Reflections on Freedom, Frederick Douglass & The 4th of July
Hope Infusion Newsletter • July 4th Edition
Frederick Douglass’ renowned and often cited 4th of July Speech, was not actually delivered on the 4th of July.
As a Black man born into slavery, he recognized the troublesome optics of his participation in a freedom celebration while millions of fellow Blacks remained enslaved. He insisted that it be delivered on July 5th instead.
I re-visit this fiery work of oratorical brilliance each year because the indignation it so eloquently expresses, echoes the sentiment that led me to stop celebrating July 4th as a holiday, though I have no issue with those who choose otherwise.
I spent most of my life participating on autopilot, blindly accepting the commonly espoused characterization of the founders as “devout Christians” who established the nation on a foundation of “godly principles.”
And then I embarked on a journey of discovery and historical exploration into the many whitewashed, distorted, and glossed over facets of American History that I was never taught in school.
And in so doing, I learned the truth about the founder’s ACTIONS pertaining to Black and Indigenous people.
I read original writings detailing some of the founders’ white supremacist views penned by their OWN hands in their OWN words.
And I awoke to the realization that NONE of their lofty proclamations regarding liberty, justice, and freedom were intended to include my ancestors who they deemed sub-human, inferior beings, NOR the Indigenous whom they regarded as savages.
I read the Declaration of Independence anew today, taking note of the interwoven references to God and Divine Providence.
The boldness with which a divine right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, was asserted as providential while concurrently denied to the enslaved is the height of religious hypocrisy.
Douglass struck at the heart of this paradox with rhetorical brilliance as evidenced by these excerpts from his speech:
170 years later, my people are thankfully no longer enslaved. Nonetheless, I marvel at the extent to which racism is ascendant, revisionist history is rampant, and efforts at violent sedition, and governmental overthrow are widely lauded and encouraged.
Sometimes I have to take a pause, to look away, to refrain from the news, to turn a blind eye to the headlines lest I be overwhelmed and consumed by the all of it. Sometimes I have to stop the slow drip of despair, and replenish my inner reserves from the free flowing faucet of hope.
I DRAW HOPE from the generational resilience passed down to me by my ancestors.
I DRAW HOPE from being in close community with the justice minded.
I DRAW HOPE from the infectious enthusiasm of young friends who are aware in their youth of things it took me half a century to realize.
I DRAW HOPE from a deep well of white friends who demonstrate their commitment to allyship and anti-racism through words and deeds
I DRAW HOPE from my own past poetic reflections: