I talked with family and friends
across the county and concluded that the 4th
of July hit differently this year. Even if
they were not aware of Frederick Douglass’
scathing rebuke of the holiday in 1852, they
would agree that the nation never looked
blacker, or in 2026, things have never
looked bleaker.
On the nation’s 250th birthday,
people of African descent had little to
celebrate. Most had an attitude. More hot
dogs, fewer steaks on the grill. There were
cutbacks on the fireworks. No new red, white
and blue outfits for the occasion. No
outside recreational activities, it was
cheaper to stay home.
There was very little flag-waving
going on. This was confirmed by a survey
conducted by the Associated Press-NORC
Center for Public Affairs Research taken
just before this year’s celebration. They
found that only about 3 in 10 Black folks
say they ever display the American flag. Our
patriotism manifests differently.
Black folks see the handwriting on
the wall. We know when America sneezes, we
get the flu. We have always wanted to take
the government at its word, only to be
slapped upside the head with broken
promises. Despite laws on the books, Black
people have lost land, sacred institutions,
intellectual property, and our lives. And
now under the MAGA regime, we’ve witnessed
the erosion of civil rights, including the
coveted right to vote, pushing us to the
bottom of the economic ladder, and in
general, making our lives unbearable.
Through it all, we have shown
remarkable resilience and strength in the
face of persistent barbarism. Descendants
have contributed significantly to this
nation, making undeniable sacrifices that
have strengthened its moral, political,
cultural, and economic fabric.
Black people must constantly
evaluate our relationship with those who
have oppressed us, regardless of how
normalized it has become. If we are to have
a sobering forecast of the future, it must
always start with our past.
“What to the Slave Is the Fourth of
July?” clearly was meant for white folks.
Douglass was also trying to tell us
something. He reminded us that the impact of
chattel slavery is ugly and real, but it was
never our destiny.
Trump and his MAGA monsters cannot
make America great again. We are poised for
some difficult times ahead. Douglass
believed we were built for the task.
“Whate’er the peril or the cost,” he
encouraged, “be driven.”
