DISQUS

Town · 4 months ago

Everyone knows that black people aren't patriotic! Why, black folks never even voted for President until 2008 and then they all got together to vote for the black guy! We all know that black folks would NEVER vote for a white guy for President! And some of these black folks are Muslims, too! How can they love America if they are Muslim? Black folks don't see America like you and I do [/palin].

On a more serious note, I suspect black people's purpose in this country is to force America to live up to the ideals which she claims to value.

spirit_55z · 4 months ago

Break it down and bring it around, Town.

Guns3000 · 4 months ago

Blacks are the most patriotic of all of America's citizens. Blacks have fought and died in every War since the Revolutionary. Blacks have put on the uniform to defend the freedom and ideals of America in foreign lands even though their own people were not afforded the same treatment. Blacks have tirelessly toiled to build America's success if though their families would not benefit from the fruits of their labor. On this day celebrate not only America's independence but black's contributions to America's success even though those contributions go uncelebrated. Happy July 4 to all.

texasladybird · 4 months ago

Tellin' it like it T-I-is!

I'm not sure if some will agree with me, but the struggle of the Civil Rights Movement have made things easier for a lot of other groups get a foothold in America.

But they'll buy into the argument that all Black people are lazy, drug-dealing welfare queens. Will swear to Jeebus that you got into a school because of your race, never mind the fact that 50 years ago, their people were interned in camps across the Pacific Norhwest and lynched in the deserts of Arizona. That while some White folks skin and grin in their face, will never in a million years consider you one of "them".

But what group of people told the U.S. government that enough was enough? What group of people got together in churches and homes across this country and mapped out a plan to shut this Jim Crowe thing down?

@ Spirit: Speak truth!

isonprize · 4 months ago

oooh, don't EVEN get me started on this one! My daddy was the one that insisted we fly the flag on major holiday. I asked him about it one day, and he said "We've fought more this country than white folks ever have, and I'll be damned if I ain't gonna have a part in reminding them of it every chance I get."
By the way, he was Prince Hall Mason.

Black men and women have served and died in every branch of the services for every war this country has engaged in. And those that didn't serve in the military, have served in other ways. We've had children get blasted trying to go to school, men and women get firehosed just for being black, folks get pulled over for DWB, you name it, we've endured it just to make this country stand up to what they put on paper over 233 years ago.

Plenty of us have family reunions on the 4th of July. You know we know how to make something tragic uniquely our own...

So, if you've never checked out "What To The Slave Is The 4th Of July?" Frederick Douglass speech, 1852, please do so.

Though I am not a slave, neither physically or mentally, his words ring just as true today as they did all those years ago.

Peace and have a fun, SAFE holiday! I'm rollin' out to a cookout.

spirit_55z · 4 months ago

Keep saying it, rikyrah! it's total bullshit, and as Frederick Douglas called America out centuries ago. It still rings true today.

"tired of folks questioning Black folks’ patriotism. Black folks, from where I sit, are the TRUEST Americans, because we have FOUGHT FOR this country to live up to its creed."

I think white folk's definition of patriotism for black folks is:

Negros should be grateful and proud of America because slavery was abolished.
that we shouldn't complain if this country still attempts to hand us bread crumbs, instead of a loaf.

reasontogether · 4 months ago

Amen!!

Lisa_J · 4 months ago

You are so right! Thank you for so eloquently stating the truth!

CraigHickman · 4 months ago

Say it again, rikyrah.

Say it again.

ObamaISAmerica · 4 months ago

This is very well written. Thank you for this post.

Check out our 4th of July post (on saving the world and America through community gardens, and celebrating Will Allen - a community gardner - as an American hero):
http://obamaisamerica.blogspot.com/2009/07/happ...

Also, other Presidents of African descents in the Americas:
http://obamaisamerica.blogspot.com/2009/02/blog...

khrish · 4 months ago

I'm just wondering why every holiday of American celebration does McCain or some other Republican find it necessary to make speeches. Has this ever happened before or is it just that I am more tuned in this time. They act as if this President can't speak on American celebrations to all American. I hope it's just me, but I pretty sick of what appears to be rivals speeches on celebritory occasions.