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Olivia Alberton (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Time is a funny thing. Some days seem to go by quickly, while others seem to drag. You cannot believe that it is only Wednesday in what seems like the longest week of your life, and yet, it is already March. That old saying “time flies” comes to mind. Time flies both in days and in years. Over the decades there have been countless inventions which have advanced the way we carry out daily tasks and the way we live. Some of these things include the automobile, the television, the cellphone and of course the internet. However, despite all these transformations, in the grand scheme of things, I believe that times do not really change, because the essence of humanity stays the same. Humans are creatures of habit, which is good and bad. 

The need for human connection is a key element in our humanity that has not changed in the slightest. Human connection can come in many forms, one of them being romantic love. Wanting to find a partner who will stand by your side, know you inside out and love you is something that most people seek. Depictions of this love range in time from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to Jane Austen’s Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, to modern examples like Noah and Allie from The Notebook. The way each of these couples go about “courting” each other is vastly different, but the common element in all is love.

In addition to romantic love, there is also platonic love—the love of friends and family also being pivotal in life. I do not think that humans are meant to live alone. We need to talk to someone about our thoughts, our fears, our successes. Having someone to lean on when times get rough is part of this human connection. It is interesting to think about how much has changed over the course of history. What is more interesting to me, however, is thinking about how we still have so much in common with people from the past. Looking at old photographs, whether it be in a museum or even a family photo album, and knowing that these people had dreams, hopes and fears just like us now, feels surreal. Knowing that, despite the time that has elapsed, humans still seek beauty, love, laughter, peace and friendship—that is something that I think is so beautiful. However, though it is nice to think about the beauty of humanity, we must not forget about the darker side of human nature that does not change. 

The main element that has not changed is that racism and hate still exist. One target of this hate is the Black community in North America. Although segregation ended and the civil rights movement happened in the 1950s and 60s, creating some change, invisible barriers are still present, creating an “us versus them” mentality between Black and white communities in our society. Black cultural studies critic, Christina Sharpe, does an excellent job of describing how Black people are still living in the wake of slavery because the past racism is bleeding into the present. Sharpe says “living in the wake means living in and with terror in that in much of what passes for public discourse about terror we, Black people, become the carriers of terror [. . .]” (Sharpe, 15). Being these carriers of terror leads to things such as being looked at more intently by security at stores, feeling like the “other” and facing more prejudice and scrutiny from the police. The killing of George Floyd in 2020, which led to protests, is an example that so much work still needs to be done.

In addition, Asians in North America are another marginalized group who have faced prejudice. When the pandemic broke out, anti-Asian hate grew, many blaming this group for the coronavirus, some even referring to it as the “Chinese virus” and “China virus.”

In both these examples of marginalized groups, it is important to remember that not everyone holds these racist views. Over time, humans have had the capacity to evolve in their ideas and change their viewpoints regarding marginalized groups. However, some still cling to old, racist ideology.

Thinking about the things that have changed over the course of history is certainly interesting. As mentioned, the way we live out our lives and what we wear is completely different than in the past. Times flies, yes, but I do not think it changes much—the good and the bad. 

Citation:

Sharpe, Christina. “The Wake.” In the Wake-On Blackness and Being. Durham and London: Duke University Press, 2016, pp. 1-32. 

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Olivia is a McMaster University graduate with a combined honours in English & cultural studies and history. She loves to read, write and, of course, drink coffee.