What is Truth? This noun, called TRUTH, is defined as a body of real things, events, and facts (actuality). Most often, this noun is capitalized, and when that is done, TRUTH takes on a spiritual reality (GOD).

The deeper question is, “What happened to truth?” In a society that values “fiction over non-fiction”, truth seems all but buried by pop culture. Truth is labeled as a “woke” concept, meaning “aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice).”

Frankly, modern society, as we know it today, appears to be allergic to the word truth. It is as popular as eating green vegetables, when our minds and bodies really would prefer junk food. We mindlessly permit our minds and souls to consume junk food rather than drink the fresh waters of truth.

We receive our first insights into the importance of truth in our lives when we are children. Our parents and elders recite for us to always tell the truth, and this truth will make our lives simple and complete. Our grandparents say that the truth will set us free. As young adults, we carry those words (pearls) of wisdom in our hearts and minds when we are challenged by deception or when speaking our truth. As adults with our own families and extended communities, we often share our insights and wisdom with those around us. We say a silent prayer that what we have taught our families and extended communities comes to bear when they are faced with truth or deception.

So many of us believe in the power of truth-telling. Many people still value the truth, but many have decided to abandon it for more convenient, salient lies. Many people have labeled the truth as old-fashioned values that just don’t seem to “fit in” our 21st-century lives. Some people have been lured into silence because the truth will label them as different, and let’s face it, everyone wants to “fit in.” We were socialized as children to play with others on the playground in polite and congenial manners. When children had a disagreement on the playground, the parents would often mediate the argument by making the two opposing parties look each other in the eye and apologize for any wrongdoing on their part. There was value in looking the other person in the eye and speaking our truth.

Truth and Reconciliation, a term used for fact-finding past injustices and drafting proper systems and programs to bring about reconciliation, is currently practiced in Canada and South Africa. Canada even devotes a full day on its calendar to recognize truth and reconciliation. In the United States, Tulsa, Oklahoma, is practicing a form of truth and reconciliation. The simple truth is that the past truly matters, and history encompasses past events that continue to impact us today.

We are at the time of year again, where we dust off the red, white, and blue outdoor decorations, proudly display the stars and stripes flag, and light fireworks to celebrate our nation’s 249th anniversary. This may be a good time to take a long look at America and its current standing in terms of what we call truth and reconciliation. It is painfully obvious to black and brown Americans that the America that we see in the mirror is very different from the America that white Americans see. As children, we have all heard the legend of how George Washington chopped down the cherry tree, which was to emphasize the value of honesty and truthfulness. In Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first inaugural address, he coined the phrase “to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly.” Presidents Thomas Jefferson and Harry S. Truman spoke eloquently about the importance of truth and honesty. President Jimmy Carter was a devout Christian and Sunday School teacher. Obviously, history will judge many of these men on the merits of their actions, rather than just their eloquent words.

In lieu of truth and reconciliation, it appears that America chooses to practice division, deportation, and conquest. Slavery, bigotry, and hate were more powerful aphrodisiacs than love, peace, and truth. It is America’s 249th anniversary, and what do we have to show for it? Instead of telling the truth, some politicians are trying to make us bury the truth…again. Some politicians are banning certain books in our schools, snatching law-abiding immigrants from off the streets, and processing them criminals only to deport them to countries unknown. Have we grown in these 249 years to be wise and prudent citizens of this concept that we call America? Philosopher George Santayana wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Apparently, America has short-term memory loss.

When we fail to acknowledge the truth on a national scale, those micro lies provided on a local scale become even more difficult to accept. It is on the small stages, when we must fight to eliminate the lies and illuminate the truth. We must remember that power lies within our communities. In the comfort of those communities, it is where we grow comfortable sharing those uncomfortable truths.