Alice Walker.

The African American who Most Inspires my vision of America's future

"It has become a common feeling, I believe, as we have watched our heroes falling over the years, that our own small stone of activism, which might not seem to measure up to the rugged boulders of heroism we have so admired, is a paltry offering toward the building of an edifice of hope. Many who believe this choose to withhold their offerings out of shame. This is the tragedy of our world. For we can do nothing substantial toward changing our course on the planet, a destructive one, without musing ourselves individual by individual, and bringing our small, imperfect stones to the pile."

For nearly three and a half decades, the author of this quote, writer-poet-activist Alice Walker, has been living by her words. She has not only sacrificed countless hours of her own time and energy toward bringing justice and equality to the world. She has also inspired countless individuals, including myself, through her writing, her activism, and her life, to stand up for what we believe in and to take steps to eliminate injustice and inequality in our community, country or world. I envision an America in the future where people are not marginalized or discriminated against for any reason: race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, etc. I envision an America where differences are appreciated and celebrated because they are what makes each and every person beautiful and good in his or her own unique way. Alice Walker has inspired me with her continued dedication to the numerous organizations and causes she has supported both through her actions and through her writing.

From the mid-1960s to mid-1970s, Walker was involved in the civil rights movement in Mississippi. Over the years, she has extended her support to causes around the globe. Whether she is speaking at a conference on female genital mutilation or writing a letter of support to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, it has been her willingness to openly support that which she believes in and to condemn that with which she disagrees that has served as an inspiration in my life. Through her examples, I have been able to find the courage to do the same in hopes of eliminating injustice in the United States. Her absolute faith in the power of an individual to change the world inspires me. It makes me believe that if I take a stand, others will take a stand, and together we will eliminate injustice and create a society in which all men and women are treated equally. Alice Walker has challenged ordinary people to reject dangerous indifference and embrace the passion for justice.

While Alice Walker's devotion to activism is incredible, what inspires me even more in my vision of America's future is the beauty and goodness she believes exist in all human beings. In her book of collected essays and poems Anything We Love Can Be Saved, Walker states: "I believe that Earth is good. That people, untortured by circumstance or fate, are also good. I do not believe the people of the world are naturally my enemies." In today's world, and specifically in America, it is difficult to find anyone who believes in the inherent goodness of human beings. Too often, it is assumed that strangers are evil.

We are taught from a very young age not to trust people we do not know. We are taught to suspect them. Later in life, this belief manifests itself in the mistrust of what we don't understand. This is a dangerous consequence, as we in America live a society that is rich in its cultures and diversity. The end result is the belief that what is misunderstood is bad or wrong and those people we don't understand are naturally our enemies. Consequently, the lines of communication are cut off between people of different beliefs, religions, cultures, genders, sexual orientation and economic status. If Americans could believe, as Alice Walker believes, that people are good, regardless of their differences, perhaps our society would not be plagued by the hatred it now suffers. Alice Walker's faith in the human soul inspires me to see the beauty and goodness in others and has helped me, perhaps, on some small level, to eliminate some amount of hate in this country.

In Anything We Love Can Be Saved, Alice Walker states: "Sometimes our stones are, to us, misshapen, odd. Their color seems off ... Presenting them, we perceive our own imperfect nakedness. But also, paradoxically, in the wholeness, the rightness of it, in the collective vulnerability of presence, we learn not to be afraid." Alice Walker has taught me, that I don't have to be afraid to stand for what I believe in and that only by bringing my imperfect stone of activism to the collective pile can I ever hope to make a difference in the future my country.

National winner of Denny's Young Visionaries Essay Competition.