As the United States of America celebrated itself on the Fourth of July with fireworks, cookouts, parades and mattress sales, it was hard not to reflect on the concept of citizenship and patriotism. What does it really mean for those who are not White, Christian, straight, male, able-bodied, wealthy? Sure, the narrative goes that the country was birthed in 1776 as a place where “all men are created equal” and people can enjoy “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Never mind that at that time, the majority of African Americans were enslaved, many Indigenous tribes had been driven off their land, Asians were treated as second-class citizens, much of the country was still part of Mexico, and women had very few rights separate from husbands or fathers.
People boast about living in the “best country in the world” where they enjoy freedoms that others don’t have. Freedoms that “forefathers” envisioned and ensured. And some of those same people, in the midst of their celebrations of exceptionalism, are quick to question immigrants (meaning anyone who’s not White), people of African descent (even if they’ve been in this country for eight generations or more) about their allegiance or right to claim this country as their own. Comments and questions including “Go back to your country” or “Where are you, your parents, your grandparents REALLY from?” are not far from their lips.
This is an experience lamented by a young Asian immigrant I recently encountered who had just become a naturalized citizen. He pondered what he could do to have people recognize him as a true citizen and patriot. His feeling that no matter what he does he’ll never be seen as a “real” American is not an unusual quandary. The idea that he needs to “prove” his Americanness is a feeling reserved for many who don’t fit some people’s ideas of who Americans are.
African Americans have never been considered citizens by some people, regardless of how long we’ve been in the country or how devoted we’ve been to it. Despite the fact that African Americans have fought in every war since even before this country was an independent nation, some still don’t consider us to be “real” Americans. Even though Crispus Attucks was the first person killed in the 1770 American Revolution, some don’t think African Americans are patriots or “real” citizens.
Millions of African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans and other people of color have died or been wounded fighting for this country between the War of 1812, Spanish-American War, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Vietnam War, Korean War, Gulf War and more. In fact, the Native American Code Talkers and African American Tuskegee Airmen were crucial contributors to winning World War II. Despite unwavering service and dedication to the country, these patriots of color still struggled to have their humanity seen by fellow citizens who enjoyed “freedom” they didn’t fight for. Many African American soldiers were attacked upon their return from combat, even while wearing their uniform.
It took several decades for these brave men to receive proper recognition for their service. In 2006, the Tuskegee Airmen were recognized with a Congressional Gold Medal. In 2008, Congress passed a Code Talkers Recognition Act. Despite these valiant accomplishments and sacrifices to fight for our country, some continue to espouse that everyone who’s not White “go back to their country” as if the United States can’t possibly be their country.
Obviously, contributions or shows of allegiance to the country are not relegated to military service. People of all ethnicities and religions have been involved in every aspect of building this country. Yet, the belief that some people of European descent have about being the only “true” Americans (despite the fact that Native Americans were here first) has created a social environment where everyone who doesn’t fit into a narrow category is viewed with suspicion and treated as trespassers and suspects in this country.
We’re living through a time when diversity, equity and inclusion programs are being eliminated. Affirmative action is viewed as “reverse discrimination” (against White people). Various books by and about people of color are considered “offensive” or “hurtful” (to White people) and therefore banned from schools and libraries. People of color and other marginalized groups (such as the LGBTQIA+ community) are deemed scary, indoctrinating, hurtful and unfairly prioritized, which makes some think that things need to be corrected to “normal.” Therefore, the majority of the country will be made invisible and silent. Contrary to their outsized vision of themselves, White men are in the minority at approximately 30 percent of the American population.
The message being sent, which is backed by laws enacted by the state, is that whomever is Black and Brown and migrant and poor and non-straight and non-Christian needs to be contained and controlled, and others need to be protected from us. Historically, that sentiment was reinforced by realities and policies that led to “sundown towns,” where people of color were not welcome after certain hours, or in some cases, ever. And even when there weren’t formal laws, the level of harassment and questioning encountered when people were in certain locations has always served as a reminder that most who were not White “don’t belong.”
So, if someone is a citizen of the United States, but is often treated as a trespasser in their own country, they might not feel uncomfortable pledging allegiance to a flag. They might not be enthusiastic about singing the national anthem with fervor for a country that wants to erase their existence. As basketball player and coach Doc Rivers said in 2020, “It’s amazing why we keep loving this country, and this country does not love us back.” People are expected to praise and revere the police and military of a country where those police or military frequently harass, occupy, or terrorize them.
For decades, and in some cases centuries, many who are marginalized have been on a nonstop quest to “prove” how they deserve equal treatment as citizens of what this country strives to be — a multiracial, multireligious, multiclass society. Yet, certain people scream that they’re going to take “their” country back, with the implication that the country doesn’t belong to anyone but them.
Based on the centuries of exclusion, marginalization, terrorism, intolerance, bigotry, and state-sanctioned violence, it seems almost impossible for some people to view anyone who is different from them as a “real American.” They won’t see it. It’s obvious that their mentality is that everything is all right only if it’s all White. Therefore, for many of us — like the young Asian immigrant I spoke with — it becomes necessary to not expend energy trying to prove anything and simply live our lives knowing that acceptance by those who refuse to see our humanity is not necessary for us to know we’re patriots.
