We Can Do It!- Rosy The Riveter

I find "A Vindication on The Rights of Women" and "Equiano" to be both inspiring and discouraging at the same time. Both authors were counter-cultural trying to change the injustices and problems of their society with their work in their own lifetime. In the present day their genius and character are recognized and held in high esteem as well as their contributions to the movements they were a part of and helped start. However, in their own time I'm sure they enjoyed little of the credit due to their characters or their ideas. They were counter-cultural, revolutionary, and ahead of their times and being so never comes without a price.

The advancement for the rights of women and slaves was a slow and dare I say painful process. In the case of Wollestencraft alone we can see the persecutions and scrutiny she suffered for the advocacy of something people in her society didn't want to hear. She was not the only woman to toil and suffer for the advancement of her sex. Similarly, Equiano was not the only one to dedicate his life towards abolition or suffer the consequences of racism and greed. Ultimately, looking back a few hundred years we can see that ultimately these sacrifices paid off and made a difference. They were worth it. However, Wollstencraft and Equiano had no such luxury. I wonder if they ever asked themselves if they really were crazy or wrong. I wonder if some days they chose to go forward with their causes even when they didn't necesarily believe they day would come when their movement would materialize into liberation.

I think history will tell us this is simply a fact of existence. If the French Revolution is any indication, you can't force or rush progress. Only gains earned through a steady struggle and solid foundations can truly bring progress to the human race.