Liberty and Privilege
In my world, liberty has always been synonymous with privilege. It isn’t, of course. But, that’s how it feels. Throughout the pandemic, which provided what seemed like an eternity of time for self-reflection, I have come to understand why.
I am a Black American woman living in Germany. A few years back, I got fed up with my life in the States and moved to Europe. It was basically that simple. I sold most of my belongings, put the rest in storage, booked a flight, and moved. When people hear that, the general reaction is “wow.” Most people just think about the bravery and courage necessary to take such a big risk. However, what I think about, now, is what a privilege it is. Everyone has the liberty to do what I did. Everyone is, technically, free to upend his/her/their life to start a new one in another place. But many people don’t have the privilege to do so.
What is liberty without privilege? I think about my ancestors. Slaves for generations and then all of a sudden— freedom! But what exactly were they at liberty— which is the freedom from limits— to do? They were technically at liberty to whistle at white women, but that got them killed. They were at liberty to build their own version of Wall Street, which resulted in bombing. The list goes on. Fast forward a century, give or take, and I am now at liberty to be so fed up with my life that I change it. I quit my job, moved to another country, and simply started again. What a privilege to be able to exercise that liberty.
As I write this post, I am mere days from boarding a plane to return to the United States. I have planned a very full two weeks of memory-making with friends and family in seven states, eight cities. Again, this is a liberty, but it is more a privilege. I have friends both in the States and here, in Germany with passports in countries that make it a bit harder to travel. I’m ashamed to admit that before moving abroad I had no idea that we all couldn’t travel as we pleased. It wasn’t until I was on a movie set with a colleague from India, when I learned he must first apply (and pay) for a visa application before he could take a two-week holiday to London. An application which may or may not be accepted, mind you. There are others who can’t return to their countries of citizenship because these countries are at war. So, while they are technically at liberty to take the risk, it would likely result in harm or even death. You get the idea.
The anniversary of our nation’s independence has, for some time now, made me feel a bit torn. It is a holiday I grew up celebrating, being the daughter of two veterans who believed enough in this country to literally fight for it. However, it is also a holiday I’ve grown to despise, as this country has taken independence from so many in my community, not to mention those abroad. I spent years reciting a poem that ends, “Liberty and Justice for All.” To this day, I can recite it without thinking because it is ingrained into my being. Our country exists because The Founders were tired of being told what to do. So, they became the bosses and told other people what to do. It’s disgusting. Yet, I benefit from it— perhaps not as much as others, but I do benefit. Thus, I am a bit torn.
As we dive into the second half of 2021, I’m determined to do better. I realize I can’t change the world, but what I know for sure is that I can change MY world. Liberation is nothing without access to the tools necessary to utilize it. So, I will work to both gain and provide access to those tools so that more people have the privilege to exercise their liberties.
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[Photo: originally color, @marcojodoin]
