As America marks 250 years, the Fourth of July arrives with a heavy asterisk. In 1776, while fireworks celebrated liberty, Black ancestors remained shackled. For us, Independence Day isn’t a commemoration of absolute freedom — it’s a stark reminder of a deferred promise.
True freedom wasn’t delivered in 1776, nor was it fully realized in 1865. The struggle continues today in our classrooms, our courtrooms, our voting booths and the Delmar Divide.
To me, July 4 isn’t a finish line; it’s a mirror. It demands we confront how far we’ve come, acknowledge the systemic chains still holding us back and double down on the fight for real, unfiltered equity.
Rev. Herman Armstrong is executive director of Restore St. Louis and host of the “Cut Culture” podcast.