“All right.”

Just then, Manny comes into the room with Jared Christensen at his heels. Justyce isn’t real fond of Jared—or any of Manny’s other friends for that matter—but he knows they’ve all been tight since kindergarten, so he tries to keep a lid on it.

“What’s up, Doc?” Jared crows as he crosses the room to his seat.

“Oh god, Jared. Sit down somewhere.” That would be Sarah-Jane Friedman. Lacrosse captain, future valedictorian, and Justyce’s debate partner since sophomore year.

“Aww, SJ, I love you too,” Jared says.

SJ glares at him and pretends to shove a finger down her throat as she approaches the seat to Justyce’s left. It makes him laugh.

The rest of the class trickles in, and the moment the bell rings, Doc pushes the door shut and claps his hands to begin class:

Doc: Morning, peeps.

Class: [Multiple grunts, waves, and nods.]

Doc: Let’s get started, shall we? Discussion prompt of the day…

[He makes a few taps on his laptop, and the words all men are created equal appear on the classroom’s digital chalkboard.]

Doc: Who can tell me the origin of this statement?

Jared: United States Declaration of Independence, ratified July Fourth, 1776. [Smiles smugly and crosses his arms.]

Doc: Correct, Mr. Christensen. Twelve of the thirteen colonies voted in favor of severing all ties to the British throne. The document known as the Declaration of Independence was written into being, and to this day, one of the most oft-quoted lines of said document is what you see there on the board.

Everyone: [Nods.]

Doc: Now, when we use our twenty-first-century minds to examine the quote within its historical context, something about it isn’t quite right. Can anyone explain what I mean?

Everyone: [Crickets.]

Doc: Oh, come on, y’all. You don’t see anything odd about these guys in particular making a statement about the inherent “equality” of men?

SJ: Well, these were the same guys who killed off the indigenous peoples and owned slaves.

Doc: Indeed they were.

Jared: But it was different then. Neither slaves nor Indians—

Justyce: Native Americans or American Indians if you can’t name the tribe, homie.

Jared: Whatever. Point is, neither were really considered “men.”

Doc: That’s exactly my point, Mr. Christensen. So here’s the question: What does the obvious change in the application of this phrase from 1776 to now tell us about how our society has evolved?

[Extended pause as he adds the question to the digital chalkboard beneath the quote, then the scrape of a chair as he takes his regular seat in the circle.]

Jared: Well, for one, people of African descent are obviously included in the application of the quote now. So are “Native American Indians.”

Justyce: [Clenches jaw.]

Jared: And women! Women were originally excluded, but now things are more equal for them too.

SJ: [Snorts.] Still not equal enough.

Doc: Expound if you will, Ms. Friedman.

SJ: It’s simple: women still aren’t treated as men’s equals. Especially by men.

Jared: [Rolls eyes.]

Doc: Okay. So there’s Women’s Rights. Any other areas where you guys feel like we haven’t quite reached the equality bar?

Everyone: […]

Doc: Feel free to consider current events.

SJ: You would make a terrible lawyer, Doc.

Everyone: [Nervous laughter.]

Doc: I know y’all know what I’m getting at here.

Manny: I mean, we do….But you really wanna go there, Doc?

Doc: Hey, this school prides itself on open dialogue. So let’s hear it.

Everyone: […]

Doc: I’ll come right out with it, then: Do you guys feel we’ve achieved full “equality” with regard to race?

Everyone: […]

Doc: Come on, guys. This is a safe space. Nothing said here today leaves this room.

Jared: Okay, I’ll bite. In my opinion, yes: we have reached full equality when it comes to race.

Doc: Expound, please.

Jared: Well, anyone born here is a citizen with full rights. There are people who claim certain “injustices” are race-related, but if you ask me, they’re just being divisive.

Justyce: [Inhales deeply and rubs his wrists.]

Jared: America’s a pretty color-blind place now.

SJ: Of course you would say that.

Manny: Oh boy.

SJ: It never ceases to amaze me that guys like you have your heads so far up your entitled asses—

Doc: Sarah-Jane.

SJ: Sorry. It’s just—you’re completely oblivious to the struggles of anyone outside your little social group.

Jared: Whatever, SJ.

SJ: I’m serious. What about the economic disparities? What about the fact that proportionally speaking, there are more people of color living in poverty than white people? Have you even thought about that?

Jared: Dude, Manny drives a Range Rover.

Manny: What does that have to do with anything?

Jared: No beef, dude. I’m just saying your folks make way more money than mine.

Manny: Okay. They worked really hard to get to where they are, so—

Jared: I’m not saying they didn’t, dude. You just proved my point. Black people have the same opportunities as white people in this country if they’re willing to work hard enough. Manny’s parents are a perfect example.

SJ: Seriously? You really think one example proves things are equal? What about Justyce? His mom works sixty hours a week, but she doesn’t make a tenth of what your dad ma—

Justyce: S, chill with that, man.

SJ: Sorry, Jus. What I’m saying is Manny’s parents are an exception. Have you not noticed there are only eight black kids in our whole school?

Jared: Well, maybe if more people were like Manny’s parents, that wouldn’t be the case.

Justyce: [Takes another deep breath.]

SJ: Ah, okay…so you’re saying people just need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps?

Jared: Exactly.

SJ: In order to do that, they have to be able to afford boots.

Manny: Dang. Point for SJ.

Jared: Whatever. There are people on welfare strutting around in Air Jordans, so there’s obviously some footwear money coming from somewhere. And don’t get all high and mighty, SJ. Your ancestors owned slaves just like mine did.

SJ: Wrong, numbnuts—

Doc: Ms. Friedman…

SJ: Sorry, Doc. As I was saying, my great-grandparents immigrated to this country from Poland after narrowly escaping Chelmno.

Jared: What?

SJ: It was a Nazi death camp. And you just proved my point again. You’d spew a lot less asininity if you were willing to see beyond the eighteenth hole of your country club golf course.

Doc: Reel it in, SJ.

Jared: Just so you know, Manny’s parents have been members of our country club longer than we have.

Manny: Bro!

Jared: Just sayin’, dude.

SJ: God. This country is headed to hell in a handbasket with people like you at the helm, Jared.

Justyce: [Chuckles.]

Jared: Anyway, to those unfamiliar with the US Constitution, thanks to the Fourteenth Amendment, every person in this country has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—

SJ: Bullshit.

Doc: SJ!

SJ: It’s true!