In consideration of African Americans should we cease to use fireworks on Independence day?

Question

Historically America has excluded Blacks (even the Constitution excluded Blacks as human beings). In respect of my African American neighbors, the Robinsons, I have not purchased any fireworks and am boycotting Independence day. I also pray that we all may respect our African American brothers and sisters.

Answer 1

ok, im still setting mine off, but i think you are doing a good thing.

Answer 2

I don't know how not using fireworks on Independence Day has anything to do with being exclusive to African Americans...I celebrate independence day in a way to celebrate all Americans throughout history who have served our country which includes many African Americans. I'm a woman so you could say that historically American has excluded women because we didn't get the right to vote for over a hundred years after the first Independence Day. But because you live in American you can do what you please...

Answer 3

Umm...infact that part of the constituiton has changed and I am black and know that.....Independence Day is celebrated due to America's freedom from Great Britian so why not celebrate it if you want to...Blacks didn't have freedom then as slaves and we still didn't even have it in the 60s when we were excluded in the constitution from voting... I mean I think we all know the struggle of blacks and it still goes on but Independence Day has nothing to do with it in my opnion. Some of us still don't have freedom and we have been celebrating this holiday so what do you think so many hundred years later it would change?

Answer 4

That is the most absurd thing I've read in a long time.



Funny, I noticed plenty of African Americans at tonight's firework display in Decatur, GA. Not a protester in sight.



You should put your respect and your energy towards more serious things that all Americans really care about....

Answer 5

God has made us all in his image. We are all brothers and sisters. What made those who were different race were simple minded unworthy people that just did not know what it is like to love another human being regardless. I would not give the attention to those who have hurt others for no other reason than to seem more powerful, so my opinion on boycotting is this; Dont give them the time of day. Boycotting only makes them feel more powerful cuz they got you stirred up over it all. Let it go man, show them you are better, and that words will go further than actions.

Answer 6

No.

I don't see how foregoing the use of fireworks and boycotting independence day shows any more or less respect for african americans than doing what any normal patriotic american would do on the fourth of July.

Answer 7

You have to dig in your history a bit,

but did you know about the tens of

thousands of WHITE slaves that were

sent over from Europe to clear land

in the New World? Negroes were

worth big money as property then, but

white slaves were treated worse and

had no value except to be worked to

death. So, how would it benefit black

people if we stopped shooting off

fireworks? With that kind of reasoning

fireworks come from China, and

thousands of Chinese "coolies" died

building America's railroads, so does

that mean we should stop riding trains?

How far do you want to go into the ridiculous?

Answer 8

I see your point, but you're disrespecting your own heritage. I'm not saying that the way you got to this point is reasonable or acceptable, but it can't be changed and your country has definitely surpassed that level of thinking.



DON'T take this the wrong way - I find a lot of people are so quick to include minorities and accomodate, and that's really fantastic, but at the same time, don't forget your own roots. It doesn't mean that you have to discriminate by any means, but don't forget where you came from...



You have every right to celebrate who you are today and if we all followed the thinking that you should boycott Independence Day, then we'd also follow the thinking that women should stay home pregnant and barefoot in the kitchen while tending to 13 children. Change is necessary in order to evolve.

Answer 9

No. I propose that instead you leave my country, take up residence in Israel, and take your neighbors with you when you go. It was YOUR tribe, Mr. Cohen, who controlled the triangle trade in African slaves during the colonial days. Jews on four continents, in cities from Newport, Curaçao, Recife, London, Amsterdam, and others, owned the ships that carried the slaves from Africa to the Americas. Your people had them brought here; if White plantation owners did not buy them all, the remaining slaves were dumped on the coast and had to resort, perforce, to crime to survive. While only about one third of American Whites in the Old South owned slaves, fully three-quarters of Jews of the same period did. The race problem in America is a problem of Jewish making. Any "reparations" for slavery are yours to pay. Or else just get out of the country whose Declaration of Independence causes you such shame and go to where you can feel more pride in a territorial conquest. A tour of Deir Yassin might be just the happy tonic you need. Give Baruch Goldstein's shrine my regards.



Fellow Answerers, I think that you should know what this fellow is really up to. A quote from Israel Cohen, in "A Racial Program for the Twentieth Century," 1912. Quoted in the Congressional Record, Vol. 103, p. 8559, June 7, 1957.



"We must realize that our party's most powerful weapon is racial tensions. By propounding into the consciousness of the dark races that for centuries they have been oppressed by whites, we can mold them to the program of the Communist Party. In America we will aim for subtle victory. While inflaming the [Black] minority against the whites, we will endeavor to instill in the whites a guilt complex for their exploitation of the [Blacks]. We will aid the [Blacks] to rise in prominence in every walk of life, in the professions and in the world of sports and entertainment. With this prestige, the [Black] will be able to intermarry with the whites and begin a process which will deliver America to our cause."

Answer 10

Dude! I was just partying with like a group of them. They spent like 500 bucks on some fireworks!!!

I respect them! What about the native Americans?!?! They got THIS land taken away from them?! I would think that would be more wrong to celebrate a day where people KILLED other people to gain some land that wasn't theirs in the first place!

Answer 11

You realize the Constitution has nothing to do with Independence Day, right? No, evidently you do not.



And the Constitution has nothing to do with Blacks either. Have you even read the document, or are you just being an idiot on purpose?



You are thinking of the Declaration of Independence, which was signed by July fourth 1776. The writers had intended it as a document to free all slaves, but those parts were revised so that plantation owners would agree to sign. The revised edition contains no mention of either Blacks, slavery, or any other bull you're trying to fight.



If you really are that stupid, get out of the United States, and better the gene pool. I would prefer you leave by swimming to another country. I hear Antarctica has an open-border policy...



You should know what you are talking about before you open your mouth and spout bull.

Answer 12

i don't really see why using fire works on independence day would offend african americans. and i don't know where in the constitution it says "the contents of this article excludes people of african decent" or something to that effect.



also all slaves who fought in the war (for independince (which happened before the constitution was written) were guaranteed freedom

"have to be freed"

search for that (ctrl+F) in the source



EDIT: u know what never mind what i said slavery wasnt totally abolished till 1834 (constitution was written in 1787)

Answer 13

It's true about the Constitution, and parts of the Declaration concerning slavary was stricken. It's a sad part of our history, but it is history. Let's celebrate everyone's independence together.



We were all slaves at one time or another. (John Smith (Pocahantas-that was his version of the story) was a slave in Turkey. Jews have been enslaved many times in history and the list goes on-and-on; unfortunately, so does slavary. Fire a couple of bottle rockets in memory of those enslaved today. Celebrate with those who are no longer in bondage.

Answer 14

Silly, since now the Constitution, through its lawfully added amendments, protects those rights denied in the orginal version. You are saying that since this country was once flawed, you will deny that it has any features. I suppose you also refuse to work to improve it, since it was flawed.

If you don't want to celebrate the 4th, go to Arizona and join the Native American tribes who refuse to let anyone celebrate independence because of what was done to them.

Answer 15

Wow what a connection........ 4th of July and African Americans. The 4th is a celebration for all Americans no matter what color. How silly, acts like this just add to racism

Answer 16

independence day has absolutely nothing to do with slavery and excluding blak people. we are celebrating that we are free. my brother-in-law is black and i went over to his house today. his whole family kept on setting fireworks off as fast as they could. i dont know any black person that is offended by fireworks and i think that your stupid for thinking it would offend them

Answer 17

This is a free Country and Afican Americans are a big part of that. Independence day is a day to celebrate our freedom. It does not matter what color you are. It the freedom today.

Answer 18

Ezra,



Blacks were treated as human during the early days of the colonies. They were not treated as "free men". There is a difference you know. They finally earned their freedom and are treated as "free men" thanks to European Americans who have been making the laws since the days of the Colonies. So Blacks are treated fairly now and have nothing to feel bad about.

Answer 19

Welcome to Free America. Liberty and Justice for all. You are living in the past. Look outside is it quiet? thats because your neighbors beat you to the fireworks show.

Answer 20

I dont know dude...

Most of the Brothers in my neighborhood, have the biggest and loudest Fireworks...

Answer 21

What?



And that has nothing to do with Independence Day! Independence day is celebrating our free country where EVERYONE IS EQUAL. Doing that you are kind of defeating the point.

Answer 22

I do understand your point of view Ezra. However, times have inevitably changed, and it is in all of our best interest to celebrate our freedom regardless of America's horrendous past.

Answer 23

Good gesture from your part but Independence day has nothing to do with slavery. It is true that some of our forefathers were slave owners but this fact does not relate to what you are suggesting.

Answer 24

In that case, you should boycott memorial day, go to work on president's day, and use your fireworks only for Martin Luther King's day

forgive and forget

Answer 25

What? This is sorta messed up. People are being way to politically correct these days.

Answer 26

what the hell does that have to do with the birth of our nation!! you are a idiot.!!! we arent celebrating slavery we are celebrating our separation from england! and their is no law in our law books in any state. or federal that states that black people arent human.... we have come a long way retard!!! we no longer eat our poop, we no longer eat raw meat! we no longer force people to be slaves.,,,, so get over your self righteous "bs" and stop trying to cause drama in a otherwise wonderful celebration!

Answer 27

that is ridiculous and we are not celebrating the original constitution its an out dated many times revised document. we are celebrating our independence...I celebrate it with no disrespect to any culture or nationality.



HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY EVERYONE

Answer 28

I am not sure what you are talking about. I don't think black folks give a rodents posterior if us non black folk use fire works.

Answer 29

thats good for you. what does fireworks have anything to do with that?

Answer 30

wow their skin is brown, big accomplishment let's all give them special treatmeant..., racist bigot, this goes for all races too, martin luther king jr, seems like you've never heard of his famous "i have a dream" speech

Answer 31

Beg pardon? Yes, it was terrible, but that was a long time ago.

Answer 32

lol!





Go ahead and light your brights....



just give me my 40 acres and mule

Answer 33

oh hell. id have your colored friends over to my house anytime.im white.they probly like fire works too.

forget color

Answer 34

Interesting. i'm african-american and didn't know that. sorry i don't have any suggestions.

Answer 35

i didnt know that, kudos.

Answer 36

WTF

Answer 37

Okay. Thanks, I think.