The framers of our Constitution understood that their work was imperfect. I believe this because of eight critical words embedded in that historic document: “in order to form a more perfect union.” The nation’s founders aimed to establish a new form of democracy distinct from theirs in Europe. They aimed to build a government that would empower people and guarantee their inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Yet, they understood that their efforts could not encompass every nuance of what it would take to make their great democratic experiment work. So, they infused their founding document with revisionary measures so that those coming after them could readily assume the responsibility of perfecting it. And in every generation since, essential figures—both well-known and little-known—have taken up this work.
Sixty years ago, more than 700 courageous individuals embarked on a “nation-perfecting” mission in Mississippi. These civil rights volunteers, driven by a deep sense of justice and equality, ventured into rural communities to register Black voters who were disenfranchised from our democracy.
They also established Freedom Schools in places such as Philadelphia and Meridien, Mississippi, to offer alternative learning opportunities for Black children who were marginalized by the state’s segregated public school system.
Their actions enraged the Ku Klux Klan, who sought to make an example of three of these Freedom Summer workers: James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. The KKK abducted and murdered these young men in an attempt to stop progress.
The sacrifices of Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner are reminders of the fierce resistance many have faced in the fight for equality. Yet, they also remind us of what is possible when we build diverse coalitions to achieve progress. They empower us to claim and demand our full rights of citizenship even though our enslaved ancestors were not considered when the framers were developing our Constitution.
As an African American creative, I am driven to explore unsung histories through my art. I draw inspiration from the courage of these young men. This inspiration has led me to create a new civic anthem titled “Rise Up & Fight.” Consider these lyrics written in the voices of our three martyrs:
“Traveling back to Mississippi, we’re all caught in a daze.
Thought we’d see a world of progress, come to find not much has changed.
How could so many years have passed away but the issues stay the same?
Not just in Mississippi, but as we travel far and wide,
We hear distressing news and we see a great divide
between the left and the right,
between the truth and the lies,
between the black and the white.
It just really blows our minds because…
We’ve come too far to just resign.
Too many folks gave up their lives.
Today’s the day, now is the time
to rise and fight for what is right.”
“Rise Up & Fight” was composed because now, more than ever, we must bravely use our voices to fight for our democracy. The path to these changes begins at the ballot box. That’s why we must participate in national and local elections—to ensure our communities are represented, and our voices are heard.
As history proves, progress is possible and must be fought for and protected. Every time we vote, guided by our convictions and aspirations for ourselves, our families, neighborhoods, towns, cities, states, and nations, we perfect the work the founders initiated…beyond what they could envision.
The Black American vote has a rich and powerful legacy, beginning in the Reconstruction era and continuing to the present day. Our vote is more than a right; it is a powerful tool of transformation and direct action that honors the sacrifices of those who fought and died to gain that right to vote.
While it is true that we face barriers to voting, from voter suppression to lack of access to polling stations, these challenges and those who strategize to implement them only serve to underscore how powerful our vote truly is. We must persevere in our civic engagement despite these obstacles. Our collective acts of voting can bring about the change we seek, and our shared responsibility is to ensure that every voice is heard and every vote counts.
This and every election is about what this nation can and should be. It’s about our future and our responsibility to each other. And that must be the undying commitment of those like me who still believe in the promise of this nation.
Our union is imperfect, but great strides have been made because of unsung heroes like our “Freedom Summer 3.” And greater strides will come as more of us commit to using our platforms and influence to make our nation a more just, equitable and inclusive society.
Perfecting our union is still a principle worth fighting for. Vote!
Nolan Williams, Jr. is an award-winning artist who explores cultural expressions and unsung histories through film, composition, and theatrical productions. He is the architect of Freedom Advances, a 2024 media initiative intended to inspire full participation this election cycle.