Jimmy Carter said that in his Inaugural Address in January, 1977. Today, it still rings true. While we have fought and campaigned for equal rights for decades, we have come far – but we still have a long way to go.
December 10, 2010 marked the 60th anniversary of the World Human Rights Day, when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was formally adopted by the United Nations. Though ultimate global equality is by no means in the near future, we have made considerable strides in the journey toward it.
Consider the following:
1865: 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery.
1920: 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, allowing women the right to vote.
1948: United Nations adopts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
1954: Brown vs. Board of Education declared the Plessy vs. Ferguson case (state-mandated segregation in school) unconstitutional.
1955: Montgomery, Alabama desegregated public buses as a result of Rosa Parks’ “sit-in.”
1964: 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished the poll tax in 11 southern states (which had made it difficult for impoverished African-Americans to vote.)
1965: Congress passed the Voting Rights Act, ending the tests and obstacles African-Americans had to pass to vote in the South.
1967: Loving vs. Virginia ruled that prohibition of interracial marriage is unconstitutional.
1968: Civil Rights Act signed by President Johnson.
1989: UNICEF set the Convention On the Rights of the Child.
2004: Massachusetts legislation allows same-sex marriages.
2010: California overturned Prop 8 (which banned same-sex marriages.)
2010: “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy banning openly gay citizens from enlisting in the armed services, is repealed.
These may seem minor victories alone, but they are victories nonetheless. While it is still crucial to continue fighting for equality and better opportunities for the oppressed and victimized, it is also important to step back and thank our ancestors for their work in achieving rights we have today. Appreciating what we do have and celebrating every victory, no matter how small, is the heart of the human spirit – and we should always remember as such.
