With Juneteenth only a couple of weeks behind us — and still largely unrecognized in this country — the Fourth of July has a sober tone this year. I am not celebrating by default of quarantine and packing, but it’s the first year I’ve really considered what the Fourth looks like to Black and Indigenous communities. At best — nothing. At worst — well, I can’t imagine. The majority — 41 out of 56 — of the signers of the Declaration of Independence owned slaves (x). This country built on ideals of freedom and independence (masking white supremacy and destructive individualism), has not fought for marginalized people. Black people have had to do that themselves.
My friend Zia shared a quote today that led me to this Nikole Hannah-Jones’s essay in New York Times Magazine’s “The 1619 Project”. I encourage you to read the whole essay — it’s a powerful narrative of Black Americanism as it’s been shaped by slavery. Here’s one passage:
“Yet despite being violently denied the freedom and justice promised to all, black Americans believed fervently in the American creed. Through centuries of black resistance and protest, we have helped the country live up to its founding ideals. And not only for ourselves — black rights struggles paved the way for every other rights struggle, including women’s and gay rights, immigrant and disability rights.
Without the idealistic, strenuous and patriotic efforts of black Americans, our democracy today would most likely look very different — it might not be a democracy at all.”
I also encourage you to watch this video where the descendants of Frederick Douglass deliver his “Fourth of July” speech from 1852. It is chillingly still relevant today:
I don’t know the right way to celebrate today, and frankly, I’m not sure we should be celebrating at all. For myself, I’m landing on educating myself through essays and videos like the above, renewing my resolve to continue learning about and practicing anti-racism, and giving money to a Black organization.
With love,
Natalie