What does it mean to be an American?
What does it mean to be an American? If you asked anyone, they would all give you different answers. Some would talk about freedom, while others would talk about opportunities. But for me, I feel like being an American means to have rights, privileges, and freedom. No, America isn't a perfect country, but it is one of the only countries in the world that have rights given to people of different gender and diversities of our rich culture. There are many different races in this one country. If you travel anywhere in the world, you would mainly see just one race while here you would see a mis of different races and ethnicities. People in different countries don’t even have the rights to do much in their own country. Before, women weren’t even allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia until 2018, while here it was very common to see women behind the wheel. And even till this day, women in Saudi Arabia are required to wear an abaya but in America, women could be out in the street wearing anything they please. I remember when I was 12, my family and I went on our family summer vacation to Nigeria but had to pass through Dubai. I was wearing a mini skirt since I knew that when we landed in Nigeria it would be hot. I didn’t really think much about landing in Dubai and the restrictions. When we landed in Dubai and was getting off the plane, all of the airport working were giving me a funny look and my twelve year old self thought that they were looking at me because of my size which made me nervous because I hated my figure then. When we went to check our luggage in, so we wouldn't have to explore with 8 big travel bags, the lady behind the security desk pulled my mother and I to the side and told me to put something on. At first we didn’t really understand why she wanted me to change my outfit because in America no one said anything about my outfit expect people giving me compliments. My mother asked her to explain what she was talking about and was when she told us how it is not appropriate for a lady to wear anything as short or revealing as my shirt. I was surprised, which quickly turned into realization because I wasn’t in America anymore. It made me realize how America has more freedom, even with the most simplest thing like clothing. In the text, “What does it mean to ‘be American’”? It says, “Being American is red, white and blue and being free. It doesn't matter what language you speak…” From French to Yoruba to Turkish; there are thousands of different languages in America alone that people speak daily. These are the simple things in life that make me feel freer. That makes me feel like I have privileges. So, being an American means enjoying the right of freedom of speech, embracing the many diversities, the American way of life, different cultures and equal rights of determining the country's leadership. This makes me proud to call myself an American. Abiola is a Senior. She wrote this reflective piece for her Race, Gender, and Equity class at FHS.
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About Epiphany
Epiphany Literary Magazine is a safe space for students at Franklin High School to share their creativity. Archives '16-'20
June 2020
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