black people don t celebrate july 4th what battle was before declaration of independence

An opportunity to reflect “Each year, I don’t just celebrate the birth of our country on July Fourth. PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (TND) — A columnist in Pennsylvania wrote in a couple of recent commentary articles that there are several reasons why Black people in America should not celebrate the Fourth Whether because of crowds, politics or a loss of patriotism, some Americans are conflicted about celebrating the Fourth of July. This essay explores the reasons why many African Americans may choose not to celebrate the Fourth of July, examining the historical context, contemporary challenges, and the psychological impact of this national holiday on the Black community. In fact, there are at least ten reasons why we should never celebrate July 4th. Let me count the ways: 1. America hated us even before July 4th, 1776. In fact, America started hating us when it began enslaving us in Virginia on Aug. 25, 1619. And it still hates us. For Black Americans, Independence Day Is Complicated July 4th celebrations remind some Black Americans of America's sordid racial past. Many Black Americans to this day continue to celebrate on July 5th, whether it’s because of Douglass’s speech, their family’s tradition, the ugly history of the Fourth of July, or some combination of those and other reasons. The 4th of July may be synonymous with cookouts and fireworks, but since its inception, Black Americans have marked the day with protest. For Black people, July 4 holds a complicated and largely I don’t really celebrate the Fourth of July. As a child, I was always emotionally apathetic to the spectacular display of fireworks and the school lessons on the history of America’s independence. Those Black Americans who choose not to celebrate July 4 should never be viewed or condoned as unpatriotic. Instead, they should be considered authentic Americans committed to reminding the United States that it has fallen short of the Declaration of Independence’s words of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” for all. 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. While white Americans celebrated their independence from Britain, millions of Black people were still enslaved, living without freedom, without rights, and without acknowledgment. In the context of celebrating American history, I believe the 4th of July represents an incomplete history. It doesn’t reflect the full truth about Black Americans at the time the However, not all Americans gained these rights on the 4th of July in 1776. Millions of Black enslaved people lived in the US at the time the Declaration of Independence was adopted. The U.S. is experiencing a reckoning over the fact that the promises of America are not fulfilled equally. Black Americans share how they experience patriotism ahead of the July Fourth celebration. A sparse crowd watches a fireworks show at Coney Island as part of the annual Macy's 4th of July celebration on June 29 in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Perspective by Jonathan Lande However, Black people who don't celebrate The Fourth of July abstain for a reason, this holiday commemorates not just America's freedom but their ancestors' bondage. For some Black Americans, refraining from celebrating the 4th of July is a way to reclaim independence and celebrate on their own terms. It is an opportunity to honor the resilience, resistance, and contributions of Black ancestors who fought for liberation and continue to strive for equality. When the Fourth of July Was a Black Holiday After the Civil War, African Americans in the South transformed Independence Day into a celebration of their newly won freedom. A growing number of African-American leaders are now advocating that Black people should celebrate Juneteenth instead of July 4th. Juneteenth, celebrated just a few weeks before the 4th of July, is the holiday commemorating the true liberation of enslaved African Americans.

black people don t celebrate july 4th what battle was before declaration of independence
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