Freedom in the “Land of the Free”

“I wonder how Beautiful America would be without the scar tissue of genocide, slavery, and the lie of White supremacy.” William Hurt

 

Every year on July 4th, Americans celebrate their independence, but not all Americans view this day in the same way. Freedom from the British did not free African people from slavery; it only benefited white Americans who sought such freedom and independence for themselves. Nearly a century later, the end of the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation marked a pivotal moment when Black Americans were supposedly granted their independence. However, there’s no independence without freedom from racism and white supremacy. 

What does it mean to be free? Freedom can be framed within the context of quality of life. 

Quality of life refers to an individual’s overall well-being and satisfaction with their life, encompassing physical and mental health, social connections, and environmental factors (housing, safety, access to resources, etc.). Quality of life is akin to the inalienable rights of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” as mentioned in the Declaration of Independence.  

 

Historically, enslavement, Black Codes, Jim Crow, and other race-based forms of oppression threatened the quality of life for Black people in the United States. For Black Americans, freedom and independence encompass the ability to exercise basic human rights, build strong communities, and participate fully in society without the constraints of systemic racism and inequality. Ultimately, to achieve independence, Black people will need to secure, improve, and protect their quality of life through social and economic justice. Centuries of struggle for Black liberation have proven that freedom won’t be given freely. 

 

Framing freedom through the lens of quality of life elevates the conversation beyond human rights and focuses on what we’re struggling for. Thus, “freedom” is having and receiving human respect, being treated with dignity, and living with a quality of life that white Americans seek solely for themselves. It’s a simple maxim – what you want for yourself, you should want for others. Functioning in this manner will ensure freedom for all, and America can fulfill its promise as the “land of the free.”