Do the Right Thing

I wrote "Do the Right Thing" in October 2020, inspired by the chaotic political climate, civil unrest, and the ongoing COVID-19 crisis in the U.S. I was really troubled by how the government seemed more focused on political gains than actually addressing people’s needs. The way stimulus checks were handled felt like they were influenced by politics, rather than just doing what was right for those who needed them most.

Originally, I planned to use a quote from Mahatma Gandhi to capture my concerns about what was happening in the U.S. But as I looked deeper into his past, I was shocked to discover his racist views towards Black people. He had used derogatory language, like calling the indigenous Black people of South Africa "Kaffirs," and it really shook my image of him as someone I had looked up to.

I had originally titled the piece "Gandhi's Voice," but after learning about his problematic views, I knew I had to change it. I felt it was important to acknowledge this part of his past, even though it created a difficult contrast between the Gandhi people revere and the reality of some of his beliefs. Gandhi still did a lot of good and actually influenced Martin Luther King Jr. in an amazing way with his nonviolent philosophy.

I decided to keep the quote, not to ignore his flaws, but to highlight the message of doing the right thing while recognizing the complexity of historical figures.