Hopefully one day these words will be COMPLETELY true.

I love the picture you placed above the phrase. It's ironic that when people think of this phrase, they don't even consider thinking about the slaves who had to live under this contradiction.

@ NBW, what is also ironic is that when crafting the DoI, the founding fathers considered but chose not to include any mention of the contradiction

@ Stuck, one day, one day...

Hard to decide to include mention of slaves or (officially) give people of African decent the same independence when most of them (writers) did not see them as human.

What is really crazy is that there were many AAs around that were business owners and land owners during this time and up until slavery became really big in the nation. Then some of them were, too, relegated to slave status, or forced to flee for other nations in order to maintain their freedom.

The problems of democracy.

They have plauged this nation's people since the national birthing began.

I have picture like this one. Only the people are bloodline folks. A captured moment while they were living a life in these United States.

Do you ever wonder what the ancestors would think about us now? Are we the people that they imagined we would be?

I look around and the stark reality hits me...there are people who have the same ethnic bonds as me...but I barely can recognize them as connected. Yet we are just that~connected.

Looking at that photo reminded me of a radio broadcast I heard a few weeks ago that mentioned the number of people taken from Africa and brought to, (or died on the way to), the "new" world. The numbers are staggering!

Funny how the link from my visit a few weeks ago is also on this post?

Thanks for your visit!

Happy WW.

Much obliged Will. I've heard double-digit millions - but, we will never know just how many.

Your link appears from a few weeks ago because I seldom change the meme date. So everyone who's ever linked a WW continues to show up.

This is a wonderful photo. Viewed in the context of this passage from the Declaration of Independence, it represents a powerful irony. And yet it is also inspiring. Although they were not originally considered equals by the author of this document, our ancestors believed deeply in the power of these words.

Their faith in the power of the sentiments expressed, even when the author of these words failed to live up to their truth, is inspiring.

Powerful image, especially given the current signs of the time. Very moving.

Hello, just blog hopping. Interesting blog by the way.
Wow, I like that image, reminds me of the photo I saw in my grandmother's house of her ancestors in South Carolina.
Yeah, July 4, just have to ask, who's independence am I celebrating?

Awesome picture!!

And I'm still holding out that this country will put this to practice for ALL of its citizens.

@ Chocolate - please, don't be a stranger...doors are always open for you at SjP's.

@ Regina - I agree. It's a moving picture that says so much!

@ Hagar's Daughters - me too...me too.

"The pursuit of happiness" I love this phrase.

@ BoC, yes and unlike the founding fathers our ancesters KNEW they were "men" and therefore CREATED EQUAL!

@ Sheila, from the slave quarters to the big house...The White House that is!

@ Tula, powerful words..."just words?"

@ Stuck, it is true that slaves weren't considered "men" but property. But, there was discussion among Adams and Jefferson about slavery in the first drafts of the DoI. It was left out because of 2 primary reasons. First the all important dollar! Since America's wealth was being built on the backs of slaves to set them free would have depleted the labor needed to grow the economy. The second was that not not all of the states/colonies where in favor of independence - so any discussion of slavery was excluded for fear of loosing the support of the majority of the representatives. It is thought that the DoI was passed unanomously, which is not true. All of the states voted in the affirmative - however one (I think Deleware) had 2 reps and their votes were split.

Question...I'm assuming those AAs who were business owners at this time where not living in what we generally consider slave states. Right? Only ask cause I've never heard this before.

@ MLD, How wonderful (in a strange sort of way) that you have such a picture! Certainly brings home the reality of this part of (our) American history.

I doubt that our ancestors ever dreamed that they would be free, let alone that an African-American would...could...will be the next POTUS! H*ll! Even I didn't believe that I would or could ever see this day!

A few sites on African American business owners. I couldn't find the books I've read about them, but stumbled upon these sites since I didn't want to give you info without backing it up somehow.

Not all the business owners were in "non-slave states"

http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/news/hits/021114sla.htm

http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/encyclopedia/Man-Mix/Minority-Owned-Businesses.html

Stuck, much obliged for the info. Will check out the sites. Would stand to reason though that there would be AA business owners in free and slave states as I think about it. I can see that. If they were "born free" or escapees and went to a slave state (why I have no idea) I can see how they would be enslaved because they wouldn't have any papers. If in a slave state, I suspect that it really wouldn't matter if they had papers or not...paper can be destroyed and/or not even honored. Much obliged again.

Hey there! {waves}

What a powerful, arresting photo....wow....

{thumbs up}
Lisa