Who's Independence Are You Celebrating?

Burned ribs, smothered with barbeque. Molasses covered baked beans, and mustard potato salad that hits the spot. Shit talkin', loud music broadcasted from WJLB, brother's rappin over instrumental's or simply rappin' about the stronghold life has over them. Later in the night, the gun-shots begin, some say M-80's, but we all know the truth. Then come the sparklers, I remember being rushed to the hospital for those damn hand-held sparklers's, that begin in the middle of the street and end up in the middle of the sky falling down to leave the residue and the smell of gun powder. And then, what happens?

On the fifth there are still a few families celebrating that could not the day before, but as a whole what exactly are we celebrating? Let's ask this again, what exactly are you celebrating if you are a woman, if you are of African-decent, Mexican/Latin-decent, and the list goes on. Why is it that those who are the first to celebrate something fail to realize that the holiday they are partaking in was not meant for them in the first place? Well, now it is because those who are truly independent stay that way due to our dedication to buying hundreds of dollars worth of food, beer, pop, firecrackers, and ammunition which aids in their pockets getting fatter.

Indeed, the fourth of July can simply be a reason to congregate and to eat food that maybe you did not pay for, but ultimately this is not your celebration to have. But, I can tell you a few better dates, January 31st 1865, creation of the Thirteenth Amendment, officially outlawing slavery, February 3rd 1870 , The ratification of the 15th Amendment giving African-Americans the right to vote. February 10th, 1964, the implementation of the Civil Rights Act, August 26th, 1920, when women gained the right to vote or June 23rd, 1972, when women officially were given the right to have/get an education under Title IV. I wonder what would happen if we celebrated on these dates for our true independence? Now, barbeque a pig for that!