As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the milestone is provoking reflection rather than celebration for some Americans.
During a recent segment on SiriusXM Urban View, host Karen Hunter and guest host Roderick Morrow discussed the upcoming anniversary and what it represents, particularly among Black Americans.
“Do you care?” Ms. Hunter asked listeners, opening the conversation. Morrow responded, “No, I don’t care. I’m a Black person. I don’t even celebrate that part.”
Morrow broke down his complicated relationship with the country, expressing both appreciation and frustration.
“I love the country for what it has been molded to be and what it could possibly one day be better as,” he shared. “But it’s super hard for me to celebrate stuff when my people wasn’t free.”
The conversation turned to Juneteenth, which Morrow noted as an example of an event that prioritizes historical awareness. “I like the recognition of it,” he said. “I like that everyone had to know, ‘No, this is when the real freedom started.’”
Hunter noted that awareness has not always been uniform, even within Black communities, and argued that more expansive acknowledgment remains important. “Part of our history is American history,” she said. “They’re teaching half of the history.”
The hosts also reacted to recent remarks by former President Barack Obama, who expressed optimism about the country’s future, but Morrow remained doubtful. “I don’t believe him,” he said, suggesting that such confidence is difficult to sustain given the nation’s history.
Watch the complete exchange below.
