Being an African American woman born and raised in the United States, the idea of free speech really speaks to me. Growing up and learning about the institutional racism and principles this country stood on always bothered me. The idea of free speech has always been important to me, especially when I think about how difficult it was for Black Americans and women, especially Black women, to use their right to free speech. I appreciate this value because I understand that it is rooted in personal realization. It lets individuals fully express themselves, make their own identities, and even connect with other people who share similar values.Freedom of speech has been at the center of important historic events for centuries.This is about everyone's right to live freely, talk about their problems, and essentially define themselves in society, which I think is a huge part of life.
Writers on human liberty and freedom of expression, such as C. Edwin Baker, talk about the connection between the right to free speech and human growth. This country had denied women and Black people this basic right for hundreds of years. The goal was to silence us in this country for a long time, whether it was through the loss of our culture or the denial of our rights. As we know, during the time of slavery, Black people were not allowed to learn to read, write, or talk openly about their lives. The specific things that slaves needed to say or do to keep track of their pain and imagine a better future than the one they were living in were simply not allowed for them.
This disgusting abuse of power continued even throughout the Jim Crow era and after the end of slavery. After the Civil Rights Movement, people who spoke out against injustice dealt with extreme violence, threats, and even more problems with the law. It was basically a rebellion that put people in danger of talking about racism, inequality, and oppression in public for many years. During this time, a lot of Black people, especially Black women, had to fight not only for their civil rights but also for their freedom to say what they wanted and for their humanity. I will never forget when my dad would tell my sister and I how hounds were released at my great-grandmother and others as they marched for their basic rights.
I am constantly aware that generations before me have fought for decades to secure the rights I have today. This makes speaking up easier for me every day. Black women like author and activist Audre Lorde and the first African American woman to vote in Congress, Shirley Chisholm, spoke out against racial and gender barriers meant to silence them. Black women faced more challenges in the fight for free speech because they had to address both racial justice and women's rights.
Being able to fully and freely express yourself was more than just a personal right. It was a revolutionary act. I consider the freedom to freely share my thoughts, feelings, and goals a basic concept, yet I remember the treatment my ancestors and others endured (mentally and physically) when they used this right. I owe my current freedom of speech to the people who bravely fought for it, which often resulted in horrific and dangerous circumstances. Being able to talk to people who share my views, express my words freely, and be open about my experiences as a Black woman makes me realize how important freedom of speech really is.
When it comes to my values personally, free speech is not just important; it's a necessity. It helps me get around, find my place in the world, contribute my input on other issues, and support the fight for freedom and fairness that is still going on today.
