The Unending Struggle for Citizenship: A Call to Reassess Our Relationship with America
As we emerge from Black History Month, a sobering reality has come into focus: the history of African Americans as a kidnapped and enslaved people has led us to a crossroads. For centuries, we've been caught between two warring identities - being Black and American - and it's time to reassess our relationship with this nation.A Legacy of Exploitation
The wealth of former slaves has continued to be stolen, not just through labor, but also through land, homeownership, and intellectual theft. The rise of the U.S. as a global superpower would not have been possible without the free and damn-near free labor of Black people. This exploitation has left an indelible mark on our collective psyche, perpetuating systemic racism and inequality.
A History of Betrayal
From Crispus Attucks, the first casualty of the American Revolution, to the Buffalo Soldiers, the 365th Infantry Harlem Hellfighters, the Tuskegee Airmen, the 761st Tank 'Black Panthers' Battalion, and the 555th Parachute Infantry 'Triple Nickels', African Americans have demonstrated bravery with every act of U.S. military service. Yet, this has never guaranteed our citizenship or protected us from violence at the hands of those who claim to be our protectors.
A Culture of Resistance
In the face of racism and oppression, Black people have created their own communities, built thriving neighborhoods that often became targets of envy and racial violence. The destruction of Black Wall Street, Rosewood, Oscarville, Georgia, and St. Louis' Mill Creek Valley neighborhood are stark reminders of the consequences of our resilience.
A Future Uncertain
The 1619 Project has laid out our case in vivid and complicated ways. We have the receipts. Now it's time to determine our own future and residency based upon reality, rather than on empty promises and temporary rights enshrined in laws with expiration dates. The question remains: how long will African Americans be considered a problem?
As we move forward, it's essential to acknowledge the depth of our collective fatigue. We've played the citizenship game for far too long, only to have the goalposts moved and the bar raised. It's time to reassess our relationship with America and determine our own future, rather than relying on the whims of those who claim to be our protectors.
