STRONGER TOGETHER

Since human beings first evolved, we have learned one universal truth…we ARE stronger together.  It’s why we should pay careful attention to anyone who wants to divide us from our spouse, our family, our colleagues, our friends or our community.  Even 2000 years ago men were speaking and writing about the importance of staying united as evidenced in the bible; ”And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” – Ecclesiastes 4:12.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the power of unity and mainly because our country seems more and more divided as the years roll by.  Every time you turn on the news you hear the division in the language and propaganda meant to suck you into the cult mentality of us vs. them. 

The extremists work hard at convincing us that we are more different than alike.   The micro groups that we lump ourselves into are many; white vs. black, Protestant vs. Catholic, rich vs. poor, college educated vs. trades, white collar vs. blue collar, gay vs. straight, Democrats vs. Republicans, working moms vs. stay at home moms, Army vs. Navy and many, many more.

We all subconsciously lump ourselves within certain categories and subgroups as we go about our day to day living, leading us to believe that our power is within our subgroup, when in fact our TRUE power is only fulfilled  when we are able to cross boundaries and reach out and bond with  those whom we see as “different” from us.  

It’s pretty easy for a stay at home mom to bond with another stay at home mom but it might be more difficult for a stay at home mother to relate to a working mother who has spent her day behind a desk instead of with her children.

“I could never leave my children in a daycare” they whisper.

“she must be too lazy to work” they respond back.

It’s pretty common for white people to live among other white people and black people to live among other black people.  It’s even more common for white people to attend a predominantly white church, because nowhere in America are we more divided than on Sunday morning in the Church pew.  I challenge you to find a racially diverse church in your Ohio community. Let me know if you find one because I haven’t.  I also challenge you to find a racially diverse neighborhood. You’ll be searching for awhile if you live in Dayton, Ohio.  Everyone living here knows there is the East side (primarily white and Hispanic) and the West side (primarily African American).  If you live in the suburbs, you’ll find African American families living among white families but you’ll also hear their stories of overcoming blatant racism during their initial transition into the neighborhood.  

1954 was a banner year for America but it was also the year that America had to stop talking about liberty and justice for all and really mean it!  Our all-powerful supreme court ruled that legal segregation, which began in 1896, was no longer legal, right or just.  But just six years later in 1960, little Ruby Bridges, learned that it didn’t matter what the supreme court said – you can’t change stupid overnight. She needed armed, federal agents with her daily to protect her from very dangerous and ignorant people who were resisting UNITY and craving separation.  Little Ruby Bridges was only six years old but she learned at an early age that unity is hard work. She couldn’t go out for recess or eat lunch with the other children, for her own safety. 

Overcoming separation and creating unity was definitely difficult and scary and no one understood this more than Ruby Bridges.  At just six years old she did the work that a hundred grown men couldn’t do.  With her innocence and her bravery, she blazed a trail so bright that even the stars in the sky seemed dim in her presence.

So here we are…65 years later and things are better, right? 

I mean we are trying to “make America great again” right? 

But since when is going backwards being great? 

Every accomplishment, triumph and powerful event in the history of our country came from moving forward not backwards.  

When Ruby Bridges walked into her new school in 1960 she didn’t walk backwards…she walked forward despite being mocked and threatened.

When we stormed Normandy beach we didn’t run back into the water. We ran up and over the mounds of sand to face our enemy and even death for a cause bigger than ourselves.    

When the 911 towers were burning and under attack, our firemen didn’t stand outside and watch the towers burn. They ran up and into the flames as they faced death and destruction for a cause bigger than themselves.   

Pictures taken during the 911 crisis revealed an important truth about the human spirit…during times of crisis we UNITE as human beings.  Remember when we stood arm and arm?  It wasn’t white vs. black, poor vs. rich, democrat vs. republican…it was just us being together as one.

We were just Americans being Americans together.  We turned our struggle into our strength and for days and months later we were ONE. We became blind to our differences and we woke up to what united us. Hate tore down the towers but love bloomed from the ashes. Our unity was the catalyst.

I don’t want to make America great again because to do so implies that we should go back to a better time, when in all actuality we shine the brightest when we walk forward into the flames, no matter how painful or scary.  History has proven this.

Our strength comes from growth and change not regression. Ruby knew this.

America isn’t done growing. America isn’t done aging. Her eyes are wrinkled and tired but she sees the path before her that needs to be cleared for the next generation.  

Walls need torn down and not built up. Races need to melt together and not divide. If America is our mother, and we are her children, wouldn’t she want for us what every mother wants for her children…a family UNITED?

Our POWER, our true power, comes from crossing those uncomfortable boundaries.  Going forward and not backwards. Ruby Bridges knew this. The men on Normandy beach knew it. The NYC firemen knew it.  Making America great means making us united.

So the next time someone in power wants to divide us, just pause and ask yourself why?  What kind of mother would want her children fighting? What kind of mother would want her children divided? An unfit one.

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By Teresa McIntosh-Hall

Teresa McIntosh-Hall is a writer, blogger, social worker and political activist who loves her country UNITED.