By Idrissa A. Smith, Special to Southpoint Access
“I say it with a sad sense of the disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common. The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought light and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.” –What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?, Frederick Douglass – July 5, 1852
What is a holiday? What is Independence Day? What does it mean to be independent? Does independence equal freedom? How do I celebrate my nation’s independence while still recognizing our forefather’s enslavement at the hands of those newly “independent” citizens? These are questions that might run through the mind of an American citizen with African ancestry. Can I be both proud of my country’s fight to be free from English oppression, and still be ashamed of how the citizens of my country treated my forefathers? How does one reconcile these multiple truths?
On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed. This landmark document marked the intention of the 13 colonies to become an independent nation. It was an affirmative declaration and repudiation of foreign control over the lands and people of a new America.
According to the American Battlefield Trust and the Museum of American Revolution, there were approximately 500,000 enslaved people in the 13 colonies in 1776. This represented roughly 20% of the population. The Declaration of Independence intentionally did not mention the enslaved population of the 13 colonies. The question of what to do with the enslaved population of the new America was the political topic of discussion for the next 85 years. During that time, the Fourth of July was celebrated as the country’s most cherished holiday and the premiere symbolism of freedom. Yet, a significant portion of the population was not free.
North Carolina Central University on Thursday hosts a Juneteenth event focused on the courts and juvenile justice.
On Jan. 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, ending the legality of slavery in all Confederate states. Yet slavery still existed.
On April 9, 1865, Confederate General (and traitor) Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses Grant, effectively ending the American Civil War and reaffirming the end of slavery in the United States. Yet slavery still existed. Just as on July 4, 1776, neither the Emancipation Proclamation nor the surrender of all Confederate troops meant freedom for everyone in the United States.
On June 19, 1865, approximately two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas. Texas was the last Confederate state where slavery continued. Upon his arrival, Gen. Granger announced the end of the Civil War and made all those who lived in Texas aware of Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
It was on this day, almost 90 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, that all Americans were finally free. This marked the birth of Juneteenth…a holiday that would not be officially recognized by the federal government for another 156 years.
The Fourth of July is an important and meaningful holiday. It marks the United States’ declaration of independence from the English crown. However, Juneteenth is America’s most important holiday. Juneteenth celebrates what should have been the true goal for our founding fathers, the independence and freedom of all people in the United States.
I think it is of utmost importance to recognize the difference between these two very important days of commemoration: the Fourth of July is about the United States’ independence, while Juneteenth is about the freedom of all people in the United States. In retrospect, a country cannot be truly free if all its people do not enjoy those freedoms.
Juneteenth is the fulfillment of the idea and dream that led to our country’s declaration of independence.
Idrissa A. Smith serves as an assistant public defender in Durham County, handling felony cases and representing clients with a focus on ethical and effective advocacy. A graduate of Tuskegee University and North Carolina Central University School of Law, his career includes experience in private practice, legal education, and public defense. Originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, he lives in Durham with his wife, attorney Nana Asante-Smith, and their three children. Outside of his legal work, he enjoys cooking, science fiction, live sports, and traveling with his family.
