Celebrating the Fourth of July 🎆

Art and Ideas to Inspire Celebration of American Ideals and Commitment to Include Everyone in Them

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

We are now at another Fourth of July holiday that commemorates the adoption of the final draft of the Declaration of Independence.  As noted in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy – Jefferson,

The document was intended to be “an expression of the American mind” and was put forth to the “tribunal of the world.” Jefferson’s draft listed certain “sacred & undeniable” truths: that all men are created “equal & independent”; that “from that equal creation,” all have the rights “to the preservation of life, & liberty, & the pursuit of happiness”; that governments, deriving their “just powers from the consent of the governed,” are instituted to secure such rights; and that the people have a right to abolish any government which “becomes destructive of these ends” and to institute a new government, by “laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness” ([D], 19).

I recently had the opportunity to see an exhibit of the work of artist Faith Ringold that included her installation The Wake and Resurrection of the Bicentennial Negro, 1976.   Every element of the installation inspired deeper thinking about who is represented in the Declaration of Independence and who is not.   While taking in the artwork, I was reminded of  Frederick Douglass’ July 5, 1852  keynote address in celebration of July 4^th. Here is his speech, titled, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”

There are numerous resources that offer images, such as these from Bridgeman Images, and ideas about how to celebrate the Fourth.  Many of us may look forward to getting together with friends and family, sharing food and drink amid red, white, and blue decorations.

We are also in deeply challenging times where political rhetoric and policy/legal actions in numerous states have questioned and sought to limit the teaching of American history and literature that includes the realities of American oppression of women, people of color, immigrants, and the LGBTQ+ community, as well as to carry out policies that restrict access to voting and health care, among other issues.

It does seem to me that the ideals of the “American mind” set forth in the Declaration are well deserving of celebration.  It also seems vital to celebrate the continuing efforts of so many who have historically striven and are currently doing heroic work to make the words of the Declaration apply to and include everyone.  We each can celebrate our commitments to actively participate in the democratic processes set forth in the Declaration by voting and speaking up, as well as recognizing the importance of connecting with others to do a shout out for the best of what America is about and exerting the will to insist on this for every person.

With appreciation and best regards,

Sandy Sohcot, Director