"I have a dream"

50 years ago today, Martin Luther King made his famous speech, sparking the major turnaround in the way different races were treated in America. This speech kick-started many equal rights movements across the largest and most powerful country in the world including the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Not only is the speech a vital part of this world’s modern past, but is absolutely integral to its future. I despair to think of a world where Martin Luther King had a dream but couldn’t be bothered to tell us all about it. A world without that speech doesn’t bear thinking about. Unfortunately there are still areas of the world which need to learn from America’s example of civil rights.

“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

50 years ago today, the world began to revolutionize. The greatest country began to listen and accept the fact that every human- no matter what colour their skin- was indeed human. But many didn’t like that. Heavily influenced by their parents, adults in the 1960’s thought that unless someone was white, they weren’t worth talking to. They weren’t worth going to the toilet near. They weren’t worth being listened to. Which sparked a whole load of trouble. The KKK. This organisation had been running for hundreds of years already, with a history of ‘superior race’ hate crimes and corps. Many of the citizens of America dressed in their most menacing gang wear and set fire to the homes and work places of black people. Martin Luther King was targeted and no one was safe unless they were wearing a pointed white cap and pillow case. Stupid, right? Well some other people thought so, too.

Including the parents of my 86-year-old friend, Mabel-Anne.

50 years ago today, her parents- Dr and Mrs Sam E. Ashmore- who were closely connected with the churches in Jackson, Mississippi, knew that God loved and loves all people. They went out of their way to spread the same message as Martin Luther King. Mable-Anne and her family had to keep moving, due to death threats to her parents and herself. Their lives and church were hanging in in the balance due to their beliefs and actions. The Ashmores were endangering their lives in the fight against segregation- and they were white.

Despite the many threats to their lives, family and friends, the Ashmores stayed strong in their knowledge of equal love and beliefs of civil rights, and saw the battle through until their end. I am so proud of Mabel-Anne and the bravery her family showed in such a time. I’m proud of every single soul who fought the right side and who contributed to the civil rights movement in America. Though it took many years, Martin Luther King’s dream came true, and the world is a better place for that. Though we mustn’t forget those who gave their time, passion and even lives in the process. Although the act was passed only a year later, it took a long time for the hate crimes from the Ku Klux Klan to stop, and even longer for the people of America to accept the new laws and rights of African-Americans.

I am so lucky to have been brought up in a society without racism and broadcasted prejudices, and I know that at no point in history was segregation of races or apartheid right or deserved. I would fight in favour of civil rights causes if the problem arose again in my country or anywhere else in the world; though if I had been brought up with several generations of prejudices influencing my beliefs, I may not have said that- even if I believed it. It not only takes strength and bravery to believe something, but to say it- it just requires something more. Standing up for something you believe in before hundreds of thousands who want to oppress and obliterate your opinions takes courage and power. Endangering your own life for the rights and protection of others, when it would be safer, simpler and a lot easier to sit back and do nothing, takes such a faith in what you know to be true, it’s almost undetectable in our culture.

“The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing.”

I am so incredibly proud of Mabel-Anne. And I know that she and her existing family would do the same now if they had to- lay their lives down for a cause- despite her living in sheltered accommodation and often forgetting the date, time, or names of those she loves. Because although Mable-Anne has dementia, she is still Mabel-Anne; she still knows what’s right and what she believes.

And I will always be proud to know her.

Mabel-Anne, I love you.

You give me hope.

I just want people to understand mental illness.

I just want people to understand mental illness.

If someone breaks their leg, everyone gathers round the hospital bed giving them flowers and chocolate; if someone’s admitted to a psych ward, it’s not talked about and barely anyone visits. Everyone signs a plaster cast; no one wants to sign something they can’t see.

Say someone with depression is just feeling absolutely awful one day- they’re in a complete state of apathy- but made plans with a friend. This person cancels because they really don’t feel up to it and they try to explain in their best words why they can’t go but it just doesn't make sense and they feel even worse for cancelling. Their friend probably wouldn't understand and spend the rest of the day or even week feeling incredibly annoyed and resentful. However if someone was laid up in bed with a stomach bug and didn't have the energy to go out with a friend they’d made plans with- no one wants to leave the comfort of their own home when they’re ill- and cancelled, the friend would most probably be understanding.

Compare “I really don’t feel up to it, maybe another day?” with “I've been up all night vomiting, sorry I’m going to have to cancel”. You’d be happier with the second, wouldn't you? It’s something solid that you can understand. You can’t sit in on counselling sessions and I bet you’d feel awkward as hell watching someone take their anti-psychotics or anti-depressants. You can however, go with someone to the doctors because they've got a bruise that won’t go away. You can, however, push your friend’s wheel chair because their shattered tibia from that car crash won’t allow them to walk.

The nature of mental illness is also something people struggle to grasp. ‘I can’t see that dog you’re calling to, therefore it can’t exist’ ‘you’re not recently bereft, so why are you so sad all the time?’ ‘Your moods change like the weather, you’re a freak’ ‘you’re really ill, why won’t you just eat something?!’. That’s the thing about mental illness- when it’s starting out, a patient might not notice it, but by the time others are noticing it, a patient might not be able to help themselves; the illnesses lie to the sufferers; they eventually consume them, telling them either that they’re fine or that they’re past help. This means it’s vital for those not suffering to help by learning about symptoms and early warning signs.

You have to understand in order to help, but you have to want to help in order to understand.

And I don’t think that people realize they need to help; only if you've been affected by mental illness will you realize the need for awareness.

It starts with a bruise. One day you’re just not feeling that great. Then the bruise just doesn't go away. You just keep feeling sad and not wanting to do anything. You go to the doctors and there’s a referral. They don’t know for sure but it sounds like this. You’re at the hospital and they tell you the news. Your psychiatrist gives you the diagnosis. Both patients can receive treatment. It might not work. It might work. They’ll go into ‘remission’. The illness could come back. And it does. But they don’t want to say anything. My bones are just aching a little, it’s nothing. Oh it’s because of the weather; my mood is quite reflective. But then they begin to ache more, she can’t walk; she’s often short of breath. He ends up not wanting to get out of bed in the mornings, and sleeping the days away. She knows what’s happened and she thinks it’s too late, so she won’t go back to the doctors. He reckons he’s too far gone this time and doesn't seek help. The next day at 3:30am there are two less people in the world. 

You see, leukemia and depression can have the same story. So can sport injuries and bi-polar; sometimes they’re here, sometimes they’re not. Sometimes you’re up, sometimes you’re down. But similar to what I said earlier, you’ll see the Wimbledon competitors wearing their K-tape; you won’t see the world famous musician take his Lithium.

Buzz Aldrin, a wondrous explorer- suffered addiction and depression.

Beethoven, a celebrated composer- believed to have had bipolar disorder.

Earl Campbell, great previous NFL player- plagued by an anxiety disorder.

Mental illness doesn't stop people from becoming brilliant, and being brilliant doesn't stop people from developing a mental illness.