“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or

prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech,

or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to
petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
--First Amendment of the United States Constitution

The freedoms of speech, press, assembly and the right to petition the government
and seek redress of grievances means every citizen has the right to hold the government
accountable. Freedom of speech and press allows people to communicate their ideas
verbally and in writing, while freedom of assembly lets them publicly express a common
interest. The right to petition allows citizens to point out to the government where it did not
follow the law and to seek changes.

Even at N.C. A&T State University, there have been many capacities where I was
able to exercise my right to freedom of speech. As a student, I have utilized the First
Amendment by advocating for social movements. As a journalist, I have been able to
answer the questions members of the Aggieland community have been asking to help build
themselves up. I have learned the right to information that I have as a journalist and my
ability to spread information for the betterment of society -- even on a very local level.
Without the freedom of the press, of course, there would be no real democracy in our
nation.

Because journalists seek to help society as a whole, it is only right that every person
has access to the same information, education and resources. Members of the public also
have a right to speak their minds, as this nation was founded on the basis of representation
and freedoms which were not afforded to the colonial founding fathers -- though some were
originally against James Madison’s proposition. That opposition, however, was met with a
compromise which is how the first ten amendments came to be.

As a person of color, the first amendment guarantees that someone who looks like
me is still able to live freely, with the values passed onto me from previous generations. It
allows me to practice my traditions, speak out on the issues which may upset me, and hold
the government accountable through protesting and petitioning.

The first amendment holds one of the strongest freedoms given to citizens of the
United States, and it should be recognized that these freedoms have allowed our society to
grow in the way it has. Though members of our community may hold polarizing views, the
first amendment guarantees them the right to express their opinions freely without the fear
of imprisonment.

I am proud to have the right to question, challenge, and answer the questions people
have. For now, my values of journalism have been met with the freedom of the first
amendment. Going forward, it will mean the freedom to be who I am and do what I want.