Gary Segal believes it’s imperative for people to know their rights.
In 1965, the Village of Pine Ridge resident — who frequently presents to the Civil Discourse South and is a member of The African American Club of The Villages — joined the Congress of Racial Equality and the Freedom Riders to fight racial injustice.
Today marks the 160th anniversary of The Civil Rights Act of 1866, and Villagers as well as leaders of local community organizations are reflecting on the milestone and the legislation’s importance.
“I was born in the Bronx. When you grow up in the Bronx, you see all different races, all different genders, everything was a full composition of what the country currently looks like,” Segal said. “I became an advocate for all civil rights. For me, it wouldn’t be natural to not participate and to not help fight against anything that eliminates the rights of people to live their own life the way they choose.”
The act was the nation’s first law to grant citizenship to all people born in the United States, regardless of race, color or previous slave status.
It also was the first piece of legislation to be passed into law after presidential objection when Congress overrode then-President Andrew Johnson’s veto. The law’s provision that protects birthright citizenship later was incorporated into the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Currently, the U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing arguments for a case that challenges President Donald Trump’s 2025 executive order that would deny birthright citizenship to a child born in the U.S. to parents who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents.
Segal said it’s not only important for people to stay educated about their rights, but to be aware of how the high court’s ultimate decision will affect them.
All U.S. citizens should fight to protect their rights and the rights of others when they feel they are being threatened, he said.
“Not only should we talk about the Civil Rights Act and celebrate it, we have to make sure the Supreme Court continues it,” he said. “My daughter was adopted from China and her birth certificate name is a Chinese name, and it doesn’t match the name she uses now. She’s going to have to prove that she is a naturalized citizen and that her passport request and ability to vote can be handled regardless of her Chinese name at birth.”
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was “very important” and something “we needed,” said Carl Davis, Tri-City NAACP Lake County vice president.
“I think everyone, especially young people, today need to know that this legislation, and the 14th Amendment, are as important today as they were during slavery,” said Davis, of Leesburg.
Harry Lumpkin, of the Village of Hadley, agrees with Segal that people should be educated about politics on both a national and a local level.
“Our Constitution and what we as a nation stand for is truly being put to the test today,” Lumpkin said. “People need to be aware of what’s going on and the issues we face today. If there’s any way that you can encourage your elected officials to weigh in on a specific event or message that our country is going to be governed by, then get involved. Don’t just be a bystander, but a contributor to what is right.”
It’s important to mentor young people to help them understand the reality of being adults and their rights as U.S. citizens by giving first-hand examples of opportunities available to them, Lumpkin said.
“My wife, Connie, and I have dedicated our lives to supporting equal opportunity both in the military and in the communities of which we are a part of,” Lumpkin said. “People know that when we walk into the room and when we sit down at the table, our goal is to make sure that the process is fair and gives everyone equal opportunity with no overt biases. We do that by our involvement in several clubs and organizations, for example, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Committee, where Connie is president and I am vice president in charge of fundraising.
“Our application process is considered a blind process,” Lumpkin said. “We do not know who the applicants are and everything is blanked out until the scholarship committee reviews all the applications and make their selection. We do not put the criteria in a way that gives an advantage to anyone, regardless of race, religion or agenda.”
Shaun Wethington, of the Village of Mallory Square, said as president of the Lake, Sumter, Marion Section of the National Council of Negro Women, she and members of the organization stand on the principles and mission of its founder, Dr. Mary McCloud Bethune, who advocated for women and children in all areas.
“We stand for supporting education, financial empowerment, economic status, social justice and freedom,” Wethington said. “Right now, we are working on a civic engagement strategy and we are educating our members and women in the community on their voting rights, because we know the midterm elections are coming up. We use the motto of Dr. Bethune: ‘America can be changed and it will be changed.’ The way to do that is through being educated on who is in office or who is running. Not to go on the word of others, but to educate yourself.”
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
