As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, debates over history, patriotism, education, race, and democracy are intensifying across the country. According to America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows the Nation’s Anniversary by Eddie S. Glaude Jr., major American anniversaries have historically reflected the political tensions of their era. The 1876 Centennial reflected the collapse of Reconstruction. The 1926 Sesquicentennial reflected white nationalism and immigration

Debates about race often intensify during major American anniversaries because race has always shaped the country’s institutions, politics, and national identity. According to America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows the Nation’s Anniversary by Eddie S. Glaude Jr., celebrations like the 1876 Centennial, 1926 Sesquicentennial, and 1976 Bicentennial reflected the racial conflicts of their time.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, debates over patriotism, education, race, and national identity are intensifying. According to America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows the Nation’s Anniversary by Eddie S. Glaude Jr., this pattern is not new. America’s major anniversaries have historically reflected the racial and political tensions of their time. The 1876 Centennial celebrated national unity while Reconstruction collapsed and racial violence spread across the