The United States celebrated its 250th anniversary of independence from Britain on July 4, 2026. This involved the signing of the Declaration of Independence, marking the beginning of the United States.
As a result, the country divided into slave states, primarily in the South, and the others were free states. The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 declared enslaved people in Confederate states were free. Enslaved people in Texas were not free until June 19, 1865. This day is known as Juneteenth. Many Black Americans didn’t join in the 250 year celebration because in 1776, our ancestors were still enslaved. Slavery was not abolished until December 6, 1865.
Black people have been integral to the Unites States since its founding. Enslaved and free Black individuals participate in the Revolutionary War. Despite the contributions of Black Americans, generations were born enslaved and later faced systemic oppression through Jim Crow laws.
I grew up in poverty in the Jim Crow South during the Civil Rights Era. This year’s celebration was a chance for me to acknowledge the enduring contributions Black Americans made to this country, and also to reflect on the challenges. I will always remember the gallant work of the civil rights workers who risked their lives to challenge racial segregation, disenfranchisement, and systemic racism.
This year was a time for me to reflect back over my life. We lived in various shacks in Memphis and the surrounding area. We lived in a place called “The Bottom” when I was seven until age fourteen. It was the last shack on a long dirt and gravel road. We didn’t have electricity or indoor plumbing.
Over the seven years we lived in “The Bottom,” my best friend’s family and our family spent precious time together. When we had extra money we got new clothes and sneakers from the dollar store. My sister suggested we buy matching outfits for the Fourth of July celebration. This was our first time buying new clothes. This celebration was special because the Blue Angels were performing at the local Naval Base. We were excited!
We went to the base to watch the Blue Angels Air Show. The Blue Angels is the US Navy’s flight demonstration squadron. We were in awe of their performances. Other than birds, I had never seen anything so beautiful flying in the sky. We could go to the air show at the Navy Base, but public parks and swimming pools frequently closed across the South to avoid desegregation.
We continued to listen to our transistor radio to stay abreast of the civil rights movement. When Dr. Martin Luther King’s voice came across the airwaves, our mother would say “Hush”. We knew she meant business and had to be quiet so she and Dad could hear every word. We dutifully kept quiet and listened to Dr. King’s powerful, captivating and harmonic voice. We didn’t want to miss any part of his message. His speeches were always filled with faith, wisdom and hope.
I learned not to spend a lot of time concerned about things I couldn’t do anything about. We learned to bloom where we were planted and enjoyed life to the fullest. As a family, we continued to talk about the ongoing fight for equal rights. Our parents didn’t take the heroic actions of the civil rights leaders, and the many others who fought and stood for civil rights, lightly. Our parents said that Dr. King kept fighting because he imagined how life could be for Black people. In return, I imagined how my life could be. Dr. King and the other civil rights leaders and activists endured many hardships for the benefit of equality. Most civil rights leaders relied on their faith to keep them going. I realized that I could endure a few hardships on my own.
While living in “The Bottom” we had a sense of belonging by connecting to a community, school, and church that cared about people. This was essential to our well-being. We began to blossom!
I can now live the life my parents and Dr. King dreamed about. For that reason, I celebrated the 250th anniversary of the United States with people of many races in my community.
Francie Mae. July 5, 2026
Reference
Wikipedia. “Ending Slavery in the United States.” Web. Assessed July 5. 2026.
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