Independence Day: Reflections on Freedom and the Work Ahead
- Cleveland VOTES
- Jun 30
- 4 min read
Each year, Independence Day prompts celebration across the country—parades, cookouts, fireworks, and a collective pause to honor freedom. But what does that freedom really mean? At Cleveland VOTES, we know that democracy is not one-size-fits-all, and neither is patriotism. This holiday brings up different truths for each of us: pride, pain, hope, resistance, and everything in between. Below, our team shares personal reflections on what Independence Day means to them—stories rooted in lived experience, civic engagement, and the ongoing pursuit of justice.
Brianna Zgodinski
Communications + Narrative Strategist
“To me Independence Day represents a nice ideal, but that ideal isn't our current reality. While collectively our country may have achieved independence from England in 1776, most of us have not achieved true independence on an individual level."
"Maybe we are no longer subjects to another country, but we are still subjects to corporate interests, racism, sexism, homophobia, and many other cultural issues that keep us from realizing authentic freedom."
"Through my work at Cleveland VOTES, though, I have the privilege of working with people who are fighting for a future where the ideals of Independence Day will be the reality for all of us."
"So while I have reservations about Independence Day, I will continue to hope for what it represents.”
Moses Ngong
Democracy Fellow
"For me, Independence day is an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be an American. At its best, this nation offers a home for people from all around the world, giving people a chance to lead, innovate, and authentically claim “Americanness” regardless of whether or not they grew up here. At our worst, we’ve tolerated or perpetrated horrible crimes against minorities and perceived ideological foes."
"For me, the 4th is a chance to celebrate the promise of the United States, while remembering that realizing that promise takes hard work."
Tacha Sako
Operations Administrator
"My parents are immigrants to America, and for a long time it meant just celebrating like our neighbors because they had barbecues. We all had the day off, so we would gather and afterwards go downtown to watch fireworks."
"When I was a teenager it meant hanging out with friends and being able to run around town. As an adult that can reflect past the gatherings, fireworks and patriotic display, it now gives me pause. Unfortunately it doesn't feel like a day to be free when the declaration of 'rights of mankind' doesn't feel like it applies to ALL."
"I long for the day that independence FEELS as it should, a day to celebrate the freedoms of all, the right to just BE!"
Taylor Wilson
Communications + Engagement Associate
"When I reflect on Independence Day, I recognize that while the thirteen colonies declared freedom from a colonial power, as an African American, the people I descend from were excluded from the founding ideals of liberty, justice, and freedom."
"For me, Independence Day is a reminder, that while our country has experienced great progress, the nation's initial freedom came at the expense of violence and oppression of many communities. It is both a reflection of how far we’ve come and a call to recognize how far we still have to go."
"Even today, many people continue to feel unseen, unheard, unrepresented and unequal in our democracy. The words in the Declaration, 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…,' remain, for many Americans, a promise unfulfilled more than two centuries later."
"With these complex truths in mind, Independence Day is a day to remember the true spirit of revolution: the courage to challenge anything that stands in the way of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, for all."
Tate Farinacci
Senior Intern
"As a kid, the Fourth of July meant family gatherings and fireworks—especially since I lived just half a mile from where we launched them in my hometown. For years, that was the extent of its meaning.
As I’ve grown, I’ve started to reflect more on what this holiday represents. I’m proud to be a citizen of this country, but I also recognize its deep flaws and the many people who’ve been left out of its promises. For some, the Fourth isn’t a time to celebrate—and that’s okay. Patriotism can hold pride and critique at the same time. Holding both truths is part of how I show up in this country."
These reflections remind us that the story of America is still being written—and we all have a part to play in shaping it. Independence Day can be a time of celebration, but it can also be a moment of reckoning, of remembering who has been left out and reimagining what true freedom could look like for everyone. At Cleveland VOTES, we remain committed to building a democracy where equity, inclusion, and liberation are not just ideals, but realities. That work continues far beyond July 4th.
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