“America. God bless you if it’s good to ya, America please take my hand… won’t you help me underst-“

If there were ever a time to not give a shit about the 4^th of July it’s now. Aside from being a basically bullshit holiday that celebrates colonial freedom and the lies that they tell ju, but dismisses the fact that the people living in those colonies were still not free; and now that we have a circus peanut (not the nutritional delicious snack, the gross orange candy nobody likes) running our country it feels like the perfect opportunity to basically not care the least bit. Or, be so bold to say fuck American patriotism. Although given the current circumstances, that may not be so bold.

While in no way shape or form should you veto your plans for enjoying the day off, barbecues, backyard shenanigans, and overall debauchery, it’s imperative to not ignore the fact that we live in a country that is so far from “great.” The very documentation constructed by [white] Americans for [white] Americans and brings forward this nationalist holiday is a direct assault to [non-white] American well-being. It’s rough out here y’all, and while I’m all about sparklers and bright exploding things, let us also take a moment to reflect, reconstruct, and mourn not only the loss of our brilliantly black president as well as all the black and brown lives we’ve lost; and continue to lose behind bars and otherwise. If there’s anything we should be celebrating it’s the diversity that does make our country great, the communities we are continuing to build and the sacrifices/strides people of color have made in efforts of betterment.

If there’s anything we know throughout history it’s that it has a tendency to repeat itself, and if we educate ourselves and each other we can change our future outcome drastically. This year on Independence day be accountable, be assertive, make yourself a priority and address/tend to your own personal needs towards independence, and do it with friends and loved ones if you so decide. Live in the truth that we are collectively in this shit storm together; and we can power through it together. Be great America! With all that being said, I now present to you some embodiment of strong, fortified, fabulous and unapologetically BLACK Americans… enjoy!

 

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Photos Via: Cachet Retsos ft Destiny Williams, Bia Barnett, David Carter, and Kaylan Massey