The Black Church, the 4th of July, and American Christianity

Independence Day? Independence for who?

A reactionary counter-protest arose during the Black Lives Matter Movement that was built upon implicit and explicit anti-Black sentiments. The mantra of the counter-protest was— “All Lives Matter.” On the surface, that statement seems innocuous and well-meaning. But the history of our country reveals the severe shortsightedness and naivety of that mantra.

The Declaration of Independence was formally adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776. The preamble of the Declaration famously states:

We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created equal…

Although the preamble asserts that ALL men are created equal, the Declaration was adopted as over 400,000 Black bodies were being held in bondage and regarded as chattel. Clearly, as the Declaration of Independence was being adopted, ALL did NOT mean ALL.

The Pledge of Allegiance was originally written in August 1892 by Francis Bellamy. The first iteration of the Pledge read:

I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for ALL.

As the Pledge was being penned, Jim Crow laws were being implemented, and practices such as Black codes and sharecropping were disenfranchising Black people across the South. Sadly, 1892 saw the highest number of lynchings in a single year, with 161 Black people brutally lynched. Clearly, as the Pledge of Allegiance was being written, ALL did NOT mean ALL.

Now, it’s July 4th and the expectation is that ALL Americans should celebrate and be festive. However, for me, the 4th of July has become a day of reflection rather than celebration.

Catch the conversation here.