What is it in history?
2007-02-22 06:35:39 · 25 answers · asked by Michelle G 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Some of you people really know nothing about history.That was the day when america gain independence yes, but blacks at that time were still enslaved, so should they really participate in the celebration? Why when the blacks got freed didn't they declare that a holiday them? For all the white people you are not forced to celebrate black history month, you choose to.So I say black people know your history and what all these dates mean and if they mean anything to you.
2007-02-23 06:27:52 · update #1
Some of you people really know nothing about history.That was the day when america gain independence yes, but blacks at that time were still enslaved, so should they really participate in the celebration? Why when the blacks got freed didn't they declare that a holiday them? For all the white people you are not forced to celebrate black history month, you choose to.So I say black people know your history and what all these dates mean and if they mean anything to you.
2007-02-23 06:28:03 · update #2
Some of you people really know nothing about history.That was the day when america gain independence yes, but blacks at that time were still enslaved, so should they really participate in the celebration? Why when the blacks got freed didn't they declare that a holiday them? For all the white people you are not forced to celebrate black history month, you choose to.So I say black people know your history and what all these dates mean and if they mean anything to you.
2007-02-23 06:28:23 · update #3
The 4th of July celebrates the liberation of wealthy colonial slave owners from the bondage of British taxation without representation. It did absolutely NOTHING for the slaves. That the US, unlike the state of Virginia, cannot even bring itself to apologize for the historical legacy and continuing impact of slavery shows just how little this nation has really progressed in truly creating a society where all men and women are considered equal. The simple fact is the US will be at least another fifty years before it even seriously considers reparations, which will most like resemble rather inadequate honorarium than sincere funds, despite the fact that it has paid reparations to a number of groups including the survivors of the Japanese-American internment camps of WWII.
2007-03-02 04:11:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
The 4th of July represents a celebration of INDEPENDENCE. The purpose of Independence Day is not personal freedom, per se, but rather collective independence of the colonies (later states) from the English monarchy.
It can be argued that one does not exist without the other, strengthening any argument that blacks were not deemed free until President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on New Year's Day, 1863. Or you could consider that this wasn't even final until the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (6 Dec 1865), that officially eradicated slavery by law.
However, there isn't an American alive today that was oppressed under American slavery before the Presidential proclamation or even the 13th Amendment (black or otherwise). It is important to note that all Americans alive today, and even slaves oppressed prior to the 13th Amendment, are/were independent from the English monarchy as of 4 July 1776.
Therefore, I don't see why all Americans would not celebrate collective independence on 4 July.
If some wish to celebrate FREEDOM on New Year's Day or 6 December, that's great too. I think we should embrace our freedom every day...or at least think about what it means and who continues to fight for that freedom on behalf of the rest of us.
2007-02-22 06:40:59 · answer #2 · answered by CPT Jack 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Michelle,
Interesting question.
The Fourth of July is called (and celebrated as) Independence Day NOT because America gained its Independence that day (we didn't... we had to fight a war to get the British to let us go) but because the Declaration of Independence was signed on that day.
Ironically, it is the Declaration of Independence (not the constitution, sorry MLK, Jr.) that says "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights...among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
One of the USA's great historical ironies (and shames) is that many of the men who signed that document owned other human beings... slaves who didn't own their own lives and certainly weren't free or able to pursue happiness at will.
That is why some African Americans choose not to celebrate the 4th of July and celebrate Juneteenth, instead. Some, however, celebrate both.
The 4th of July is on that date because of the Declaration, but it's not really about that anymore... it's more about celebrating our nation and our gratitude to be Americans. It's important to note that only some people didn't have access to the Independence declared in 1776; but I'm grateful that the things written in the Declaration have (after long, painful, and difficult struggles) finally become accessable to most Americans.
I don't celebrate our rebellion as a British Colony, I celebrate things like the fact that our Constitution has a Bill of rights and that (at least for the moment) we have things like due process in our judicial system, and a free education available to all through High School, and the power of our vote, and the chance to make our voices heard...
I celebrate the fact that I am allowed to fight to make this nation what it should be... that we can all speak out against injustice ... that you can stand up and say "My ancestors weren't included in the Declaration!" and not be spirited away in the night by the government for doing so.
I also celebrate the fact that you are free to celebrate or not celebrate as you choose. It really is up to YOU.
2007-02-22 07:08:27 · answer #3 · answered by bumsteadowl 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well if you don't want to celebrate the 4th of July it is your god given right as an American. However, it's not about what color you are, some slaves WERE free during the Revolutionary War. Others fought in the war and earned our country's freedom. I know that I'm white and I might not go through the different hardships that African Americans may, but aren't you disappointing the African Americans that actually did fight in that war and bring freedom to the country?
2007-02-23 07:42:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
4th of July is when Americans gained there freedom, pretty much the birth of America, but, the African Americans did not gain there freedom, and that was wrong, because they were Americans too, now some black do celebrate 4th of July, but theres no point because of our past ignorant country
i agree anymore then they or the American indians should celebrate Columbus day since Columbus was a slave trader!!
2007-02-22 06:45:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't celebrate the 4th of July because it means nothing to me. No one that looked like me was free on that day. That day is a celebration of freedom that my ancestors didn't have. That's like celebrating the birthday of someone you don't even know. And as far as not being loyal to the US, I'm a decorated war veteran. And for all the folks mentioning the Emancipation Proclamation as freeing the slaves....I'm from KY and it did nothing here! That was only for the states that were in rebellion.
2007-02-22 06:43:23 · answer #6 · answered by Lish 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think we SHOULD celebrate the Fourth of July. YES, we have been through a lot of discrimination, hatred,etc. BUT... we are African AMERICANS... We are a part of America. America is a part of us. It may at times be a love/hate relationship. But that relationship is there!
2016-05-23 23:29:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Indendependence Day supposedly made all Americans free from British rule.. and African Americans even fought alongside whites, and yet they didn't get the freedom they helped fight for... they were still not free even after they had just "won freedom"... so why should they celebrate when they didn't actually get their freedom on that day? I wouldn't celebrate.
And just to let "mrsgregpax" who answered above me in on a little secret... we have a black history month b/c ALL of the rest of the year is WHITE...
2007-02-22 07:05:51 · answer #8 · answered by F.J. 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The idea is that blacks were not free on this date. June 19th (or Juneteenth as it is called) is the day when all blacks were free. People believe that because we weren't free we shouldn't "celebrate" the 4th of July.
But really what does anyone do on the 4th but pop fireworks and eat BBQ? That's really all the "celebrating" that is involved.
2007-02-22 06:42:48 · answer #9 · answered by JT 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
4th of July is when Americans gained there freedom, pretty much the birth of America, but, the African Americans did not gain there freedom, and that was wrong, because they were Americans too, now some black do celebrate 4th of July, but theres no point because of our past ignorant country.
2007-02-22 06:39:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋