Make America Great Again
I love the 4th of July. It’s my favorite holiday. Summer BBQ, parades and fireworks always enticed me, but beyond the superficiality of traditions, I actually felt a great deal of pride when I heard the National Anthem. As I stood for the Star Spangled Banner, the hairs on my arm did too, as I pictured the emotions from the tune- pride, exhaustion, courage, perseverance, honor, and triumph.
This year, however, I was getting ready to pack for my favorite holiday with our close friends and I took a minute to ponder what am I actually celebrating? Land of the free, home of the brave? It doesn’t seem to ring true, especially given the recent turmoil of racial injustice. Though the awareness into white privilege, systemic racism, and widespread prejudice seem to be a recent issue, it’s existence historically dates back to America’s forefathers when “free” only referred to white men and “brave” only referred to said demographic in positions of power.
While America represented a safe haven to those fleeing persecution and tyranny under the British, it’s ironic to note that it was only refuge to those America deemed worthy of such freedoms. The ideas of equality and independence that we are taught as American ideals in school, is deceptively taught with a caveat- these values only apply to the people the American majority deem superior. They undercut people of color, women, LGBTQ communities, and anyone inside the realm of “different.” Whether it’s microaggressions, unconscious bias, or outright discrimination, it’s near impossible that members from these minority groups haven’t experienced an equal right to existence as our white counterparts.
I grew up in a predominantly Caucasian Southern California community and went to an Episcopalian school. I was the only non white girl and hadn’t experienced any racism or negative treatment until the fourth grade. A boy I didn’t know came up to me and flatly said “We should whip you, because you’re black.” For someone who consistently received a “talks too much in the classroom” on her report cards, I was at a complete loss for words. I was stunned and his comment stung immediately and (ironically) as sudden as a whip. I was also confused- I was brown…not black, but as a nine year old, maybe those two colors were the same as they related to slave treatment? It took me a few days to process and I finally told my mom, who was mad as anything and raised hell. It took confirmation from my white friend as a witness for my “story” to be believed and I believe the boy was reprimanded. All this to say my experience isn’t unique. And if it comes from a person of privilege herself, I can’t imagine the degradations and baseless assumptions any other minority gets simply because of their color.
Why does this happen at all? As humans, of course we have biases and preferences, but where do Americans, does anyone, get the authority to judge, generalize, exploit, discriminate, or hate simply because, as my husband pointed out “they were geographically situated in a place where their bodies received more melanin than another?” We are certainly not the land of the free. As long as minority groups, especially blacks, are deprived of simple freedoms of wearing hoodies, going jogging, sleeping in their own beds, no one in our country should feel free. We won’t understand their experience, but we should empathize and empower them out of the shackles of discrimination that racism impresses. Home of the brave? Brave doesn’t consist of cowards in powerful positions. administering tear gas, chokeholds, asphyxiation against innocent people without so much as a credible threat or probable cause. Brave is standing up against your good old boys network to do what’s right, to unequivocally stand up for intolerance, to mediate and avoid a senseless death.
It took the innocent and horrific death of George Floyd to fuel the Black Lives Movement into something global, something that finally resonated with people who have been silent or indifferent for too long. It’s facilitated conversations and driven campaigns for education, support and awareness that is not only permeating the civic world, but is finally being demanded at a corporate level as well.
I’m proud of the people who are actively looking to change this system of ignorance, hate and indifference. We can accept that there are people who may not understand the experience, but are willing to learn and participate in the conversation. We can actively call our legislators, make our voices heard, and vote to elect new representation. As parents, we can drive these conversations at home and teach our children how to love inclusively, not hate absolutely. This is the momentum we need to drive this spirit forward. This is the spark we need to ignite for the flame of education and awareness. This is what will redefine the perspective of our country. This is what will make America great again.
