This was written by my friend Cory Fountain some years ago...
I realize that July fourth has already past this year and if you're like most ppl that I know you probably had and or went to a big bbq and set off your fireworks and basically said "yeah America" while celebrating it's independence from Great Britain. If that's what you wanted to do, that's fine, who I am to tell you that you should not have been celebrating the independence of this country, or in other words, not celebrating when the 13 colonies received their freedom the British. But le t me ask you this question; How many of our ancestors during that time were actually free? If one was to do some research and look back on that section of time in history they would find that not very many ppl of African descent were free in this country or the world as a matter of fact, during that time. If one wants to get technical, as a whole, most ppl of African descent to this day still aren't independent. The word independent, as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is: (1)self-governing; not affiliated with the larger controlling unit (2) not requiring or relying on something or someone else (3) not easily influenced; showing self-reliance and personal freedom. Now I ask whoever may be reading this, do those definitions really describe ppl of African descent? Ppl of African descent is certainly not self-governing, and we most certainly rely on someone else besides our won brothers and sisters for mostly everything that we have or do. And I won't even touch the part about being
easily influenced or showing personal freedom b/c that would take me further off the point that I'm trying to make than I already am. But to move back to the point in which I was trying to formulate; Independence Day didn't us. When this country's former leaders were speaking "liberty and justice for all," they must have either been running short of breath or low on ink; for what they meant was liberty and justice for all white men with land. Our ancestors were promised freedom from both the British and the colonists if they would help fight in the American Revolution but, "…the majority of Black ppl in the United States were far worse off that the close of the Revolutionary War then they were before it began, especially with the coming of the Cotton Gin in 1793 and the evolution of king cotton and it's superior role in the industrialization of the 18th century."
Afrikan People & European Holidays (Book 2). The American Revolution, in my opinion, is White history not mine or shall I say ours. If the Revolutionary War was a movie we would be some extras off somewhere in the background.....
Think of this phenomenon, most people say and or believe that the American Revolution began when Crispus Attitucks, a black man, was killed. Now think of this; when watching a movie, who is the first one to die? Correct, Black person (sorry, just had to throw a little joke in there while I had your attn). But be that as it may, Black ppl in America are not now nor have we ever been Americans or African-Americans in my opinion. Malcolm X put it best when he stated in one of his speeches, (forgive me for not having the exact quote) "If a kitten is born in an oven you don't call it a biscuit. If a French Poodle is born on the moon would it not still be considered a French Poodle?" Then if our African ancestors were snatched away from their homeland and carried here to the U.S. and upon being here conceived children; then what does that make them, or shall I say us? There is no doubt in my mind that we are American fruits but yet we have with African roots. So now I ask again; what does that make us? You may have your own conclusions but in my opinion; that makes us Africans living in America. In another one of Malcolm X's speeches he touches on this topic in question when he stated, "…deep within the subconscious of the Black man in America, he is still more African than American. He thinks he's more American b/c 'the man' is jiving him, and 'the man' is brainwashing him everyday, telling him: you're an American, you're an American, you're American. Man how could you think you're an American and you haven't ever had any American treat over here. You have never, ever! Ten men can be sitting at a table eating, you know, dining; and I come and sit down where they are dining. They are dining. I got a plate in front of me but nothing is on it. Because all of us are sitting at the same table, are all of us diners? I'm not a diner until you let me dine! Then I become a diner. Just being at the same table with others who are dining doesn't make me a diner. And that is what you've got to get in your head hear in this country. Just because you're in this country doesn't make you an American." Honestly I could care less about the independence of the U.S. what I care about is trying to acquire independence of us.
let me know what you think.....
