaceful manner so our voices can be heard. The result is to allow our voices and solidarity to assist in generating positive communication so that change can happen. At the end of the day, we are all human beings, a singular race with many skin tones and languages. Therefore, I believe that hu-man means peoples of many colors.