The Declaration of Independence signed in 1776 is a crucial part of American democracy because it expresses the ideals and goals of our nation. Unfortunately, those rights weren’t granted to Black men until 1870 (the 15th Amendment), women in 1920 (19th Amendment) and indigenous people, by law in 1924.
“All” was not inclusive. For instance, it took the U.S. Constitution ratified in 1788 with ways to amend featured in Article 5; the Civil War fought from 1861 to 1865; many smaller tragedies and demonstrations before the sweeping sentiments of the Declaration became law. Not until the Civil Rights Act of 1964 were Blacks in the South guaranteed the right to vote.
Rights denied to a class of people by systems and structures that preserve disadvantages, even though discrimination is illegal, is systemic racism. Example: for a long time, Social Security, established as part of FDR’s New Deal in 1935, paid benefits almost entirely to whites because most American blacks were relegated to informal jobs not covered by Social Security.
More people are now aware of the harm brought about by our racial baggage. Currently, black women have a significantly higher mortality rate in childbirth and COVID-19 is deadlier to black and brown Americans. I need not go on.
No one disputes that all lives matter, but German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, an anti-Nazi dissent who died for his beliefs, eloquently expressed what is important: “We must learn to regard people less in light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer.”
The set of societal, governmental, and commercial practices discriminating against minorities (intentionally or not) matters.
America has often stepped forward to do the right thing for its citizens. Black and brown people did not create the systems, so they must rely on the rule-makers to correct injustices. Black men, women and Native people did not gain their rights without the efforts of courageous good people – white, black, brown, and female.
So, it is, now – yet another time for each American to advance the values of our Declaration.
