Independence Day insults Black America

By Bud Johnson
African-AmericanNews&Issues

“We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
Ideally every school child who is old enough to understand the significance of placing their right hand over their hearts and repeating in unison in classrooms throughout the land of the free, "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” recognize the preceding text as the last paragraph of the victorious Colonial rebel’s Declaration of Independence. Conversely, celebrating the 4th of July-- as a day of independence-- is adding insult to injury for descendents of slaves. However, the salient fact that made in America Africans are still struggling against institutionalized racism that denies us equality and justice as this great nation celebrates it’s 229th year as a free republic, is self explanatory as to why Independence Day insults Black America.
Even so, African-American News & Issues (as the editorial watcher on the wall and uncompromised voice of Black America) would be remiss not to participate in the observance of our nation’s freedom from a Black perspective. Furthermore, Independence Day also offers yet another opportunity for mainstream America to apologize to its children for misleading them with whitewashed history and boldfaced lies that have tainted their souls. Not to mention the fact that their founding fathers bequeathed their future generations a legacy of hate and bigotry. Unfortunately, the flip side of institutionalized racism, is institutionalized ignorance, miseducation and even outright lies, thus, descendents of this “great nation’s” founding fathers are also negatively impacted. In addition, descendents of slave owners can’t handle the truth about the level of evil that it takes for man’s inhumanity to his fellowman, therefore they choose to ignore the more graphic Black History annals that would make them ashamed to celebrate Independence Day . Meanwhile, more and more increasingly conscious--made in America Africans-- have cause to pause and ponder whether, or not, they are stuck on stupid to celebrate the 4th of July along with a mainstream American that they never have truly been accepted into? Let bygones be bygones aside, that surely is a good question. And since July 4, 2005 is imminent, AAN&I is glad you asked. For sure, our estimated 2 million readers, who have access to over 300,000 weekly copies of our publication, well know that answering a good question is AAN&I’s reason for being. Overdue reparations notwithstanding, since this is our special Independence Day edition, perhaps our readers will be better served if we share what has been called one the most sincere and poignant messages a Black man has ever delivered in the land of the free. In 1852 Frederick Douglass spoke to the Rochester Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society, asking, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” He answered, “It would certainly prove nothing as to what part I might have taken had I lived during the great controversy of 1776. To say now that America was right and England wrong, is exceedingly easy. It is fashionable to do so; but there was a time when to pronounce against England and in favor of the cause of the colonies tried men's souls. Whether we turn to the declarations of the past, or to the professions of the present, the conduct of the nation seems equally hideous and revolting.
“America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future. Standing with God and the crushed and bleeding slaves on this occasion, I will in the name of humanity, which is outraged. In the name of liberty, which is fettered, in the name of the constitution and the Bible, which are disregarded and trampled upon. This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. What to the American slave is your Fourth of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him more than all other days of the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless. “Your denunciation of tyrants, brass-fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are to him mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy's thin veil to cover up crimes, which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation of the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of these United States at this very hour. America reigns without a rival.”
Conversely, that speech was delivered 153 years ago, but alas, if one removed the word slave and replaced it with African American, on July 4, 2005, the speech would still translate to, Independence Day insults Black America.