July 4th Quotes

“What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are, to Him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy-a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States, at this very hour.

Go where you may, search where you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the Old World, travel through South America, search out every abuse, and when you have found the last, lay your facts by the side of the everyday practices of this nation, and you will say with me, that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a rival.”
― Frederick Douglass

“There was something melancholic about that symbol of their nation's promise of freedom, a bell with a chipped mouth and cleft body.”
― E.A. Bucchianeri, Brushstrokes of a Gadfly

“Ma'am," he said, reaching for the door. He held it open, his posture as erect and sturdy as a pole.

I eyed the man's uniform, the pins and badges that signified his military rank and position. At that moment I felt opposing forces wash over me, clashing internally like a cold and warm front meeting in the air.

At first I was hit by a burning sense of respect and gratitude. How privileged a person I was to have this soldier unbar the way for me, maintaining a clear path that I might advance unhindered. The symbolism marked by his actions did strike me with remarkable intensity. How many virtual doors would be shut in my face if not for dutiful soldiers like him?

As I went to step forward, my feet nearly faltered as if they felt unworthy. It was I who ought to be holding open the door for this gentleman—this representative of great heroes present and past who did fight and sacrifice and continue to do so to keep doors open, paths free and clear for all of humanity.

I moved through the entrance and thanked him.

"Yes, ma'am," he said.

How strange that I should feel such pride while passing through his open door.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, Slaying Dragons: Quotes, Poetry, & a Few Short Stories for Every Day of the Year

“Today, we'll celebrate Independence Day using the backdrop of the sky as a canvas, the fireworks thrown against it bearing semblance to the drips from the hands of Jackson Pollock but we'll forget that here, in America there are still some who are not free.”
― Ayokunle Falomo, thread, this wordweaver must!

“Implore to self and pray for country, in your patriotic hearts, to be raising the flag of countless gratitudes while torching that one of idolatry.”
― Criss Jami

“I'm sorry...but not about what happened. Using the ID is the reason I met you. I'll never be
sorry for that.”
― Willa Drew, Crushes, Friends, & Us

“It’s not enough to have freedom, one must know how to practice that freedom.”
― Abhijit Naskar, When Call The People: My World My Responsibility

“The first & oldest constitution in the history of the world is the United States Constitution. Let that sink in.”
― Charles F Glassman

“When you come down to the ground of humanity from your pedestal of intellect, then you realize that though white Americans received independence from British occupation on July 4th, 1776, it meant nothing as to the fate of the Black Americans, for they still continued to suffer as slaves officially until the declaration of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1st 1863, and somewhat unofficially till Juneteenth, that is, June 19th, 1866. I say somewhat unofficially because, it ought to be clear to anybody with half a brain by now that, slavery didn’t actually end either with Emancipation Proclamation or on Juneteenth, it morphed into racism.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Hometown Human: To Live for Soil and Society

“Flag Cruelty Fraught (The New American Anthem)

Say, can you see,
The darkness we've caused?
Our star spangled banner,
Is a flag cruelty fraught.
It ain't land of the free,
It ain't home of the brave.
Where looks define dignity,
Is but humanity's grave.
Slavery is alive as racism,
Bigotry still claims dominion.
First we must treat these ailments,
Or else, for us there is no dawn.
O say, it's time to abolish all false glory.
Forget valor, let's first practice equality.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Gente Mente Adelante: Prejudice Conquered is World Conquered

“Ain't My Fourth of July (The Sonnet)

Fourth of July comes and goes,
Yet slavery remains and thrives.
It kills in the name of supremacy,
It causes ruin in a pro-life guise.
Real advocates of life value life,
And place life above all belief.
Belief that values guns over person,
Is only pro-death and pro-disease.
Freedom involves accountability,
Without which we are just free animals.
Those who turn superstition into law,
Are no judge but a bunch of dumbbells.
This ain't my Fourth of July, for I actually value life.
Till all lives are deemed equal, I'll continue to strive.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Amantes Assemble: 100 Sonnets of Servant Sultans

“This Fourth of July, instead of celebrating your Americanness, do something to redeem your humanness. Anybody can become a super power by exploiting and abusing others - that's not greatness, it's bestiality - but to grow super without trampling on anybody, that's greatness - better yet, to grow super together with everybody, that's absolute greatness.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Tum Dunya Tek Millet: Greatest Country on Earth is Earth

“I have no doubts there is racism in the USA towards British people because of the July 4th Independence Day celebration of USA victory over the British.”
― Steven Magee

“As a UK citizen in the UK, I never had any issues in the UK workplace. All my workplace issues started after I began working in the USA. I associate this with the July 4th Independence Day that celebrates USA victory over the British.”
― Steven Magee

“I will no longer wear or carry anything that identifies me as British in the USA because of the July 4th Independence Day celebration of USA victory over the British.”
― Steven Magee