Guest Author - Toni Collinson
Civil rights are basic rights that protect people from being discriminated against. The basis of civil rights are to ensure that equality is provided to everyone, regardless of factors outside the person’s control. This can include race, culture, religion, and other such matters. It is important to know that prejudice can still be found in our communities, and that these situations should not be tolerated.
The extreme racism and hatred of the 1950s and 1960s is hard to understand for younger generations, but because of civil rights activists, change was brought about and has made the world a better place to live in for future generations. If no one had stood up for what they believed in, the freedoms we enjoy today would not exist. It is important to remember that the American Civil Rights Movement was not the only civil rights issue that the world has seen, and that civil rights is a subject that affects many people throughout the world, in many different countries. People worldwide have voiced their opinions and advocated for what they believe their civil rights should be, and because of this, the quality of mankind is continually improving.
Civil rights differ from human rights because civil rights change from country to country, depending on the laws. Human rights are basic rights that every human being is born with, as defined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But just because civil rights depend on the laws of your country, it doesn’t mean to say that you shouldn’t be entitled to fair and equal treatment. If you feel that you have been treated unfairly or discriminated against, it is important that you stand up and state what you believe in so that others don’t need to go through and tolerate a similar situation.
To ensure fair and equal treatment for all, we need to educate ourselves in civil rights matters, and ensure that we are able to help those who may not be able to find their voice and speak up for their rights. Civil rights issues come up in everyday life, from the workplace to the courtroom, and they need to be spotted and corrected before they become a large problem. By embedding the civil rights principles in our communities, we are able to ensure that the world is able to grow and learn from its mistakes. Everyone will be able to have a voice, and the freedom to do the same as others in the community. By ensuring the equality of mankind is upheld, we will be able to hear and learn from brilliant leaders in the generations to come.
