Pre-Independence Day, p. 16
Dublin Core
Title
Pre-Independence Day, p. 16
Description
"A group of distinguished citizens of the black race assembled last Sunday under interesting and intelligent auspices at one of the local schools to celebrate Pre-Independence day. The Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth articles of the Constitution were read and appropriately explained by an eminent member of the bar.
The point which makes this particular occasion the subject of editorial comment is the fact that the three articles referred to have been completely abandoned in the South insofar as their enforcement affects the people whose condition prompted their enactment.
Article 13 of the Constitution reads as follows: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”
This article was enacted in 1865 and waas for the purpose of establishing freedom of the slaves. Article 14: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States, nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the law.”
It is needless to say that the spirit of these two Articles is not only violated but has ceased to exist in several of the states of the Union. The attitude upon the part of the law-enforcing agencies themselves has been such as to sanction and by such sanction to make effective the complete annulment of these two Articles of the Constitution.
Thus the 15th Amendment to the Constitution: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States’ or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude,” has suffered the same fate at the hands of traitors to the Constitution as the two preceding Articles.
This in turn means that America can only celebrate a half independence. Her absolute and complete freedom is smothered and circumscribed by hate, hypocrisy and prejudice. Independence of mind, action, economic, social and political freedom, which should be the property of every citizen, is a lie upon its face and a mockery to our boasted intelligence and Christianity."
The point which makes this particular occasion the subject of editorial comment is the fact that the three articles referred to have been completely abandoned in the South insofar as their enforcement affects the people whose condition prompted their enactment.
Article 13 of the Constitution reads as follows: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”
This article was enacted in 1865 and waas for the purpose of establishing freedom of the slaves. Article 14: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States, nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the law.”
It is needless to say that the spirit of these two Articles is not only violated but has ceased to exist in several of the states of the Union. The attitude upon the part of the law-enforcing agencies themselves has been such as to sanction and by such sanction to make effective the complete annulment of these two Articles of the Constitution.
Thus the 15th Amendment to the Constitution: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States’ or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude,” has suffered the same fate at the hands of traitors to the Constitution as the two preceding Articles.
This in turn means that America can only celebrate a half independence. Her absolute and complete freedom is smothered and circumscribed by hate, hypocrisy and prejudice. Independence of mind, action, economic, social and political freedom, which should be the property of every citizen, is a lie upon its face and a mockery to our boasted intelligence and Christianity."
Creator
N/A
Publisher
The Chicago Defender
Date
1935-7-6
Collection
Citation
N/A, “Pre-Independence Day, p. 16,” African American Fourth of July, accessed April 28, 2024, https://africanamerican4th.omeka.net/items/show/257.