At Freedman's Campaign Apparel, we stand as more than just a brand. We are a community, a gathering of like-minded Americans of African descent who proudly embrace our heritage. Red, white, and blue. These are the colors that the public school system is ingraining into the minds of our youth to represent our country. A country that is said to be the "land of the free" and "the home of the brave." The statement is accurate; however, the imagery surrounding who these brave souls are is misconstrued. Red, white, and blue may be the nation's colors, but there's one color that is often missing from the conversations: black. This country was built off the backs of our black brothers and sisters, yet for some reason, they don't get the recognition they deserve for their contributions to creating this nation.

As a result of this missing dialogue, there are people who have altogether abandoned the idea that black people should be patriotic. After all, how are we supposed to support a country that seems to have historically not supported us? Why should we scream "Land of the Free, Home of the Brave," when so many of our people are being oppressed every single day? The answer is simple: we have to remember everything and everyone who played a role in shaping the United States that we know today. Particularly, we have to remember the American Civil War.

People have no idea about the sacrifices that our ancestors made so that people who look like us can walk around freely and live without ever having to experience slavery. They don't know about the black people who put their lives on the line to fight in a war that would ensure that the freedom that had been gained would never be taken away again. They don't know... but they will.