While I was in college, I used to send a mass email of the text of Frederick Douglass’s memorable speech, “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro”. I was a little… hmm… frustrated… at the time by my fresh, more nuanced understandings of how America has functioned in her history –realizations that for many come, unfortunately, after leaving grade school. So I was more than happy to hold up this speech as my rejection of the most exemplary celebration of AMERICA: Independence Day. I was fascinated with the boldness of this oration, given before an audience on July 5, 1852. Not initially printed and distributed, but delivered with the full force of his voice and emotion to folks who I imagine did not sense the irony in inviting a Negro to speak at their July 4th Celebration.