Discussion on American Identity and Pride

Are you proud to be an American?

I think I'm likely to be the most American person on this panel.

My relatives have fought in every war that Americans have ever fought,

including the Civil War, where my ancestors fought and segregated

United Colored Troops for their own freedom

and the freedom of all black people in America.

There's been a lot of talk about the Founding Fathers,

but birthright citizenship comes from the 14th Amendment,

which was established after the Civil War to give black Americans

who had been brought here via chattel slavery

citizenship rights in the country that they had been brought to

against their will.

The Statue of Liberty,

a symbol that has become synonymous with immigration rights,

was actually gifted by France to the United States

to commemorate the end of slavery.

So understandably, my feelings about this country to which I was brought

My answer is super broad as slaves, it's complicated.

But I think what's beautiful about America,

the promise of America,

is that it can become a more perfect union.

That's what the preamble to the Constitution asks of us,

to continue to endeavor to become better.

And while I think it's healthy and good

to have pride in one's country,

I lived overseas as a kid

and found myself defending America

from all kinds of insults all the time.

I have a deep cultural affection for this country.

My whole culture of people was invented,

informed, and is uniquely American, as a black American.

I think that it would be a mistake to stop endeavoring

to make the country better

and to live up to the promise of its ideals.

But I've noticed, that's a very good answer,

but I've noticed you haven't actually answered

the question. Yeah, exactly.

How so?

Are you proud to be an American right now?

You know, it's really hard, Pierce, right now

when our country is synonymous with executing a genocide

that has killed hundreds of thousands of people

on the other side of the world.

So there are aspects of being an American

that I am very proud of. Listen, you're a beautiful girl.

I'm so sorry for interrupting.

Hang on, hang on, hang on, hang on.

Are you proud to be an American or not?

That's it.

Brianna, were you proud to be an American

under Barack Obama?

not in particular I mean to me it wasn't Barack Obama had deep flaws and failings

including executing a drone war and being the president were you proud to

be an American under I think that my pride in being American has less to do

with our political leadership which is I'll give me a time period when you were

you spoke very eloquently about your family fighting in all the wars very

impressive but at which period of your life would you have answered yes to the

question are you proud to be American every single day of my life there are

moments that I'm proud to be an American that's not the same good good good what's

what's not the same