Right or wrong, slavery was a part of the founding of the United States, and later, the Confederate States. I am uncomfortable with it, but the Declaration of Independence was written to defend, among other things, the peculiar institution. You do know that, don't you?
Can you show us what part of the DoI was written to defend slavery?
But in 1964 we’re not talking about slaves, are we? We’re talking about citizens who are being systematically excluded from any voice in their government. You know, sorta like the founders complained about in the Declaration. What recourse would you suggest to them?
Would you agree with your Confederate brethren of 1861 that the Declaration of Independence applied only to white men and its guarantees for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness did not apply to free blacks?