What 250 years of America means for racial equity and inclusion

As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, Fresno DRIVE is sharing reflections from Senior Program Officer julie vue and Race Equity Committee Member Kevin James on this pivotal milestone and the state of inclusion in Fresno County and the country. 

What does this celebration mean to you?

julie vue: On the eve of this anniversary, I have mixed feelings about what it means and who is celebrating. As a child of refugees, my family was resettled in the United States after American military intervention in Southeast Asia. The stories of America as a multicultural welcoming society have not been the resettlement experience of my family and the Hmong diaspora; yet this is the only place I know as home. To celebrate, such an anniversary, means having to grapple with all the ways this country has both harmed and welcomed people who look like me while striving to build a multiracial democracy.

Kevin James: It’s bittersweet, acknowledging what has changed and what remains. It’s hyperbole to say, “we have a long way to go,” because we still haven’t decided where exactly we want to land collectively. We don’t agree on what makes America great, nor do we agree on what life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness means and for whom it belongs, nor the cost of it. It’s both humbling and heartbreaking to recognize America has existed as long as slavery did — not to mention how systems of oppression have been maintained such as labor trafficking and prison labor in today’s world.

What does it mean for the continual pursuit of racial equity in your work as it relates to DRIVE’s inclusion efforts?

julie vue: The 250th anniversary is the prime opportunity to deeply reflect on the progress made for racial equity and assess what more is needed. Meaningful legislative wins have occurred, but I believe we can do more to support the social and economic advancement of everyone. I believe that Fresno DRIVE can be transformative for our community. The work of creating an economy for everyone requires authentic inclusion of community voices, ideas and leadership. 

Kevin James: For me, the continual pursuit of racial equity means deciding that a country that is not great for all its people is not great. It means not withholding life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for another eight generations of people. Justice and hope deferred is justice and hope denied.

To learn more about Fresno DRIVE’s work to promote inclusion, upward economic and social mobility and community cohesion, visit www.fresnodrive.org.