And I Quote…
Negativity towards future of civil rights discounts current efforts
By Kate Knowles
Collegian Staff
“In some quarters, there’s a feeling that the movement has passed its course. That’s the reaction of the young generation mostly, post-civil rights generation.”
- Ronald Waters, Professor of Political Science at University of Maryland
The world has recently suffered the losses of Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott Kingm two of the most influential and prominent civil rights activists in history.
Parks, who refused to give up her seat in Montgomery, Alabama in December of 1955, sparked a movement that increased awareness of the injustices toward African-Americans. The Montgomery bus boycott, headed by Parks, the NAACP and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was meant to show that the black community would not stand for oppression and longer, and instead would fight for equality.
Coretta Scott King, the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and a strong activist for civil rights, was a woman of strength and devotion. She continued working toward her husband’s goal of a better nation to make his dreams become the future generation’s reality.
A recent Associated Press article that stated that many African-American advocates of the movement are deeply troubled with the condition of the future movement. They fear that as more and more icons pass, the fight to establish better race relations and all the energy will be focused on the efforts of the past rather than focusing on pushing for equality in the present.
I have always believed that it is imperative to acknowledge the past, especially the people who have paved the way for us, I agree that we should not neglect all that needs to be done during this day and age, but we always need to pay homage to those who have come before us.
Ronald Waters, a professor at the University of Maryland, stated, “In some quarters, there’s a feeling that the movement has passed its course. That’s the reaction of the young generation mostly, post-civil rights generation.” I could not disagree more. Perhaps Waters is stating that since we were not present during the 1960s and 70s, we do not share the same passion to fight as people who had lived during that time; fighting against things like racial tension the conflict in Vietnam. Or maybe he is suggesting that the work has been done, and now all we have to do is sit back and revere the people who have passed away and thank them for making a difference. There are probably people in our generation who are not doing anything to change the present condition our society is in, however I can vouch for the young adults who continue to persevere despite speculation and obstacles.
If our generation had the feeling that the movement had passed its course, then we at La Salle would not have decorated the seats in two of the shuttles in commemoration of Ms. Parks to show her perseverance and to inspire a movement of our own. If we had the feeling that the movement had passed its course, we would not have adopted the “Under Construction” theme for Black History Month; if we had the feeling that the movement had passed its course, we would not be advocating for a Black Studies Program where African Americans could learn more about their culture and through which Caucasians, Asians, Latinos, and others could enhance their knowledge of history.
In response to Waters’ statement, I have one of my own that embodies all of our efforts to combat discrimination and the negative impact it has on our society. “Struggle is a never-ending process. Freedom is never really won; you earn it and win it in every generation.” – Mrs. Coretta Scott King.
By Kate Knowles
Collegian Staff
“In some quarters, there’s a feeling that the movement has passed its course. That’s the reaction of the young generation mostly, post-civil rights generation.”
- Ronald Waters, Professor of Political Science at University of Maryland
The world has recently suffered the losses of Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott Kingm two of the most influential and prominent civil rights activists in history.
Parks, who refused to give up her seat in Montgomery, Alabama in December of 1955, sparked a movement that increased awareness of the injustices toward African-Americans. The Montgomery bus boycott, headed by Parks, the NAACP and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was meant to show that the black community would not stand for oppression and longer, and instead would fight for equality.
Coretta Scott King, the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and a strong activist for civil rights, was a woman of strength and devotion. She continued working toward her husband’s goal of a better nation to make his dreams become the future generation’s reality.
A recent Associated Press article that stated that many African-American advocates of the movement are deeply troubled with the condition of the future movement. They fear that as more and more icons pass, the fight to establish better race relations and all the energy will be focused on the efforts of the past rather than focusing on pushing for equality in the present.
I have always believed that it is imperative to acknowledge the past, especially the people who have paved the way for us, I agree that we should not neglect all that needs to be done during this day and age, but we always need to pay homage to those who have come before us.
Ronald Waters, a professor at the University of Maryland, stated, “In some quarters, there’s a feeling that the movement has passed its course. That’s the reaction of the young generation mostly, post-civil rights generation.” I could not disagree more. Perhaps Waters is stating that since we were not present during the 1960s and 70s, we do not share the same passion to fight as people who had lived during that time; fighting against things like racial tension the conflict in Vietnam. Or maybe he is suggesting that the work has been done, and now all we have to do is sit back and revere the people who have passed away and thank them for making a difference. There are probably people in our generation who are not doing anything to change the present condition our society is in, however I can vouch for the young adults who continue to persevere despite speculation and obstacles.
If our generation had the feeling that the movement had passed its course, then we at La Salle would not have decorated the seats in two of the shuttles in commemoration of Ms. Parks to show her perseverance and to inspire a movement of our own. If we had the feeling that the movement had passed its course, we would not have adopted the “Under Construction” theme for Black History Month; if we had the feeling that the movement had passed its course, we would not be advocating for a Black Studies Program where African Americans could learn more about their culture and through which Caucasians, Asians, Latinos, and others could enhance their knowledge of history.
In response to Waters’ statement, I have one of my own that embodies all of our efforts to combat discrimination and the negative impact it has on our society. “Struggle is a never-ending process. Freedom is never really won; you earn it and win it in every generation.” – Mrs. Coretta Scott King.
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