Leslie Williamson contributing writer
The Price of
Freedom
O
ur nation’s independence created so many streams of
and our pasts that will hi-jack our vitality. Slowly, the twinkle in our eyes can begin to
freedom. I find it fascinating how one movement can birth a
diminish and we have regretfully become only a small, fragmented shell of who we were
domino effect chain of events. The early Americans thought
meant to be. Spiritually and emotionally, we can become deflated, which leaves us to
it was necessary to fight for the freedoms of which they felt
serve an undeserving master that has nothing vested in our innate gifts to the world and
deprived. They bravely contested the possibility of being
the rights that we have to be who we were created to be. Being who God created us to be
denied the freedom of speech, religion, press and assembly, to name a few, and wrote
these freedoms in stone within the Constitution of these United States of America in 1787.
Little did they know, it was only the beginning of the fights for freedoms.
The Emancipation Proclamation was signed seventy-six years later, giving the enslaved,
place where lives were at times at stake and uncertainty held their hands and led their
march to freedom. Because of the uncertainties, the journey is sometimes scary but nec-
the hope that one day they would truly be free to live equally alongside other Americans.
essary.
Then there was the Women’s Suffrage movement, which lasted for roughly seventy-two
I encourage us all to engage in the fight to be free from the invisible chains that can
years. Tirelessly, these determined women fought for the freedom to vote and eventually
restrict us from our individuality, our strengths and those things that were disguised as
earned that right... Not only to vote, but also to serve in various capacities in politics.
shame in our past but are really stars in our crown. Our freedom is worth fighting for, but
Some thirty-four years later, we have the Civil Rights movement that lasted approxi-
we must understand that it may not be easy and it might take a while, but it’s something
mately fourteen years before African Americans were able to exercise their unalienable
that can never be abandoned and forsaken. The fight for our freedom must be perpetual
rights as American citizens.
until we see that white flag in the distance and the hands of our nemesis raised high in
surrender.
of the desperate passion behind these freedom fighters fighting for their freedoms.
I am reminded of the words of a song we sang in elementary school called “Freedom
Freedom says to me that there was once a time when we had no restraints; but, for some
Isn’t Free.” The words were, “Freedom isn’t free, freedom isn’t free. You’ve got to pay
reason, that ability to be free was taken away from us and we once again desire to walk in
the price; you’ve got to sacrifice for your liberty.” I believe you have paid the price and
the fullness of freedom. When you have had the taste of something that’s desirable, the
sacrificed for far too long. It’s time to apprehend the freedom that belongs to you and
drive for that flavor of freedom becomes insatiable.
strut your stuff and shake your shimmy. You’ve got some catching up to do and the world
As women, we sometimes find ourselves incarcerated and bound in areas of our lives
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The freedom fighters of our American history were so passionate about obtaining their
freedoms that some were willing to lose their lives. Their convictions pushed them to a
who so desperately longed for their freedom from human captivity to come to an end,
There is one thing that stands out to me in all of these scenarios and that is the strength
is a gift not only to ourselves, but also to the world.
JULY 2016
is waiting on you!
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