On July 4, 1776, America's forefathers declared independence from Britain. This was their Independence Day, but not for the countless Black and brown people that were still enslaved on American soil.
From the founding of this country, America was built to benefit white people. More than that, it was built on the backs of enslaved and exploited Black and brown people. Leaving out these facts discounts the lived experiences of millions of our ancestors and paints a dishonest picture of our nation's history.
To be clear, we love our country because the blood, sweat and tears of our ancestors has enabled us to experience the freedoms we have today. And we cherish our democracy. It's why here at The Collective, we are determined to build an American democracy that includes ALL voices -- especially those who are too often written out and left behind.
While we recognize the Fourth of July today, we remember that for hundreds of years, this was not our Independence Day. Our nation's original ideals of justice and liberty for all are still not fully realized. So we'll continue to persevere, organize, and resist until the promise of our democracy is fulfilled.
Before you sign off, thank you for supporting The Collective in this important work. We hope you and your loved ones have a safe Fourth!
In solidarity,
Quentin James & Stefanie Brown James
Co-founders
The Collective
The Collective Education Fund is asking activists to band together to strengthen civic engagement in Black communities and build political power. Chip in what you can today.
|
|
Paid for by The Collective Education Fund; not authorized by any candidate or any candidate's committee.
The Collective
2101 L St NW
Suite 800
Washington DC 20037 United States
|
|
