I spent the night in for the 4th of July watching “The Hate U Give” based on Angie Thomas’ best selling YA novel with the same name.

I can’t think of anything more patriotic.

America, the land of opportunity, the land of the free…

The sad truth is that this country was propelled forward first by indentured servitude and later the African Slave Trade, which wasn’t outlawed until Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, 87 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Even after Lincoln’s proclamation outlawed slavery in the South, an entity that had seceded from the Union, more than a century of racism, discrimination, segregation endured, marking blacks as second-class citizens, whose lives were considered less important, were often exploited, and had rights routinely revoked or disregarded.

The movie is about a black girl, Starr Carter, who witnesses a childhood friend, Khalil, murdered at a traffic stop by a white police officer.

The story brings a spotlight on the common occurrence of blacks being murdered by police officers around the country and how there is usually little or no repercussions. Paid administrative leave.

I am thankful for the sacrifice and bravery law enforcement displays to keep people safe, but there needs to be accountability when there is an abuse of power resulting in the loss of life.

As a white, male I recognize the history of the benefits and opportunities afforded me and my family. I want to engage those speaking out about these social issues and help be part of the solution.

As a society, we cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the discrimination covert or even overt towards minorities and blacks especially.

“I don’t see color,” is not a valid response. There is a negative difference against a black man because of centuries of oppression. There is a different lens that a black man or woman sees the world through that must be taken into account.

Empathy is required.

Why is the film patriotic?

Because this country, the freedoms afforded all citizens, the ideals we have espoused in the Declaration of Independence,

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

These unalienable Rights, endowed by the Creator are what we the people make them to be. It is our responsibility to hold the government accountable to uphold these rights.

If some of us are not free, none of us are free.

Go watch “The Hate U Give.” Several streaming sites were offering a free rental of the film.

Start a conversation. Think about ways you might unknowingly contribute to the problem. Be a part of the solution.

– Jason