As we prepare to enjoy the Fourth of July commemoration – a day often observed by indulgence and in many cases the overindulgence in food, drink and spirited celebration – let us not forget what the day means particularly for the African American community. July 4, 1776 is the officially recognized day of the signing of The Declaration of Independence.
In 1776, the purpose of the Declaration of Independence was to announce and explain why the founding Thirteen Colonies were separating from England. Perhaps unintended and unbeknownst to the founders at the time, The Declaration of Independence became a clear and concise written mantra of the moral standard to which the United States should hold itself accountable. The Declaration of Independence became the infinite supply of ammunition for those opposing slavery.
Plantation Slavery Abolished
While America has not come close to satisfying its contractual obligation to make complete payment on the check previously marked insufficient funds, the America we live in today is unquestionably better than the plantation America our ancestors endured. Thankfully, due to the blood, sweat and tears of our ancestors, African Americans are in a “relatively” improved position to live out the creed: “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”.
Unfortunately, even with relative improvement, too many in our community remain disenfranchised and disillusioned. And it cannot be understated that the feelings of marginalization and dissatisfaction are both justifiable and real. Yet, I can’t but wonder at times – having grown up like so many of us with only a plastic spoon – if we too often gulp from the cup of half empty as opposed to sipping from the cup of half full.
I share what the elders shared with me when I gulped from the cup of half empty. It is our perception of the half cup that becomes our truth – half empty or half full. Either way the cup is the same half cup.
Novel Idea
On July 4th, while many of us are celebrating our day off, doing things such as watching fireworks, attending parades, and barbecuing, I would encourage us to look at our community in historical context. We’ve come a long way with unarguably a great distance left to march. A march that might be made a bit less taxing if we remember that the Declaration of Independence is not just a historical document but it is a living document that is as relevant to our freedom today as it was when it was initially written.
The Founding Fathers may not have originally intended The Declaration of Independence to apply to our ancestors, but today the Declaration applies to us. Legally we are no longer the Three-Fifths Compromised Americans. We are not Africans callously exiled and brutally shipped to America. We are no longer the black gold miners who lined the pockets of America’s plantation owners. We are African-Americans.
As Americans we have the right to hold America accountable for her promises. Likewise, as Americans, we are endowed with the responsibility to do our part to make the “Declaration” a manifest truth in our community.
In order to make the cup of America runneth over for all Americans, we should consider the words of the late great Michael Jackson – “If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place, Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change”. The following are three declarations we have complete independence to enact:
1. Rights Come With Responsibilities
It is time that our community once again be known as a model of righteousness and not the undisputed champion cynic of socio-economic and racial privilege. We can start acknowledging our just requirement by remembering the phrase “to whom much is given is much required”. A requirement that includes the gift of children and our responsibilities to our children.
Last week the American Academy of Pediatrics announced new guidelines to encourage doctors to share ideas with parents to reduce the growing word gap. American children who grow up in low income households have a vocabulary that is thirty million words fewer than their middle to high income classmates. Just in case, the number was not powerful enough the first time, I’ll share it a second way – 30,000,000.
Sixty- five percent of black children live in low-income homes. What does this all mean? It means that we have shirked our responsibilities to simply read to our own children and allowed 65% of our children to suffer a 30 million word gap. A word gap that is unlikely to ever be made up. A word gap that will likely follow our children around and significantly limit their ability to live out this country’s creed.
While we chastise others for not doing enough for us, we haven’t done the simplest of things – read aloud to our children. Slaves died attempting to read. A word gap today is inexcusable.
2. Respect Life
The first of the unalienable rights outlined in the “Declaration” is Life. We rightfully want and should expect America to respect African American life. On the other hand, we must not ignore that rights and responsibilities are a two way street.
Regrettably, more than half the nation’s homicide victims are African-American, though blacks make up only 13% of the population. Ninety-four percent of the time African Americans are killed, we are killed by one of our own. For the social apologists, call it what you like. For the self-appointed community guardians, try to explain it away if you choose. The sad truth is not EVERYONE in our community respects life.
If we want others to honor our rights and if we expect others to treat us responsibly, we should give them no pause not to do so. When we willing disrespect our life and take the lives of our own what can we expect from those with a historical tradition, social tendency and economic incentive to do?
We need a Zero Tolerance for murder and mayhem in our community.
3. Liberty Means Freedom for ALL
The second unalienable right outlined in the “Declaration” is Liberty. Liberty is autonomy, authorization and permission to live one’s life as we see fit. Liberty is granted so that we can walk the path of our own choosing and march to the beat of our own drummer.
However, liberty does not give African American parents’ permission to lock our child in a basement for more than a year. Last week, Atlanta authorities found a thirteen year old boy living in an 8 x 6 small basement room with no light bulb, a mattress, a box spring and a bucket for a toilet. His parents had confined him and later locked him in the basement.
Liberty does not give us the authority to brutally beat, kick and spit on another human being. Latia Harris, an African American woman, did the aforementioned last week when she viciously assaulted her McDonalds’ co-worker. Ms. Harris executed her assault as her co-workers 2 year old son watched. If watching your mother be beaten is not horrific enough, the 2 year old was introduced to a further appalling segment of the populace – those in our community who stand, watch and record the mistreatment of another human being.
Liberty comes with a cost – freedom for all. The African American community must stridently condone when we constrict another’s liberty just as urgently as we shout foul when our liberties are compressed.
Happy Fourth of July
The third unalienable right conferred by the “Declaration” is the pursuit of happiness. Although, happiness is not truly a right. There is no guarantee of happiness. Happiness is a state of being. Happiness is a conscious decision. Happiness is an individual responsibility.
This 4th of July do yourself and the community a favor and accept the responsibility to fulfill the “Declaration” which includes pursuing happiness.
Fulfill the “Declaration” and pursue happiness so that WE can be better. Pursue happiness to improve the community, to change the world.
Pursue happiness recognizing the equality of all humanity so that others who dare misinterpret the “Declaration” will know from the example of the African American community – that the “truths are self-evident” and happiness ONLY exists when experienced by ALL and is not mistakenly attempted as a result of the social, racial and economic sufferings of others.