I still remember my first Fourth of July in the United States. I’d just finished my first year of college. The country was new to me, my English was far from fluent, and I was dealing with my fair share of culture shock.
A friend invited me to a Fourth of July party and told me to wear something portraying the American flag. I didn’t even own anything with the Serbian flag. I settled on a red T-shirt and went to the party, where I remember feeling I didn’t belong. It wasn’t because of my non-American shirt; instead, I realized I didn’t share the same culture, upbringing, or language. It was a realization that no matter how hard I tried, I’d never know enough about United States history, culture, politics, and everything in between.
Ten years later and I’m still here. While I’m still aware of the challenges of being an immigrant in this country, I’ve learned that we’re all united by the power of our voices. The power of people. The power of democracy. On July 2 we celebrate the anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It’s a reminder that when people organize and fight hard, change can happen. While this was a big step forward for humanity, we still have a long way to go.
In celebration of democracy, History Colorado is proud to host a yearlong initiative, This Is What Democracy Looks Like, which will be as provocative as democracy itself. As part of the initiative, on July 8 Amber McReynolds joins us for the Bold Women. Change History. speaker series to tell us about pro-voting policies: why they’re critical and how Colorado is leading the way. Her talk is more timely than ever, as we grapple with how people can exercise their right to vote during a pandemic. We hope McReynolds’ talk will interest you in our This Is What Democracy Looks Like Speaker Series launching in August. The lineup is impressive and we’re truly excited about it.
This Fourth of July, while you’re safely celebrating with close friends and family, please remember the weight your voice carries. Remember the power of people. Remember the importance of democracy. Some of us will once again be reminded that we live in a country we weren’t born in. We’ll be reminded how far we are from our families. But we’ll also be reminded that no matter the challenges we face as a country, this is our home.
(This post was originally published in History Colorado’s Weekly Digest on July 4th)