What is Independence Day to the Children of The Enslaved?

This post is an updated post of the original piece posted July 4th, 2020.

It’s weird celebrating the 4th of July as a Black person, born and bred here.

When we think of Independence Day, most of us think of a day off, others of us think of fireworks, grilling, family, and friends. Some of us are enjoying block parties. Some of us are enjoying a backyard bbq. Some of us are enjoying the beach.

And there is not anything wrong with enjoying this holiday.

However, while we are enjoying the day, we ought to really stop to consider the historical implications and the resulting consequences of the day our Nation originally celebrated its independence.

Let’s be real: facts are that on July 4th, 1776, while the colonies of this country were celebrating Independence from the British, people, my people, Black people, were still considered cattle, not human beings. The Enslaved of a massive human trafficking ring begun in the TransAtlantic.

More painful is that many of those enslaved who fought for this nation’s freedom would earn for themselves none. Our people would NOT be free for another century. And that freedom was a loose definition.