“Dignity is a state of mind…”

“Dignity is a state of mind, just like freedom.”

–Warriors Don’t Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals

In high school, they require you to read many different books. If you’re really unlucky, then you get assigned summer reading homework before you even meet your new teacher. Like all high school students in the summer, I was not that thrilled to get a summer reading assignment. However, I took solace in the fact that my English teacher gave me a list of books to choose from. And it was from the book that I chose, Warriors Don’t Cry, that I discovered one of my favorite quotes of all time.

This quote inspires me to be my own person. It says that it shouldn’t matter what other people say or do to you. If you’re proud of what you do, hold your head up high. In the end, everything is all in your head. Take the Civil Rights Movement as an example. The quote basically states that freedom is a state of mind, and this is completely exemplified in the Civil Rights Movements. African Americans weren’t slaves. They weren’t forced to do work for no money, but they were segregated and cut off. To a person’s perception, this is not freedom. Normally when someone thinks of freedom, they always go to the freedom of speech, freedom of press, etc… that is listed in the constitution. However, due to the prejudice and segregation, this wasn’t available, giving the perception of no freedom that was justly rectified.

So in the end, remember that everything depends on how you perceive a situation. The mind is a powerful thing. Take pride in what you do and don’t let other people drag you down.