"The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro"

PBS Africans in America Web site ^ | 1852 | Frederick Douglass

[Zack Nguyen]

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass:

http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/bible/slavery.html

I have always found it particularly tragic that Douglass died around 1892 or so, and blacks were less free in the 1890's under Jim Crow than they had been in 1867 right after slavery.

[nutmeg]

bump

[cyborg]

But, NEVER forget or dismiss the past. Embrace it, learn from it and excel.

* I agree with you. The problem is that many times history or topics of history is presented in such a way as to attack one group of people, or make another group feel guilty,bitter,etc. I went to a Catholic school that never taught black history separately from American history. It was all included together. Personally, I have two of the most awesome parents that told me both their entire family histories. Both my parents came here with nothing, came from families with nothing, but made themselves into something.

I would NOT be who I am today if it weren't from my gramma's stories. Too many citizens in this countries have become complacent from not embracing the past. Too many fall victim to propaganda because of it.

*Good point. My mother and father had the most awesome stories to tell. I definately would not be the person I am today if my parents did not nuture my mind, my intellect. They raised me knowing culture and talking about HOME which for them were Trinidad and Sicily... and of course the value of an education.

And, btw, you mentioned underground railroads going to the North. I grew up by one of those tunnels. GREAT stories from exploring! But that too is another thread.

* Okay this may sound bad, but when I feel especially lazy or something at work, I try to put myself in my grandparents' shoes. My father's family had the typical early century immigrant horror stories. My grandmother on my mother's side chopped sugar cane and broke her back selling in the market. Stories like the underground railroad ought to inspire people, or stories of ex-slaves after the Civil War teaching themselves to read and write. A person should not have to be black to get inspired by these things as motivation could come from anywhere.

Longwinded post I apologize!

[StriperSniper]

I had seen quotes from this before, but had never read the whole thing.

Good, timely post, thanks.

[alfa6]

Marking Bump

Regards

alfa6 ;>]

[cyborg]

Was it wrong to them? Probably not because when you are raised to think something is the way it is, you rarely question it. Plus if you see it working for everyone else, and no else has a problem with it, then you may go...hmmm. Personally I believe that slavery would have played itself out, between the christian guilt trip and the negative economics of owning human beings. Slavery=bad Freedom=good
We have freedom now and I'm enjoying as much as possible before I die. Live free or die as they say.

[headsonpikes]

Thank you. I'd heard of the man, but wasn't aware that he was such a powerful rhetorician.

;^)

[somemoreequalthanothers]

That is what some people fail to consider, that we are fortunate to live where we do, albeit recognizing that some terrible prices were paid to achieve all this. Happy 4th!

[Technogeeb]

But was it wrong to them?

Yes. And they knew it (they explicitly called it barbaric). But regardless of the revisionist history taught to the current generation; the founders did not ignore the issue in the Constitution. Nor did they embrace the heinous act of slavery. Knowing that such an issue would divide and destroy the new nation; they did the only thing they could do to insure its ultimate dissolution, by creating a system that would ban the slave trade after 1808. To quote the author of the Constitution (Federalist #42):

"It were doubtless to be wished, that the power of prohibiting the importation of slaves had not been postponed until the year 1808, or rather that it had been suffered to have immediate operation. But it is not difficult to account, either for this restriction on the general government, or for the manner in which the whole clause is expressed. It ought to be considered as a great point gained in favor of humanity, that a period of twenty years may terminate forever, within these States, a traffic which has so long and so loudly upbraided the barbarism of modern policy; that within that period, it will receive a considerable discouragement from the federal government, and may be totally abolished, by a concurrence of the few States which continue the unnatural traffic, in the prohibitory example which has been given by so great a majority of the Union. Happy would it be for the unfortunate Africans, if an equal prospect lay before them of being redeemed from the oppressions of their European brethren!

[MHGinTN]

You too, dear Lady! Cook something scumptuous for your wonderful family.

[MHGinTN]

It's a bit over Jesse Jackass's head ...

[Calpernia]

>>>The problem is that many times history or topics of history is presented in such a way as to attack one group of people, or make another group feel guilty,bitter,etc.

Propaganda thrives from this.

>>>I went to a Catholic school that never taught black history separately from American history.

I understand this. My kids go to a catholic school. I am unfortunately not talented enough to teach them at home. I DO supplement their learnings though. Catholic school is skewed. But you know what? Public school is worse.

>>>I have two of the most awesome parents that told me both their entire family histories. Both my parents came here with nothing, came from families with nothing, but made themselves into something.

This is what the long term natives of this country is missing. This is why they are complacent. This is what the propaganda exploits. Having relatives with history is VALUABLE!

>>>* Okay this may sound bad, but when I feel especially lazy or something at work, I try to put myself in my grandparents' shoes.

None of your post sounds bad at all! VERY relevant to the article. If it weren't for my family stories, I wouldn't be who I am either. You and I have something the other complacent citizens miss. This is the message that needs to be sent. Our stories would remove the current propaganda.

GREAT POST!

Bump!

[100%FEDUP]

Do they still teach kids that Crispus Attucks was one of the first PATRIOTS killed at the start of the Revolution?

[Calpernia]

>>>Cook something scumptuous for your wonderful family.

Going to a group park setting....business 4th thing.

But, in reference to another thread with Coleus...I'm really thinking about having a freeper get together. Planning things like that is hard with 3 little ones...But, I like the idea.

I will ping you or freep mail you if I can pull it off.

[TheDon]

"A great speech by a great man."

Agreed. His eloquence never ceases to amaze me. His was a man ahead of his time. I think he would find plenty to celebrate on July 4th, 2003.

[TheDon]

Thanks for the post. You can't go wrong with a F. Douglass post.

[billbears]

This bold, radical speech should be taught in every school in the land

So should this. Looks like Mr. Douglass opinion changed a bit from 1852

Whatever may be the folly and absurdity of the North, the South at least is true and wise. The Southern papers no longer indulge in the vulgar expression, "free n----rs." That class of bipeds are now called "colored residents." The Charleston papers say:

"The colored residents of this city can challenge comparison with their class, in any city or town, in loyalty or devotion to the cause of the South. Many of them individually, and without ostentation, have been contributing liberally, and on Wednesday evening, the 7th inst., a very large meeting was held by them, and a committee appointed to provide for more efficient aid. The proceedings of the meeting will appear in results hereinafter to be reported."

It is now pretty well established, that there are at the present moment many colored men in the Confederate army doing duty not only as cooks, servants and laborers, but as real soldiers, having muskets on their shoulders, and bullets in their pockets, ready to shoot down loyal troops, and do all that soldiers may to destroy the Federal Government and build up that of the traitors and rebels. There were such soldiers at Manassas, and they are probably there still. There is a Negro in the army as well as in the fence, and our Government is likely to find it out before the war comes to an end. That the Negroes are numerous in the rebel army, and do for that army its heaviest work, is beyond question. They have been the chief laborers upon those temporary defences in which the rebels have been able to mow down our men. Negroes helped to build the batteries at Charleston. They relieve their gentlemanly and military masters from the stiffening drudgery of the camp, and devote them to the nimble and dexterous use of arms. Rising above vulgar prejudice, the slaveholding rebel accepts the aid of the black man as readily as that of any other. If a bad cause can do this, why should a good cause be less wisely conducted? We insist upon it, that one black regiment in such a war as this is, without being any more brave and orderly, would be worth to the Government more than two of any other; and that, while the Government continues to refuse the aid of colored men, thus alienating them from the national cause, and giving the rebels the advantage of them, it will not deserve better fortunes than it has thus far experienced.--Men in earnest don't fight with one hand, when they might fight with two, and a man drowning would not refuse to be saved even by a colored hand. ---FIGHTING REBELS WITH ONLY ONE HAND (Douglass' Monthly, September 1861)

[Arkinsaw]

Do they still teach kids that Crispus Attucks was one of the first PATRIOTS killed at the start of the Revolution?

If so, they will likely portray him as a victim rather than heroic figure.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[cyborg]

I understand this. My kids go to a catholic school. I am unfortunately not talented enough to teach them at home. I DO supplement their learnings though. Catholic school is skewed. But you know what? Public school is worse.

* Do not underestimate yourself about your ability to homeschool. My mother had a ninth grade education. She taught me to read from English colonial readers and these little red horn books. That was when I was three. I've never really learned anything in any school setting ever since then.