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In recent years, Americans on the left side of the political spectrum have mourned what they see as the loss of fundamental rights at the hands of Republican lawmakers on issues ranging from abortion to affirmative action to voting rights. According to them, the hard-won victories achieved by previous generations are now being undone.
Straight Arrow News contributor Dr. Rashad Richey reflects on what “progress” means and how it is achieved. In the end, Dr. Richey argues, each American generation has two core responsibilities: “to maintain the gains made by those before them, and to enhance them.”
Let me ask you a question: What is progress? What do you believe progress is? Now I get that what I think of as progress, you may think completely opposite. So I understand those nuances. But let’s see if we can agree on a couple.
There was a time in this country when diversity, inclusion, was accepted as a positive — that was progress. When we could understand each other, when we could work together, when we could put differences aside and engage in the spirit of compromise. That was called “progress.” It is no longer called “progress.” Today it is called “weak” or “woke,” which by the way, is a positive word, not a negative. Because if you’re woke, that means you’re not asleep. But I digress.
We have made strides, we have made gains in this country, to only see them unraveled primarily by Republicans. Look at the legislation. Roe v. Wade overturned a woman’s right to choose — fundamental rights about a woman and her own body and medical decisions has once again been assaulted by primarily white conservative males. Okay. That was progress, and now you have reverted back to non-progress.
