Independence Day Celebrations Should Never Overlook African American Cofounders of the USA

The United States Independence Day is a marvelous day of freedom that would not have happened without the African American (Black Americans) ethnic group. Traditional narratives of the United States Independence Day has tended to center White Americans and their history surrounding the founding of the USA with European settlers and their Founding Fathers. However, this narrative is very narrow, and without the complete and more accurate picture, it will be inaccurate. The more accurate picture is that there were African Americans present and participating in the founding of the United States of America and it’s independence.

• Political – African Americans played a vital role politically in the military at the founding of the USA. For it was Crispus Attucks who was the first to die, giving his life during the Boston Massacre, which was the flame for the Revolutionary War. African Americans, both free and enslaved, fought during the Revolutionary War even when some white Americans didn’t want to fight. It was the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, also known as the Black Regiment, to fight during the Revolutionary War.
• Morally – African Americans played and still play a vital role in starting and maintaining equality and equity, justice and fairness in the United States of America, continuing to force the country to live up to its constitution. The Civil Rights Movement of the 960s and other challenging and successful movements prior to the Civil Rights Movement were led by African Americans.
• Socially and Culturally – African Americans are the culture and trend setters of the United States of America, from early designs of the 17 and 1800s all the way until today, their style, dialect and language, music, food and more dominate that is acceptable in the USA and even globally. The DAP, a greeting created by African Americans during Vietnam which was a form of solidarity, is now used globally and many have no idea that it is an African American greeting of brotherhood.
• Economically – African Americans not only were the currency but are the reason why the USA thrives and has thrived for centuries, with the export of their culture and storytelling as well as inventions and talents, African Americans are the only ethnic group in the country to have ever come up from slavery to the heights they are today, being the wealthiest group of the racially black people on earth and the 3rd top group of inventors the world has ever seen. Without African American inventions, the United States would never have reached or become the powerhouse it has become today.

When it comes to the skill, strength and innovation and fighting power of the African American people as well as their contribution to the creation of the American Flag, it is no doubt that they are the co-founders of this nation because a nation is more than just political documents. A nation is made of culture, morals, economy and a will to survive. African Americans are and will forever be the strongest co-founders of the nation founded in 1776 – the United States of America – when the country gained Independence – July 4th, 1776.