On Friday, the Island’s Juneteenth celebrations featured a panel discussion titled Freedom at 250: From Revolution to Juneteenth — Who Was America For?

Sponsored by the Vineyard Gazette, the event featured Kyle Williams, an activist and educator at A Long Talk About the Uncomfortable Truth, and Reginald Browne, a leader in global exchange traded funds (ETFs) and capital markets. Mr. Browne is also a member of the US semiquincentennial commission to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

Mr. Williams and Mr. Browne took different approaches to the state and future of equality in America, but agreed that conversation, opportunity and education are the keys to transform the country into something to be proud of over the next 50, 100 and 250 years.

“I think what’s really essential is how to inspire a whole range of young people, and so that we give them the experience, the opportunity, the vision and the access so that they are successful, so we’re not having these conversations in the future,” said Mr. Browne.

Event took place in Union Chapel. — Jeanna Shepard

Mr. Browne and Mr. Williams both reflected on the Declaration of Independence, and its famous words: all men are created equal. When written, the document only applied to wealthy white landowners, or six per cent of the population, said Mr. Williams.

But the words stand.

“The structure for American greatness is there,” said Mr. Williams. “I think everything is in place for us to fix it, but I think we have to wake up, get to work, hold hands, whatever we gotta do for society to see it.”

Mr. Browne agreed.

“The phrase ‘all men are created equal’ was the tool for Fredrick Douglas, was the tool for anti-slavery abolitionists, was the tool for advancements which we had to chip away at,” said Mr. Browne.

The United States is a nation of go-getters founded in resiliency, said Mr. Browne. But it was also founded on access to capital, and that is the key to a more resilient future.

“I think that if you understand the framework of who we are as a nation, it’s around economics,” he said. “Then you’ll understand how to counter all the negative things that are happening.”

It’s all about opportunities to develop capital, Mr. Browne continued, including access to markets, workforce development, home ownership, land ownership. It’s also about access to education, which has been stunted by the current administration.

“How do we allow our children to compete?” he added. “It’s certainly not hobbling our universities.”

Mr. Williams said that he cannot start a conversation without talking about reparations.

“You can scream from the rafters that it has done amazing growth, but...as a nation that has not been proportionate,” he said.

Martha’s Vineyard is a place where Black generational inheritance has succeeded, added Mr. Williams. His great grandmother bought a house on the Vineyard and he has been coming for over 50 summers.

“This is the American promise of home ownership, because someone reached across the aisle, across the racial barrier, and said let’s do this as America,” he said.

Mr. Browne reflected on the events organized by the US Semiquincentennial commission, including a time capsule that contains a copy of the Declaration of Independence, the signatures of all nine supreme court justices, and other information that describes who America is at 250. The time capsule also includes a deconstructed iPhone.

“The time capsule is a gift from us to the future, and so what is it that you want to tell your families today that you want them to carry on for the next seven generations?” he said. “It really starts there. You can’t talk about the country without talking about your family first.”

Mr. Williams said that now is the time for America to be honest, laying the foundations for the next milestones of the country.

“I hope they tell the truth in 250 years,” he said.