As we continue to grow in our understanding of our history and the impacts on everyone in our country, state and town, holidays like the Fourth of July, can become tricky to navigate. At WIDE we have been discussing the best way to celebrate holidays like the Fourth of July for the last several months. There are so many layers to the conversation. There are the beloved town traditions--especially the parade, the town swim, and cookout--which we all value. They bring us together as a town, they feel nostalgic even as they are happening, they are happy memories in the making.
But it is also important to remember that for many people in our country, state, and town, today does not feel like one of celebration. Despite the lofty words of the Declaration of Independence, its authors were hypocritical at best, asking for freedom while continuing to enslave other human beings. In the 2010s our town began reading the Declaration before the parade. We know that the intent of this was to honor history, but in doing so our community was also reading aloud racist characterizations of Indigenous individuals. Members of the community have fought hard to decrease the violence of the language that gets presented during the reading--omitting the sections of hate speech--while allowing those who see importance in the reading to retain the beneficial lessons from our history. It is time to look at more ways to balance the day. For example, a reading of The Meaning of the Fourth of July for the Negro by Frederick Douglas or finding ways to acknowledge the work that continues to be needed in order to bring us closer to achieving the goal written in the original language of the Declaration, whether or not it was the original intent of the drafters. We also would love to talk to other people in town who are working to think through these complex issues. We want to speak to people who have been involved in the town and its traditions, people who know and love the history, and those who are dedicated to opening up our celebrations to create real justice and a feeling of belonging for everyone. We'd love to hear from you. Contact us at [email protected]. WIDE Lincoln Abbey Salon Rachel Schachter Jessica Packineau Jena Salon Marika Hamilton Moha Desai
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