The United States of America turned 250 years old on Saturday as the country celebrated July 4th. However, in today's political climate, quarter-millennium celebrations felt misplaced. When so many are still hurting, how is it possible to celebrate the source of that oppression?

Chance the Rapper attempted to grapple with this in his essay, "What To The 4th Of July Is Juneteenth?" This is an ode to Frederick Douglass' speech, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”

In his open letter to the country, Chance spoke about his love for America and the potential the country has.

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"I love you for what you could be, and what you mean to so many onlookers in the margins," Chance wrote. "You represent an abundance of possibility, an overflow of opportunity and a wealth of unrivaled power. To many you are a Land of Oz, somewhere over a rainbow and down a golden road, you are paved and safe. To those who never met the wizard, these castle walls seem warm. But to us who know you, ones who’ve known you, you are cold and shadowy in many corners. These years have worn your copper green and distilled your hypocritical oaths to the lies they truly are. I still love you. A lie is beautiful when it dreams some fantastical reality.