Atlanta's Legacy of Justice and Equity in the Global Human Rights Coversation
Over the years, we’ve curated ideas by changemakers who strive to make our world and communities a safer, fairer, more enlightened place for all, amplifying the voiceless by using our own voices to challenge injustice and expand our empathy.Besides being home to multiple TEDx communities, Atlanta is also a place with a legacy for human rights. As a key hub for the Civil Rights Movement in the US and the home of many leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Senator John Lewis, Atlanta is a place where conversations about justice and equity are part of the city’s DNA.
World Human Rights Day: Justice and Dignity for All
World Human Rights Day acknowledges the intersection of these two realities. On December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a revolutionary document that has been translated into over 500 languages and used as the basis for more than 70 human rights treaties around the world. This simple yet ground-breaking document declares that every human is born with the right to dignity, freedom, and a secure and just environment–not because they worked for it; not because of the country they were born in; and not because of their socioeconomic status. Simply because they are human.
Local Stories with Global Impact: TEDxAtlanta Talks Addressing Human Rights
Jasmine Burton: Innovation to Sanitation Through Empathic Design
“Knowing exactly where the restroom is right now puts you among the world’s most privileged half of the population.”
Humanitarian and industrial designer Jasmine Burton begins her talk with this quote and the fact that about 2.5 billion people do not have access to a toilet. Her Talk takes us through the sanitation crisis in global public health, its impact on education and mental health, and the economic and human cost of diseases stemming from lack of sanitation. Learn how she’s applying empathic design toward innovative and sustainable mobile toilet solutions to restore dignity and hope to many who live with little or no sanitation measures.
L. Denise Wells: The Accessibility Conversation You’re Not Having (But Should Be)
“Our progress as a society is not based on how we treat the privileged. It’s based on how we treat those who are marginalized and the most vulnerable.”
Accessibility for persons with disabilities is often overlooked in DEI conversations and societal advances in general. In this talk, accompanied on stage by a sign language interpreter, DEI practitioner and accessibility advocate L. Denise urges us to speak up for the excluded and the overlooked. When we do, innovative solutions often blossom and benefit us all; after all, it’s how products like the elevator, electric toothbrush, and even phone texting came to be. When we lean in to embrace inclusivity, we unlock opportunities for new inventions, new perspectives, and new advancements.
Jonathan Rapping: Building a New Generation of Public Defenders
“I learned that if we fail to see the humanity of the people in our criminal justice system, we will drive injustice.”
Attorney Jonathan Rapping admits that “it’s really hard to be a caring lawyer. Caring is painful.” After witnessing many injustices toward people from vulnerable communities (such as children) who were accused of crimes, he decided to channel these painful experiences into his work building a new generation of public defenders based on a culture of empathy, hope, and humanity. Jonathan’s work directly addresses the constitutional right to counsel, the human right to a fair public trial, and the cultural transformation required to reinstill human dignity to those facing criminal charges.
Precious Price: Why We Need to Rethink Housing Insecurity
“Access to adequate housing is a human right, and not having it is an injustice.”
Housing justice advocate Precious Price combines her real estate experience with community action, imploring us to confront housing insecurity with honesty and curiosity. She walks us through examples of the housing insecure, also known as the “hidden homeless,” shining a light on how there are people across all demographics in the US that are just one step away from homelessness. Quoting the UDHR’s decree that access to safe and affordable housing is a fundamental human right, Jasmine takes us through examples of cities and communities that have tackled this issue through the unity and collaboration of policymakers, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs.
What You Can Do Today
World Human Rights Day is not just a passive observance of what was accomplished by an international group of leaders in 1948. It is a day to celebrate the world’s progress with human rights, and a day to mobilize to continue advocating for positive change. Fortunately, as our TEDxAtlanta speakers have proven, you don’t need a lot of money, a ton of followers, or a high-ranking position to make a difference. You can start with your voice, your time, your community, and your passion. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Listen and learn. Watch and listen to the Talks above, discuss your takeaways with friends, and research other human rights stories and anecdotes.
Speak up and advocate. Use the influence you already have, whether it’s online or at the dinner table, to share stories and statistics about human rights in your daily life. Counter misinformation and call out injustice when you see it.
Support and encourage. Countless organizations work daily and tirelessly to defend human rights. Consider donating, volunteering, or amplifying their work.
Address and demand. Learn who your local and state elected officials are and hold them accountable in prioritizing human rights in their policies. You can write to them, make phone calls, or even tag them on social media.
By choosing to honor the dignity and rights of others each day, these small choices add up and shape our world and global thinking about equity, justice, and the right to thrive where you live–no matter who you are.
