On this day 1776, my ancestors were still slaves. They did not start to experience change until 1865. And ACTUALLY, “until February 7, 2013, the state of Mississippi had never submitted the required documentation to ratify the Thirteenth Amendment, MEANING IT NEVER OFFICIALLY HAD ABOLISHED SLAVERY.” (ABC News) 😦

Understanding this point of view: “In a Washington Times’ op-ed, Stacy Swimp notes that at least 5,000 black men fought for the Continental Army against the British, men who believed that freedom from Britain would ultimately result in their freedom from slavery. Swimp also names Black founding fathers he believes should be remembered on the 4th, like Crispus Attucks, Peter Salem, and Salem Poor.
And he points out that while slaves weren’t free at the time of the declaration, it is as a result of that document that every American, under the U.S. Constitution, is equally guaranteed individual freedom.” (US News & World Report)

Don’t misunderstand, today many of us honor our men that fought and their families that endured, but we can’t fail to consider our new slavery. With OVER-incarceration and UNDER-employment, police violence, school-to-prison pipeline, crimes of economics, lack of quality housing, healthcare, education, and food all plaguing our communities across this country, tell me how does our freedom ring?

No longer can they feed us crumbs from their abundant table & tell us we ate. Thanks for making us hungry though!

By:Cori Bush