A long Fourth of July weekend is a great opportunity to spend time with family and friends, have a day off and enjoy some fireworks and barbecue.For many Americans, however, it can be difficult and even painful to celebrate a country that has done so much damage since its inception. Star Montana, a photographer, said that she doesn't feel connected with the Fourth of July. It was something I didn't understand as a child. It was the time of our founding fathers and independence. But I would weep every time I read that another Indigenous tribe had been killed through Manifest Destiny.BuzzFeed News asked five photographers this year to capture their experiences on the Fourth of July.Cornell Watson, a Durham photographer, spent the morning listening to "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?", an 1852 speech by Frederick Douglass. Watson said, "As a Black person the Fourth of July has always brought up complicated feelings. But starting the day by either reading or listening to this speech always helps keep the celebrations in context."Stella Blackmon, originally from Springfield, Missouri, was a photographer and director who captured her extended family and close friends while they settled down to spend time outside, which was a common place for children during the pandemic. Blackmon said that Margot, my cousin kept telling me, "I don't know what I'm going do after this is over. This is all I care about."Cheryle St. Onge was from Durham, New Hampshire. She and her family were able to experience the rainy, dark grey weather that fell across most of the Northeast on the 4th of July.Derek Gardner, BuzzFeed News' videographer and photographer, traveled across Brooklyn to find out how New Yorkers celebrated the Fourth of July. Gardner said that despite sounding corny, he felt a sense in the air walking through Brooklyn on the 4th of July. This is not something I need to say, because I heard it from a Williamsburg man yelling it repeatedly: "Were back baby!"Montana, who was raised in an area of Los Angeles that is predominantly Mexican American, celebrated the 4th of July differently. She chose to spend time with her family and not friends as her father was recovering from surgery. My nephew is growing up and all he is interested in is fireworks. Montana stated that he doesn't believe he can connect it to freedom and America. None of his siblings do. "I feel that there is so much relief, angst and joy being let out in Los Angeles in the lower economy area; people don’t understand us. It's not about our independence, but relief and gathering with loved ones, those who have survived.
