The signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, represents a momentous occasion in American history. On the same day in 1777, a celebration commemorating the independence of a young nation would be held. The authors of the Declaration were well aware of the ideals to which every sovereign nation should aspire. Thomas Jefferson wrote the famous line of the Declaration: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
The contrast between this national celebration of independence and the condition of those still in the bonds of slavery wouldn’t be lost on Abolitionist Frederick Douglas, who, in a speech delivered on July 5, 1852, asked his audience, “What to the slave is the Fourth of July?” Douglas’s speech, delivered in Corinth Hall in Rochester, New York, was a scathing rebuke to those celebrating independence. Douglas continued, “The Fourth of July is yours, not mine; you may rejoice, I must mourn.”
The speech, delivered thirteen years before the Emancipation Proclamation, which ended slavery, was a righteous rebuke to those who lived at that time.
Even now, over 170 years after Douglas delivered that speech, some still perceive the Fourth of July through the same lens he once did, giving us pause to reflect on the significance of this holiday. In what follows, I will show that historically, Blacks have always celebrated the freedom represented by the Fourth of July.
Black Historic Revisionism
NBA Professional Lebron James, arguably one of the most recognized men on the planet—not to mention one of the wealthiest—took to Twitter after the Ahmaud Arbery shooting to declare, “We’re literally hunted every day/every time we step foot outside the comfort of our homes!”
Similarly, many social justice advocates who agree with James use the images of former slaves as props to tell their tale of ongoing modern-day oppression. These cultural influencers see no benefit in portraying those who endured historical oppression as victors who surmounted incredible odds.
In 2016, American Christian hip-hop artist Lecrae posted a photo to Twitter that he claimed was of his family in 1776; however, it was a picture of random black individuals standing in a cotton field.
Since 1870, Independence Day has been recognized as a federal holiday. Recently, President Joe Biden declared Juneteenth, a celebration of the abolition of slavery in Texas, a national holiday. Some have suggested June 19th, the day to celebrate Juneteenth, is equally important as Independence Day.
Long before the current debate about how we should view the Fourth of July, social justice advocates who disdained the holiday would take to Twitter, tweeting that the United States is still a racist nation. Often, a discussion about historical slavery, Jim Crow, and the treatment of those perceived as victims of an oppressive nation follow.
Change We Should Recognize
Sadly, many social media influencers who are successful in their own right appear unaware of the cognitive dissonance between their fame, popularity, and prosperity—and the belief that oppression exists everywhere around them.
Yet the differences between 1776, 1852, and 2023 could not be more drastic. In the late 1800s, the survivors of slavery and real oppression looked to overcome their status; however, in 2023, those experiencing the rich rewards of success grip the chains of oppression for the advantage it provides. Today, images of slavery serve the woke as punchline props to garner sympathy for the oppression they’ve never experienced.
Today, our culture honors keyboard warriors who signal their virtue with a sanctimonious tweet to the applause of the masses. Instead, society could use the courageous stories of those who, at the risk of their lives, overcame the odds to secure freedom. A brief examination of 1776 would bring many of these stories to light.
Untold History
Historians estimate that between 5,000 and 8,000 blacks participated in the American Revolution on the patriots’ side. In addition, stories abound of the heroism of blacks fighting on behalf of the colonies while fighting for their own emancipation.
James Armistead, born a slave in Virginia in 1748, is one such man. At the time of the American Revolution, Armistead, with the promise of freedom, decided to fight for the patriots and was permitted to do so by his master. James Armistead would become one of American history’s most famous double agents. The British accepted Armistead, who claimed to be a runaway slave, giving him increasingly essential roles and information.
This information would be quickly returned to the patriots and eventually given to Gen. George Washington, commander of the Continental Army. Washington would ultimately use the details provided by Armistead to create a blockade that kept British forces from being equipped to continue the war. As a result, Armistead is credited with directly aiding the final surrender of the British army at Yorktown on October 19, 1781.
Upon returning home from the war, Armistead learned that the State of Virginia had not kept its promise to free him from slavery. It would be necessary for Armistead’s commanding officer, General Marquis de Lafayette, to send a letter confirming James’ crucial contribution to securing the freedom that everyone enjoyed. After receiving his release, James Armistead lived as a free man but changed his name to James Armistead Lafayette to honor the man who helped him obtain his freedom.
Conclusion
The path of history is not always a straight line. However, the bravery, fortitude, and patience of men who made history should never be used as a punchline for the self-indulgent behavior of the woke. Men like James Armistead Lafayette are too weighty for that; they worked too hard, risked too much, and fought far too long to secure the freedom we enjoy today.
While men like Frederick Douglas are to be respected and admired for their bravery in speaking the truth, even Douglas would be amazed by what can be accomplished in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
As we consider the celebration of the Fourth of July, black Americans can examine the past and acknowledge that the United States has not always lived up to the ideals contained in its founding documents. However, viewing history with the sole purpose of seeing injustice would be inadequate, apart from acknowledging that America’s founding documents also contained the truths that enabled blacks to experience freedom. The very concept of self-evident truths pertains to God’s general revelation to humanity (Rom. 1:18–23) that all men are created equal (Gen. 1:26). As a result, we would see wrongs made right, and the evils of decades of racism would stop under the guidance of this light of truth.
While the struggle for equality and freedom would be a long road for many blacks, the fundamental truths established by the Declaration of Independence made possible the freedom we enjoy today. With this truth, we can all join in the fourth stanza of the song, “My Country Tis of Thee”:
Our fathers’ God to Thee,
Author of Liberty,
To thee, we sing,
Long may our land be bright,
With Freedom’s holy light,
Protect us by thy might,
Great God, our King.
