The pomp and circumstance of the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II was glorious. Her long reign of seventy years was lauded. Somehow, Her Majesty was in the hearts of the people as she stood on a balcony to view the passing in her honor. The absence of the late Prince Phillip was notable. Though family surrounded the queen, this was the first time she stood alone viewing the pageantry of her Jubilee without her husband who died last year. As the monarch rode in the royal carriage, again, the presence of Prince Phillip was noted. After the first day, the queen (at the age of 96) remained in the castle and viewed the festivities via television; the prolonged period of standing the first day had proven to be a bit strenuous.
While watching the Platinum Jubilee and listening to the newscasts, the question of succession surfaced; there is a sense that the elegance, and dignity of royalty may have a diminishing display after this Platinum Jubilee. The British Empire which was once ruler over a quarter of the world’s landmass[i] is now significantly less in size. The country’s former greatness was rooted in the colonial acquisitions and the imposition of racial hierarchies. Many of the former colonies have claimed their independence. In its infancy, the United States had done so. Though questions of maintaining a monarchy continue, Her Majesty, Queen Elisabeth II, is beloved.
When the queen came to the throne in 1952, the United States was the premier industrialized nation of the world. Industries flourished and a post high school education was not a necessity to obtain high-salary work. A university professor of the time shared with his class that they were in the one percent of the U.S. population that was in college. The suburbs of metropolitan areas flourished and grew exponentially, and new expressways demolished urban neighborhoods to facilitate travel to and from those areas beyond the city. Communism was the enemy of the time and many in the arts were accused of being connected to the philosophy and barred from professional engagements. The U.S. military fought in the Korean War (1950-1953). Segregation though mainly imposed on African Americans was also inflicted upon other ethnic groups. Laws, violence, and death enforced segregation. Whites had primary access to the prosperity of the country. With the 1960s came the waves of change.
Change is the constant in life.
[i]Caroline Elkins. “The Imperial Fictions Behind the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee” in New York Times, June 4, 2022.
Reflections
Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.
Former President of the United States, Barack Obama
The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.
Oprah Winfrey
Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.
John Maxwell
Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.
Brené Brown
People don’t resist change. They resist being changed.
Peter Senge
Education is education. We should learn everything and then choose which path to follow. Education is neither Eastern nor Western, it is human.
Malala Yousafzai
What’s dangerous is not to evolve.
Jeff Bezos
Dorothy Watson Tatem, D.Min., ACC
Senior Associate
Next Step Associates, LLC
Cassandra W. Jones, Ed.D.
CEO & President
Recent Comments