The Fourth of July
On this very different July 4th, there is much we can read or watch that will inform and broaden our view of the nation's Independence Day. We could start with the Preamble to the Constitution:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
In that context, and against the backdrop of COVID-19 and continuing systemic racism, the words of Frederick Douglass' July 5, 1852 speech, commonly referred to as "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?," take on added poignancy 168 years after they were delivered. You can read the entire speech here, or watch this powerful reading of excerpts from it by direct descendants of Douglass. Be sure to watch the entire seven minute video, to hear these young Black Americans offer their own views after they read from their ancestor's text.
For a further history lesson, here are other excerpts from the speech, introduced by the late historian Howard Zinn as part of his series, "Voices of a People's History of the United States." The reader is James Earl Jones.
And here is a brief modern rewrite, "What to My People is the 4th of July?," delivered by Daveed Diggs, who in 2015 originated the roles of the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in Broadway's "Hamilton."
But if you are only going to watch one video today, make it this one: the February 16, 2020 PBS report on the 1965 Baldwin-Buckley debate on race in America. On February 18, 1965, the literary critic, novelist, and essayist James Baldwin met the conservative author and "National Review" editor and columnist William F. Buckley, Jr. to debate the question, "Has the American Dream Been Achieved at the Expense of the American Negro?"
The debate took place in England at Cambridge University's debating society, the Cambridge Union. Baldwin received an unprecedented standing ovation, and won the debate by a vote of 544 to 164. Here is a link to the complete recording.The video begins with an introduction to the speakers, and opening arguments for and against the question by two Cambridge undergraduates. Baldwin takes the podium at 14:00, Buckley at 39:00.
We can learn more about the debate in a new book by Professor Nicholas Buccola, Chair of the Political Science Department at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, "The Fire is Upon Us: James Baldwin, William F. Buckley, Jr., and the Debate over Race in America."
James Baldwin's call for a moral revolution in race relations is only more urgent today. We who are White can start to answer the call by learning more about the Black history of our country. This 4th of July, when our president is urging us to fight each other rather than stand together, is a good day to take on this long overdue task.
Love,
Nancie/Mom/Mimi/Grandma
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
In that context, and against the backdrop of COVID-19 and continuing systemic racism, the words of Frederick Douglass' July 5, 1852 speech, commonly referred to as "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?," take on added poignancy 168 years after they were delivered. You can read the entire speech here, or watch this powerful reading of excerpts from it by direct descendants of Douglass. Be sure to watch the entire seven minute video, to hear these young Black Americans offer their own views after they read from their ancestor's text.
For a further history lesson, here are other excerpts from the speech, introduced by the late historian Howard Zinn as part of his series, "Voices of a People's History of the United States." The reader is James Earl Jones.
And here is a brief modern rewrite, "What to My People is the 4th of July?," delivered by Daveed Diggs, who in 2015 originated the roles of the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in Broadway's "Hamilton."
But if you are only going to watch one video today, make it this one: the February 16, 2020 PBS report on the 1965 Baldwin-Buckley debate on race in America. On February 18, 1965, the literary critic, novelist, and essayist James Baldwin met the conservative author and "National Review" editor and columnist William F. Buckley, Jr. to debate the question, "Has the American Dream Been Achieved at the Expense of the American Negro?"
The debate took place in England at Cambridge University's debating society, the Cambridge Union. Baldwin received an unprecedented standing ovation, and won the debate by a vote of 544 to 164. Here is a link to the complete recording.The video begins with an introduction to the speakers, and opening arguments for and against the question by two Cambridge undergraduates. Baldwin takes the podium at 14:00, Buckley at 39:00.
We can learn more about the debate in a new book by Professor Nicholas Buccola, Chair of the Political Science Department at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, "The Fire is Upon Us: James Baldwin, William F. Buckley, Jr., and the Debate over Race in America."
James Baldwin's call for a moral revolution in race relations is only more urgent today. We who are White can start to answer the call by learning more about the Black history of our country. This 4th of July, when our president is urging us to fight each other rather than stand together, is a good day to take on this long overdue task.
Love,
Nancie/Mom/Mimi/Grandma
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