On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass gave a speech that asked the question, “What to the slave is your Fourth of July?” In fact, Black Americans played a pivotal role in America’s independence from Britain. An anti-slavery clause was included in the original declaration, but it was removed prior to publication. As a result, the Declaration of Independence did not end slavery, nor did it ensure basic rights to anyone who wasn’t a white well-to-do male (women were left out of the conversation entirely). These threads have run deep in American society–all the way to today.
Though the Fourth of July has passed, it’s important to remember that not all of us can celebrate freedoms of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in this country. It’s equally important to educate ourselves and examine perspectives outside our own experiences. Here are a few resources to explore this month:
- Read the poem “Let America be America Again” by Langston Hughes
- Buy Leanne Betasamosake Simpson’s book “As We Have Always Done: Indigenous Freedom through Radical Resistance”
- Read the article “Do American Indians Celebrate the Fourth of July?” from Smithsonian Magazine
- Study Frederick Douglass’s 1852 Fourth of July speech
- Celebrate Disability Independence Day on July 26, 2024
No comments:
Post a Comment