Freedom of speech is one of the most basic rights we enjoy in the United States. It is something so deeply engrained into our shared culture that we often forget that there is always a price to be paid for speaking out against injustice. Be it the scorn of others who disagree with one's activism, or be it governmental censorship and outright oppression, social activists often suffer consequences for their views, words, and actions. In this month's issue, we share stories of people who make their voices heard (and one who doesn't) and the cost of such freedom.
We begin with Amy Brozio-Andrews' review of Janis Hallowell's novel She Was, in which a 1970s Vietnam War protester crosses the line between activism and terrorism. The consequences of this error in judgment follow her as she builds a new life as a suburban mother and community volunteer.
Often the price of speaking out is the feeling futility. In Will Harlem lose its soul? , William Bredderman talks to Philip Bulgar about Manna's, the Harlem eatery that's been serving some of the best soul food New York has to offer for more than 20 years. As gentrification spreads into Harlem, the building that houses Manna's has been purchased and slated for demolition and redevelopment. Bulgar and the residents of Harlem know that a community landmark is in danger, but their voices seem buried under the voices of the wealthy, who stand to make a fortune from a new shopping plaza on the location.
Tumen Ulzii knows more about the consequences of speaking out than most. In Writer in exile , Ming Holden tells of the Inner Mongolian dissident's struggles against the Chinese government as he tells the story of the oppression of the Inner Mongolian people.
Sometimes, though, the price we pay for not speaking out is just as high. In Dialects , a poem by Rokshani Chokshi, the white skin of the poem's subject does all her speaking for her. Marlon Rachquel Moore shares the emotions she bears when she stays silent in the face of a common injustice in her article Confessions of a female boxer .
Whether the consequences are physical and oppressive as with Tumen Ulzii, or internal and psychological, as with Marlon Rachquel Moore, the decision to speak out or remain silent always bears a cost. It is for each of us to determine for ourselves if the price of activism is one that we are willing to pay, or if we can afford to remain silent.
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