To Firework or NOT to Firework?
Flashes of red, white, and blue fill the sky as this country’s proudest patriots wave their flags high. The smell of slightly burnt hot dogs and sweet watermelon fill the daytime air while fireworks fill the night. It’s 4th of July in America and many are celebrating the Independence Day. However, even on a day as seemingly joyous as this, there is a darker meaning and message looming in the safe corners of democracy, liberty, and true freedom.
On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress ruled in favor of independence and two days later, thirteen men from the thirteen colonies signed the Declaration of Independence, thus dubbing the Day of Independence. It has been celebrated for centuries, finally gaining federal acknowledgment in 1941, but does it mean the same for everyone? Independence, or being independent, is defined as being “free from outside control; not depending on another's authority.” The year 1776 is over two centuries after the first few slaves entered the Americas, 72 years before the beginning of the Women’s Rights movement, and 178 years before the Civil Rights Movement. Therefore July 4, 1776, isn’t truly a celebration for every American. So why do we all partake?
If black people weren’t truly free on this day and if women still had to answer to that authority with little to no rights, why do we become involved with a holiday that was not meant for us? Simple: because it is fun, profitable, and marketable. Truthfully, 4th of July isn’t the only holiday celebrated for mixed reasons. During Halloween, churches all around the country hold “Trunk-r-Treat” on their church grounds as an alternative to traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating. This is even though Halloween credits its roots to Paganism, death, and witchcraft: three things traditional Christian churches are against. Easter is also one of Pagan background celebrated by modern-day Christians. All of these holidays are celebrated mainly for the fun of the day. Halloween is for candies and costumes, Easter is for bunnies and baskets, and, honestly, the 4th is for fireworks and food. These are profitable holidays, easy to advertise and sell, so encouragement to celebrate is literally at every corner. So, after a while, losing sight of the true meaning of some holidays doesn’t seem like too bad of an idea.
On the same token, there is also something else in the air. Young teens and adults across the country have all started to question their history books and traditional teachings to find the truth. Truths that have been misconstrued and misunderstood over years of a recycled curriculum. One such truth is that the true Independence Day for all black Americans was on June 19th, 1865. This was the day those Texan slaves were officially said to be freed with the rest of the Confederate states. The Emancipation Proclamation only freed a portion of the Confederate states, leaving Texas with slaves who could only be free by escaping. June 19th, or Juneteenth, is usually a festival held every year by black people to commemorate the freeing of those slaves. Each state usually has its own version of the celebration. Therefore, there is a holiday that acknowledges freedom from physical slavery for black Americans and it is widely celebrated. The most logical, and least upsetting, the reason for the lack of attention toward the holiday may be because it is considered more of a cultural holiday than a national one - which is still slightly unusual, but not as forthcoming.
Every holiday has its own meaning for everyone. People celebrate for different reasons and, coincidentally, people DON’T celebrate for different reasons. You’ll find very few families in America that don’t celebrate the 4th of July in some form or fashion, no matter their racial or ethnic background. Being recognized federally means most people get the day off from their jobs, so why not gather with friends and family, eat, drink, and be merry? It is understandable, on both sides, the decision to participate or lack thereof. So whether or not you celebrated 4th of July or just a Fun Summer Holiday, always remember to keep the vibes as positive as possible, no matter what the reason!
Disclaimer: the personal views and opinions written in this post are from the writer and do not always express the professional opinion and views of Verve X Magazine.
Interviewer: @destiny.sl
Photos: Strawberry Singh
Copy Editor: Somiar
