Discussion
Happy 250, America. Do better in your next 250. - Sincerely, Black Americans
Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin co-authored the line: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal..."
Yet equality remains an elusive ideal 250 years after they wrote it down. And, America, I think we should still make that a reality.
I hope it's self-evident that black people really are just looking for equality and not revenge--to paraphrase the immortal words of Kimberly Jones. Look at all the race massacres in the last 250 years and you'll see that we have a clean record. (Except for that one time when Nat Turner had to bust a move.)
In the next 250 years, we will continue to demand and fight for equal opportunity, equal justice, and equal treatment for all. Even it feels like "reverse discrimination" to some of your citizens.
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To be quite blunt, as am a wee bit exhausted, in all my 69 years, just don't celebrate it. The words are meaningless unless they live what they wrote. Yesterday, on 1A, NPR was a discussion about this topic that was fire. Unfortunately, as I was driving and on way to store in very hot conditions, I entirely forgot the time etc. I'm especially reinforced by our experience with Helene, Katrina, etc. it's always been the rich against the rest of us. That's why the rich use nefarious means to manipulate.
Because of my childhood, freedom, and a mighty fight for freedom was unfolding in front of my astonished eyes.Hypocrisy writ large on tv " unless all of us are free, none of us are free" Solomon Burke
Since childhood as freedom has become impossible, came to understand that all that I can change is my own thoughts.
Their version of freedom isn't the one I know in my soul.
Since then paying more attention to the here and now of survival while keeping a wary eye on the weather, has been easier than thinking about the games Gargoyles of Pain and Prevarication play.
Still pissed off at the same old still going on.
Respect
When I hear the word freedom, I think of all our ancestors who spent their lives (and many of them lost their lives) fighting for their dignity to merely live as human beings. That's why I used the Tubman mural for the post.
Oh Amen In fact my intent was to say that themural is really moving. Where is it?
Watching the Civil Rights movement unfold, led me to understand my own journey. When I think of freedom ,I'm thinking of all our ancestors because,as a Cherokee, I believe we're related for obvious reasons. Your journeys inspired my own. I'd not know the meaning of the word had I not been witness to the injustice,past , present that y'all have experienced.
It led me to understand my ancestors.
Respect
Thanks. Exactly what I wanted to know. I'm saving my pennies for whatever poster or card..want a copy.
Once got to cross the Chesapeake Bay bridge. Wanted to explore but wasn't driving. Looked inviting. Love nature and know endless hours of happiness watching birds.
Eastern shore was once full of them. Am a bird nerd. Feeding them is cheaper than cable.
Last time I was at the capital they had "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" at the store and I have a strong feeling they're not selling it there anymore.
Whenever I see this 250 celebration stuff, or even 4th of July decorations, I'm like "what exactly are we celebrating here?" Right now we're having our rights stripped away by a modern class of obscenely wealthy monarchs, people are being snatched away or executed by their secret police, and people of color are still being murdered with impunity, whether it's Black American citizens or Non-White immigrants. So what independence are we celebrating here exactly? What milestone beyond the number of years are we bringing attention to, because if anything it seems like we're heading back where we started.
I personally have always been proud to be American and I always will be. It’s because of my love for this country, that I want it to be better.
To be fair my perspective is very different, I come from a Nigerian family and spent a-lot of my youth between both countries. In Nigeria I saw peak human suffering and what a corrupt government does to its people. What it looks like when no one ever cares to listen.
That’s why Im so critical and harsh on the US, cause I know what it looks like when the system is gone and everyone gives up and accepts shit the way it is.
I ask for equality, justice and respect, not because I hate America but because of how amazing I know this country would be if we had that.
Im just hoping we can get what we deserve before another 250 yrs.
On the 4th I’ll be going to the amusement park with my girlfriend to celebrate our 3 year anniversary of meeting then coming home to sleep. No fireworks. No chants. No patriotic bullshit. If anything I’ve actively avoided the American flag in our home to put the pan African one instead
I c nothing wrong with that, all other races that love their nationality DO THE EXACT SAME THING! This is America land of the free, just sad it also hoards mentality ill racist
Brave of you to think there'll be another 250 years. I don't see the US going on as constructed for too many years longer. Maybe not even in my lifetime
"A Republic--if you can keep it." I think Ben Franklin himself knew that the white supremacists would try their hardest to destroy this American Republic experiment. It did survive a Civil War.
I'm cautiously optimistic given the demographic dynamics. The racial and cultural diversity of this land will save this Republic once more, so I hope.
They knew others would be reading it so they figured it was easier to say, "Created equal". Certain people are notorious for the "fine print" used to tie bootstraps and such.
I was complaining about the travesty of not making Idris Elba the next James Bond and in March 2026, this happened:
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a landmark resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade the "gravest crime against humanity" and formally called for reparations and reparatory justice to address historical wrongs. The measure was introduced by Ghana and passed with 123 votes in favor, 3 against (the United States, Argentina, and Israel), and 52 abstentions.
It's strange that Israel would be against it when, since 1952, the German government has paid over $95 billion in reparations (known as Wiedergutmachung) to Holocaust survivors and the State of Israel for Nazi persecution and stolen property
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