The Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day, celebrates a document that declares that Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness are the unalienable rights given to all humans by their creator. It also claims that governments are created to protect those very rights. But this government was not formed with the intent to protect my rights. The Declaration of Independence was not written with BIPOC citizens in mind. If Thomas Jefferson honestly wrote the Declaration to include people like me, slavery wouldn't have persisted for almost a century after America declared its independence. If it were written for people like me, the Trail of Tears would have never happened. American history would be so different if that document were written for the BIPOC citizens of America.
I tried to enjoy the fireworks this year, but I couldn't. Every loud pop only served to cement the reality we're facing. Perhaps when other people look at fireworks, they feel a promise, but I just felt uncertainty when I looked at them. The future is very hazy. Hopefully, it brings change, but we can only prepare for the worst.
For those who don't know BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. This really made me want to analyze the Declaration of Independence further, I may write an essay on it, not sure though.
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The Black Lives Matter Movement: From the Perspective of a Black Youth
NonfiksiDifferent things surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement from the perspective of a young Black person. This book is a collection of my experience, and the experience of my family and friends. It's also how I view what should be done with the mov...