Dear Fourth of July

My pastor asked if I would share a spoken word piece this past Sunday,
in honor of the Fourth of July.

I told her it would be seasoned —
with some Frederick Douglass,
a touch of Fannie Lou Hamer,
and most certainly, Jesus.

It was birthed in the swirl of all that’s happening around us.
And still —
it amazes me how words spoken
173 years ago,
233 years ago,
2,000 years ago —
still rise, still echo,
still call us to pay attention.

Dear Fourth of July:

Before I begin, I need to thank my parents, teachers, professors and all the sages
Who taught me the truth about you that would
Not be found in history book pages.

So this is why you need to understand my
Thought process and reasoning,
And accept that this piece will have some
Frederick Douglass seasoning.
(Pause — transition to Douglass)

Frederick Douglass’ words to America,
The place where he was born:
“This Fourth of July is yours, not mine.
You may rejoice, I must mourn.”
(Pause a bit longer — powerful quote)

When addressing the holiday as an
Expression of freedom and legacy,
Douglass says I am not included within
The pale of this glorious anniversary.

Douglass spoke this in 1852, 11 years before
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued,
13 years before Texas received the news—
Add to that two centuries—that’s about 233.
(Pause, let the weight of history sink in)

Seasoning now with Fannie Lou Hamer’s
That would be...
“Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.”

You can still pledge allegiance to your country and be true,
Yet love it enough to address and call
Out the injustices too.
(Pause)

But my Independence Day came when I made the decision to follow Christ
His sacrifice and resurrection—gives
Of us new life.
(Pause)

But Jesus taught us about liberty not just
Through my spiritual rebirth.
(Pause slightly)

Jesus showed us how to fight for liberty
When he walked this earth.

He knew when to flip tables,
Call out systems,
Speak for the marginalized, cast aside, ostracized,
Spoke truth to power and would never cower.

People have rights that come from God, not kings nor time. All people are created equal— Jesus embodied that line.

“Who the Son sets free is free indeed.”

Liberty means I am free to loyal and be true,
But love it enough to speak out against the injustices too.

So Fourth of July

I close by thanking God, parents, historians, scholars and all the sages

And I too will continue to be a part of the community that teaches the truth not found in history book pages

But also to remember the words of the one who set me free,
Who gave sight to the blind and set the captive free.
Jesus is the embodiment of what it means to fight for others and be free.

Sincerely

Me

173 years later. Frederick Douglass’ words, spoken through the voices of his descendants.“What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” Click link to experience the words that nearly two centuries later still ring true.

https://youtu.be/NBe5qbnkqoM?si=9nR11ehgoS_vwtIq