Independence Day: Freedom Begets Equality
Call it coincidence that the most sweeping civil rights law in American history was enacted just two days prior to the 4th of July holiday. This uncanny timing makes perfect sense because real freedom and independence beget equal opportunity per "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" -- which is enshrined in the Declaration of Independence.
Thus, as the USA prepares to celebrate Independence Day, let's take some time to think about the significance of President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) signing the groundbreaking Civil Rights Act of 1964 (CRA) 52 years ago today (as pictured below in the Oval Office of the White House).
In addition to outlawing segregation in public places, the CRA also sought to eradicate the scourge of job discrimination against blacks, women and other minority groups. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces Title VII of the CRA, which prohibits employment discrimination in the public and private sectors. Several federal agencies enforce other parts of the sweeping statute.
Title VII & Job Discrimination
According to EEOC, the employment provision of the CRA (Title VII):
- "Makes it illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex."
- "Makes it illegal to retaliate against a person because the person complained about discrimination, filed a charge of discrimination, or participated in an employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit."
- "The law also requires that employers reasonably accommodate applicants' and employees' sincerely held religious practices, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the employer's business."
This raises an important question when considering the 4th of July:
How can any U.S. citizen achieve "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" without equal opportunities for gainful employment?
The answer should be self-evident.
Thus, it would appear that independence and equal opportunity go hand-in-hand, as no individual can arguably achieve one without the other. Yet, as America celebrates Independence Day with parades, barbecues and dazzling fireworks displays nationwide, it remains an unfortunate reality that equal opportunity for ALL citizens is still lacking in the 21st century workplace -- from Wall Street to Main Street USA.
As I wrote here earlier this week in a blog post entitled, Why Workforce Diversity is Simply Good Business:
- "All employment decisions should be strictly based on merit, talent and ability to do the job. All employees and applicants deserve the freedom to compete and advance in the workplace on a fair and level playing field without discriminatory barriers."
- "There are still too many glass ceilings and sticky floors, so to speak, which hold talented employees back from reaching their full potential."
- "This is not to say that minorities, women, people with disabilities and different sexual orientations should be given a free pass, a handout, or pushed up the corporate ladder if unwarranted."
Reflecting on the CRA
On the eve of signing the Civil Rights Act (CRA), President LBJ said the following:
- “[O]ur generation of Americans has been called on to continue the unending search for justice within our own borders. We believe that all men are created equal. Yet many are denied equal treatment."
- "We believe that all men have certain unalienable rights. Yet many Americans do not enjoy those rights."
- "We believe that all men are entitled to the blessings of liberty. Yet millions are being deprived of those blessings-not because of their own failures, but because of the color of their skin."
- "But it cannot continue. Our Constitution, the foundation of our Republic, forbids it. The principles of our freedom forbid it. Morality forbids it. And the law I will sign tonight forbids it.”
The late former Chair of the EEOC, Jacqueline A. Berrien, said the following of LBJ's remarks, “A half-century later, those words still ring true."
- "Nevertheless, the goals of Title VII and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in its entirety are not yet achieved, and the unalienable rights and blessings of liberty promised in the nation’s founding documents, which we also celebrate this week in July, are still elusive for too many people."
- "Therefore, this generation — as was the generation before it — is still called upon to continue the unending search for justice.”
The Takeaway
While the landmark civil rights laws of the 1960s obviously did not cure all societal ills, they certainly have had a long-term positive impact on the fabric of America.Therefore, as the USA celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence, let's recall that freedom and equal opportunity for ALL beget independence for ALL.
Moreover, it should be obvious to any objective observer that equal opportunity for every American is still the unfinished business of our nation. This is an especially important lesson for Generation Y and their Millennial predecessors to comprehend.
Where do we go from here to assure that every citizen in 21st century America is guaranteed the freedom and equal opportunity necessary to achieve the so-called American Dream enshrined in the Declaration of Independence? That being, "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
Perhaps the answers are too elusive in today's high tech and fluid multi-racial, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society. These are important issues to reflect on this holiday weekend as Americans ponder the true spirit and meaning of Independence Day.
What do YOU think?
____________________________________________________________________________________
David B. Grinberg is an independent writer and strategic communications advisor based in the Washington, DC-area. He has over 20 years of work experience in the public and private sectors — including the White House, U.S. Congress, federal government agencies, and national news media. In addition to beBee, you can find David on Twitter, Medium and LinkedIn.
NOTE: All views and opinions are those of the author only and not official statements or endorsements of any public sector employer, private sector employer, organization or political entity.
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