Independence day..but for who?

July 4th is supposed to celebrate the freedom of America and her red, white, and blue...but not her Blackness...with the words of my peers and my own, I want to share what this day truly should symbolize.

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As July 4th approaches, I become more receptive and passionate about the idea of freedom for Black life. It was drilled into my head in my early primary years that on July 4th, 1776 America’s founding fathers, delegates of the 13 colonies, courageously signed the esteemed Declaration of Independence. What my educators left out of the historical picture was that the founding fathers who bravely fought for their freedom from the greedy British were that they were slave masters of vast estates. When I finally learned that my ancestors were enslaved during a time of revolution that was fueled by the dream of freedom over political structures, economics, and the ideal way of human life, I was confused and had to rethink everything I was instructed. It could no longer be muscle memory. A strong desire awakened in me to discover the authentic historical setting of Independence day.

Thomas Jefferson, founding father, second Vice President and third President of the United States of America, wrote in the Declaration of Independence, "All men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". As I embraced with open eyes the atrocities my ancestors endured, I began to see these famous words in infamy because I learned Jefferson and many other famous delegates of the thirteen colonies were slave masters. British essayist and writer from the colonial era wrote in his political pamphlet, The Patriot (1774), "How is it that we hear the loudest yelps from liberty from the drivers of Negroes?"

Emotions within that were filled with spite began to unravel, I no longer loved America, home of the free. This was in my past, my innocence. A Black professor, now Doctor of history, elaborately discussed how this mentality is problematic because many of the enslaved ancestors too yelped for the same liberty. Many lectures, she would say, "Like Langston Hughes, I, Too Sing America"

Again as I acknowledge the coming of another July 4th, I can't ignore the day of remembrance, but I can commemorate and honor all the ancestors who lived their days in bondage waiting for the taste of "the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

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Like in 1776, a revolution is arising that the ancestors and their descendants have long awaited for. As our revolution continues to grow stronger, I’ve been in the media’s presence. It has become the only unbiased coverage of our fight for life. I obtained the opportunity to interview my AUC (Atlanta University Center) peers who are involved in the revolution, whether it be through social media, organized protests, or sharing knowledge pertaining to the movement.

The Interviews:

As July 4th closely approaches, what themes come to mind?

(Monique Vaz, Spelman College Sophmore) It’s funny because growing up the fourth of July used to be one of my favorite holidays. I grew up in the DMV so I would always go

watch the fireworks in dc, a barbecue with my family, and more. This year will be

a completely different experience for reasons. 2020 is a completely different experience. Growing up, I was never really celebrating independence from Britain because how can you be free when not everyone is free. People who looked like me were still enslaved. My family is Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau and our countries did not become

independent until 1975. So the themes of freedom don’t come to mind. I think of

oppression.

What similarities do you think of when comparing the revolutionary war, and the Black lives matter movement

(Morehouse Student) Black Lives Matter VS Revolutionary War: Interesting comparison. I

think that both movements came as a result of repeated social violations and infractions

done against a people by its government, and it’s even more interesting that both have

happened in America, the supposed “Land of the Free.” Free for who, I wonder? They

also seemed to come at crucial times politically, when great change CAN actually be

made. However, BLM is a little less inclined to pick up the bullet, for historical reasons

and the real fear of retribution by not just our government, but by other Americans as

well. Black people are still a minority in this country.

(Ky'iana Stanley, Spelman College Sophmore) I believe in the Revolutionary War the colonists were convinced their rights were being infringed upon by Great Britain,and

they retaliated. The own spirit of the Declaration of Independence is heavily influenced

by The Second Treatise of Government, which was written by John Locke. His

philosophy underlined the people’s right to life, liberty, and property. If the rights were

not protected then the people have the right to rebel and overthrow the government.

Now the colonists were confronted with taxation without being represented. There was

obvious friction among the English and the colonists that were born in America.

However the Black Lives Matter Movement isn’t fighting off taxes or territory,we’re

fighting for our lives. The right for our humanity to be respected and recognized.

America has surpassed violating our rights to life,liberty,property,and even the pursuit

of happiness.However when a group has been marginalized for so long it becomes

almost impossible for the oppressor to unpack or even acknowledge what has

happened. Which is exactly where we are right now in history.

America’s founding fathers’ goal was that of freedom but instead founded our country in vain with cruelties of chattel slavery. There is a saying I heard that beauty can come from ugliness, do you believe beauty came to the enslavement of our ancestors?

(Monique Vaz, Spelman College Sophmore) No, I don’t think there is a beauty that came

from enslavement. I do not wanna glorify what they went through. I think our history as

black people around the world and it has shown us how resilient we are, how brave we

are, and more. Sometimes I think about this quote I saw on twitter that says “ god made

us black because he knew no one else could handle it” and while I think its a nice quote

we shouldn’t have to be able to handle it. It’s like when black women are called strong.

Yes we are and you cant take that away from us but we shouldn’t have to be so strong all

the time.

(Jeremiah La'Strap, Clark Atlanta University) Beauty coming from the enslavement of our

ancestors I believe wouldn’t be coming from our slavery days but the days that are

before us. 400yrs of pain and trauma... I believe there will never be beauty from that

inhumane history. What is beautiful is the beautiful Black babies that are being born into

this world and picking up where our ancestors left off. Not enslavement. The beauty is

within our future.

(Ky'iana Stanley, Spelman College Sophmore) There is no beauty found in the

enslavement of my ancestors. It is because of slavery that I can only trace back my

lineage to a certain point. I will say our people do have a talent for finding a reason to

laugh even in the lowest points of our lives or situations. We have definitely been

making lemonade for centuries. While spirits of endurance and remaining steadfast

have been passed down for generations, so has the transgenerational trauma.

(Morehouse Student) Beauty from enslavement: Interesting. I don’t know if beauty is the

right word, but it reminds me of the poem of the rose growing from the concrete. From

the collective pain we all experienced, we gained an identity that is rooted in a shared

trauma. From that trauma came many new avenues of self-expression out of necessity

more than anything. We didn’t have a choice BUT to start from nothing and rebuild

ourselves with nothing, because a people without an identity is nothing more than a

people to be acted upon. So from this reforming and reclaiming of ourselves, we

created an entire culture that damn near anybody in the diaspora can trace their roots

through (and are still creating it), and that’s incredible. I guess beauty did come from it.

Now we just have to get through the rest of our traumas (toxic masculinity, patriarchy,

homophobia, etc etc.)

What do you believe freedom is? And do you think the revolution occurring will achieve this goal?

(Jeremiah La'Strap, Clark Atlanta University) Freedom to me is Financial freedom.

Generational wealth and I say that because look at all the communities that are living in

poverty or low-income communities compared to the ones that are VERY well

established and the only thing that is holding them back is the decisions that they

decide to make. If Black people would be financially free that means our children

wouldn’t have to always work themselves from the ground up like our parents did. I feel

like as a community we need to get rid of the stigma of “you gotta get it yourself

because I did”. When white folks children have cars for their 16th birthday because of

mommy & daddy money.

(Ky'iana Stanley, Spelman College Sophmore) Freedom in theory is so easy to imagine

yet hard to define, because we have not truly felt it. However,I would like to believe that

freedom is not being afraid to go to sleep at night. When one is free they are not afraid

to wake up, and see the name of another

person that looks like them. Freedom is not having someone’s life, reduced to a

hashtag, because the courts refuse to serve justice. Freedom looks like walking to the

store and returning home. It’s going to sleep and waking up the next morning. Freedom

is when your murderers are held accountable for their actions, because according to the

sixth amendment you have the right to a fair and speedy trial. The revolution occurring

will aid in acquiring freedom, because it stops here. My grandmother was just 12 when

Emmett Till was lynched and murdered. I was 12 when Trayvon Martin was murdered.

This is no debate it has to stop here.

(Morehouse Student) What is freedom: I believe freedom, for an individual, is not just

the right, but the actual ability to pursue whatever way of life you deem for yourself

without fear of threat to life, liberty, or happiness. On a macro level, freedom is a

collective acceptance of those things that are different than us, while also being able to

appreciate those differences and still find similarities within each other to connect on.

We allow these differences because they contribute to our society.

(Monique Vaz, Spelman College Sophmore) I believe freedom is everyone being equal

under the eyes of the laws and each other. I believe freedom means you are not tied to

oppressive forces, systems, and powers. I think the revolution occurring now is on track

to achieving this goal there’s a problem. When I am community organizing I always think

about the poem First they came by Martin Niemoller.

First they came for the Communists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a trade unionist

Then they came for the Jews

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me

And there was no one left

To speak out for me

Our activism must be intersectional for many reasons but specifically for two reasons.

One reason is if you don’t fight for others who will fight for you when the oppressive

forces come also you would not want the places to be reversed and have no one fight

for you. I say all this to say that our movement needs to fight more for people other

than black men. Trans Black women are dying and many don’t seem to care. I think

when more people start being intersectional with their activism we will really achieve

freedom.

Langston Hughes poetically proclaimed, “I, Too Sing America”, when we all as a Black community have a seat at the table, how will you feel, how will you live, and finally will you be at peace?

(Jeremiah La'Strap, Clark Atlanta University) If we all as a Black community sat at the

Red Table. I feel like we will all be more knowledgeable about our past because these

stories are coming from people that look like us, connected to us, and been through it

for us so we can be where we are now. I would feel full if we sit at the table because

most Black people can't get past 3 generations without losing track of, who is who to

who. I believe I would be at peace because I know it didn’t start with me but to see

where it started would make me more complete as a Black man.

(Monique Vaz, Spelman College Sophmore) I think it depends on what you believe a

seat at the table means. To me when we as black people all have a seat at the table it

will just be the beginning. Yes, we are at the table but are the other people listening. I

think that everything that has happened this year is getting us the seat and some

people have had the seat but its what you do with it. Oprah Winfrey has had the seat,

Barack Obama has had the seat, Beyonce has had the seat. But what change did they

really create for other black people? I think when we all have the seat I will be proud of

all the work my community did.

(Ky'iana Stanley, Spelman College Sophmore)When we all have a seat at the table. I do

not want it to be conditional. I will be happy,

grateful, and at peace when justice is rightfully served in a timely manner to those who

have been failed by the United States. I plan on being apart of rebuilding Greenwood

(Black Wall Street) with a new generation of Black business owners, bankers, lawyers,

doctors, scientists, architects, artists, journalists, teachers, and athletes. While some

people may have had a 400-year start, the power of the Black dollar is significant. Look

at how many companies posted the “black square” and a few Black people from their

companies afterward. I want to be able to give my future kids somewhere to thrive. I

don’t want them growing up being the token Black friend or hating themselves because

of their identity. I want them to grow up with confidence and people that look like them.

We have waited with urgency for centuries for a chance to exist in peace. We shall not be moved till justice reign throughout America in her entity