As America commemorates 250 years of independence, the celebration raises complex questions about the nation’s past. For many, including writer Mitchell S. Jackson, this milestone is a time to reflect on both the progress and the paradoxes embedded in the country’s history.
Reflecting on Independence Day
On this historic weekend, as the nation marks its 250th year since declaring independence, it is vital to remember that freedom was not extended to all. Approximately 20% of the population remained enslaved at the time. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Mitchell S. Jackson, a descendant of those enslaved individuals, contemplates how to honor this day. Deena Prichep reports from Jackson’s hometown, Portland, Oregon.
Some of Jackson’s cherished memories involve celebrating the Fourth of July during his childhood.
MITCHELL S. JACKSON: “My mother would always buy me an outfit that had a red, white and blue color scheme. And it was joyous, you know, to don those colors.”
Despite the joyful gatherings and festivities, Jackson’s understanding of America evolved as he learned more about its history, including Oregon’s constitution, which once prohibited Black people from living there.
JACKSON: “Oregon’s founding principles are, we don’t want you here. So how could you celebrate this without acknowledging that paradox?”
Understanding Historical Paradoxes
Jackson’s life experiences underscore these contradictions. While staying at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, near the bookstore where he first read from his novel about his family’s struggles, he was reminded of his past. At 21, Jackson faced charges for distributing crack cocaine and possessing an illegal firearm, resulting in over a year of imprisonment.
JACKSON: “I lost my right to vote before I was – I ever voted, before it ever dawned on me that my suffrage was important. And I would say that that is an American project, that a young Black boy loses his right to vote.”
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) highlights that Black Americans are incarcerated at nearly five times the rate of white Americans. In some states, over 10% of the Black population is disenfranchised due to these disparities.
JACKSON: “So when I hear 250, I know that that’s a false number, right?”
Jackson argues that genuine freedom celebrations could only begin after the 14th Amendment, which granted equal protection under the law, or even after the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act of the 1960s.
Critically Engaging with America’s History
JACKSON: “How can we count 250? It’s almost hostile to a Black American to be forced to celebrate this mythology. But I don’t know another place.”
Jackson acknowledges America as his home and spent the Fourth of July in Montgomery, Alabama, at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, which honors lynching victims.
JACKSON: “If you love something, you’re also critical of it. You don’t just love it blindly, or I hope you don’t just love it blindly. So if you truly love America, then you got to tell the truth about America.”
Jackson encourages learning America’s history by reading the Declaration of Independence and Frederick Douglass’ “What To The Slave Is The Fourth Of July,” quoting:
JACKSON: “The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence bequeathed by your fathers is shared by you, not by me. The Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice. I must mourn.”
For Jackson, understanding America’s past is a communal effort. It involves recognizing who Americans have been and envisioning what they hope to become.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
