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The United States is a nation founded on both an ideal and a lie. Our Declaration of Independence, approved on July 4, 1776, proclaims that “all men are created equal” and “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” But the white men who drafted those words did not believe them to be true for the hundreds of thousands of Black people in their midst. “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” did not apply to fully one-fifth of the country. Yet despite being violently denied the freedom and justice promised to all, Black Americans believed fervently in the American creed. Through centuries of Black resistance and protest, we have helped the country live up to its founding ideals. And not only for ourselves — Black rights struggles paved the way for every other rights struggle, including women’s and gay rights, immigrant and disability rights.
Without the idealistic, strenuous and patriotic efforts of Black Americans, our democracy today would most likely look very different — it might not be a democracy at all.
*
Once again, Black Americans are leading the way, creating an opportunity for this deeply messed-up country to change and do better. Gratitude is too paltry a word to express my feelings for such persistence and courage in the face of such continuous, callous brutality.
What I am doing: Listening. Supporting Project Zero, joining the NAACP, donating to Black Lives Matter Cleveland and bail funds. Talking to my kid, talking to my friends, talking to my family. Moving forward, messily and imperfectly, in the work of trying to live an anti-racist life.
What I am doing: Listening. Supporting Project Zero, joining the NAACP, donating to Black Lives Matter Cleveland and bail funds. Talking to my kid, talking to my friends, talking to my family. Moving forward, messily and imperfectly, in the work of trying to live an anti-racist life.
