Ruth Bader Ginsburg was born March 15, 1933. While maybe her birth was announced in the papers, none of them proclaimed “future feminist and Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg has been born.” Nobody knew how important she would be.
John Lewis was born February 21, 1940. While maybe his birth was announced in the papers, none of them proclaimed “future civil rights leader and Representative John Lewis has been born.” Nobody knew how important he would be.
Angela Davis was born January 26, 1944. While maybe her birth was announced in the papers, none of them proclaimed “future civil rights activist, political theorist, and philosopher Angela Davis has been born.” Nobody knew how important she would be.
What makes them a hero is that they made the world a better place than many others could’ve done if they were in the same position. Everyone has their own list of heroes, and no hero is perfect. Ginsburg, for all her flaws, was a last bulwark against conservative judicial domination.
Heroes die. But heroes are born, too. It doesn’t make the news, because we haven’t figured out how to know when someone will be a hero or not. Nevertheless, heroes are born all the time. Even in the worst of times — maybe even especially in the worst of times — heroes are preparing to take a stand all around us. Even if we can’t see them, that doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
Very recently, or perhaps very soon, a hero greater than Ginsburg will be born. Don’t give up hope.