Fighting for Democracy

By Mildred Robertson

For almost every living creature, there comes a seminal moment that impacts the course of our lives. It may be choosing the love of your life or the college or university where you wish to pursue your education.  It might be who you vote for in an historic election, or perhaps more aptly, what you do when that election goes horribly awry.

I was born in 1952 on the cusp of the Civil Rights movement. In 1965 in the heart of that movement, I was not in control of my actions. My desire would have been to hop on a bus and head back to Mississippi to take an active part in wresting my liberty and that of my people from the hands of hateful racists. But my father had taken great pains to move our family from the heart of Dixie so that we would not be trapped in a racist community that would clip our wings and possibly take our lives. He had not been quiet in that environment, and he knew neither would we.

I am glad that he made the move. It was a loving and protective thing to do. But I remember sitting in front of the T.V. watching the marches in Selma and Montgomery. I can recall being inspired by the words of Doctor Martin Luther King. I also recollect being in awe of those people who laid their bodies down in front of hatred and danger, choosing to sacrifice their mortal selves just to be free. I envied them. Their strength. Their courage. I fantasized about whether I would have that same strength and courage…and envisioned that I would.

I was a child then with others to decide for me. That is not to say that we were not on the battlefield in Missouri, doing what we could to make a change. My older sisters led the local NAACP Chapter and fought housing discrimination in the 60’s. I remember passing out flyers and going to rallies. I might have been subject to racism; but not bodily harm or death. Our family continued to be active in civil rights and one sister actually acquired a seat on the national board of the NAACP. Today she still fights the battle through that organization.

Our nation is under threat of tyranny. Not only are we in danger of losing all those hard-fought victories of the Civil Rights Movement, but also the laws and policies that protect the diverse amalgamation of humans, male and female, Black, Brown, Asian, and White that make up this nation. It is our diversity that makes us strong. If we allow that to be destroyed, we will destroy America as we know it.

As I look back at that history, and see the sacrifices that others made I am led to consider the sacrifices necessary today. You see now America faces that same kind of seminal moment that our forbearers faced in the South. It is a moment when we must decide what kind of country we will be. It is a moment where we must determine whether our Constitution is just words on paper, or whether they are words worth fighting and dying for. Some things are.

Back in the 60’s people across America rose up to say “This is NOT who we are.” Together, Black and White, we met the moment. Now, as we face another such moment, each of us must consider what WE are willing to do to save our country. Are you willing to make the sacrifice?