Blacks have long been stereotyped as un-American, anti-establishment outsiders. The assumption has been that Blacks don’t care about America or its symbols, like the Flag and National Anthem.
If you believe the media, you might think that Blacks are ungrateful immigrants who don’t understand what it means to be an American. In fact, in a survey conducted by The New York Times and CBS in 2011, only 42% of respondents felt Blacks were as patriotic as any other group.
But is this perception accurate? Or is it merely another example of a White American majority viewing Black Americans through the prism of negative stereotypes? Are Blacks unpatriotic?
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What does patriotism mean?
In its most basic sense, patriotism is a love of your country and its people. It’s a feeling that you have for the place where you live. You may feel patriotic when you see a large flag and hear an anthem, or when someone mentions how great your home country is. Patriotism can also be a way to show loyalty to your country by wearing a red-white and-blue outfit or painting the flag on your car.
Patriotism can take many forms, but it’s always important to remember that it means something different to everyone.
Blacks And The Flag
We cannot talk about patriotism without discussing the red-white-and-blue. The American flag is one of the most important symbols in U.S. history. It has flown over every state and territory since 1777. It represents unity, democracy, and freedom to millions of Americans.
I can remember my first experience with the American Flag. It was first grade and Mrs. McDonald was my teacher. Our daily routine would start with the “Star Spangled Banner” playing on the intercom system, after which we would all stand, place our right hand over our heart, and recite the Pledge of Allegiance in unison facing the flag.
When I reached high school, I realized that we did not have an American flag at home. We did not even have a picture of one.On the other hand, the white students had the flag displayed in many different ways. Some wore it on their clothing. While others had it on their pickup trucks. I thought that was interesting. Why did Whites display the flag and not Blacks? I can remember naïvely thinking: maybe Black people didn’t fight in the military and that’s why we didn’t display the flag. I was sadly wrong.
Blacks and the Military
Black people have been involved in the military since its inception. In the colonial period, black units were established to fight in the wars against Native Americans. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, blacks were recruited as soldiers by some Southern states to fight against secessionist organizations like the Ku Klux Klan. During World War I and World War II, they served as laborers and drill instructors in segregated units. In World War II, they were known as “Double V” units because they served in both combat roles and non-combat support roles. After the war, black veterans continued to serve in segregated units until being integrated into regular Army formations following the passage of the 1948 GI Bill of Rights.
Black people were also recruited to serve as pilots and mechanics during World War II and the Korean War. During Vietnam, black recruits made up about a quarter of all U.S. military personnel, whereas their representation in the Marine Corps was over 60 percent. They also served in high-risk positions such as special operations forces (SOF). Black SOF operators played a key role in several wars including Panama, Grenada, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
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What’s The Verdict?
Are Blacks unpatriotic? Our relationship status with America is complicated. Although we fought in wars and served in the military, we did it for a country that believed we weren’t fully human.
I contend that we are patriotic, but not in the same way that white people are. In America, we have a very different experience.
Our forefathers picked cotton and built the America that many, including myself, have come to love. When you care about someone, you correct them when they are incorrect.
I am here to call on America to right the wrongs she has done to Black people. That is why I do not fly a flag or recite the pledge of allegiance. Doing so reminds me that I was not on the minds of the founding fathers when America was established.
Is that considered unpatriotic? No way, no how; on the contrary, it makes me even more patriotic. Because I adore this country, I am holding her responsible for the enslavement of Black people, Jim Crow, and systematic racism.I admit, I in no way can speak for all Black Americans. However, just think for a moment. How many Black people do you know sport a flag on a t-shirt or have a flag bumper sticker? How many Blacks do you know get excited about the Fourth of July?
According to a poll released in 2020 by The New York Times and Siena College, only one quarter of Black voters are “proud” of the state of America at that time, compared to nearly half of whites. More than six in ten Black voters said they were “optimistic” about the state of the country. More than eight out of ten Black voters said they were “exhausted.”
On the other hand, I believe that America will one day right the wrongs she has committed. That means prosecuting police that kill unarmed Black people. As well as, stop rezoning voting districts to keep the black vote from making an impact.
Until that day arrives, I will protest silently by not publicly expressing my love for this country. But that doesn’t mean I don’t adore the United States. It means I have to wait until she gets a few more things right before I can feel the same pride in America that many White people do.
Fredrick Douglas said summed up the matter best in a speech on July 5, 1852: “This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.”
About Brandon
I am a filmmaker, CEO, musician, and writer who uses this space to develop my writing skills. I welcome feedback. Enjoy.
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