Who Is Free this 4th of July?

Have you ever closed your eyes and dreamt of freedom? If not, I encourage you to imagine your personal image of living completely free in your purpose and full humanity. A few weeks ago I gave myself the permission to reflect on what freedom would feel like in my own life. I journaled the following words that entered and occupied my spirit:

Slow the pace of your mind; still your movement. And, listen for the chattering of birds in the distance and if there are no birds you can hear, imagine them. The very birds who migrate freely from the branches of trees to windowsills. Wings wide through the clouds, soaring wherever, whenever; waking and resting on their internal clock aligned with movement of the sun and the illumination of the moon. Imagine for a moment that this is what freedom feels like. The freedom we, too, as humans were intended and find ourselves longing for.

I am not (yet) free as a bird. Are you? Further, I’d ask, “who is?” I’d gather most of us want freedom for our future. Yet…

Are the migrant children in detention centers and the immigrant and/or refugee children who are or who fear being separated from their families and caregivers?

Are trans children fighting for their right to exist?

Are the 12 million food insecure children living in this nation?

Are disabled children who do not have access and opportunity to education, free of discrimination and bias?

Are Muslim or Jewish children who experience religious persecution?

Are Black and Brown children who are more likely to be adulterized and/or sent to prison for petty crimes?

Are children, of all identities, living in homes where domestic violence exists and whose parent/family member is unable to leave because they cannot survive on government programs alone in order to get them on their feet financially in their time of strife?

Are girls, especially girls of color, who are most likely to be sexually harassed, assaulted, trafficked and exploited in this nation?

Are our boys and sons who grow up in a society that indoctrinates them in toxic masculinity and misogyny free to be their full selves?

Are LGBTQ and children of LGBTQ parents who as young people have to learn and navigate hatred, bias and discrimination in society?

Can we agree that too many children in our nation are not free?

I’d further argue that career professionals, those with golden handcuffs married to capitalism (which is tied to patriarchy, heterosexism and heteronormativity and racism, in particular) are expected by their employers to work longer hours with more responsibilities and less pay, too, are not free; and that women, especially, women of color, who have to work harder to be paid less than mediocre white men (see Oluo, 2020: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America) are not free.

Can we also agree our elders working full or part-time because they need health insurance or have inadequate financial savings are not free?

This, I know, is not an all-inclusive list. My point being that freedom is granted to so few in the land of the free. I do not resent those who have or feel they have freedom; I only ask that we be mindful of the privileges that have created the sense of freedom we have been bestowed; the freedom that has been intentionally denied to so many. I hope we recognize that for too many, freedom has yet to be actualized.

I am not naïve to think some readers might gasp when they read that my immediate family (my husband, sons and I) do not celebrate the 4th of July. I married an equally (or even more) critically conscious human. Some may find him cynical; I find him unapologetically educated on history, politics, and the historical and present-day harm of structural systems. All to be said, we jointly agree not to celebrate but partake in 4th of July festivities — a cookout, a parade and fireworks. As my husband states, “I have no emotional attachment to the holiday.” Please don’t get it twisted and immediately think we are not appreciative of our liberties here in the US. Simply, we honor the historical truth that on July 4th of 1776 not all men, women, children or people were created (and treated) equal in this nation and, still today, 245 years later, this truth remains.