For over two centuries, America has been a shining symbol of Democracy that offers the promise of the American Dream to all. As our nation turned 250 there were celebrations of freedom, fireworks displays, seas of red, white and blue, and stories of our country being the land of freedom and promise– all while the lived experiences of Americans that have been pushed into the margins scream otherwise.
As we reflect on the ways that the promise of America looks different from its reality for many of us, we have centuries of history to look back at and learn from as we decide what type of nation we want to be.
Will we choose to finally live up to our ideals and create a society that truly includes all people and lifts from the bottom up so everyone can thrive? Or, will we continue to allow capitalism, racism and classism to drive us deeper into a divided society where the American Dream only exists for the privileged few at the expense of the masses?
We asked community members what this anniversary means to them and how it feels to be American at this moment in time.
Read more on our substack post.
