Great commentary article from Roswell Encina, whose image had gone viral after a Getty Images photographer photographed him surrounded by White supremacist group the Patriot Front.
"On the Fourth of July, while I was on
my way to a party, I found myself riding a Washington Metro train
surrounded by hundreds of masked white supremacists. A subway car is
supposed to be one of society’s great equalizers. But it was the last
place I expected to reflect on what it means to be an American.
A Getty Images photographer captured the moment. As
far as I could see, I was the only unmasked person in the sea of
Patriot Front members. I had my AirPods in, and my gingham shirt and
bandana signaled I was ready to celebrate Independence Day. But my face
and body language told a different story.
Within hours, the photographs had
spread across social media and news outlets. Friends began texting.
Reporters called. Many asked whether I had been frightened.
The honest answer is yes.
But after the initial shock faded, I
realized the moment offered something else: an opportunity to talk about
the country I love, the work still left to do, and why history and
civics education matter now more than ever.
I came to this country as an infant
because my father served in the U.S. Navy. During my childhood, our
family moved back and forth between the United States and the
Philippines before eventually settling here. America became home not
simply because we lived here, but because my parents believed deeply in
the responsibilities that came with citizenship [...]
Today, I have the privilege of serving
as president and CEO of the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, where our
mission is to preserve history, elevate civics and help Americans better
understand Congress and the Capitol. Every day we welcome students into
the Capitol, train teachers from across the country, host conversations
with historians and public servants, and encourage visitors to see
themselves as part of the American story."
Read the full article: https://www.salon.com/2026/07/10/what-a-subway-ride-with-white-supremacists-taught-me-about-america/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
