“This Fourth of July is yours, not mine, You may rejoice, I must mourn.”
— Frederick Douglass
The words uttered by Frederick Douglass on July 5th, 1852, in his iconic speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” still ring true today.
It is perhaps one of the best-written descriptions of the complicated feelings that Black people in the U.S. have on the Fourth of July.
It’s advertised as a national holiday, and yet, for Black folks—we must ask: What principles, liberty, and freedom are we celebrating?
The ones that this nation so proudly claims yet were built on the backs of slaves?
The ones that are still not awarded to Black folks equally in this country?
We’re not free until we’re
all free, and until that happens there’s no reason to be celebrating this nation and its Independence Day.
If there’s anything to celebrate it is the resilience, strength, and beauty of Black people across this country.
As a holiday, the Fourth of July only serves to further demonstrate the wide gulf of progress between Black people in this country and those who founded it.
America has not lived up to its principles of freedom for everyone. It never has. And every day, it’s been us fighting for our freedom and liberation.
Until it’s fully realized and achieved, we will continue doing all we can to be liberated — by any means necessary.
Onwards,
Black Lives Matter