Confining the extensive Civil Rights Movement to a single decade and to the adapted legends of two individuals creates a misleading narrative that remains rooted in the South, focused on non-economic issues, and as one that does not address institutional racism.
Georgia turned blue for the first time since 1992, and we have one group to thank: Black women and grassroots activists whose advocacy has proven the efficacy of working towards progress on the local level.
In 1962, human rights activist Malcolm X expressed the plight of being a Black woman as that of the most disrespected, unprotected, and neglected American. 58 years later, the same sentiments unfortunately remain all too familiar.
The disenfranchisement of formerly incarcerated individuals disproportionately affects communities of color, highlighting the deeply-intertwined relationship between our nation’s systemic racism and harshly punitive justice system.
To some, defunding the police may sound like a radical solution to the countless instances of police brutality we have faced as a nation. However, it is not only plausible but also instrumental in ensuring that we do not lose more lives at the hands of police officers.
Now more than ever, being patriotic entails accountability on various levels ranging from individual actions to established institutions. Our right to criticize our country remains one of our most crucial.
