Civil rights and genuine equity

Jan 20, 2023 | Blog

“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhuman..” —Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

photo by Steven Walker l Unsplash

Two Americas

In 1967, during the height of the fight for Civil Rights and equity for all, Dr. Malcom Luther King Jr gave a talk called the Other America. In this, he highlights some of the challenges to bring about genuine equity when the realities of Americans were so vastly different that it was hard for those living on the other side to appreciate the conditions for others, even those within their own communities and neighborhoods. In many talks like this, he paints a stark and brutal image of the lives of many people from many backgrounds and ethnicities that may not seem so different from those struggling for survival today, particularly those from the black community.

Since that time, there have been many hard-won victories in and out of the courts for civil rights and equity. America is celebrated all over the world as leading the fight for equal rights and opportunities for all. Despite this, however, the evidence still shows two Americas living side by side with a wealth gap that is persistent and has not closed since it was first recorded in the 1960s. The fight for civil rights and ‘genuine’ equity is not over. The standard set by MLK is truly a lofty one that continues to inspire this fight for everyone to have the opportunity to experience a life of genuine equity.

A talk on genuine equity

 

The Other America: A talk by Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. April 1967

… “to deal with this problem of the two Americas, we are seeking to make America one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Let me say that the struggle for civil rights is to make these two Americas one America is more difficult today than it was 5 or 10 years ago” …

 

by Louisa Mancey, WE In The World

Published by WIN DIGEST

Sign-up here

Related Blog Posts

Making an Equitable Economy Real

Making an Equitable Economy Real

What is a restorative well-being economy? A well-being economy is built on the basic goal of all people and places thriving together. It is an economy that is just, regenerative,...

read more
Organizing Across Differences

Organizing Across Differences

Our ability to organize across differences is a unique superpower in which we exercise curiosity and share values, goals, and purpose. These superpowers consist of the ability to...

read more

Intimacy of Strangers

‘THE INTIMACY OF STRANGERS’: WEBS OF LIFE The phrase is from Lyn Margulis, a ground-breaking biologist who studied the processes of gene transfer and combination in living...

read more

Our Mission And Approach

Advance intergenerational well-being and equity on a foundation of racial and economic justice.

Our Team

We are change agents passionate about igniting transformation for well-being and equity.

Our Partners

No one changes the world alone. Meet the broader “WE” that we’re building together.

Our Funders

Real change is only possible when we have the support of funders and investors who care about well-being and equity as much as we do.

Connect

Looking for community? Get plugged into resources and networks through WE.

  • WE in the World Changemakers
  • Communities RISE Together
  • The Wellbeing in the Nation (WIN) Network
  • Leading Causes of Life

Give

A world of mutual abundance unshackled from systemic injustice is within reach, but it will take all of our contributions to get there.

WE in the World is a non-profit supporting changemakers globally to change the system.

Invest

Investing in a better world for our grandchildren.

Stewarding natural resources. Creating space for all races and voices.

Invest in changing the system.

Join Our Team

Explore opportunities to become part of the broader WE in the World team!
  • Job opportunities
  • Consultants corner
  • WE changemakers

Events

No event found!

Latest News

MLK Day: 5 women who played a vital role in the civil rights movement

MLK Day: 5 women who played a vital role in the civil rights movement

Today we celebrate the legendary civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the many women who also played integral roles in the fight against racial, economic and gender inequalities in America. From lunch counter sit-ins to nonviolent marches, those...

Blog

Making an Equitable Economy Real

Making an Equitable Economy Real

What is a restorative well-being economy? A well-being economy is built on the basic goal of all people and places thriving together. It is an economy that is just, regenerative, and multiracial.  A well-being economy  rebalances power to provide what everyone needs...

Organizing Across Differences

Organizing Across Differences

Our ability to organize across differences is a unique superpower in which we exercise curiosity and share values, goals, and purpose. These superpowers consist of the ability to engage and foster relationships with a mindset and narrative change focused on...

Intimacy of Strangers

‘THE INTIMACY OF STRANGERS’: WEBS OF LIFE The phrase is from Lyn Margulis, a ground-breaking biologist who studied the processes of gene transfer and combination in living entities. It refers to hybrid entities that “combine the abilities of each” to produce...