For as patriotic as so many of us in the United States have (re)affirmed ourselves to be (as of late), I found it rather interesting when chatting it up with my Target cashier this morning how not only was she not scheduled to get off from work early today, but that the store would remain open until 11pm, as per usual. You know, because nothing says indebted patriot quite like…capitalism.
But those 4th of July 50% off sales and BOGO deals at your favorite retailer aside, the supposition of freedom and independence has always been an ideology engrained within the very fabric of mankind and a notion worth both fighting for and celebrating.
And while for some, the concept of liberty has been exclusionary and not necessarily presented as a one-size-fits-all garment constructed to accommodate the diverse sizes and body types of those seeking only the perfect fit of freedom, it should still be generously offered and benevolently afforded to every single individual attempting to better themselves while also endeavoring to enrich the environment around them.
As a person of color in this here Union however, whether followed around in Saks, asked about my enunciation in relation to assumptions about my ethnicity or having to explain that my hue does not give me license to speak on behalf of the entire diaspora at-large, I can attest to feeling that sort of exclusion.
The same is true in accordance with gender.
As a woman, I’ve often been reminded that the decisions I make should come complete with an asterisk until such time as some man had corroborated my theory.
And don’t get me started on my professional pursuits.
As a business owner, I am sometimes told that I’d be better served by bouncing ideas off of more “experienced” business persons only to hear those same concepts repackaged as someone else’s original thought.
In seeking independence however, I’ve discovered my own authentic voice; one full of creativity, insight and open-mindedness.
Oh, that we could all experience such liberation and genuinely want the same for others.
