“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” – Harriet Tubman***
This past weekend Americans celebrated the 4th of July, Independence Day. With the many injustices that have been brought to the surface of American life over the last few years, coupled with the history of injustice that plagues the nation some are questioning whether they should celebrate Independence day. Whether you had a rib, a brat or sat at home watching TV, maybe we should all entertain this probing question: Should African Americans celebrate the 4th of July?
Real Perspectives
Congresswoman Cori Bush tweeted the following on July 4th of this year:
“When they say that the 4th of July is about American freedom, remember this: the freedom they’re referring to is for white people. This land is stolen land and Black people still aren’t free.”
U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, tweeted the following on July 4th:
“July 4th… & so, the Declaration of Independence says all men are created equal. Equal to what? What men? Only white men? Isn’t it something that they wrote this in 1776 when African Americans were enslaved? They weren’t thinking about us then, but we’re thinking about us now!”
These comments apparently infuriated numerous readers, who then did what people do on social media and the internet, they shot back insensitive arguments and rebuttals, laced with “Go back to Africa” statements without any acknowledgement of what might merit real consideration and address. The tone and coloring of many of the comments carried the messaging that their affronted position garnered true Americanism, independence and equality because they are willing to say, let’s forgive and forget and let bygones be bygones…though the offenses most likely did not happen to them.
As per usual, they missed the point entirely. I can’t say, that I don’t or won’t celebrate the 4th of July (Independence Day) in the U.S. I can’t say that I would encourage or discourage anyone else from doing or not doing so. I think that, like any other celebration it is an individual decision. The point that these readers and their twitter replies missed is that African Americans were not considered human and were not included in the population of the independent. The reality, is that the Declaration of Independence was actually referencing white men and not white women or any other women because women had not been emancipated, enslaved blacks were not included nor were other people of color and it certainly didn’t include person’s with disabilities or LGBTQ+.
The Declaration of Independence Omitted Most Americans
Historically, most Americans have gradually been granted rights as citizens under U.S. law over time, thus adding to the reality that the Declaration of Independence was not really inclusive of all. Given the injustices that remain a part of current history, it does beg the question, should we celebrate an independence that has yet to be attained?
- For example, though the Fifteenth Amendment, granted all citizens the right to vote regardless of race, it wasn’t until years later that The Snyder Act of 1924 granted full citizenship to Native Americans born in the U.S. (despite the fact that they were here before any of us).
- The Declaration of Sentiments, the declaration that asserting women’s equality in politics, family, education, jobs, religion and morals was born out of the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848. It described women’s grievances and demands. Primarily written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, it called on women to fight for their constitutionally guaranteed right to equality as U.S. citizens. It was a 70 year fight but women were finally given the right to vote in 1920. Women were not given citizenship of their own… outside of their husband’s until September 22, 1922 when the Cable Act took effect. Prior to that women were only allowed citizenship under their husband’s name and citizenship. If they became divorced, well… they lost their rights.
- Chinese immigrants were given the right to U.S. citizenship and the right to vote by the Magnuson Act was signed into law on December 17, 1943.
- All Mexicans, regardless of race, were granted recognition as U.S. citizens under the Constitution of 1824, however under the Naturalization Act of 1790 only white persons were eligible for citizenship!
These are just some of the historical details that tarnish American antiquity. It may take us a while to overcome the pain and stains of our ancestors, primarily because many still have not owned up to it. Not only have some not owned up to it but won’t even acknowledge it.
Building Inclusion Among the Wreckage
The replies to the political representative’s tweets should not have been met with rants and denials. That’s not bridging any gaps. That’s not inclusion. But taking on a defiant anger against the oppressor of the past or present won’t help either. While it may help to express a justifiable anger, it still won’t resolve the issue. Until we are willing to acknowledge what really happen, a deep wound will remain beneath the surface of our nation; but as Congresswoman Waters stated, “They weren’t thinking about us then, but we’re thinking about us now!”
The American people can control the future of this country’s history. It can be rewritten before it takes on the same echoes of the past… which some still try to hide by not including it in the history books, by not acknowledging it as new laws and legislation gets introduced to recreate the oppression so many keep fighting to eliminate, and by casting votes for those who uphold oppression then hide the fact that they rendered support for such political positions or explain it as some obscure righteous reason or another.
Rep. Waters, followed her tweet with a second tweet, which read:
“Further, the Dec. of Ind. says we hold these truths to be “self-evident”… yet:
– 17 states have enacted voter suppression laws
– Supreme Court gutted Sec. 5 of the Voting Rights Act
– George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice”
When you read this tweet, it is very hard to deny the reality of the past, no matter who or what one considers themselves racially, ethnically, politically, historically… you cannot deny the pain if you know the history. All one can really do is try to help with the healing… if one’s eyes are open and they sincerely seek to heal the country and its people. Going back to Africa is not really the answer, though we certainly should welcome the freedom for anyone to do so, if they so choose. No one, however, should be taunted with racist statements which, by the way, have been hurled at African Americans along with other verbalizations, for decades, in an effort to belittle and intimidate.
I think Dr. Raymond Nichols, health advocate and chiropractor, captured the right perspective perfectly when he wrote this tweet:
“I am GRATEFUL to be an American…NOT proud. Proud would imply that I accept the behaviors of America. America, you have a past of trauma, violence, slavery and blood…something that I will never be proud of. I still love you USA but just know that we still have work to do. ”
Enough said!