AMERICANA

by Heike Boehnke-Sharp

Today, returning from an early 4th of July picnic, I conjured my very own meaning for Independence Day.

We all have a different reason to acknowledge this date: history, family reunions, day off, fireworks, or just really good sales going on. How many of us really celebrate the independence this day represents? Many of you may be like me and improvise!

We drove 2 hours one way today to join a 4th of July Picnic Family Reunion for the third time, and we are not even remotely related to anyone there. This very large family, that we found by a quirk, adopted, and that has welcomed us into their midst, is what America is all about. All shades of skin, ages 0-102, all walks of life, successful and not, policeman, professors, celebrities, and everything in between. Everyone brings friends; everyone brings food to share. The children are greeted and hugged, and so are we adults. Before we eat, we hold hands, bless the food and the people there, and thank God that we are there again this year together. Now I am not a religious person at all, but this blessing has a deep meaning to me. Here my daughter learns the respect we give to the elders, listening to their speeches before the blessing, helping them get their food before anyone else eats, sitting with them and sponging up their knowledge and experience. Here, my daughter plays freely with other black, white and bi-racial children, and no sees their color, but how beautiful and innocent they are. My daughter experiences the African American side of her heritage here, since my husband’s family lives far away.

As she grows, my daughter will also learn my interpretation of Independence Day. We live in a country that has a history of racial tension. Her grandmother lived next to the Kings in Montgomery, AL, and was part of the bus boycott. Sadly, Grandma Hatti will not be able to tell her stories as she did to me anymore. My husband and I will ensure that our daughter knows of her strong heritage, and what sacrifices were made so that we can be the family we are today. At the picnic, there are many other bi-racial families, a few of the older generations still have stories of hate, terror and discrimination to tell, but smile a proud smile upon us and our children.

My daughter will also learn that we are lucky to live in a country where we can choose. We can choose our education and how we educate our children, we can choose our work, our religion, our way of life, our destiny. Of course, too many choices often bring confusion, and sometimes destruction, but we are responsible. I am in awe of people who have built an empire out of nothing but a good idea and hard work. Where else can you do that? I can choose to work from home, own a business, go back to school after 30, be a writer, be a photographer…etc, etc. My daughter will have those same choices. 

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