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What Does Civil Rights Mean to You?
Here's why some young people decided to devote themselves to Civil Rights Summer, our Fellowship program geared toward students who want to work for a socially just America.
Allan YoungCollege of San Mateo San Mateo, CA Civil Right Summer Internship: Citizens' Commission on Civil Rights There is not room for injustice in this world. The concept of civil rights is a noble concept, one that illustrates the inherent goodness of freedom-loving people. Civil rights are those guarantees that remove barriers to human achievement, empowering the individual to fulfill all potential. The process must be diligent and resolute, adhering to complete truth and honesty. This is the way to secure our civil rights.
Cesar MorenoUniversity of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA Civil Rights Summer Internship: The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement In true essence, civil rights can be regarded as a progressive movement, or what can be used as a vehicle to deplete the social inequalities that have been institutionally rooted in society. Although we live in a democratic system of government where in theory everyone is equal, we are divided and separated by our social and economic differences where it is up to us as individuals to lessen the gap and through civil rights the marginal difference can be smaller. Civil rights provides the voice, the voice that so many of us are without in this day and age. We have to recognize that there are people in society that feed on and capitalize on the disadvantage of others. Therefore, one has to acknowledge that civil rights protects those individuals without a voice, those that do not have the will to stand up. Slowly, we are moving towards a better tomorrow where we can say that everyone has the ability to say what is on their mind without being reprimanded for what they say and that civil rights is a protector of everyone.
Delia HernandezWashington State University Pullman, WA Civil Rights Summer Internship: Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund Civil rights are the rights every individual is entitled to regardless of race, class, gender, religion, handicap, sexual orientation, etc. It is sad, but this entitlement that everyone should have is sometime only reserved for the elite; it is something that money can buy.
Nancy RamirezPortland State University Portland, OR Civil Rights Summer Internship: National Council of La Raza Civil rights are the rights citizens or individuals residing in a particular country are supposed to be granted by that country. Yet, this is only an ideal because in all countries different rights turn into privileges that only certain individuals are granted. Thus, civil rights turn into the struggle, hard work, dedication, desperation, frustration, and anger that all those deprived of their rights share at different points in their life.
Jonathan KellyWake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC Civil Rights Summer Senior Fellow Civil rights are the reasonable limitations and protections that we devise for ourselves and must afford to others as a matter or promoting an equitable existence. At a basic level, civil rights are nothing more than the union of the greatest American democratic ideals with the blood, sweat, and tears of Americans who are striving toward a more perfect country.
Najah FarleyYale University New Haven, CT Civil Rights Summer Internship: NABRE/Joint Center for Policy and Economic Studies Civil rights is the pursuit of justice through the law and advocacy. In my view, civil rights are the way that the grassroots struggles of everyday people reach the mainstream. Without the Brown vs. Board of Education decision of 1954, no one would have cared about the Brown family in Topeka, Kansas. Civil rights are the rights that are guaranteed by the Constitution.
Adam RamirezRoosevelt University Chicago, IL Civil Rights Summer Internship: Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Civil rights is standing up for our rights. However, first we need to see our marginalization. This is the most difficult part. Many people just simply want to live their lives. We do not want to be bothered by something that will interfere with our everyday life. This is the reason I chose to be an educator. I will have the ability to shape the minds of our children. I believe this is my calling: to be the best teacher I never had. It is my responsibility to help my students and their parents see their marginalized state. Afterwards, it will be our responsibility to fight for change. Therefore, civil rights is educating, fighting, and never giving up. Choosing to fight for civil rights might be the hardest calling of all. Nevertheless, if we unite and maintain in movements, progress is possible. Then we finally say as MLK Jr. once said, "Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last."
Omar TesdellIowa State University Ames, IA Civil Rights Summer Internship: Friends Committee on National Legislation Civil rights are human rights. All human beings are born with these inherent rights of equality. Unfortunately, these rights to learn, work, and live are not entirely granted in our society. Some improvement has been won, but it is certainly the job of our generation to build on that effort and work toward the goal of a more peaceful and just world.
Karen SalazarUniversity of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Civil Rights Summer Internship: People for the American Way Civil rights means fighting to achieve justice for everyone. It means fighting for equal access to all resources for all people. No one is equal until everyone is equal. It means fighting to ensure that the rights guaranteed to each person in this nation, through the Constitution, are not only upheld but valued as well.
Joshua BarocasWashington University St. Louis, MO Civil Rights Summer Internship: Human Rights Campaign Some might concede that civil rights are inherent truths that we are predisposed to have. I would argue that our rights, whether civil or human, are ideas that we have conceived to give us protection and comfort. Whether morally or logically generated, they have become the framework upon which we try to build a freestanding society, ideally one rooted in conservation, progress, equality, and truth.
Julie ParkVanderbilt University Nashville, TN Civil Rights Summer Internship: National Association of Colleges and Universities I think that a lot of what happens in our country is motivated by fear. People act because they're scared or persecution because of their ideas as speech or simply because they're used to settling for a lower standard. Civil rights is refusing to accept the silencing of voices. Civil rights says that we don't have the luxury of being afraid to speak up and act out. Civil rights is taking all of the abstract, lofty ideas and putting walk behind the talk, money behind the mouth. Civil rights says that it was wrong for Thomas Jefferson to write about inalienable rights but own slaves. Civil rights says that it's wrong that I, as an Asian American female, can get on an airplane after losing my driver's license at the airport, but an Arab American male could not. Civil rights says that these are all wrong and allows the visionaries to start talking about what's right and make it happen. Civil rights is about saying, "If not us, then who? And if not now, then when?"
Kim BorowiczMichigan State University East Lansing, MI Civil Rights Summer Internship: American Association of People with Disabilities As a college student with a disability, civil rights is a central part of my life. Without laws that focus on discrimination, my community, and those of other underrepresented groups, would have no grounds to fight. But laws do not promise change, freedom, or equality. I have decided to dedicate my life to social justice. Too many issues are being looked over, pushed aside, and dismissed. I want to empower others, and encourage them as others have me, to advocate for themselves and those they believe in. Civil rights is a way of life, a mindset, and a passion. It is not something to be taken lightly. I am grateful to those who have guided me.
Bria GillumPrinceton University Princeton, NJ Civil Rights Summer Internship: Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Civil rights means actively engaging against the discrimination, prejudices, and stereotypes in our country. An opportunity to express the concerns that are essential for cohesiveness within our families and the unity of our country. Formulating a plan by building coalitions with others, listening to the opinions of others, and having the perseverance to pursue issues that are important to preserving civil liberties. As emerging civil rights violations continue to plague the country in light of September 11th, it is imperative to continue the growth of emerging social justice leaders.
Derek GilliamWake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC Civil Rights Summer Internship: National Congress of American Indians To me, civil rights are the basic rights guaranteed to all individuals in civil society. Since it is common knowledge that in actual society the rhetoric supporting civil rights exists but lacks in actual practice, the words "civil rights" have taken on a different meaning to me. For me, civil rights is working to ensure that all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, and class are given equal rights in society. The words "civil rights" have moved from just language into trying to guarantee that the practice of fairness and equality exists in American society. Thus, the desire to create that diverse and equitable society that the words "civil rights" implies has led me to my current work to ensure equality and to challenged societal structures that hamper the progress to equality.
Alexi-Vita NunnUniversity of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC Civil Rights Summer Internship: National Conference for Community and Justice Civil rights signifies opportunity and possibility. Having civil rights allows you to speak your mind, share your stories, and solidify your position. Civil rights generate the chance to live as you are, knowing that you can. If you are opposed to civil rights, then you are against equal and endless possibility and a person's chance to persevere for that possibility. Civil rights allow you to choose any road you want, prolonging your possibilities.
Sarah IzfarYale University New Haven, CT Civil Rights Summer Internship: National Partnership for Women and Families Civil rights to me are a way of protecting the voices of the underrepresented in a society that has traditionally silenced those voices. But even more than that, civil rights are inalienable and belong to all humans. They are the recognition that equity and justice are desirable and the affirmation that we are valuable.
Brittny-Jade SaundersHarvard University Cambridge, MA Civil Rights Summer Internship: NAACP To me, civil rights is about empowering individuals and, by extension, groups to exercise their rights as citizens. It means empowering people to make the most of their lives and ensuring structures of oppression driven by certain interests do not limit opportunities. At the core, civil rights is about recognizing the unique value and potential in each and every person and creating an environment in which they can flourish. Civil rights to me are a way of protecting the voices of the underrepresented in a society that has traditionally silenced those voices. But even more than that, civil rights are inalienable and belong to all humans. They are the recognition that equity and justice are desirable and the affirmation that we are valuable.
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