This year the 4th of July has been a bit of a paradox for me. If I’m being entirely honest, I don’t think my family and I have ever really “celebrated” the Fourth. We’ve celebrated seeing family and friends, little festivals, fireworks, parades, good food, pool time, and summer.

We never really celebrated “America.”

This year though, I find it even harder to celebrate the aspect of “The Land of the Free.”

Now, please, before you begin to get riled up that I am not thankful, I am. I have family members who are in law enforcement locally, I am so thankful that they protect and serve their communities. I have family members who have been in the military and I am so thankful they have fought for freedom. I am incredibly grateful to live in America and I am so thankful to all of those who have served, do serve, and will serve.

But, I still have conflicting feelings. And I think that is just fine and safe, because it means I am human. It means that I am willing to ask questions about what is going on. It means I am willing to look deep inside myself, and my ideas of what freedom really looks like.

Do I believe my family members who are in law enforcement would never shoot someone unnecessarily? I pray that they won’t.

Do I believe that my family members who served would ever hurt one of their own? I pray that they wouldn’t.

Am I thankful for their sacrifice and the thousands of others who, in the past, have gone on the front lines and protected America and others from harm? 100000% Yes.

But this year, I cannot in good conscience, say “Happy 4th”, “Happy Freedom”, “Happy America Day” because the country that I was born into does not feel free. The country that I was born into does not feel safe. The country that I was born into had idealized oppression.

This country is one that is focusing on hate rather than love. This current leader is using his platform to create a dialogue of hatred, bullying, bigotry, and perversion.

This is not a land where all are free. This is a land where if your skin tone is not white, you are oppressed and stereotyped. This is a land where if you love someone of the same sex, there is a target on your back and you do not have the same rights as someone who is straight. This is a land where if you are slightly different or disagree with norm, you are ostracized.

Did you know that genetics show there is a .001% difference in literally every human being? That is it! And while we pride ourselves on our differences and yet we point fingers at someone who is different than ourselves and say “you’re wrong.”

This is not freedom, though some will say it is because we are free to say so.

There isn’t freedom for everyone.

When the day comes that those of every skin color are treated equally, when men and women are equal, when all human rights are equal, when everyone is treated justly and fairly, when marriage is equal, pay is equal, housing is equal, healthcare is equal, justice is equal; all are equal, then and only then, will I celebrate our full freedom.

I’ll celebrate each freedom win as they come from the courthouses. I’ll celebrate the small ones and the large ones.

One day, I pray, we all will be equal. There will be no more oppression nor fear of living as you truly are. I pray that I will get to see that day.

Until then, thank you for those who have so bravely fought for the freedom we currently have and thank you to those who are fighting for the freedom we all deserve.

In the meantime, Happy July

Please Note

The heart behind every blog that I write is to share some little bit of light. This blog is no exception. The light I am praying comes across in my words is the fire that is burning inside me and many others that is a want for change. This is not a bashing post about all that is happening in the world. This is a call to action. Which I hope and pray you are listening to, educating yourself about, unlearning and relearning.

In an effort to encourage…

In an effort to encourage the continuation of the amazing movements that are currently happening, I will be sending free copies of my book, Wandering 20’s, to anyone who donates to:

Black Lives Matter

The Bail Project

ACLU

Justice for Breonna Taylor’s GoFundMe

The Trevor Project

Domestic Violence Network

All I ask is that you send me a receipt of your donation (preferably $15 or more) with your address and name and I will send you a copy of my book signed!

Thank you!!