Happy Birthday, America.
Birthdays can be fun, joyful celebrations and they can also be reminders of past losses, traumas and disappointments. The 4 th of July, the birthday of the United States, is no different. America the Beautiful has been a refuge for millions, a place where shattered lives can begin to heal and find purpose again. America the Beautiful is also the country that gave White people the right to own Black people, to strip them of their names and heritage. It’s the country that wouldn’t allow Black children to attend the same schools as White children until 1954. And it’s the country where descendants of those people are still living with prejudice and inequities. Just as my love for those who are dear to me is sometimes threaded through with hurt and disappointment and confusion, so is my love for America. When I sing...