Posted on 07/10/2014 1:10:10 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
(VIDEO-AT-LINK)
Since the American colonies declared independence from Great Britain in 1776, there have been questions of what that independence means for America’s black citizens. As early as 1781, states were officially observing Independence Day – a full 82 years before Lincoln would issue the Emancipation Proclamation and 85 years before the last slaves were freed in Galveston, Texas.
Abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass was asked to speak at an Independence Day celebration in 1852 at Rochester’s Corinthian Hall. In a time when most other blacks were still not free, he gave the speech - though it may not have been what the audience expected. Douglass told the crowd, “This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.” And he asked them, “Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak to-day?” That speech would later be named after a central question asked by Douglass within it, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”
In keeping with Douglass’ question and moving speech, NewsOne hit the streets to ask everyday people what Independence Day means to them, how they celebrate and if black Americans should celebrate it at all. Watch!
Black patriot speaks.
If they want to. It is (or was) a free country.
Not until they've actually won their freedom - from the Dem plantation massas.
Maybe they should remain stupid and celebrate ‘obama’
““What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”
Slave? Does that also include white, conservative slaves to a crazy dictator?
I couldn’t give a shyte less if they celebrate it or not.
Where are all these blacks who were once slaves? How’d they live this long?
If they choose to hold themselves apart from national holidays, then they should likewise not benefit from being citizens. We are not (supposed to be) two separate, or indeed, 100 separate countries, one for each race and/or nationality. We are supposed to be the UNITED States. It really disgusts me that every immigrant group and many ethnic groups have devised for themselves little separate bubbles within which they live, conduct their business, etc. without having to deal with people outside of their own group. That is not what the founders had in mind!!
Come on America ... Trade your Nation for Illegals ... can’t you see obama and the democrats have your best interests in their hearts and their bullets? Yes, I gave up my /s a long time ago ... Hear them ... obama and the democrats along with some of these repubs ... It’s for the children! You Citizens be damned!!!!
if one follows the illegals they say you are a racist if you don't believe in their rights to what is yours. Doesn't sound like anything Martin Luther King Jr. would say but you are a racist and I am a racist according to those wanting what is yours.
Rare books. Scroll down for more.
http://www.amazon.com/Colored-Patriots-American-Revolution/dp/1453687424
We all know that there are some serious problems in our country, but regarding the question...hell yes they should celebrate Independence Day. Blacks fought and died in our Revolution.
My ancestors came to America as indentured servitude. Though it was voluntary and common for the time, it was little different from involuntary slavery. Black Americans of today should be thankful for the freedom they enjoy as a result of their fore-bearers being brought here involuntarily. Consider where you would be and how you would be living had your ancestors never been brought here.
We were freed from England - and some years later slaves were freed by their fellow Americans... It’s a victory.
That Douglas incident was well before the war and the freeing of the slaves.
That was precisely my point. Slavery still existed when he made that statement. He had a legitimate beef. No one since 1865 has that same legitimate beef.
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