First, great article. Inspiring and thought-provoking.
I would argue that the 4th of July does not “celebrate a holiday that celebrates the continued oppression of a group of people who were wrongly deemed as inferior?” This is not what it celebrates, especially in the minds of people who just like to watch colorful exploding lights or get drunk at a picnic. This is not the intent at all of the holiday, and to say that it is is a conflation of two separate issues: 1. The holiday is a celebration of freedom exclusive of peoples of color and immigrants, etc., and 2. The fact that Black people were not included under the umbrella of freedom, equality, and so on, outlined in our supposedly advanced civilization and government. And, due to systemic racism, Black people are still not recognized as equal and are still marginalized and abused. Our American way of life was built on ideas and documents that were, and are, clearly racist.
The way I see it, we are so out of balance that we must take small steps to right the ship. When you say that people propose the question“Why do Black people get all these holidays?” it is a sign that there is no understanding or acceptance of the racism that still exists in this nation and the laws that were written without peoples of color in mind (as well as to exclude these peoples).
On another note, it’s bothersome that the word “myth” is used interchangeably with “lie.” To quote Joseph Campbell, “A myth is not a lie.” A myth is a story designed to turn one’s attention inward in order to achieve transcendence. It has nothing to do with lying or fabricating a new type of truth. Thus, “blackwashing” is not a myth, rather, it is as you suggest, a deflection or thinly veiled racism.
I like that you use the word “some” in your sentence “Some White people fear that Black holidays and education around Black people solely exist to demonize White people.” Of course, not all white people think the same, nor are all white people racist. We should specify what types of people hold such base ideas.
Leaving race out of the conversation for a moment, it seems to me that human beings have a tendency to make unfair comparisons and to homogenize holidays that are not alike. They do this because they are afraid of differences. People fear “the other” so they want to make everything similar or the same. For example, the Jewish holiday of Hanukah in America is all about giving presents and being festive, just like Christmas; yet the holidays are completely different in every respect. Hanukah began as a celebration of a victory over oppressors, and Christmas is a celebration of a man believed to have saved humanity from original sin. Completely different holidays yet celebrated as if there are few differences. Similarly, to your point, The 4th of July is being lumped together with Juneteenth. Does it make sense? No, of course not. But this is what people do when their minds are not open enough to appreciate differences. So in this case, lumping together the two holidays may speak more to ignorance and human nature than racism. But then there is also racism; perhaps racist ideas that refuse to recognize the importance of the Black voice and equality in America.
I have heard many people claim that this is a Christian nation or that immigrants need to learn “our” language and “our ways.” Again, this is human nature, because it is without logic and there is a strong desire to blend everything together to eliminate a sense of “the other.” But because people are very conflicted, at the same time they continue to create and perpetuate “the other” by way of racist ideas. The United States was built upon the backs of Black slaves as well as immigrants without a commonality of cultures, language, religion, or appearances. So who is this “we” and “our”? We people who are minorities (which is now collectively the majority) must change the narrative and make the “we” about everyone so we can stop feeling like we must conform with rules and ideas created by racist and privileged minds.
Racism is an artifact of a fearful mind. We, as Americans, cannot expect or rely upon our government or institutions to turn the ship around. So we have to teach the next generations to accept people as human beings and look past appearances and culture. Then, hopefully, when this next generation comes of age it can get rid of the absurd and racist underpinnings of this nation instead of constantly and ignorantly claiming that America is Number 1 with the best system in the world while promoting a racist, misogynistic, antisemitic, anti Latino, anti-gay, etc. agenda.
America is still asleep and needs to wake up, but we’re not going to get any help from the Jim Jordans, Donald Trumps, or Marjorie Taylor Greenes of this nation. If we can learn at least one thing from President Obama, it’s that grassroots is our only hope for change.
