As America dey celebrate 250 years of independence, pipo all over di kontri dey yarn about wetin dis big birthday mean to dem. From Wisconsin to Texas, celebrations dey diverse like di kontri itself.
For Cuba City, Wisconsin, Donna Rogers dey show off di presidential lampposts wey don dey since 1976. She talk say di signing of Declaration of Independence and abolition of slavery dey top her list, plus women voting right. Di town dey hold parade and mac-and-cheese festival, because she google say dat na one of di founding fathers favorite foods.
For Atlanta, Georgia, young Ella Hummel win di civics bee champion. Her grandmother, Peggy Farmer, remember di bicentennial in 1976 but feel say dis year get different energy. She talk say, ‘It’s a togetherness thing wey no dey around all di time now.’
Rodney Ellis, county commissioner from Houston, Texas, don serve 43 years in public office. He dey guardedly optimistic about America future. He talk say patriotism na to tell di truth and repair harms wey don happen over 250 years. He compare 1976, wen only 18 Black representatives dey Congress, to today wen dem be 67. But he also note say some gains don roll back quick.
Gissell Vera, a young woman for Milwaukee, dey proud to be both American and Mexican. She go celebrate with carne asada cookout. She talk say she use to feel like ‘ni de aquí ni de allá’ but now she proud to say she dey from here and there.
Historian Megan Kate Nelson write new book ‘The Westerners’ to challenge di frontier myth. She include stories of Polly Bemis, wey dem traffic from China, and Sacagawea, wey shout at William Clark to take her see ocean.
For Bristol, Rhode Island, dem dey hold di oldest Independence Day celebration for kontri. Heidi Vermilyea dey run di souvenir truck for di parade. She talk say patriotism na just loving your community and helping make am better.
Mitchell S. Jackson, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, remember how im mama dey buy am red, white, and blue outfit for Fourth of July as pikin. But as e grow, e learn about slavery and racism. After im lose im voting right due to conviction, e say di 250th na false number because true freedom only go back 160 years to 14th amendment. E talk say if you love America, you gotta tell di truth about am.
