I love and hate America. I love that I can wake up and go to school in hopes to better myself and my loved ones. I love that I am not physically enslaved to anyone. I love that I can go to work and make money and have savings for my family. I love that I can freely practice my Christian faith without much opposition. I love that I can hang with my friends of different races and cultures without pushback. I love that I can enjoy a brew and enjoy football on the weekends. I love that we have the freedom to vote for anyone we want to. I love that we can express ourselves via social media on any topic we want to. I love the philanthropy in America. I love our advanced technology and all the information we can digest here. I love our military and how they display what real sacrifice means. I love holidays and the time we get to enjoy family. I love that there are endless opportunities for in America.

I hate that I am not treated fairly in America. I hate the fact that Chicago just recorded its 500^th homicide this year and it is viewed as “black problem”. I hate that police officers can act irrationally and kill innocent people because of a badge. I hate that America is so sensitive when its image is challenged, but not sensitive to the plight of all people. I hate that this country believes it was founded on “Godly” principles, but ignores the fact that my ancestors were slaves in 1776. I hate Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump…well I do not hate them, but I wish they were not the primary candidates in this year’s election. I hate that America is infatuated with entertainment and the rich and famous, but we neglect the poor and oppressed. I hate that we glorify our possessions instead of preserving our people. I hate that we love social media so much and that it plays a huge part in who we are. I hate how the media dictates narratives to fit their own agenda instead of telling the explicit truth. I hate that Sunday mornings are the most segregated time of the week. I hate that Jesus is portrayed as a white, blue-eyed European dictator who hates people of color, instead of the brown-skinned Jesus of the Bible, the Godman, the artisan who healed and liberated the oppressed and served the specific needs of all people and loved the worst in society.

This is my love and hate relationship with America.