by Freeda Cathcart
Big cities and little towns united in patriotic red, white and blue to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Many chose to read the entire Declaration of Independence. The complaints against King George in the document echo through time for their relevancy to the rising angst for the current administration.
The Founders worked hard to create a republic with checks and balances that would have the tools to peacefully overthrow a tyrant. They gave Congress the power to raise and spend money as well as the power to declare war. The House of Representatives has the shortest term in office, two years. This results in the people having the power to hold their representatives accountable for their votes.
While hundreds of volunteers hoisted up a 700 pound banner of the Constitution and carried it through the streets of DC on July 4 chanting “86 47,” the mainstream media ignored them and focused on the masked white supremacist’s Patriot Front march in DC. Thus fulfilling the prophecy that “the revolution will not be televised” by Black poet and musician Gilbert Scott-Heron.
MSNOW aired Jonathan Capehart’s interview with historian Ken Burns on July 4th. Burns spoke about the flaws in the Founders and how the aristocracy’s desire for liberty caused them to build a strong, diverse movement to overthrow tyranny. That victorious union led to the creation of the Constitution. Burns said that people who think this is the worst it’s ever been need to learn more about our violent history and that we were more divided as a country during the American Revolution, The Civil War and the Vietnam War. The inspiring interview is available for free by searching for “‘There’s only us, there’s no them’: Ken Burns shares his hope for the future of America.”
The Essence Festival of Culture drew the largest turnout since its inception. It started in 1995 as a celebration for the 25th anniversary of Essence magazine. It’s evolved to an annual 4th of July tradition attracting around 500 million people each year. Dr. Bernice A. King and Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz, the daughters of civil rights icons Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, kicked off this year’s festival with a conversation on legacy, leadership and resilience. They were followed by superstars such as Michelle Obama and Cardi B.
The Essence Festival of Culture was in sharp contrast to the President’s attempt to hijack our 250th celebration with his sparsely attended Freedom 250 Great American State Fair that had artists cancel when they learned it wasn’t the bi-partisan America 250 commissioned by Congress. Mother Nature weighed in with extreme heat and severe weather. Lightning delayed the president’s speech and fireworks until almost midnight.
NYC celebrated the 250th with a parade of over 20 tall ships from around the world sailing majestically up the Hudson River. People lined the river to wave and cheer at the ships. Several tall ships docked at Pier 86 next to the Intrepid Air and Space Museum. The Navy Band greeted them and the bands on the ships answered with their own greeting. Later Macy’s sponsored a concert that ended in an amazing fireworks show for the masses. The streets were filled with diverse people celebrating 250 years of the great American experiment.
Perhaps it’s the promise that we’re still working on fulfilling that makes immigrants still want to take the oath to become U.S. citizens. One of the 150 people from 50 different countries who took that oath on July 4th at Mount Vernon was U.S. Marine Sgt. Diakaria Sangare from Guinea. He attended the event with three medals pinned to his pressed Dress Blue uniform. He has already served two deployments and had gone through the same long citizen process as the other new citizens: the test, interviews, green cards and biometrics.
It is the founding vision of liberty and equality that inspires people to continue their own journey away from oppression in unique and powerful ways. On July 4th Women’s rights advocates across the country launched their own Women’s Declaration of Independence to fulfill Abigail Adams’ promise that should the Founders not include the ladies that they would “foment a Rebellion”. Go to UntilWomenAreEqual.org to join their movement.
While the Supreme Court removes the protections of the Voting Rights Act and the President refuses to sign the fair housing bill until Congress passes his voter suppression bill, The People are rising up to prepare for the midterms to fulfill the promise of the peaceful revolution created by our Founders.
