Summary

The author reflects on their changing perception of America, from an idealized image of inclusivity and progress to a more complex reality marred by systemic racism and other societal issues, particularly highlighted by recent events.

Abstract

The author, who first learned about America as a child, initially saw it as a beacon of hope, inclusivity, and progress, symbolized by Barack Obama's presidency. However, the 2016 elections exposed the author to the realities of systemic racism, sexism, and other societal issues in America. The author was particularly disheartened by the withdrawal of America from multilateral agreements and the wavering of its leadership role in international summits. Recent events, such as the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, have further exposed the fault lines in American society. Despite these challenges, the author expresses hope in the resilience of the American spirit and the ongoing fight for equality.

Bullet points

The author first learned about America as a child and saw it as a role model for inclusivity and progress.
The author's perception of America was initially shaped by Barack Obama's presidency, which they saw as normal and not extraordinary.
The 2016 elections exposed the author to the realities of systemic racism, sexism, and other societal issues in America.
The author was disheartened by America's withdrawal from multilateral agreements and the wavering of its leadership role in international summits.
Recent events, such as the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, have further exposed the fault lines in American society.
Despite these challenges, the author expresses hope in the resilience of the American spirit and the ongoing fight for equality.

Dear America

An open letter to the American people

I first learned of America, the shining city on a hill, in 2008. When I was a child, my father told me that “Whoever is the President of the United States is the leader of the world.” Not just the free world, but the world.

In my adolescent mind, America was the role model that every country should aspire to be. To me, America was that kid that topped the class in every assignment, test, and exam. Everyone wanted to emulate America. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. What more could we possibly ask for?

For years, I never knew America was bogged down with systemic racism. How could I, when Barack Obama was President for eight of the twelve years that I have known of a place called America? I grew up seeing a dark-skinned man as the face of America in newspapers. When President Obama spoke in interviews and on the evening news, people dropped whatever they were doing and listened to what he had to say.

I thought it was normal and nothing extraordinary about a Black man in the Oval Office. In my version of reality, America was a place of inclusivity, a country of hopes and dreams, a land where love wins.

All of that changed in 2016. The 2016 elections were ugly and mean-spirited. The elections exposed and destroyed the image I had of America as a flawless nation.

I learned that it was not the norm for America to have a President who was black.

I learned that despite its progressive values, the glass ceiling for women remains largely intact.

I learned that sexism, racism, protectionism, and all those other nasty -isms still permeate American society.

I learned that one could display all of these character flaws, lose the popular vote, and still become the President of the United States.

On election night, I watched the election returns intently because so much was at stake for America and the world. As the map on my screen became overwhelmingly red, a sense of despair settled within me.

Of the two candidates, I thought I knew who was the clear winner in the race for the White House. As Hillary Clinton stepped onto the stage dressed in purple — the color of bipartisanship — her defeated and exhausted demeanor broke my heart. Yet, her words conveyed the hope of a better future and a more inclusive America.

“This loss hurts. But please, please never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it. It’s always worth it. And we need you to keep up these fights now and for the rest of your lives.”

- Hillary Clinton, 2016

In the years since, America in my mind no longer embodied life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. What my father told me about the President of the United States as the leader of the world was a lie. America withdrew itself from multilateral agreements that symbolized American leadership in an anarchic world. The steady hand that America brought to the table at international summits wavered.

In the past two weeks, America’s fault lines have never been more exposed. I read about how Breonna Taylor was shot eight times in her home by policemen while she was asleep. I watched video footage of a white male policeman kneeling on George Floyd’s neck that continues to haunt me. I saw images of President Trump having protesters cleared just so he could use a church and a bible as a photo opportunity.

The stark reality appalls me.

Yet, the rage of the American people channeled through peaceful protests, graffiti, poems, and personal essays gave me a glimpse of the American spirit that I had known as a child.

The world stands with the American people and the protesters because we know of an America that we still admire and would love to see one day. I hesitate to say that we want a return to a pre-Trump America because these issues did not arise overnight. They were present even before 2016 and have only become amplified in recent years.

It is not a return to Obama’s America that we hope for, but the idea of an American society where all men are created equal that we long to see. The only way now is forward, not backward. Stay in the fight America, for the world is rooting for you.