My favorite day over the summer, besides my birthday, is Independence Day, better known as Fourth of July. Getting together with family over some good food, delicious popsicles, tasty daiquiris (virgin, of course) and beautiful fireworks has gotta be the highlight of the summer season. I didn't realize that it wasn't the same for some people up until last summer.
For many black people, Fourth of July is just another day. No celebrating, no fireworks, no get-togethers, no fun.
Fourth of July represents Independence Day which is when America's 13 colonies became a new nation. On July 4th, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed as America's official declaration of independence (literally) from the British Empire.
The most popular line from the Declaration of Independence:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
"All men are created equal"
At this time, all men were not treated equally. In fact, black people and other minorities were still enslaved by white people. So who was really free?
It's not hard to understand why today, after so many years, some people still don't celebrate the national holiday. I'm not trying to spoil anyone's holiday with my own thoughts and I'm certainly not trying to come off as unpatriotic. In fact, up until high school, I made it my mission to wear something with the American flag on it every Fourth of July.
While black men were allowed to fight in America's wars, they weren't allowed equal freedoms as those of white men at this time. They weren't allowed independence.
So why do I, a black girl, celebrate a holiday that did not benefit my ancestors in any way? Because no matter if I'm white, black, brown, or yellow, I'm an American.
As I mentioned before, the holiday is about having fun. It's about barbecues out back, swimming in the lake, baseball in the park, fireworks at night and enjoying family and friends.
Most importantly, it's about enjoying the freedom that we have now. Yes, black people were slaves while whites were free and enjoying their tea and independence but everything that happened in the past has only made what we have today possible.
America is nowhere near being a perfect nation but it's our home. We live among each other as African American, Asian American, Mexican American and Native American and that's what makes our country what it is.
We're the big melting pot with a little bit of everything in it and I'm proud to be an American.
