Remembering Frederick Douglass' powerful words on slavery, race and independence—for this 4th of July and in the wake of the Supreme Court's affirmative action decision
You fail to mention that whatever our race or color we all live on native Land. Stolen land. Land drenched in the blood of its first people. The Fourth of July celebrates the so-called liberty of a nation that exists solely because it destroyed the liberty of and killed and impoverished millions of this nation’s native people.
The Supercilious Court has inserted itself into our society/culture more as a legislative branch of government, than as a judicial branch. They want to reconstruct and recontextualize a free and open society into a selective society: Where the many may want entrance, only a few shall be admitted. The Court is not "conservative". It is oppressive.
Well, I am not quite sure how you got from there to here with my post, but I'm glad you got it off your chest. I see zero reference in my comments to "the good old days". Happy trails to you.
Then, we are saying exactly the same thing. I am all-too-familiar with heterosexist white nationalist / supremacist fake Christians. As a gay man who came out in May 1968, I have lived and played their "games". And, one of my closest friends is a black colleague from Seminary. I know how the "skin" game has been played. As to women, over the years they have been some of my best friends because they know that I know where to keep my hands.
I know what I know and I do what I do. I'd never claim to "know a lot of things". My mother's warning voice, "Honey, don't get too full of yourself" still rings loud and clearn.
When I close my eyes, I see no color. I have never mistreated nor maligned any person because of their race or religion. My ancestors on both sides risked their lives fighting in America's wars. Revolutionary-freedom from England; Civil-freedom of slaves; WWII-freedom for Jews. I am not sure exactly why WW I was fought; it should not have been. I will not feel guilt for those whose actions are wrong, mean, selfish, self enhancement. If you tell a child he/she is bad, always punishing them, chances are they will turn out that way and take out anger against others. As long as we keep feeding people of color that they are to be pitied, that they are suffering , that they are second class citizens, they will believe it. The US has made many mistakes, but then it is made up of humans so it is a given, but I will never not be proud to be an American or forget what July 4th (actually, August 4th) has meant for the millions who have benefited from living here. Few would wish to return to their native land. What better to express emotions for the day than one who is both of color and blind: Ray Charles singing America, the Beautiful?
The Robert's Court has become negligent in its sworn duty to uphold the pillars of our Constitution. The majority are inserting their personal politics, pay backs, and grievances in front of decisions that will make our country a better place for all Americans. Yes, humans are imperfect, but this is shameful and truly destructive to the survival of "the Great Experiment".
Thank you, Steven. It’s all just heartbreaking. I appreciate the inclusion of excerpts from Frederick Douglass‘s speech. I had not ever read it. I think this July 4 will be a day of mourning for me, and maybe for others… As I am mourn the America we were becoming and could have been.
I think the strong doubt factor as to Trump’s legitimacy is not lost on many of even some of his devout followers. There is a mocking unseriousness that pervades everything Trump and therefore MAGA touches. Go down until you hit bedrock and you’ll not find gold, you’ll find deception.
Thank you for including these words of Frederick Douglass for I am sorry to say this is the first I've read this searing speech. This nation has much to give account for. Until we do, it continues to fester.
Thank you, Steven, for quoting Douglass’ eloquent speech. It is heartbreaking that we were not taught the real truths about our histories of the white man’s greed for money, land, and power. I was born at a time when things seemed idyllic but now I know that for many, it wasn’t. It’s still unattainable and that is our tragedy. Our burden will always be, for some of us, to right the wrong. How can we though? The egregious damage has and is being done so ruthlessly that it makes my stomach turn! Our only real power is the voting process.
I too, do not wish to celebrate a supposed day of independence. It doesn’t encompass us all.
We have a few original sins, as John Haluska points out in his post. Remembering these sins is not enough. Feeling guilty is insufficient. If we don't learn from our past, do better (not just strive to do better), then we are lying to ourselves that we care. What the current Supreme Court is doing is not okay.
Just heartbreaking that we are now going backwards with not just affirmative action, but the freedom to discriminate and the refusal of so many Republican states to teach actual history. We are being bought by the oligarchs of our country and the world, and they are using the frightened and the ignorant and hateful to help them accomplish their goals of domination over our economy.
Thank you for sharing Frederick Douglass’s 4th of July speech. I require it of my students where I teach. It is a shame that our nation was built upon the labor of slaves, and later on Chinese immigrants, and others. Not to mention the genocide we committed, often in the name of God against our First Nations. I love our country and served her for 40 years in uniform, but my love is strong enough to admit her faults and try to do better. Thank you again.
I was so impressed by Frederick Douglass when I first learned about him that I gave my first son his surname as his middle name. Douglass proves in himself that black people are our equals, if not our betters.
We continually talk about the MAGA tsunami offshore and how we must “confront our challenges “ but so little is said about specific ways to confront them. The scattered efforts by the Dems to talk about the additional injustices produced by SCOTUS are primarily just talking “to the hand”. WHEN are we going to see a concerted action campaign, clearly and forcefully showing the dangers and the loss of freedoms we face if we don’t stop the MAGA wave in front of us.
As others have pointed out the particular case of slavery in the United States is caused by the enslavers continuing to live down the road from the enslaved, who never got quite un-enslaved. The British just went home, taking the wealth with them but at least they left.
His words though muted somewhat by times experiences on this day are strong and ring truer than ever.
Racism in this country is alive and dare I say it growing!
This United States is on a path of destruction spawned by the mainstream media as well as the right wing media which is bolstered solely by Oligarchs. How much money and wealth does any one man or group need? Well the answer is "Never enough". So here we are on this potentially last celebration of true freedom in our United States where hatred towards "The Other" is rapidly growing in strength and stealth.
We may not ever give up the fight for even a second lest the weak among us partisans
Falter and the red wave wash over this Country eliminating rights and privileges that have taken years to forge.
You fail to mention that whatever our race or color we all live on native Land. Stolen land. Land drenched in the blood of its first people. The Fourth of July celebrates the so-called liberty of a nation that exists solely because it destroyed the liberty of and killed and impoverished millions of this nation’s native people.
Right you are.
The Supercilious Court has inserted itself into our society/culture more as a legislative branch of government, than as a judicial branch. They want to reconstruct and recontextualize a free and open society into a selective society: Where the many may want entrance, only a few shall be admitted. The Court is not "conservative". It is oppressive.
I liked that game. She looked exactly like my 12thgrade history teacher!! 😁
So funny! That was a fun game.
Well, I am not quite sure how you got from there to here with my post, but I'm glad you got it off your chest. I see zero reference in my comments to "the good old days". Happy trails to you.
Then, we are saying exactly the same thing. I am all-too-familiar with heterosexist white nationalist / supremacist fake Christians. As a gay man who came out in May 1968, I have lived and played their "games". And, one of my closest friends is a black colleague from Seminary. I know how the "skin" game has been played. As to women, over the years they have been some of my best friends because they know that I know where to keep my hands.
I know what I know and I do what I do. I'd never claim to "know a lot of things". My mother's warning voice, "Honey, don't get too full of yourself" still rings loud and clearn.
So much to ponder these days. So much deliberate blindness by those who we hoped would be wise.
No longer look to Supremes for wisdom. They are severely compromised
When I close my eyes, I see no color. I have never mistreated nor maligned any person because of their race or religion. My ancestors on both sides risked their lives fighting in America's wars. Revolutionary-freedom from England; Civil-freedom of slaves; WWII-freedom for Jews. I am not sure exactly why WW I was fought; it should not have been. I will not feel guilt for those whose actions are wrong, mean, selfish, self enhancement. If you tell a child he/she is bad, always punishing them, chances are they will turn out that way and take out anger against others. As long as we keep feeding people of color that they are to be pitied, that they are suffering , that they are second class citizens, they will believe it. The US has made many mistakes, but then it is made up of humans so it is a given, but I will never not be proud to be an American or forget what July 4th (actually, August 4th) has meant for the millions who have benefited from living here. Few would wish to return to their native land. What better to express emotions for the day than one who is both of color and blind: Ray Charles singing America, the Beautiful?
The Robert's Court has become negligent in its sworn duty to uphold the pillars of our Constitution. The majority are inserting their personal politics, pay backs, and grievances in front of decisions that will make our country a better place for all Americans. Yes, humans are imperfect, but this is shameful and truly destructive to the survival of "the Great Experiment".
Thank you, Steven. It’s all just heartbreaking. I appreciate the inclusion of excerpts from Frederick Douglass‘s speech. I had not ever read it. I think this July 4 will be a day of mourning for me, and maybe for others… As I am mourn the America we were becoming and could have been.
Well, I do this work because I haven’t given up the assumption we can do better.
My fear is that it will take a bloody civil war or revolution to get us back on track in one piece, or broken apart. I hope I am wrong.
I think the strong doubt factor as to Trump’s legitimacy is not lost on many of even some of his devout followers. There is a mocking unseriousness that pervades everything Trump and therefore MAGA touches. Go down until you hit bedrock and you’ll not find gold, you’ll find deception.
Therefore, no civil war.
...and can still become.
Steven,
Thank you for including these words of Frederick Douglass for I am sorry to say this is the first I've read this searing speech. This nation has much to give account for. Until we do, it continues to fester.
Thank you, Steven, for quoting Douglass’ eloquent speech. It is heartbreaking that we were not taught the real truths about our histories of the white man’s greed for money, land, and power. I was born at a time when things seemed idyllic but now I know that for many, it wasn’t. It’s still unattainable and that is our tragedy. Our burden will always be, for some of us, to right the wrong. How can we though? The egregious damage has and is being done so ruthlessly that it makes my stomach turn! Our only real power is the voting process.
I too, do not wish to celebrate a supposed day of independence. It doesn’t encompass us all.
We have a few original sins, as John Haluska points out in his post. Remembering these sins is not enough. Feeling guilty is insufficient. If we don't learn from our past, do better (not just strive to do better), then we are lying to ourselves that we care. What the current Supreme Court is doing is not okay.
Just heartbreaking that we are now going backwards with not just affirmative action, but the freedom to discriminate and the refusal of so many Republican states to teach actual history. We are being bought by the oligarchs of our country and the world, and they are using the frightened and the ignorant and hateful to help them accomplish their goals of domination over our economy.
Thank you for sharing Frederick Douglass’s 4th of July speech. I require it of my students where I teach. It is a shame that our nation was built upon the labor of slaves, and later on Chinese immigrants, and others. Not to mention the genocide we committed, often in the name of God against our First Nations. I love our country and served her for 40 years in uniform, but my love is strong enough to admit her faults and try to do better. Thank you again.
I was so impressed by Frederick Douglass when I first learned about him that I gave my first son his surname as his middle name. Douglass proves in himself that black people are our equals, if not our betters.
We continually talk about the MAGA tsunami offshore and how we must “confront our challenges “ but so little is said about specific ways to confront them. The scattered efforts by the Dems to talk about the additional injustices produced by SCOTUS are primarily just talking “to the hand”. WHEN are we going to see a concerted action campaign, clearly and forcefully showing the dangers and the loss of freedoms we face if we don’t stop the MAGA wave in front of us.
As others have pointed out the particular case of slavery in the United States is caused by the enslavers continuing to live down the road from the enslaved, who never got quite un-enslaved. The British just went home, taking the wealth with them but at least they left.
His words though muted somewhat by times experiences on this day are strong and ring truer than ever.
Racism in this country is alive and dare I say it growing!
This United States is on a path of destruction spawned by the mainstream media as well as the right wing media which is bolstered solely by Oligarchs. How much money and wealth does any one man or group need? Well the answer is "Never enough". So here we are on this potentially last celebration of true freedom in our United States where hatred towards "The Other" is rapidly growing in strength and stealth.
We may not ever give up the fight for even a second lest the weak among us partisans
Falter and the red wave wash over this Country eliminating rights and privileges that have taken years to forge.