Elder Jim Allen

Each individual African American reserves the right to celebrate or confront the 250th year of America’s founding.

When I think about the founding of the United States of America, I think about High John de Conqueror telling enslaved African Americans they’d be Emancipated 100 years before the Emancipation Proclamation.

I think about enslaved African American Muslim patriots who fought in the American Revolutionary War against the British. These are their names: Yusuf ben Ali. Bampett Muhamed. Peter Salem (Salaam). Joseph Saba. Francis Saba.

I think about the 1st American to be killed in the founding of the United States of America, a Black man named Crispus Attucks!

…and yes, I’m fully aware of Frederick Douglass “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” speech delivered on July 5, 1852, at Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York. I’m also fully aware of Frederick Douglass meetings with Abraham Lincoln regarding Emancipation of enslaved African Americans as well as African American soldiers fighting in the Civil War:

August 10, 1863: Douglass met Lincoln in the Executive Mansion to advocate for the equal pay of Black soldiers and protection for Black prisoners of war.

August 19, 1864: Lincoln summoned Douglass to discuss a contingency plan for helping enslaved people escape to the North in the event the Union lost the war.

March 4, 1865: Douglass attended Lincoln’s second inauguration and later met him at an inaugural reception, where Lincoln personally asked for his opinion on the speech.

Frederick Douglass also recruited African Americans to fight in the Civil War, of whom two of his sons fought in the Civil War: Lewis Henry Douglass and Charles Remond Douglass fought for the Union.

I think about Sojourner Truth, she met with President Abraham Lincoln at the White House on October 29, 1864 and thanked him for his efforts in freeing enslaved African Americans.

I think about Harriet Tubman returning to the South 13 times to rescue enslaved African Americans. She led 100s of enslaved African Americans to freedom. She served in the Civil War (Union Army) as a spy and led an attack on the Confederate Combahee River Raid in South Carolina on June 2, 1863 which freed over 800 enslaved African American women, men and children. Harriet Tubman was posthumously commissioned as a one-star Brigadier General in the Maryland Army National Guard on November 11, 2024 (Veterans Day).

I think about Black Freemasons of whom have been on this soil since 1775 fighting against slavery, racism and civil rights.I think about Black Freemasons along with other Black leaders meeting with President Abraham Lincoln on August 14, 1862 and rejecting his proposal to move enslaved African Americans to the Chiriquí region of what is now Panama. Among the many things discussed, they told President Lincoln “Our people are buried in this soil”.

I think about the 20 some odd Black ministers when asked by President Abraham Lincoln “What do your people want?” They responded “We want land to feed and house ourselves”. Thus, newly freed African Americans were allotted up to 40 acres and later broken down mules used in the Civil War. The order was called Special Field Orders No.15 issued by General William T. Sherman and War Secretary Edwin Stanton.

I think about all of the intelligent Black leaders produced by Black Greek organizations. Leaders who also fought against legal segregation, racism, and inequality.

I think about the work of Noble Drew Ali and The Moorish Science Temple of America pushing us to a mentality of discipline, justice and sovereignty.

I think about The Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation Of Islam fighting to give us dignity, self-respect (DO FOR SELF), and a name that wasn’t a European slave owner’s name.

Of course I also think about the blood sacrifice of Medgar Evers, Minister Malcolm X, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Fred Hampton.

I think about all of those who made the 1963 March On Washington and the 1995 Million Man March possible.

I think about the rise of the United States of America’s 1st Black President, Barack Obama. I think about our 1st Black Vice President Kamala Harris.

Simply put, African Americans made the United States of America better for everyone. Our people fought in every war this country ever had. It is because of African Americans we have the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Our contributions and sacrifices to the 13 Colonies as well as the United States of America is immeasurable!

So rather you decide to celebrate or confront, it’s your prerogative. Just keep in mind our people died for us to receive ALL of the benefits of being an American citizen, and we ain’t giving that up for no got damn body!

We built this Country 🇺🇸 —Elder Jim Allen