What It Means To Be An American Essay

Every year, the Fourth of July is celebrated as the day that the Declaration of Independence was created, and that the United States of America was formed, thus its citizens were no longer subjected to the Kingdom of Great Britain and free of the British rule. So, what is an American? What does it mean to be an American? First and foremost, some may say, an American has the right to speak their mind, which is freedom of speech. This freedom helps those individuals serve this country, as Americans stand up for what is right and just. Thus, expressing one’s opinion is a big part of being an American. Some may say that to be an American means to be free, as it boasts about having the freedom of religion, rights, and justice. To be considered an

These statements are bold, and on the surface exhibit a sense of ubiquity that should not only exist in America, but commonplace worldwide. Sadly, as one begins to look beyond the surface, that story is not so simple, as America’s history of racial and ethnic exclusions have challenged the universal stance; for being an American has also meant some of its citizens unwillingness to share a national culture, one that is largely diverse in racial, ethnic, and religious terms. The fact that Americans can and do have more than one language, religion, and ethnic background seems to be unsettling for many. Race and ethnicity are the most common and urgent issues that have plagued America since its inception. The idea of superiority simply because of one’s skin color or religious beliefs contradicts everything that is stated in the founding documents of this country. Without going into extreme depth and stating the well-known obvious; (Slavery, Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Movement, etc.), lets fast forward a bit into the 21st century pre and post 9/11. A place where this country is far removed from the distant 1960’s, but not so far as to allow one to lose visibility of the stain of racial inequity that has imbedded itself into the fabric of the American flag and permeated the Justice system along with its