7 Ways You Can Improve the United States This Fourth of July

The Fourth of July feels like it’s coming at kind of a weird time this year. The country is in the middle of an unprecedented pandemic, a reckoning of racial justice, and a seemingly heightened primary election year. Some folks are left questioning what it means to be “American” in 2020.

Here’s what we know. The history of the United States is one built on dissent, protest, and fighting fiercely for the things that you believe in -- from the Boston Tea Party to the Selma to Montgomery marches. Driving that kind of change is patriotic, and we can both celebrate our country and continue fighting to make it better. Here are seven ways you can improve the United States this Fourth of July.

1) Volunteer

One of the most impactful ways to improve your community is through volunteering and direct action. Opportunities can range from helping out at your local library to serving meals at your nearest food bank (which is especially important right now, as COVID-19 is causing an increase in food insecurity).

Volunteering may look a little different right now with all the pandemic-related closures happening, but you can still do impactful volunteer work even from home. Some places are also still open and in need of help despite the health crisis -- like animal shelters, food banks, and homeless shelters. People (and animals) will be depending on those organizations even on a holiday, so there’s bound to be a chance to pitch in over the weekend.

2) Register to vote.

There’s a lot happening in the world right now. From instances of police brutality to the coronavirus pandemic, we’re seeing in real time just how much local and national policy can impact our everyday lives. Voting isn’t the only solution to these kinds of issues, but it is a powerful tool we can use to elevate decision-makers whose values align with ours and hold those currently in office accountable. In fact, when it comes to the movement for racial justice, 62% percent of young people we surveyed believe that it’s the most impactful action they can take, and 72% believe it’s the most important to continue doing in the future.

This Fourth of July, register to vote if you’re eligible (it only takes 2 minutes). If you aren’t eligible to vote, then encourage your friends and family with your own personalized voter reg page.

3) Disrupt anti-Black racism.

We have to acknowledge that, for literal centuries, the Fourth of July has brought up conflicting feelings for some Black Americans -- expressed as far back as Frederick Douglass’s powerful keynote address in 1852, to contemporary op-eds like these by Arielle Gray and Saeed Richardson. This year’s holiday comes as the global Black Lives Matter protests are still going strong, and the fight against anti-Black racism and white supremacy continues no matter the season. We can use the Fourth of July as a moment to make good on this nation’s promise of liberty for all and challenge the barriers that still exist to racial equality.

There are protests scheduled for the fourth if you’d like to participate, but there are other ways you can contribute too. Consider donating to one of these organizations in support of Black lives, supporting a Black-owned restaurant for your holiday get-together, or watching a film to educate yourself about racism. If you’re celebrating with family or friends, it may also be a good opportunity to have anti-racist conversations with them about how to actively be anti-racist and disrupt racism in your communities.

4) Complete the census.

According to the US Census Bureau, the information gathered in this year’s census will “determine congressional representation, inform hundreds of billions in federal funding every year, and provide data that will impact communities for the next decade.” So yeah, pretty important.

The census will influence things in your community like highway planning, school lunches, public transit, disaster planning, and more. It’s not too late to complete the 2020 census, so take a few minutes this holiday to get it done (and then encourage your family and friends to do it to).

5) Be more environmentally sustainable.

The Fourth of July is kind of notorious for the high rates of pollution that it causes (thanks in large part to all those fireworks). You can still celebrate the holiday while being conscious of your environmental impact, and there are steps you can take to prevent or offset it too.

Here’s a list of 50 simple things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. At your Fourth of July celebration, try using reusable dinnerware, shopping locally for ingredients, reducing the amount of meat in your meal, and choosing liter drinks over individually bottled ones. If you’re looking to go a little farther, here are 101 ways you can fight climate change, some volunteering ideas to help the environment, and a tool to calculate your carbon footprint and then take action on it.

6) Advocate for immigrants.

Immigration is among the foundation of the United States, and the contributions of immigrants continue to be just as impactful as they were when this nation was first founded. In recognition of this history, consider showing support for immigrant communities this Fourth of July.

Family separation is still happening at the US-Mexico border, and advocates say that the fastest way to help immigrant families reunite is to post their bail. Consider making a Fourth of July donation to Freedom for Immigrants’ National Immigration Detention Bond Fund or the Immigrant Defense Project, or encouraging others to. If you have time to sign petitions, contact representatives, or show your support on social media, there are a few different ways you can take action through the immigrant-advocacy organization RAICES.

7) Support Native-led movements.

The Fourth of July serves as an occasion to reflect on the history of the United States and its founding -- both good and bad. The plight of the Native people to whom this land originally belonged will forever be tied to that history. This Fourth of July, try setting aside some time to recognize the Native communities that remain to this day, and support them as they strive for their own liberation and justice.

You can start by supporting movements like IllumiNative’s Change the Name campaign, which demands that the NFL and Washington football team stop using their racist mascot and ban the racist behavior of their fans. With the coronavirus still hitting Native communities hard, also consider making a donation to a Native-led relief group.