Dr. Pollard lectured today about the Practices of Freedom and Justice: Representative Thinkers. He told us about the people who personally impacted him and he took us back in time with a snippet of "Ships Ahoy" by the O'jays. However, the topic used to introduce us into the rest of the lecture is the topic that stuck with me the most. Dr. Pollard imparted on us the evolution of freedom.
First, freedom meant the to be physically free of bonds; the eradication of slavery. Then, freedom meant access to education, employment and mobility. Mobility includes the option to change schools, jobs, and location of residence. It is here that you see a migration of Southern slave progeny to the North. Later, freedom meant equal opportunity. True, during this time African-Americans had access to education and some employment, but the institutions were separate and inherently unequal. So, with this stage in freedom came equal opportunities with integration. This last stage in freedom has come to mean social, political, and economic justice.
There are a couple of people Dr. Pollard mentioned that helped and are continuing to help with the latest meaning of freedom. I learned about Howard Thurman, the first president of Rankin Chapel and he founded the Church for the Fellowship of All People. He told us about Jarena Lee. She felt the call to preach at the age of 28 and fulfilled her call despite initial obstacles.
Alexandria Igwe
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