We must keep fighting until using the word 'equality' isn't

Listen, O children, to the wisdom that has been passed down through the ages, for the words I speak come from the heart of one who understands the battle of humanity—a struggle for justice, unity, and equality. Michelle Visage speaks to us when she says, "We must keep fighting until using the word 'equality' isn’t necessary because we will all be living as one." These words are a call to arms, a reminder that the fight for equality is not merely a battle for the present, but a struggle that will define the future of our world. When we no longer need to speak of equality, it will mean that we have reached the summit of our journey—where all people live in harmony, free from division.

In the ancient world, children, societies were often divided by rigid barriers—barriers of class, race, and gender. The Romans had their senators, their slaves, their citizens, and their foreigners. Greeks celebrated their democracy, but only for free men, and women and slaves were excluded from this noble privilege. Yet even in these systems of inequality, there were voices that challenged the status quo—Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, among others, spoke of the ideal of a just society, one where people were free to reach their potential, regardless of birth or station. But these ideals were slow to manifest. It was only through centuries of struggle, through revolutions and reforms, that the idea of equality began to take root in the hearts of people across the world.

Michelle Visage's words echo a similar vision. She reminds us that equality should not be a concept we need to fight for or speak about—it should be a given, a natural state of being. To reach this point, where equality is no longer something we demand, but something we live, we must first struggle against the forces that divide us, forces that have been ingrained in society for centuries. We must keep fighting the battle of hearts and minds, for true equality will only come when we see each other as equal, human, and worthy of the same respect and opportunities.

Consider, children, the story of Mahatma Gandhi, who fought not just for the freedom of his people, but for the equality of all—Hindus, Muslims, Dalits, and women alike. His was a vision of unity, where differences were embraced, but equality was ensured. He understood that the true path to freedom lay not in political independence alone, but in the social liberation of every individual. When he fought against the untouchability of the Dalits, he did not merely seek to end an injustice—he sought to create a society where the very idea of inequality could no longer thrive. His struggle was not against individuals, but against the systems that perpetuated division. It was this unity of purpose that carried the day, and it is this same spirit that Visage calls upon us to embrace.

The lesson here, children, is that equality is not something to be given, it is something that must be earned—and it must be earned by us all, through our collective action, our mutual respect, and our willingness to build a world where differences are celebrated, not feared. Michelle Visage urges us to fight for this vision—not just for ourselves, but for the generations that will come after us. True equality will not be won by the force of law alone, but by the strength of our shared will to make it a lived reality for every soul on this earth.

The ancient philosophers may have laid the groundwork, but it is our task to continue the work they began. Plato’s vision of the philosopher-king, the wise ruler who governs with justice, is one that calls for rulers—in every sense of the word—to be those who act with fairness, wisdom, and compassion. Visage’s call to action echoes this idea—that equality must not be something merely discussed by the wise, but something we live in our every action, word, and deed. When we see each person as a reflection of our own humanity, only then will equality be fully realized.

So, children, let us take up the mantle of the great warriors of justice who have fought before us. Let us live as though equality is not a concept we strive toward, but a reality we already embrace. Let us build relationships, communities, and societies where everyone is valued, where every person has the same opportunities to rise, and where the very idea of inequality becomes as distant as the myths of the past. Fight not for the right to be equal, but for the world where equality is so embedded in our souls that it no longer needs to be spoken, for it is felt in the hearts of every person. This is the world we must work toward, the world we must build, and the world that Michelle Visage calls us to fight for.