Inequality; A Part Of Our Nation by Magge

Inequality; A Part Of Our Nation by Magge - August 2015 Scholarship Essay

Since the creation of our country, there has always been a segregated group. It is funny how our nation was founded on the ideal of equality, yet it still did not include every human being. The government has always found excuses to not guarantee the same rights to all citizens. Three of the major groups that faced some sort of discrimination are Native Americans, African Americans, and women. Although they faced some serious obstacles, these groups questioned authority's beliefs and found ways to overcome it. I believe this will be an awesome subject to study, for we need to acknowledge the problems our nation is facing.

Starting from the thirteen colonies, women were not to be seen as equivalent to men. On the contrary men were viewed superior than women. Females were obligated to do "womenly" things, such as taking care of their children, cooking for the husbands, and become dependent to their spouse. Males were to be the ones doing the real work outside. Their simple excuse was that God did not intend women to do hard labor. It was to be seen unholy. Some women questioned this concept, and believed it was idiotic. A perfect example would be Anne Hutchinson who actually rebelled against religion's authority. She was one of the first to believe in women's rights. Because of her doubts she was executed out of the colony, and was thought of as the "one who went against the fifth amendment." Even though she caused some controversy, the fact that she believed in women's rights at such a young start of our nation is remarkable. A woman finally stood up and even acted upon standard beliefs to get her point through. Many women feeded up this idea, and found that this belief of women being viewed less than men still existed. The feminist movement in the 1960's and 70's fought for the equality of women within the work field. These females joined together to speak their mind, once again trying to make a difference in the world.

After the colonization of our country, came the institution of slavery. At first many religious officials stated they only cared for the well-being of the Africans and their salvation. The only way to protect them would be by claiming them as property. This horrific belief led to an a appalling institution that destroyed families and humans worth. Slaves were to be sold next to livestock animals stating their lives had no value. This made many slaves riot causing one of the most famous rebellions; the Haitian Rebellion. The only successful slave rebellion. Others did not take the approach of violence, but instead used knowledge to abolish slavery. Frederick Douglass, a man who was born into slavery used the tools given to him, and made something out if. At a young age, his mistress taught him the alphabet. Douglass only needed that bit of help to make a difference. He gained knowledge of the institution he was raised in, and started questioning it. He stood for equality, and escaped from the terror. He became a free man, and a leader of the abolishment movement. Seems like a battle can be fought in many different ways.

The third group are the Native Americans. From the start, there always have been disputes between the Native Americans, and Americans. One of the most known events is when the Powhatan Confederacy almost eliminated the Jamestown colony. They believed no stranger should take hold of their lands. Because of their violent reaction, and their clothing many colonists found them uncivilized. This idea kept going even after the colonization. When Thomas Jefferson became president he desired that Native Americans assimilate to American customs. In order to save their lives some Native Americans transitioned their lifestyle to a more "American feel". Others like the two brothers Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa resisted the assimilation movement. They joined many other Native Americans and tried to persuade to return to their own roots. Because of many crucial events, one the main leaders died, along with the resistance movement. Still, they portrayed another way to combat authority.

This concept of marginalization still exists to this present day. Women are still fighting to have full rights over their own bodies. Women are still fighting to imply the message that they are not the problem, rapists are the problem. In addition, the LGBT+ community is also still fighting for equal rights. It is a shame that only one type of love is allowed in this country. All types of love should be legal. It seems like this country will always have a group to pick on. It is a vicious cycle that needs to stop. Everyone should be guaranteed their civil rights regardless of their sexual orientation, gender, nor ethnicity. This is why we need to learn about these issues, and find ways to resolve them. Let's make America a better nation.