"THE ONLY LIVING DOCUMENT"

Submitted by Phillip Howard 

      Two hundred and thirty-two years ago, 13 all-white males endorsed the second most important document ever written, The Declaration of Independence.

      We all know the history of this distinguished document.  Thomas Jefferson primarily wrote it and submitted on July 02, 1776. On July 04, 1776 the collection of signatures began, birthing America on her journey in this grand experiment called, “Democracy.”

      As I started my quest of understanding about this document, I researched other countries and I realized the splendor of this country in a new light.  Most nations are born of conflict.  But at its creation, none was more determined than the U.S.A to bring those “inalienable rights” to all its citizens.  All Americans should feel blessed and thankful to live in a country that judges men by the content of their character, not by the color of their skin.  Furthermore, I believe we should acknowledge more profoundly the signees of this The Declaration of Independence.  Therefore, it is incumbent on all Americans, especially Americans of color, to forgive and embrace our “Founding Fathers.”  Not forgetting that they own slaves, but moving passed that point, acknowledging that their contributions outweigh all fallacies passed.

 

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"...it is incumbent on all Americans, especially Americans of color, to forgive and embrace our “Founding Fathers.”

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      Perplexed will be those, by a “black-male” with my mentality, considering the “black elites” in the minority community that never miss a chance to bring up this nation’s past transgressions. Yet and still there or others so caught up in the fireworks and BBQ that they don’t think about the reason for the second most important holiday of the year.  But contrary to popular opinion, I believe that our feelings toward the “Founders” should be marked with jubilation for their foresight and not antipathy.

      The fruits of The Declaration of Independence did bring opportunity to white Americans quicker than Americans of color.  This fact is no longer relevant.  What is critically important is that the opportunity came.  Eighty-four years after the founding and signing of The Declaration of Independence, Abraham Lincoln, the greatest American President, freed the slaves.  One-hundred eighty nine years afterwards, Americans of color got their “Declaration of Independence,” the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  This Act gave Americans of color the exact charge that 189 years earlier the “Founders” sought.  Finally, two-hundred and thirty two years later we have the first American of color as President.  To some these events came well past their due, but I challenge anyone to find a society more inclusive of a group that was once enslaved by their brethren.

      I wish that slavery never happened, but it did. Had it not happened I wouldn’t be here. I for one would much rather be a citizen of this country than Africa.  I wish racism or Jim Crow didn’t exist, but we can’t live the rest of our lives being held captive by the cancer that is “hate.”  When persons throughout history have argued in defense of justice, they quoted from this document, “…all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.” Even today as we witness the events taking place in Iran, the words in this document take on a more profound global meaning.

      Whether by greed of the worst kind or by the divine plan of God, our journey as a nation was for its citizens to be either indifferent to the practice of slavery or to be participants.  But our history is just that, history.  Let it be remembered and celebrated for the destination and not the journey.  It is with that, that I implore all to let our “Founders” be judged by God and lest all Americans bear no ill-will toward these honorable men, for what they authored is, “The Only Living Document.” 
 

The Author, Phillip Howard, is the third youngest of ten children born to Rev. James and Lois Howard.  He is a former member of the United States Marines Corps.  He graduated from a Historical Black College, Stillman College, and he received his MBA from Troy University in Montgomery.  He now lives and works in the Birmingham Area in law enforcement and is a Big Brother in the Big Bros. & Big Sister Program.