Like many others, I grew up in the South during the segregation years.

The governor in Arkansas during my high school years seemed to always be in the middle of the fight to keep the South segregated, especially the schools. During the turmoil, the schools in Little Rock were closed down for the school year 1959-1960. It is referred to as the “lost year in Little Rock.” The years leading up to the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 were full of unrest, upheaval, shame and sadness in our country. Much like today, there were riots, marches, unrest throughout the land. The prejudice remains today.

Texas congresswoman Barbara Jordan rose to the national stage when she was elected the first African-American to the Texas state senate and the first Black Texan in Congress. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, she gave the opening speech at the impeachment hearings for Richard Nixon in 1974. She began her speech by saying, “We, the people.” It is a very eloquent beginning. But when that document was completed, on September 17, 1787, I was not included in that “We, the people.” I felt somehow for many years that George Washington and Alexander Hamilton just left me out by mistake. But through the process of amendment, interpretation and court decision, I have finally been included in “We, the people.”

In 1976, she was the first African-American woman to give the keynote speech at a political convention when she addressed the Democrats by saying: “When — A lot of years passed since 1832 and during that time it would have been most unusual for any national political party to ask a Barbara Jordan to deliver a keynote address. But tonight, here I am. And I feel — I feel that notwithstanding the past that my presence here is one additional bit of evidence that the American Dream need not forever be deferred.”

I wonder what Barbara Jordan would have said about the insurrection that happened in our National Capitol on Jan. 6, the day the marauders stormed our Capitol; breaking and entering, looting, defacing and terrorizing our lawmakers? And, doing so without respect for what the building itself symbolizes. Inside the Capitol where our elected officials conduct the daily business of our country there is a place called, “The Well.”

This is where the legislators stand at the podium when they orate, a.k.a. say their piece. It is a place you don’t go to without permission. It is a place of dignity and honor and its very presence demands respect, something that wasn’t given on Jan. 6 when the riot broke out and the insurrectionists plundered their way through the halls.

In the days following the riot we heard senators and representatives speak about the importance of impeaching our former president. Words uttered from The Well. It is the place I heard Lori Saine pay tribute to my late husband, George E. Heath, by sharing his many contributions that he made not only to the community where he lived but to Weld County and the state of Colorado. He was known as the man who wore the fedora (he had 33 of them) and you better listen to what he has to say.

The history of our nation is often complex and difficult to understand. It was founded on the premise that all men are created equal, but history tells us that isn’t always the case. Perhaps the struggle is with the word, “men.” Maybe certain politicians believe it does not or should not include anyone except ‘men.”

It is certainly sad for me to realize that not much has changed regarding civil rights since the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964. We just keep taking one step forward and two steps backward.

It’s time to accept the civil rights of all and recognize that everyone is created equal and should be granted the civil rights due to them as stated in the Declaration of Independence. It continues to be worth fighting for. After all, the American Dream should be available for all citizens, not just a chosen few.

Email Betty Heath at begeheath690@aol.com.