America’s 250 Years of Promise
by: Angel Barbosa, YWCA Intern
If you stepped outside during the 4th of July, you could hear the booming sound of fireworks, smell the charcoals from barbecues, and see neighbors and families coming from back-to-back potlucks. All celebrating a staggering milestone for the United States, as it marked its semiquincentennial anniversary: 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 250 years since the Founding Fathers declared that “all human beings are created equal” and that we all possess certain “unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Looking past the festive decorations, we honored another milestone that is just close to our hearts. July 2nd marked the 62nd anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. A gentle reminder of the truth, how the promise of these rights remained out of reach for so many for so long, especially for Black Americans. The promise of “unalienable rights” was not just given; it had to be fought for, built, and protected,
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., John Lewis, Malcolm X, these are only three of the prominent figures who led and are remembered for their monumental roles during the movement. However, we must also not forget the extraordinary women who helped and worked tirelessly behind the scenes, building on to the movement of making these promises into reality.
One of the figureheads of the movement, who helped mobilize the March on Washington in 1963, sat onstage near Martin Luther King as he delivered his pivotal speech “I Have a Dream.” With a legacy directly woven into the very history of YWCA, Dr. Dorothy Irene Height, also known as the “grandmother of civil rights,” was a visionary who not only fought for racial justice, but also for gender equality. Beginning her career as a social worker in Harlem, she would join the staff of the Harlem Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA). She later rose as its leader and pushed the organization for integrated facilities. In addition to her service at the YWCA, Height also took over as the president of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and led both organizations throughout the fundamental periods of the Civil Rights movement.
Dr. Height's contribution to the movement and her leadership in these organizations highlights how important building a community is. Elevating each other’s voices and continuing to show up for one another is important, as freedom is not a static destination, but something we must continue to protect and fight for. As we look back through our history, 250 years of America, we must recognize that our story is not done, and that the pursuit of our promise of “Life, Liberty, and Happiness” is far from over.
When we stand up for what we believe in, show up for our neighbors, and celebrate the diverse voices in our community, we follow the very footstep of Dr. Height, and together we do the work to “make America worthy of her stated ideals.”