Today is July Fourth, Independence Day, coming at a time when many feel like democracy has been upended. This Fourth of July also comes just two days after the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act being passed and the observance of the 119th birthday of the first Black Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall.
AURN’s Ebony McMorris spoke with Rev. Al Sharpton about how for Black America, this day is a little different.
“The country was not only settled with but embraced slavery before they even embraced the Bill of Rights or Constitution. And so we need to understand that is that July Fourth was never our holiday because we were enslaved in servitude when they met in Philadelphia. Our days came later, and we’re yet to be where we ought to be,” said Sharpton.
He went on to talk about the great strides Americans have made but insisted that we must keep pushing for democracy.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.