Category: justice

2020, justice, Leadership, Social, Vision

Passing the Torch

United States House of Representatives / Public domain

I was saddened by the recent passing of Congressman John Lewis.  Congressman Lewis was an important figure because he dedicated his life to fighting for justice and equality at a time when this was not a reality for African Americans. Congressman Lewis began his work as a civil rights activist when he was a college student.  He was one of the original freedom riders, who organized sit-ins and led the March 7, 1965 civil rights march that was supposed to go from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery, Alabama, the state’s Capitol. 

In his fight for justice he was jailed over 30 times and beaten unjustly, however he remained a champion for equal rights and the fight for justice.  Congressman Lewis is remembered as one of the pioneers of the civil rights movement. He worked hand in hand with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  and other notable civil rights leaders.

So today, I want to talk about passing the torch.   The concept of passing the torch, takes place when someone passes on their job duties, or responsibilities, to someone else. The hope is that the next person will carry on that work with the same passion, dedication and determination. The symbol of the torch is important because the torch is fire, that burns brightly and increases vision for what is ahead. 

So today, we must reflect on how we can continue as individuals to use our platforms, to carry the torch and make sure we create a world that is equal and just for everyone.  We must never take for granted the opportunities that we enjoy, that were created by the sacrifices of the great men and women of previous generations.  We must remind ourselves that we honor them by continuing to advocate for change.  

As a professor, motivational speaker, author, and leader, my job in helping Congressman Lewis’s dream stay alive, is to continue to empower and educate others. In order to do this, I must continue to have the difficult conversations, speak out on injustices, and help the underserved and disenfranchised see that they have advocates that will fight for them and give them hope.  

We are all blessed by those who fought for equality, and we must not let their work be in vain.   Who has passed the torch to you?  How can you lead?  How can you help someone find their purpose?   How can you help to create a world that embraces everyone?   Let us not allow the torch that was lit by Congressman Lewis to fade or burn out.  But let us proudly carry that torch and pass it on to future generations.

As I close, I would like to share a quote by Congressman John Lewis, that I believe is important. He states that: “Freedom is not a state, it is an act.  It is not some enchanted garden perched high on a distant plateau where we can finally sit down and rest.  Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society.”

As we reflect and celebrate the life of Congressman John Lewis, let us commit ourselves to a life of service, and a willingness to keep the torch of justice and equality burning.  

Dr. Regina Banks-Hall

Communication, justice, Leadership, Personal Development, Self-Improvement, Social, Vision

Where do we go from here?

This was not the 2020, I believe that most of us envisioned. This was the year of a 2020 vision for success.   But over the last few months, covid-19 and the death of over 100,000 American citizens has changed our lives.  When I reflect to the beginning of the year, I never saw the pandemic or the protests, the loss of life, high unemployment, or the closure of thousands of businesses.  We were sheltering in place, and now we have people all over the world calling for justice.   

As we continue to wrestle with these events, we all must ask ourselves this question.   Where do we go from here?  This may sound like a loaded question, but it is not.   If you are a business owner, what will you do to restart your business?   If you are an advocate for justice what must you do to bring about reform?  If you work in law enforcement, what must you do to gain public trust?  If you are an elected official, what must you do to ensure the safety and well-being of your constituents?  If you are a Faith Leader, what must you do to restore hope and faith?   If you are a parent, what must you do to educate and prepare your children for the current world events?  

The point that I am trying to make, is that we all have a role to play in handling the pandemic, the restart of businesses, rebuilding communities, and addressing injustice.   Therefore, I want you to think about your platform, your reach, your knowledge, your skills, and your ability to help? Today, I am going to share my thoughts on what I think we must do.   

  1.  First, we must remind everyone, that change takes time, and it is not easy to change systems that have operated ineffectively for years.  
  2. We must continue our community conversations regarding poverty, inequality, voting, and all types of discrimination.   As we can see, many of these issues have been pushed to the back, but they continue to hurt ordinary people.     
  3. We must review workplace policies, laws, and demand change.
  4. We must educate citizens about the process, and as citizens we must now pay attention and become involved.

As a leadership expert, professor, and coach, I talk about influence, understanding the needs of people, and leading change, all the time.   Today, I am asking that all of us dig deep and ask ourselves, what can I do to help bring healing, understanding, and acceptance to my community.  Remember, now is the moment, where we must examine our leadership and determine our influence.  We must examine if we are using our platforms effectively, willing to have tough conversations, or do we remain absent from the conversation?

On Saturday, a student reminded me of a poem entitled: The Dash, written by Linda Ellis.  In this poem, the writer shares a story about a person’s birth and death, and how the dash represented their time on earth.   As we think about where we are today, the poem is relevant.   When our time is finished, how will we be remembered.   As I close, I would like to remind you, that to bring about real change, it is going to take all of us to become involved in the process.  When we do, we can affect, our homes, schools, churches, businesses, civic offices, and our communities.  We all can become the change we need.   It is up to each of us to answer the question, “Where do we go from here”?

Dr. Regina Banks-Hall