The Nation Never Looked Blacker

I talked with family and friends across the county and concluded that the 4th of July hit differently this year. Even if they were not aware of Frederick Douglass’ scathing rebuke of the holiday in 1852, they would agree that the nation never looked blacker, or in 2026, things have never looked bleaker.

On the nation’s 250th birthday, people of African descent had little to celebrate. Most had an attitude. More hot dogs, fewer steaks on the grill. There were cutbacks on the fireworks. No new red, white and blue outfits for the occasion. No outside recreational activities, it was cheaper to stay home.

There was very little flag-waving going on. This was confirmed by a survey conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research taken just before this year’s celebration. They found that only about 3 in 10 Black folks say they ever display the American flag. Our patriotism manifests differently.

Black folks see the handwriting on the wall. We know when America sneezes, we get the flu. We have always wanted to take the government at its word, only to be slapped upside the head with broken promises. Despite laws on the books, Black people have lost land, sacred institutions, intellectual property, and our lives. And now under the MAGA regime, we’ve witnessed the erosion of civil rights, including the coveted right to vote, pushing us to the bottom of the economic ladder, and in general, making our lives unbearable.

Through it all, we have shown remarkable resilience and strength in the face of persistent barbarism. Descendants have contributed significantly to this nation, making undeniable sacrifices that have strengthened its moral, political, cultural, and economic fabric.

Black people must constantly evaluate our relationship with those who have oppressed us, regardless of how normalized it has become. If we are to have a sobering forecast of the future, it must always start with our past.

“What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” clearly was meant for white folks. Douglass was also trying to tell us something. He reminded us that the impact of chattel slavery is ugly and real, but it was never our destiny.

Trump and his MAGA monsters cannot make America great again. We are poised for some difficult times ahead. Douglass believed we were built for the task. “Whate’er the peril or the cost,” he encouraged, “be driven.”