No really, what does it mean?
Because in 1776, it meant this country was released from England's oppressive reign and white men could run the United States as they saw fit. It meant that the government of America would be free to oppress its own people in the hundreds of years to come.
Freedom was granted to the white men who had power in this country to make the rules. But how about freedom for the slaves who fought in the war as well? Who weren't even considered citizens of the U.S. and weren't even considered human? How about for the women who, without their help in supplying troops, being nurses for wounded soldiers, and spying and disguising themselves as men to aid in the war, far more men would likely have died? Let's fast forward 244 years to the year 2020. Where is freedom for unjustly incarcerated Blacks and Latinx who are enslaved by prison systems? For people such as Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, Eric Garner, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery? Where is freedom for women to make choices they and only they should make regarding their bodies? For those who are LGBTQ+ to love and be who they want? For indigenous people to live without their land and culture being taken from them? How about the children ICE is detaining in cages, separated from their parents? These questions don't begin to challenge the surface of the many violations of what should be inalienable, natural rights. Thomas Jefferson couldn't have said it better… except he could have by including the natural rights of all men and women. Our Founding Fathers established this country on this basis of injustice and inequality from the start, fueled by a desire to stay rich and get richer off the backs of slaves and indigenous peoples.
But in the past few months, there has been a call to action against the injustices of racism, sexism, classism, homophobia—the list goes on. As we go into this day, the Fourth of July, we all have to question what it symbolizes. We have to continue to ask ourselves why we blindly celebrate a day that does not and has never truly been a day of observance of freedom in this country. What are you celebrating today? Because I know I cannot celebrate this day when Vanessa Guillen, a 20-year old U.S. Army soldier, was murdered for speaking up about being sexually assaulted by her sergeant.
What I'm trying to say is that freedom is a funny thing in this country. It's 2020 and while we are free in many aspects, we are caged and oppressed in a multitude of others. The rights that should be granted to us at birth are in jeopardy of being or have already been compromised. So if you choose, you can "celebrate" today by educating yourself, being a better ally, and speaking up in the face of injustice and prejudice. You can celebrate people of color who have always deserved to be celebrated. You can respect the culture, ways, beliefs, and preferences of others so long as those things do not violate another person's human rights. You can reflect on and question yourself and those around you; hold other people and yourself accountable. You can start trying to become the change our country and world are calling out for right at this moment.
Your hotdogs and fireworks can wait until every day is a celebration of freedom.
