Equality is a word that is utterly common in the places of discrimination, segregation and situations characterized by the denial of basic rights. Situations that warrant the use of the word ‘equality’ have been in existent since the formation of the world. The current world is not deficient of such situations neither. The American society, being a multiracial, multi-ethnic society, has been historically experiencing situations that demanded the mention of the word equality time and again. In essence, equality is the expression of fair treatment, that which does not discriminate against the lines of looks, sex, race, age, beliefs or even ethnicity. In line with equality, a number of civil rights activists have written proficiently and emphatically
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Thoreau wrote this piece to express his disappointment at the violation of equality rights between the Americans based on the lines of color and race. At the time of his writing, racial segregation and discrimination were at the peak. Two main issues that touched on the equality of a people seemed to pain Thoreau. The first issue touched on the discrimination, separation, segregation and enslavement of African Americans on the basis of their colour/race. Such discrimination also affected other minorities in the United States, and Thoreau believed they were being treated as if they were less equal to other human beings. The second issue was the Mexican-American war, in which human beings were killed even in cold blood. Thoreau felt that the government of the day had failed to protect the basic rights of the people, including the rights of equality before the law. In his words, he put it thus, “…government is best that governs least” (305). In his attempt to show that the slaves too should be part of the government and granted equal treatment, he alluded thus, “my government which is the slave’s government also” (308). It is in this respect that Thoreau argues that people have a responsibility and duty to disobey a government that goes against the basic rights of the people. According to Thoreau, the American government had lacked the moral authority to govern him, and the like-minded, since it had failed to protect the very basic principles of equality. He, thus, encouraged civil
Thoreau wrote this piece to express his disappointment at the violation of equality rights between the Americans based on the lines of color and race. At the time of his writing, racial segregation and discrimination were at the peak. Two main issues that touched on the equality of a people seemed to pain Thoreau. The first issue touched on the discrimination, separation, segregation and enslavement of African Americans on the basis of their colour/race. Such discrimination also affected other minorities in the United States, and Thoreau believed they were being treated as if they were less equal to other human beings. The second issue was the Mexican-American war, in which human beings were killed even in cold blood. Thoreau felt that the government of the day had failed to protect the basic rights of the people, including the rights of equality before the law. In his words, he put it thus, “…government is best that governs least” (305). In his attempt to show that the slaves too should be part of the government and granted equal treatment, he alluded thus, “my government which is the slave’s government also” (308). It is in this respect that Thoreau argues that people have a responsibility and duty to disobey a government that goes against the basic rights of the people. According to Thoreau, the American government had lacked the moral authority to govern him, and the like-minded, since it had failed to protect the very basic principles of equality. He, thus, encouraged civil