Achieving the Unachievable …
A July 4th Reflection on Freedom, Legacy, and the American Promise
As fireworks illuminate the sky this Independence Day, many Americans gather to celebrate freedom. But for generations of Black Americans, July 4th has often carried a more complex meaning—a symbol of promise unfulfilled, and a call to keep striving for a more just nation.
Echoes of the Past
In 1852, Frederick Douglass famously asked, “What to the slave is the Fourth of July?”
“This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.”
He delivered a searing critique of American hypocrisy—celebrating liberty while millions remained enslaved. Douglass acknowledged the ideals of the Founding Fathers but emphasized that those ideals were not extended to Black Americans. His words reverberated with righteous indignation, calling out the chasm between American principles and its practices. While the nation hailed liberty, millions remained enslaved—a contradiction that could not be ignored.
Fast forward a century, and voices like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “The American Dream” (July 4, 1965) reframed the Fourth not as a celebration of arrival, but as an invitation to keep moving forward:
“America is essentially a dream. It is a dream of a land where men of all races, of all nationalities, and of all creeds can live together as brothers.”
King’s sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church reframed Independence Day as a call to fulfill the nation’s founding ideals—not just celebrate them. He acknowledged the contradiction between the dream and the reality, but urged Americans to close that gap through moral courage and unity.
American icons like Andrew Young, Colin Powell, and Barack Obama have reminded us, patriotism isn’t silence—it’s participation. It’s remembering that freedom is not static. It must be claimed, extended, and protected for everyone.
Ambassador Andrew Young – Civil Rights Reflection (2001)
“Freedom is a struggle, and we do it together. Not only together as Black citizens, but Black and white together.”
Young, a close confidant of Dr. King, often emphasized that the civil rights movement was not just about protest—it was about partnership. His words are a reminder that July 4th is not only a celebration of liberty, but a recommitment to shared responsibility.
General Colin Powell – Monticello Naturalization Ceremony (July 4, 1997)
“We are a nation of nations, made strong by people like you... who believe in the American dream.”
Powell, the son of Jamaican immigrants, spoke to new citizens about the enduring power of the Declaration of Independence. His remarks emphasized that patriotism is not inherited—it’s chosen, lived, and renewed by each generation.
President Barack Obama – White House Address (July 4, 2016)
“The Fourth of July is about family... but it’s also about us getting together with the people we love most to reaffirm that we’re all created equal.”
Obama often used Independence Day to reflect on the unfinished work of democracy. He reminded Americans that freedom is not static—it must be expanded, protected, and made real for everyone.
From Struggle to Symbol: A Personal Journey
In 2025, Emanuel Williams, the author of “Black and White Piano Keys”, shares his reflection:
“Because of our beliefs in freedom, a black man who lived in a white context had the opportunity to achieve the unachievable.”
This isn’t just a philosophical musing—it’s lived experience. The author, who turns 94 this August, was raised in post-Depression San Francisco, earned a college degree when few opportunities existed, and entered the U.S. Army as an officer in the 1950s. He served in Vietnam during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, navigating both the battlefield and the realities of segregation with dignity and resolve.
His life is not a footnote to history—it is a testament to it. His story embodies the very ideals July 4th claims to celebrate: perseverance, faith, courage, and the belief that democracy can bend toward justice—when we are brave enough to shape it.
The American Dream Reimagined
This Independence Day, we’re reminded that belief in freedom isn’t blind. It’s clear-eyed and resilient. And sometimes, it is written not just in documents—but in the lives of those who dared to make the dream real.
Learn more about this remarkable journey, read “Black and White Piano Keys”.
