TAKE A BREAK
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defense of their beliefs as homage to the heroes of history who sought to secure this right for all Americans.
It is hard to believe that my great-grandmother was born into a world that did not recognize the unique perspective she had to offer, but at the time of her birth, the United States still had not engaged in nationwide suffrage. Several decades before the matriarchs of my family were born, the landmark case, Minor v. Happersett, ruled that the right to vote does not apply to all people. In this 1875 case, Virginia Minor of Missouri sued a voter registrar after he denied her request to register as a lawful voter. …[T]he Supreme Court ruled that a provision in a state constitution which confines the right of voting to male citizens of the United States is no violation of the federal Constitution. … While Virginia Minor’s persistence and courage did not yield the desired result, her attempt to participate in the legal system paved the way for future activism and the eventual passage of the 19th Amendment. Although African American men were ensured the right to vote in 1870 when the 15th Amendment went into effect, discrimination still plagued the Black community and, unfortunately, continues to do so today. … During the years following the Civil War, many states instituted Black codes and Jim Crow laws to prohibit African Americans from taking advantage of their human rights. At the polls, literacy tests, intimidation methods, and blatant acts of cruelty were used to prevent full suffrage equality. And in the elections that could have given a voice in government to people of color, the horrific Ku Klux Klan spread terror and violence around the nation to suppress the voices of Black voters. While the Voting Rights Act of 1965 made giant leaps in securing equitable enfranchisement for all people, there are still many steps to be taken. As Americans, we must recognize that this beautiful country was founded as a melting pot of different cultures and races. Elections serve to unite our voices, and although our political beliefs may differ, the act of voting brings us closer as a national community. And in the words of lawyer and activist, Marion Wright Edelman, “Democracy is not a spectator sport.” The history of suffrage in the United States and around the world is blemished and profoundly flawed, but it is also a story full of hope and inspiration. The anniversary of the 19th Amendment marks a tremendous milestone in the fight for voting rights. Suffragettes and human rights activists such as Susan B. Anthony and Sojourner Truth dedicated much of their lives to give future generations the right to vote. Voting is a solemn duty that should not be taken lightly, for it is a right that embraces the complex history of our nation and the many sacrifices that have led us to this point. (Essay submitted by Miss Eliza Smith, a ninth-grade student at Volunteer High School. Small portions redacted for space limitations).
SPOOKY STRAWBERRY GHOSTS
Inspired by Candiquik.com
These adorable chocolate-dipped strawberry ghosts will be the stars of your Halloween party!
Ingredients
• 16 oz white chocolate, chopped • 24 strawberries
• 1 package mini dark chocolate chips
Directions
1. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the white chocolate at 50% power for 30 seconds. Remove it and stir, then repeat the process until melted. 2. Lay out a sheet of parchment paper. 3. One by one, dip the strawberries into the melted white chocolate and set them on the parchment. Allow the extra chocolate to pool to form a “tail” effect. 4. Before the chocolate coating fully cools, add three mini chocolate
chips to each berry to form two eyes and a mouth. 5. Let chocolate set, then serve your spooky snacks!
-Olen Haynes,Jr.
HaynesLawyers.com | 3
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