Gabrielle Union, Lili Reinhart lead stars speaking out on racial injustice on the Fourth Of July 

With the pandemic raging on and social unrest at an all time high, finding the motivation to erupt in celebration on the Fourth Of July has proven difficult for many.

So, instead, celebrities have opted to use the annual holiday – and their social media platforms – as a means to shed light on the racial injustices that continue to plague the United States.

Gabrielle Union reposted two poignant quotes to her Instagram Story that described the Fourth Of July as a ‘sham’ to those directly affected by systemic racism.

‘Nobody in the world, nobody in history, has ever gotten their freedom by appealing to the moral sense of the people who were oppressing them,’ read one of the quotes, originally posted by @blackgirlinom on Twitter.

The 47-year-old Bring It On star’s second repost – written by anonymous – detailed what the Fourth Of July is to ‘the American slave.’

‘I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than other days in the year, the gross injustice and and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. 

‘To him, your celebration is a sham,’ concluded the quote.

Although injustice was heavy on her mind, Union did return to Instagram shortly after to share a sweet portrait of herself and one-year-old daughter Kaavia, whom she shares with husband Dwyane Wade, 38. 

Lili Reinhart has been hosting frequent Black Lives Matter Instagram Live chats in order to educate her over 24million followers on the plights of African-American citizens in the United States.

And on the Fourth, the 23-year-old Riverdale actress uploaded an emotional video to her page admitting that she is ‘not celebrating America today because I am not happy with the way our country is right now.’

‘It’s not where it should be and racism is still so prevalent and our country is being run by someone who is homophobic,’ explained Lili. 

Hailey Bieber, Rashida Jones, Ireland Baldwin, and pop icon Madonna each called out the hypocrisy of Independence Day by sharing a post made by the NAACP on Instagram.

‘We can’t celebrate freedom until we are all free,’ read the post.

Instead of just letting the post speak for itself, Ireland, 24, added that ‘it’s ok to be proud to be an American in some aspects, but as a whole, we have a long battle ahead of us.’

‘Let’s enjoy ourselves today while continue to fight the fight, continue to learn and understand, and make a real change.’

Ireland encouraged her following to vote in the upcoming election by stating that ‘the real independence day comes in November.’

Katy Perry alluded to her hit single Firework on Twitter before reiterating her support towards Black Lives Matter.

‘bb you’re a firework and also #BlackLivesMatter,’ tweeted the 35-year-old singer.

Like many other stars, Sophia Bush attempted to enlighten her following by resharing resources that explain the ‘hypocrisy’ of Independence Day.  

One of the 37-year-old actress’ posts highlighted that fact that, while White people may have found their independence on July 4, 1776, ‘Black Americans were still [being] enslaved and Native Americans were being subjugated.’