Things To Keep In Mind This Fourth Of July

What is the true history of Independence Day? The holiday commemorates America's independence from British rule, but its promise of freedom has long existed alongside the realities of slavery, Indigenous dispossession, and systemic injustice.

For many Black and Native Americans, that history has made the Fourth of July a day of both celebration and reflection.

For Black Americans, the holiday has carried different meanings across generations. Before emancipation, abolitionists like Frederick Douglass pointed to the contradiction between the nation's celebration of liberty and the continued enslavement of millions of Black people.

In the years following the Civil War, many newly freed Black Americans embraced the Fourth of July as an opportunity to celebrate their own hard-won freedom. Since then, gathering with family, sharing food, and enjoying one another's company — as much as celebrating the nation's founding — have become enduring tenets of how many Black families observe the holiday.

For many Native American communities, Independence Day can also evoke mixed emotions.

While some communities have used the occasion to gather and celebrate their own cultural traditions, the holiday also serves as a reminder of the dispossession of Indigenous lands, broken treaties, and the lasting impact of U.S. government policies on Native peoples.

For many, the Fourth of July reflects not only the nation's founding, but the complicated legacy of who was — and wasn't — included in its promise of freedom.

Stolen Land

Many of the American symbols of patriotism bypasses the truth of the genocide of Native Americans that led to their land being stolen. For example, the construction of Mount Rushmore violated sacred lands of Native communities in South Dakota, and continues serves as an American symbol. 

Many city and state names –– even some brand names –– are Indigenous names of land that once belonged to and was occupied by Native American tribes. Before Christopher Columbus carried out the killing of millions of people, there was an estimated 60 million people living in what is known as North America.

What Do We Celebrate? 

While the day can be taken to focus on being with loved ones, reflecting on or learning about human rights fights Native Americans are engaged in doesn’t hurt. Check out these five Native-led organizations and causes below.

American Indian Policy Center

Native American Rights Fund

Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center

First Nations Development Institute

Native American Agriculture Fund

How to Celebrate?

That’s up to you. Here at BIN, our goal is to raise awareness about issues Black people and other marginalized communities face. Click here for more on what you can do to be involved. 

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