By: Ta’Tyana Anderson
William Anderson, U.S. Army, Sergeant First Class (SFC)
As America prepares to celebrate her 250th birthday, it would be very difficult not to reflect on the turning points that shaped our nation’s long and complicated journey. If I could go back in time and witness one moment in American history, I would choose to be active during the days when segregation finally began to lose its grip on society. This is when people of all backgrounds stood up and said, “We need to take a stand”. Those early days of the Civil Rights Movement mark a moment when justice began to take root in new, unique ways. Being part of that change would be deeply personal to me, not only as an African American citizen of this country, but also as a member of a family whose elders lived through it.
Both of my parents have shared with me how their own parents—my grandparents—made it clear just how hard life was back then. My grandparents grew up in a world where “separate but equal” wasn’t equal at all. They faced discrimination in school, on the job, and even in public places meant for all. They told my parents stories about walking miles to attend underfunded schools, about being denied opportunities just because of the color of their skin, and about how dignity often had to be held tightly from within, because the outside world rarely offered it. My parents, in turn, carried those stories with them, and passed them on to me! And not just as history, but as a reminder of strength, endurance, and hope.
To witness the moment when segregation began to break down to sit ins, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, or the March on Washington and so forth, would be like watching a page turn in a long and painful chapter. I imagine the courage it took for young students to walk into newly integrated schools while crowds threw fits. I think of the determination it took for everyday people to march, to speak, and to sit-in for a vision of equality they might never personally live to see, but still believed in with their whole hearts. These were ordinary people with extraordinary resolve.
For me, standing in that moment wouldn’t just be about watching history, but it would be about honoring my ancestors, my grandparents, and everyone else who sacrificed so that future generations, including me, could live with more dignity and possibility. I would want to be there not just to witness, but to participate. Even if it meant facing danger or discomfort, I would want to add my voice to the brave individuals that were demanding justice.
That moment, when segregation began to dim and the light of equality started to shine a little brighter, changed the course of America’s story. It wasn’t perfect, and we’re still walking that road today. But to stand in that place, with all the courage, pain, and hope swirling around, would be a powerful reminder that change is possible. And to always remember and recognize that every generation has the responsibility to push it forward and make the world a better place!
