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Exploring the complex relationship between Black Americans and the Fourth of July, highlighting the history of slavery and the Declaration of Independence. For Black Americans, Independence Day Is Complicated July 4th celebrations remind some Black Americans of America's sordid racial past. The first 4th of July occurred more than 86 years before Black Americans were freed from slavery, so what does the holiday mean to us? Discover the often overlooked history of July 4th for Black Americans and its ongoing relevance in the fight for social justice. July 4 th is around the corner. It’s an occasion when Americans traditionally pause and reflect on our nation’s past. Page writes that the city’s first Black Fourth of July celebration occurred in 1866, just two months after the Memphis massacre in which white mobs killed forty-six African Americans. The first 4th of July occurred more than 86 years before Black Americans were freed from slavery, so what does the holiday mean to us? The 4th of July may be synonymous with cookouts and fireworks, but since its inception, Black Americans have marked the day with protest. The 4th of July is a federal holiday in the United States that commemorates the Continental Congress’s signing of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. Take some time to explore the objects, images, documents and media that explore the Fourth of July in relation to the African Americans from the Revolutionary War to the modern day. Questions to deepen exploration are embedded into each of the squares. For Black and Brown LGBTQ+ individuals, the Fourth of July can be a reminder of the intersectional battles they face. Despite the advances made, these communities continue to experience higher rates of violence, discrimination, and exclusion. Use 4th of July quotes to remember the reason for the holiday, create a sparkling social media post or send Independence wishes to friends and family. While July 4 celebrates our country’s founding, Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, is viewed by some in the Black community as the nation’s Independence Day. The Fourth became an almost exclusively African American holiday in the states of the former Confederacy—until white Southerners, after violently reasserting their dominance of the region Throughout the 1800s, Black Americans used the July Fourth to argue for emancipation and full citizenship, making the case that Black citizens – free and enslaved – had as much right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as white people. Southern 4th of July desserts Check out these mouthwatering dessert recipes for the 4th of July, from red velvet cake to cherished African American desserts like sweet potato pie and peach cobbler. These sweet Southern treats will surely delight your taste buds and provide the cherry on top of your entire celebration menu! According to The Atlantic, the 4th of July "became an almost exclusively African American holiday in the states of the former Confederacy - until white Southerners, after violently reasserting their dominance of the region, snuffed these Black commemorations out." The National Museum of African American History and Culture explains the Fourth of July is an occasion for all Americans to mark the nation's independence and its paradox. What is Independence Day for African-Americans? Many Black Americans can not seem to forget this historical trauma of slavery, which has somehow shaped how they perceive and experience the 4th of July, even decades after emancipation. On July 5, 1852, Douglass stood boldface before an all-white crowd and asked, “What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July?” Ten years later, on July 4, in the middle of the Civil War, he spoke again.
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