Are we the land of the free? Think about who actually enjoys freedom in our American systems. We are the home of the brave, the brave resistors, rabble-rousers, protestors, activists, advocates.
Independence Day has long been my favorite holiday. I always said my family should send July 4th cards instead of holiday cards, but the relaxed tempo of summer made me too slow to act so the gesture never came to fruition. As an immigrant to this country, I felt that Independence Day celebrated our Americanness, and there were no pressures of gift-giving, recipe traditions, family dynamics, or hostessing stress. Our family has always hosted a festive Fourth of July party that represented the tapestry of the ideal of America I had in my heart. We entertained friends from small midwestern towns, metropolises, nations in the developing world, immigrants, students, doctors, school teachers, public servants, small business owners, and more. The tablescape itself represented our own unique heritages from ham rolls to samosas and peach pies to watermelon lassis. We paused last year for covid, and truth be told, the nature of the day gave me pause. Alas, I did hang my bunting and peppered the pansy pots with little flags tipped with gold finials. It was my small act of naive hope.
I had hope then that our reckoning would lead to justice.
Yet here we are, more than a year since the marches and speeches and black boxes of Instagram, and America is worse for the wear. Allies shrunk to performative gestures and even less, unwilling to give up an iota of privilege. People in power sway to the sirens of politics rather than bend to the glory of doing good. Once again, we see white supremacy and the patriarchy pour themselves into the throats of leaders who get drunk off this nectar that tastes vile to anyone who is not in the dominant caste. The worst among these are those who slither to protect their proximity to power. It’s sickening to behold. All of these people will stand erect to honor our flag on this day of independence, no thought given to what freedom really means. These are not people interested in history or truth; white truth-telling values privilege above all, so make no mistake, this ilk crosses party lines. Someone recently said to me, “I’m not racist. I’m a Democrat.” And I laughed and laughed and laughed.
This year, my Independence Day decorations are still sealed in their attic boxes, nary a flag in sight. I shan’t be donning red, white, and blue. My annual Spotify playlist goes untapped. There are no themed treats or sparklers. Today stands as July 4, the day between the 3rd and the 5th. Part of me wants to reclaim the flag. I want to trim my home in red, white, and blue alongside the peace pole and Black Lives Matter message permanently drawn on my driveway. I want to redefine patriotism to usurp what the traitorous right has falsely claimed. I want to demonstrate the best of the idealism of what America could and should be. To be American does not mean to be white.
I want to say, I am an American, dammit.
Freedom comes with flaws, and to be American means to identify said flaws in our country, dismantle systems, and rebuild with a generous spirit to stamp out oppression in all its forms. This Fourth of July, we’ll enjoy backyard burgers on an unusually temperate summer day in North Carolina with friends who fight for justice, immigrants, first-generation Americans, and citizens alike.
Let the fireworks of the day ignite a sense of justice to all we do. Let’s examine our own biases and wear a lens of anti-racism in all our decision-making, actions, and hiring practices. We must all consider how we uphold oppression and how we have a hand, nay, a duty, in dismantling it. Do not be swayed by the grandeur of the day and the obscene display of fireworks (I grapple with this because I admittedly love fireworks, audibly oohing and aahing, but the impact on our environment is not worth it.). Those in power will manipulate this day through a string of platitudes, but we must remain fierce. Independence Day should be a day to celebrate freedom from oppression for all. We are not there yet, so stay strong. Keep fighting to uncover hidden history and to be on the right side of history.