Comments on: Frederick Douglass: The 1852 Speech on the Meaning of the Fourth of July http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2009/07/04/frederick-douglass-the-1852-speech-on-the-meaning-of-the-fourth-of-july/ Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:13:41 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Bambi http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2009/07/04/frederick-douglass-the-1852-speech-on-the-meaning-of-the-fourth-of-july/comment-page-1/#comment-8242 Bambi Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:05:44 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=2780#comment-8242 Amazing how words spoken so long ago still apply today! While I do not struggle with physical slavery; I do struggle with the financial slavery created by the racial wage gap, educational slavery created by resegregation, degree inflation, and tracking, and mental slavery created by the white elite mentality that dominates American culture. And yet, I still celebrated the independence of a nation that is dedicated to the oppression of my own people. Amazing how words spoken so long ago still apply today! While I do not struggle with physical slavery; I do struggle with the financial slavery created by the racial wage gap, educational slavery created by resegregation, degree inflation, and tracking, and mental slavery created by the white elite mentality that dominates American culture. And yet, I still celebrated the independence of a nation that is dedicated to the oppression of my own people.

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]]> By: Seattle in Texas http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2009/07/04/frederick-douglass-the-1852-speech-on-the-meaning-of-the-fourth-of-july/comment-page-1/#comment-8240 Seattle in Texas Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:29:40 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=2780#comment-8240 This is really a wonderful post. I hope everybody who read this yesterday, or who have heard those words above prior, thought about them last night during the celebrations. And I hope that parents, regardless of color or ethnicity, or generational history, in this nation, teach them to their children. Frederick Douglass we shall not forget. Thank you, This is really a wonderful post. I hope everybody who read this yesterday, or who have heard those words above prior, thought about them last night during the celebrations. And I hope that parents, regardless of color or ethnicity, or generational history, in this nation, teach them to their children. Frederick Douglass we shall not forget. Thank you,

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]]> By: Kristen http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2009/07/04/frederick-douglass-the-1852-speech-on-the-meaning-of-the-fourth-of-july/comment-page-1/#comment-8239 Kristen Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:32:26 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=2780#comment-8239 Joe, I truly appreciate this post. Douglass's words cut deep, and I am humbled by his bravery. For the past couple years I have been telling select people that I'm "boycotting" the 4th of July. I don't know a lot of patriots; the people I tell always hear me out on my reasoning as to why I can't celebrate a beyond-hypocritical "Independence" Day. They see my point right away, but I imagine few to none are moved. I even joined friends to watch fireworks last night, and I withheld my applause at the grand finale, but how's that for failing to make a statement? This year I fancied myself a positive person by awaking on the 4th with the idea for an alternative holiday I dubbed Happy Summer, a celebration "for everyone" on the first weekend of July, dedicated to the wonders of warm weather and inclusivity or something. (Yeah, I know, I didn't quite have it all worked out.) But your thought is much better: "We should remember those now and from the past who fought racism most on this day to celebrate freedom." I am reminded now of John Brown's insistence to fly the American flag. One of the problems with my lame Happy Summer idea is that it doesn't directly challenge the hypocrisy of the Declaration of Independence; it doesn't assert: We are Americans and we can be better. Let's celebrate those who have inspired us to be self-critical and whose bravery has forced us time and again to address our failure to live up to our highest ideals. Joe, I truly appreciate this post. Douglass’s words cut deep, and I am humbled by his bravery. For the past couple years I have been telling select people that I’m “boycotting” the 4th of July. I don’t know a lot of patriots; the people I tell always hear me out on my reasoning as to why I can’t celebrate a beyond-hypocritical “Independence” Day. They see my point right away, but I imagine few to none are moved. I even joined friends to watch fireworks last night, and I withheld my applause at the grand finale, but how’s that for failing to make a statement?

This year I fancied myself a positive person by awaking on the 4th with the idea for an alternative holiday I dubbed Happy Summer, a celebration “for everyone” on the first weekend of July, dedicated to the wonders of warm weather and inclusivity or something. (Yeah, I know, I didn’t quite have it all worked out.) But your thought is much better: “We should remember those now and from the past who fought racism most on this day to celebrate freedom.” I am reminded now of John Brown’s insistence to fly the American flag. One of the problems with my lame Happy Summer idea is that it doesn’t directly challenge the hypocrisy of the Declaration of Independence; it doesn’t assert: We are Americans and we can be better. Let’s celebrate those who have inspired us to be self-critical and whose bravery has forced us time and again to address our failure to live up to our highest ideals.

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