The deadly pandemic of COVID-19 and the systemic problems of humanity like racism and white supremacy have forced us to reflect more deeply on the society in which we live. Some abused freedom with an assertion that their freedoms are taken away by wearing masks. Thus, they started to not wear masks which eventually brought negative consequences to many individuals and to our entire nation. The tragic deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and more by police brutality and white supremacy have surfaced the injustice that people with color face everyday. They have been deprived of their freedom and equality. Thus, by exposing the blindspot of racism, these incidents of injustice fueled people around the globe to march, protest, and riot.
Perhaps, we can deeply reflect on freedom. It is ours to claim. We should recognize the discrepancy between the Declaration of Independence and the current state of American society. It was written to apply mainly to white men, but its ideals can and should apply to everyone. We need a re-Declaration of Independence. It is our responsibility to work toward a Declaration of Independence from Racism.
Roxane Gay, an opinion contributor for the New York Times, once said that “The rest of the world yearns for getting back to normal life. For black people, normal is the very thing from which we yearn to be free.” The same is true for so many others who were not part of the Declaration of Independence. What will you do to create freedom for all?
Share your thoughts about the Declaration of Independence, your thoughts after reading this blog post, and share your ideas about how to advance freedom of any kind.