RESTORING A PEOPLE, REBUILDING A NATION
The question that I would like to highlight is should this day be celebrated by the so called African Americans, even though slavery was highly active on July 4, 1776? On July 4, 1776 Yes! The declaration of Independence was signed and sent to England, which created the United States of America, because this was the day that the European colonist got their freedom from British rule. Yet, the slaves were not freed until 1865 about 89 years later. So, you’re probably asking yourself but African Americans/slaves helped win the Revolutionary War between 1775-1783? And the answer is YES! but we were not a part of their independence. Independence was only for the European colonist, while the slaves were still looked at and treated the same. These are the same men who signed the declaration of Independence with the quote:
"We hold these truths
to be self-evident
that ALL MEN
SHOULD BE CREATED EQUAL." - Thomas Jefferson
This quote did not stand for the so called African American/slaves. Slaves might have fought in their Revolutionary War but we were USED for that war. Only to be put on the front line and to be the first to die, so I ask where the equality in such an act is if ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUALLY. Where was the equality if slaves were still slaves and being treated as such and not being freed until 89 years later?
Quotes from Fredrick Douglas 1852 speech
What to the slave is the 4th of July?
"This fourth of July is yours, not mines. You may rejoice, I must mourn. What to the Slave is the fourth of July? I answer: A day that reveals all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim."
"This for the purpose of this celebration, is the 4th of July. It is the birthday of your National Independence and your political freedom. This to you, is what the Passover was to the emancipated people of God."
CLICK HERE TO READ THE WHOLE SPEECH
Most Americans consider the 4th of July to be the beginning of America's Independence and the birth of the United States of America from under the hand of Great Britain, but it was not the day congress decided to declare Independence. Congress declared Independence 2 days before July 4th (July 2, 1776). July 4th was the day Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence and all of the edits and changes were finally agreed upon on the fourth. For 15 or 20 years no one celebrated Independence. The Declaration became controversial between the Democratic - Republicans and Federalist, but after the war of 1812 the Federalist and their ideologies began to fade and new parties became inheritors of Thomas Jefferson Declaration of Independence. In 1870 Congress declared July 4th to be a national holiday as part of a bill to officially recognize several holidays, and none of this has anything to do with the CREATOR.
