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Today, America celebrates 243 years since the Continental Congress declared the 13 colonies a free and independent nation from the British crown.
The Declaration of Independence is one of the most cherished documents in American history.
Because of the great promise and idealism encapsulated in this document, most of us feel something when we hear these words, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights."
The reality, however, is that the rights of many Americans weren't considered when the founding fathers wrote these words.
These words applied, largely, to wealthy men — men of means.
Women were not included.
People of color — particularly enslaved African Americans — were not included.
The poor and downtrodden were not included.
Indigenous people were not included.
But the seed of truth in these words - that we are created EQUAL — has always been the driving force behind every social movement for progress...
...from the suffragettes to the civil rights era, to today's Black Lives Matter movement and those who work to protect women's rights, the rights of immigrants, & LGBTQ rights. As they say, you can't stop the truth. Once it is out of the bottle, history will eventually catch up.
Today, many more of us have a seat at the table because of so many hard-fought battles.
Just over the last few weeks, dramatic changes have occurred in our culture, with a rising awareness of social, racial and economic injustice, and an urge to not just talk about it, but to act. Confederate monuments are coming down.
Leaders are looking at substantive ways to curb police violence. More Americans are waking up and want to create real change.
As we celebrate American independence, let us also celebrate the potential of this great nation and recommit ourselves to the work that must be done to ensure greater equality in this country. We are a nation of tremendous promise.
We are not the nation of Trump. We are the nation of NOW, a richly diverse people who want to live together, prosper, and appreciate each other in peace and unity.
It is each of our jobs to live up to the promise of 1776.
It is each of our jobs to live up to the promise of 1776.
