Since the beginning of time, and everyday since, there has been the presence of slavery. Even in modern times, it is inescapable; the news is sempiternally showing employees protesting against low wages, or women fighting against double standards. The crucial question everyone must ask themselves are how much they are willing to sacrifice in order to attain freedom. The answer, of course, is that anything is worth the risk, as long as it’s for a worthy cause. For example, a slave running from a plantation, or a woman arguing against prejudice as a result as her gender is justified; however, if the enslavement one faces is a form of punishment, they should accept their sentence with grace.

There is a distinct difference between punishment and persecution; punishment is earned and deserved, but persecution is punishment for something one cannot change. To illustrate, when African Americans were still enslaved in the South, sometimes officials in the North would tear up the free papers of negroes. This type behavior was inexcusable, and showed strong bigotry against skin color. Punishment, however, should be embraced in order for the one being punished to learn a lesson, while persecution should be taken into the hands of the individual being oppressed. A common form of prosecution in today’s world is with women’s and gay rights.

Women have always been looked upon as inferior to men; it can be proven by analyzing the prices of slaves, like on an advertisement by a slave trader in Kentucky, in which the advertiser stated “I will pay $1200 to $1250 for No. 1 young men, and $850 to $1000 for No. 1 young women” (Talbot). Women were considered worth as much as $400 less than male slaves. In modern times, women are still paid less than their male colleagues for the same job and suffer from ridiculous double standards, from the way they dress to the amount they work. Luckily for the female generation of today, there has been much resistance and rebellion against these views, with advertisements promoting the empowerment of women to feminist activists preaching their morals like missionaries, hoping to end the mass ignorance on the topic. The latter method has been around for centuries; Sojourner Truth was an abolitionist and a feminist, as well as a runaway slave whose speech “Ain’t I A Woman?” was widely spread. In her speech, Truth says that men have always told her that women should be respected, yet she has never been respected like they’ve said is proper. Also, she heard that women are not equal to men because Christ was not female. Truth testifies against what she has been told by saying,
“...ain’t I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain’t I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man…” (Truth para. 2).

Feminism has been a long and hard struggle that has lasted many years, and is yet to be conquered. Another topic of great debate in the twenty-first century is about ending the discrimination against members of the LGBTQQ+ (which stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, etc.) community. Only 17 states in the U.S. have legalized gay marriage, and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (or ENDA), which “...extends fair employment practices -- not special rights -- to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people” and has been approved by the Senate (Human Rights Campaign para. 3). There has been a definite increase in support from allies of the LGBT+ community recently, and it’s almost certain that civil liberties will be extended to the gay population.

While it is very hard to compare something as deplorable as slavery to gay and women’s equality, they both have some remarkable similarities; they all have strong supporters, whether they go by feminist, ally, or abolitionist; they all regard discriminations, either against gender, orientation, or race; and they are oppressions of specific types of people, of which many are divided on. This is especially true of the abolishment of slavery and the establishment of gay rights because they both meet resistance from the South, which used to be populated by mainly slaveholders, and is today known for being very religious and typically homophobic. Another similarity they share is the peril associated with both; if one was an abolitionist, a conductor on the Underground Railroad, or a runaway/fugitive slave, one could face severe consequences if not vigilant, diligent and prudent, including enduring a harsh whipping and being sent back to their master. If one is an ally or member of the LGBT+ community, one could face physical violence, verbal threats and abuse, discrimination, and loss of support from close family and friends. As tough as it is, and was, to stand up for one’s morals, the hazard could be only temporary while freedom would last much longer.

No matter where one comes from, there is still discrimination and persecution that sparks a flame seeking freedom. It is natural instinct to fight for justice and liberty; whether it is for a conductor on the Underground Railroad participating in civil disobedience or a gay man determined to have the right to marry his partner, every being faces some form of sacrifice to reach their goal of a better life for themselves and their loved ones in freedom.