What word describes being an American?

July 2, 2026

The BBC conducted interviews with American citizens across multiple states including California, New York, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Washington DC to explore national identity ahead of America's 250th anniversary in 2026. The project asked participants to reflect on what it means to be American and how they identify themselves. The resulting video content was produced by a team of BBC journalists and videographers.

Who is affected

US citizens across the country, specifically those in California, New York, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Washington DC
Americans reflecting on their national identity
BBC journalists and production team (Meiying Wu, Angelica Casas, Madeline Gerber, Katy Bailes, Andrew Sarge Herbert, and Ian Druce)

What action is being taken

The BBC is asking US citizens about how they identify
Interviews are being conducted across multiple states
Video content is being produced and edited documenting American perspectives on national identity

Why it matters

This exploration matters because it captures how Americans define their national identity at a historically significant moment—approaching the country's 250th anniversary in 2026. Understanding how citizens across diverse geographic regions perceive and express their American identity provides insight into the national character and unity (or divisions) as the country reaches this major milestone.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC