Friday, October 15, 2010

Still Marching?

10-2-10 marked a monumental day for the One Nation: Working Together movement. Americans from across the country rallied at our nation’s capitol for the creation and preservation of jobs, a stronger education system, a more resilient economy and for a judicial system that truly protects the people. The NAACP and other, social and environmental organizations showed their support in droves of this initiative.

Reading the NAACP blog about the march instantly reminded me of the March on Washington 68 years ago lead by A. Phillip Randolph. The first attempt at the March, people were gathering for better job opportunities, and equal wages. In the Southern states it was not an anomaly to find black and white factory line workers dong the job for varying wages. Promotions were given similarity, to the unskilled white man over the skilled black man. Women also struggled to find job opportunities outside of a servant or housekeeper. They also worked to desegregate the army.
The two marches on many levels are parallel. They both strive to preserve current and increase new job opportunities. As the recession many left jobless, the current congressional election has developed great importance for democrats. This March works to promote policy that will create programs to grow the job force. Like the Civil Rights march that worked to expand opportunities for blacks.

But what is different is now? We are rallying as “One Nation”. The issues we are struggling to combat are “our” problem, not an exclusively black issue. That sounds good, but wasn’t job opportunities, a stable economy, sound education, and a fair judicial system for all, a part of the first civil rights movement? Isn’t our civil right to have a solid framework for us to build our lives under? Why are we still marching?

I suppose we are always on the pursuit for justice. Government leaders change those who worked with Kennedy to grant us, particularly black people, our rights mid 60s are probably not serving today. I conclude that the people must always pressure government to never compromise or civil rights.

No comments:

Post a Comment