The State of Mind in Its Purest Essence

The State of Mind in its Purest Essence

According to the Encarta World English Dictionary freedom is the ability to act freely such as in a state in which somebody is able to act and live as he or she chooses, without being subject to any, or to any undue, restraints and restrictions. Within our society we have many clauses for freedom. Our forefathers paved the way for future generations to enjoy the benefits that many struggled, bled and died to accomplish so that we may one day be equal of mind, body, and soul in our entirety. Americans should understand that freedom is a state of mind, embrace and apply that form to all aspects of their lives.

Freedom has been a major factor that has helped to shape our country into the diverse playground it is now. The foundations of our country was produced by the Revolutionary War between Great Britain and the resilient and developing country they called America. America wanted to be free and govern themselves as a free and strong minded body. In the end America was created and has been growing and advancing ever since. Another war that had great impact on the freedom in our country was the Civil War. The Civil War was between the north and the south regions of America. The war was over the captivity of African slaves that had been enslaved over a span of some four hundred plus years. The people in the north didn’t believe that it was fair nor civil to force people to do something against their own will, but in the south the country was ran on the back of the slaves which provided the labor and production on the plantations. With this disagreement between the north and south came rebellion which ultimately led to war. The north aided in the Underground Railroad which consisted of houses that fed and sheltered the runaways from the south until they were safe in the north. Since the civil war was won by the north and slavery was abolished. It was once said by Abraham Lincoln, “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”

Even though slavery was abolished, racism was still very apparent. The slaves were not adequately provided with the same safe and equal rights that white population were given. The Jim Crow laws were then produced which prohibited blacks from everyday rights such as eating in restaurants, drinking from public water fountains, using public restrooms, etc. On paper, in the Constitution, slavery was amended as being unlawful and uncivilized, and yet in the eyes of the people the free black slaves were still inferior and three-fifths of a person. After many years of mistreatment and wrong doing toward the black culture, people decided to step up and stand up for their rights. The Civil Rights movement was then birthed in order to make people of color aware of their natural born rights. Activist such as Martin Luther, Malcolm X, Jesse Jackson among others leaders held marches, demonstrations, and ‘sit ins’ to reinforce the fact the they were not going to settle for less but for what was rightfully theirs. Through these leaders inspirational speeches and insights they have gave people a sense reality. Through this factor they realized that the world they lived in was still unjust and corrupted in their views of the blacks. “ I know but one freedom and that is the freedom of the mind,” as quoted from Antoine de Saint-Exupery. True freedom comes from deep within ourselves and that comes along with understanding that it is your right to contain that essence.

Within the constitution we have amendments such as freedom of religion, speech, press, expression and the right to assemble. But yet instill we no longer are allowed to say the pledge of allegiance in our schools which relates to the freedom to speak about your God and the right to do it when and where you please. Moreover, our country was built and ran by the rules and regulations of the constitution.