Where do you see this going over the next 20 years?
Every generation of Black Americans has had the right to criticize this country.
Most of our ancestors earned that right through slavery, emancipation, Reconstruction, military service, civil rights activism, and generations of labor. But they criticized America because they believed they had a claim on it and not because they rejected it. Thats true for us today as descendants to have that right. For example, people here instead of the US flag use the Black American Heritage flag which is fine, but that's not what these articles are pushing. They weren’t fighting to become less American in fact they were forcing America to recognize what was already theirs.
What concerns me today is not that criticism but the gradual replacement of the Freedmen story with broader narratives that treat Black Americans as perpetual outsiders or simply part of a global African diaspora. Just because some don't "celebrate" Independence Day, doesn't mean we disassociate with America entirely. Personally I think we should, to celebrate our achievements as well, especially after Reconstruction.
When our history is reframed this way, we risk losing something bigger than symbolism because we give up our inheritance. We exchange the story of a people who built, defended, and transformed the United States for one in which we’re merely observers deciding whether America deserves us.
While descendants of immigrants proudly wrap themselves in the American flag, pursue the American Dream, adopt our identity, and build political and economic influence here, some descendants of American Freedmen are increasingly encouraged to view the country primarily as something to reject rather than something they have an ownership stake in. We're instead told "Immigrants built America" and the Statue of Liberty is for immigrants. Both are now altered Black American origin narratives.
For example, now is the time of year we all see Fredrick Douglass' quote, but of course its heavily omitted and forgets the ending:
>"Allow me to say, in conclusion, notwithstanding the dark picture I have this day presented of the state of the nation, I do not despair of this country. There are forces in operation, which must inevitably work the downfall of slavery. 'The arm of the Lord is not shortened, and the doom of slavery is certain. I, therefore, leave off where I began, with hope. While drawing encouragement from the Declaration of Independence, the great principles it contains, and the genius of American institutions, my spirit is also cheered by the obvious tendencies of the age!"
My concern is that some modern narratives replace the unique history of Black Americans (the Freedmen lineage) with a broader Pan-African or diaspora identity that isn’t the same historical experience. That shift can blur the distinct story of our people whose families endured slavery, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, and the long fight for citizenship on this soil.
Our ancestors weren’t asking to stop being American. Even Malcolm X not once draped himself in the Pan African flag, because they demanded America live up to its own promises. That’s a very different message than treating the flag or the country as something that can never belong to us. Its ok to disagree with aligning with the colonizers, but to give up and "be African" is not the typical sentiment.
We aren’t guests here. We aren’t deciding whether to join America. We helped build it, but of course that's lost on people who either want to go to Africa (Pan Africanists) or just came from Africa (Immigrants), either way no stake in the game.
Our inheritance isn’t to renounce the country, it is to claim our place in it and hold it accountable to its founding ideals as our ancestors did. For the articles, each one I saw today and researched. They're al by Pan Africanists or immigrants: Bolarinwa Oladeji (The Grio "Black American's Don't Display the American Flag"), Aswad Walker ("A provocative take for America's 250th birthday"), the two Africans Mamdani & John Mahama at our ancestors burial grounds, the Somalis at the Puttus Bridge...
So this is my concern, bots or paid actors pushing the agenda that Black Americans aren't Americans, "We African" meanwhile, those immigrants are taking our history as a vehicle for their benefits back in Africa or whatever. Again, I'm not saying I'm praising Washington but at the same time I'm not leaving the door open for outsiders to completely push me out either. It's just a weird movement or agenda going on right now. I also don't have a problem with immigrants, just the ones involved in the agendas doing this. What are walls opinions?
Now if Trump said he admired a slave owner, what would be your reaction and how is this different🤦🏽♂️ What is going on
The most obvious being no Black men in all of Georgia apparently
Don’t worry, my Black Americans. Ghana is on the case. They are fighting hard for reparations, on your behalf. For all that you Black Americans have endured, rest assured the Ghana will be happy to take all the money owed to you because they have been hurt so much.
As you can see, they have studied the history well and are certainly able to speak on your experiences on your behalf. They truly understand the pain and continue to push the UN and others, for financial reimbursement to Ghana. We are all one. ✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾
All the Pan Africanism ruined it. From usual online bullshit, to the red black and green flags at real life events, you can’t unsee it. Africans have totally ruined it. Barefoot, bongo drums, unkept locs, random garb.. it’s hard to find peace to get through Juneteenth week every year.
Idk if it’s just me but do you all see this ending any time soon? Have you seen this momentum picking up, slowing down? Anything? It’s insufferable seeing us mocked this way. From the National Museum of African American History and Culture in DC, to the International African American Museum in SC, to Obama’s goofy library opening on the same day.. the tethers have truly encircled and rewritten the meaning in less than 5 years or so.
Thoughts? Would you vote for this duo?
Man I don’t know who’s right, both had some good points. This has been a great example of the state of our community’s online discourse lately tho
I’m tracing my paternal “David” line and have hit a wall in the 1800s. Even this ancestor’s son reportedly said he did not know who his grandfather was. I’ve found no direct documentation identifying this ancestor’s parents.
That said, I’ve confirmed the ancestor himself existed through roughly 50 years of census records, marriage records, and other documents. I also have many DNA matches connected to him through ThruLines.
In census records, there are consistent adults living in the household who appear to be his likely parents, though I have no written proof tying them to him directly. I also match descendants from those lines through ThruLines.
My main question is about the mother’s line. For example, if the suspected mother’s surname was “Washington,” and I am receiving DNA matches connected to the Washington family, wouldn’t that strongly suggest she was biologically related to my ancestor? If she were not his biological mother, I would not expect the Washington line to appear genetically in my results at all.
As for the suspected father, I understand that matching descendants from his line does not necessarily prove he was the exact biological father. It could instead point to a close male relative in the same family line, such as a brother or cousin. My main focus is whether the maternal DNA evidence makes the mother’s identification more reliable.
“Jessica Jackson speaks on what Chicago Flips Red calls the “Voting Rights Act of 1965 propaganda,” calling out Cook County Commissioners Tara Stamps of the 1st District and Dr. Kisha McCaskill of the 5th District for claiming Black voting rights are under attack while refusing to address what many residents see as the real crisis impacting Black communities in Cook County.
Since 2020, nearly 2,500 homeowners have lost their properties and the equity tied to those homes through delinquent property tax sales. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the practice unconstitutional years ago, yet families are still fighting for accountability, transparency, and relief.
Jackson also raises concerns about property theft tied to Cook County probate court practices, unlawful demolitions without due process, and generational wealth being stripped from longtime residents under the watch of local government.
Our argument: politicians continue using historic civil rights language during election season, but stay silent when Black families lose homes, land, inheritance, and wealth through government systems operating in their own backyard.”
This time “protesting” the Supreme Court’s decision on the Voting Rights Act.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/protesters-edmund-pettus-bridge-voting-194541916.html
Younger Black voters are loosening long-standing ties to Democrats, weakening a once reliable Democratic voting bloc to the GOP (Axios)
https://www.axios.com/2026/05/05/black-voters-republicans-democrats-trump