Freedom has always been at the core of the American identity—an ideal etched into our founding documents, echoed in our songs, and carried like a banner through generations of struggle and change. But today, that word—freedom—feels more like a question than an answer.
In the U.S., we’re facing a deep and painful paradox: we celebrate liberty while many in our society still face systemic oppression, violence, censorship, or economic chains. We speak of choice, but not all choices are equally available. We speak of justice, but not all receive it. The gap between the ideal of freedom and the lived reality for many people—especially women, Black, Brown, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, immigrant, disabled, and low-income communities—remains wide.
What does freedom mean to me?
To me, freedom means the ability to live with dignity.
To love who you love.
To speak your truth without fear.
To be safe in your body and your skin. To have choices—about your work, your healthcare, your education, your family.
Freedom is not just the absence of chains; it's the presence of opportunity, respect, and community.
How can we feel free when not everyone is free?
This is the hard part. We can’t truly feel free when others are in bondage—literal or metaphorical. Our liberation is tied together. That awareness can be heavy, but it’s also a source of power. It means we’re not alone. It means that to fight for our own wholeness is to fight for the wholeness of others, too.
But it also means we must be willing to hold discomfort. To feel the tension of celebrating what is good, while not ignoring what is broken. To grieve and hope at the same time.
So what can we do—right now—to stay grounded in truth, without losing our sense of possibility?
Tell the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. Don’t bypass what’s wrong. Learn, listen, speak out. Silence can be a form of complicity.
Stay connected. Isolation breeds despair. Join community—whether it’s through activism, mutual aid, art, or conversation. There is strength in togetherness.
Take action, even small ones. Freedom isn’t just a feeling—it’s a practice. Vote, protest, volunteer, donate, educate, support. Action restores agency.
Hold joy as resistance. Joy is not frivolous—it’s fuel. In a world that wants some people to disappear, to thrive is an act of defiance.
Stay humble and hopeful. We’re not going to fix everything overnight. But we can move forward. Healing is possible. Justice is possible. It’s not naïve to believe in a better world—it’s necessary.
Freedom is not finished. It’s a process, a project, a collective journey. And if we walk it together—with open eyes, open hearts, and the courage to face what is—we just might get there.
I love you
D xo