Reimagining American
When posed with the question: what does it mean to be American? I gathered the cliff notes of my experiences: living in other countries, being bilingual, having dietary restrictions, being a part of a dominant religion, being a woman in the US, being a racial minority in the US, working in policing, having access to higher education and being a first generation scholar. It was difficult to isolate the most salient perspective that spoke most deeply to the living nuances of being U.S. American. And then I read the news on June 24, 2022.
After quite a bit of reflection, righteous tears and incremental rage, I’ve decided to be U.S. American, is to be innovative. In my opinion innovation is misunderstood. This glorious concept is usually married to positive connotation but that’s not what innovation truly is. To innovate is to alter or manipulate what is already established by adding something not previously considered. It does not carry a connotation therefore innovation can be for the betterment of society as a whole or for the elevation of a sentiment for a segment of the population. We live in a constant state of change, an experiment of democracy, a constant dance of balance. To be U.S. American is to adapt to the rhythm of today’s song. But what does it actually mean?
America: land of the free, home of the brave. Such a simple proclamation. One that is both ascribed and avowed. A phrase that feels far from the ground truth of the lived experiences of many. But consider, if this land is indeed one of freedom; what is the opportunity cost of adopting such a perspective? We imagine there is freedom to bring one’s ideas to fruition. We imagine, there is freedom to dream and hope, freedom to crawl out of your born circumstance into the life you have imagined for yourself and freedom to do the best you can with what you are able to secure for yourself. Most people believe their definition of the U.S. American freedom is shared by their peers, but the hard truth is my freedom is completely different from yours. Some folks’ freedom is policed in different ways than yours, some folks’ freedom is more caged than yours. Therefore in order to exercise freedom, we need a healthy dose of bravery. The bravery to live in your audacity among folks who not only obscure the vision but also next to some who actively try to destroy it. Unfortunately, we, as a nation, have had little education and practice in how to engage with those that disagree with our personal, professional or unpacked opinions, impressions, decisions and realities. The health of our nation depends on the exploration and hopefully the mastery of this skillset. And when we find ourselves in this position, ill-equipped for the challenge in front of us, that is precisely when we lean into innovation.
So, who do we want to be? This experiment of the United States has a history of operating outside the bounds of the ideal. We have been global masters of hypocritical rhetoric; projecting an idyllic image to others while behaving subpar at home. In order to close in on the gap between who we are and who we intend to be, we may want to reimagine what it means to be U.S. American.
Living this notion of democracy requires radical adoption of inclusive practices beginning with a reflection on how we got here. It requires a courageous effort to own the missteps of the past. In doing so we are able to understand the path ahead will be uncomfortable for all parties involved but with adequate preparation, we persist. We need to embrace the value of voice and understand the true power of collective action. To be U.S. American could be synonymous with the idea of persistent equity; the ability to continually aspire for equitable outcomes, across all measures of interest, in spite of segregated priorities. The effort it takes to be able to listen without judgment, to work collaboratively towards a mutual goal or to understand when it is appropriate to cede another's needs over one’s own, is what I want others to associate with the United States. To enter into the work with the ambition of honoring this label, would be the most innovative adaptation of our current brand.
How are you contributing to getting us there?