As we approach July 4th this year, some are wondering how best to celebrate. Behind all our traditions -- family, food, parades, fireworks -- some significant questions linger. For the black community, Independence Day can call up some complicated feelings. But even more broadly this year, many are questioning what being a patriot really means in the current political climate. What is true patriotism? How do we express it without becoming nationalistic? How do we celebrate our hope in the vision of the founders and our resolve to love America enough to help it become the very best it can be for us and our children? Join our passionate, weighty, beautiful discussion, this week on The Let's Talk Sis Podcast.

This coming week will mark the celebration of Juneteenth 2025. While it's an important and meaningful celebration for many across the USA, others are unsure exactly what it is, why it's celebrated, and how they can appropriately participate. Especially this year, at a time of great division in our country, leaning in to understand the histories and lived experiences of others is vital and breeds the kind of connectivity, hope, and respect that is so desperately needed right now. Join us on this episode of The Let's Talk Sis Podcast as we deep dive on what Juneteenth is, why we celebrate, and how you can join in. Happy Juneteenth!

On March 27th, President Trump issued an executive order focused on "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History." In part, it read, "Over the past decade, Americans have witnessed a concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation’s history, replacing objective facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth. This revisionist movement seeks to undermine the remarkable achievements of the United States by casting its founding principles and historical milestones in a negative light. Under this historical revision, our Nation’s unparalleled legacy of advancing liberty, individual rights, and human happiness is reconstructed as inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed." The order goes on to empower Vice President JD Vance to "remove improper ideology" from federal museums and sites. The truth of the matter is that while America's achievements in the advancements of liberty are real and powerful, our history does also include real and painful stories of the oppression of women, African Americans, Native Americans, and other marginalized groups. We ignore, hide, or rewrite those stories at our own peril. The greatness of America is in the power of its people to see truth for what it is and to overcome and become better. That only happens when we see one another as human beings, listen to each other, find common ground, and come together to build what Dr. Martin Luther King called "the beloved community." After a recent trip to Washington DC and the Smithsonian African American Museum, we're eager to get into this discussion. Join us!