While the Declaration of Independence proclaimed liberty and equality, millions of people in America were denied those very rights. In 1776, enslaved men, women, and children lived under brutal conditions, deprived of freedom and legal protection.
Enslaved people performed labor that sustained much of the colonial economy, especially in agriculture. They worked long hours under harsh conditions, often separated from family members and denied basic human rights.
Despite oppression, enslaved people resisted in many ways—through maintaining family bonds, preserving cultural traditions, and, at times, escaping bondage. Some sought freedom by joining the British or American forces, believing the promise of liberty applied to them as well.
The existence of slavery exposed a deep contradiction in America’s founding ideals. A nation declaring freedom while permitting bondage reveals the complexity and unfinished nature of the American experiment.
Acknowledging this history is essential. It does not diminish the importance of 1776—it deepens our understanding. The ideals expressed that year would later become tools used to challenge and dismantle slavery itself.
An honest commemoration of America’s 250th birthday must include these truths, recognizing both the promise of liberty and the long struggle to extend it to all.
