For many, the Fourth of July is a day to celebrate America’s independence from Great Britain in 1776, when 56 delegates signed the Declaration of Independence. Notable figures among the signers include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, all of whom later served as U.S. presidents.
But while the holiday celebrates freedom from British rule, the promise of liberty was not extended to all Americans. African Americans remained enslaved in a nation founded on principles that declared, “all men are created equal.”
It would take nearly another century before the Emancipation Proclamation formally ended slavery. In recognition of both triumphs and ongoing struggles, Historically Black Since highlights four events to mark and reflect on this holiday.
1. Frederick Douglass’ 1852 keynote address
On July 5, 1852, former slave and abolitionist Frederick Douglass delivered his powerful address, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” at Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York. Sponsored by the Rochester Ladies’ Anti‑Slavery Society, the speech exposed the hypocrisy of celebrating freedom in a nation where millions were enslaved. Douglass asked, “What to the slave is the Fourth of July?” and answered, “A day that reveals to him the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.”
2. Hamburg Massacre (July 4, 1876)
During Reconstruction, racial violence erupted in Hamburg, South Carolina, after a dispute involving two white farmers and a Black militia group using a public road. On July sixth, more than 100 armed white men aligned with so‑called “Red Shirts” attacked about 30 Black militia members, killing six and injuring others. The massacre became part of a broader campaign to suppress Black political rights in the Deep South.
3. Founding of Tuskegee University (July 4, 1881)
Tuskegee University was founded on July 4, 1881, by Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver and Lewis Adams. Now in its 144th year, the historically Black institution boasts alumni such as Lionel Richie, Tom Joyner and Keenan Ivory Wayans. It’s best known for the Tuskegee Airmen, America’s first Black military pilots during WWII, and has recently launched the first aviation program among HBCUs.
4. Jack Johnson vs. James J. Jeffries (July 4, 1910)
Dubbed “the fight of the century,” the heavyweight boxing match in Reno, Nevada, pitted Black champion Jack Johnson against former champion James J. Jeffries. Johnson won by knockout in the 15th round, but the outcome triggered nationwide race riots. More than two dozen people were reportedly killed or wounded as racial tensions exploded. The New York Tribune reported, “rioting broke out like prickly heat all over the country.”
Conclusion
July fourth remains both a celebration and a reminder of the freedom won and the freedoms still being pursued. As Historically Black Since urges: remember who was and wasn’t included in the Declaration of Independence and what freedom really means today.
