My Country, Tis of Thee, Sweet land of liberty, to thee we sing.”
These are the opening lyrics of the song performed on Easter Sunday in 1939 by Black opera star Marian Anderson. She sang these words — she changed the last four words from “of thee I sing” — and the entire song to an audience of more than 70,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial. That live crowd, plus millions more listening on the radio, heard Anderson’s beautiful contralto voice proudly proclaim ownership of the United States of America.
She did so after being denied the opportunity to perform at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. The denial came from the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her crime? Marian Anderson was a Black American citizen.
This story is the perfect example of the bittersweet relationship Black Americans have had with this country since its declaration of independence from England on July 4, 1776 — exactly 250 years ago.
We have endured 246 years of chattel slavery, 60 years of convict leasing, and 40 years of redlining. All of these anti-Black American actions were government policies. But despite these and an abundance of other racially discriminatory acts, Black Americans have always loved our country. In fact, it is common lore in the Black American community that “we have loved America more than it has loved us.”
A recent Chicago Tribune article cited that 55% of white Americans and 42% of Hispanic Americans display American flags on the exterior of their homes, compared to only 22% of Black Americans. While this is evidence that we are not a flag-waving people, it is of no real importance. What is more significant is our active patriotism. Black Americans have fought in every war this country has had. No other racial or ethnic group has more military service. Our commitment and devotion to this country are arguably unparalleled. That comes from the love of our home.
The Revolutionary War lasted eight years. While George Washington initially refused to include Black American soldiers, as the war dragged on and his fortunes turned, he relented. More than 5,000 Black men, most of them formerly enslaved, joined his Continental Army. While most of us have heard of famous Black American troops such as the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, the Buffalo Soldiers and the Tuskegee Airmen, far less notice has gone to the 1st Regiment of Rhode Island, whom one scholar admirably described as part of the country’s Founding Fathers.
There were 140 Black Americans in that regiment, who gained their freedom upon joining the Continental Army. Their former white enslavers were paid up to $400 per person by the government. These brave men fought British soldiers in close hand-to-hand combat at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781 — and they won. The British raised the white flag, signaling their surrender and the end of the Revolutionary War.
This remarkable contribution by Black American soldiers to the creation of our country is one of many reasons Black Americans should celebrate 250th America. We must not ignore or minimize the major participation of our Black military and enslaved ancestors in the founding and building of this nation.
And while we have endured horrific anti-Black American practices, as poet Maya Angelou wrote, “and still we rise.” There are over 1 billion Black people in the world. The 40 million Black Americans are the most educated, wealthiest, healthiest, and most selfless Black people on the planet. This did not happen by accident or simply because we live in America. It happened because we have persevered, resisted second-class citizenship, demanded equal treatment, and forced the government to live up to the ideals of the Constitution, ratified in 1788. Black Americans have always believed that America is our home and that we deserve to work for and share all of its riches.
As noted earlier, Black Americans are the wealthiest Black people in the world. There are 195 countries on the planet. The nearly $2 trillion in annual spending power of Black Americans would make us the 15th wealthiest country in the world. These facts show that we have done far more than endure anti-Black discrimination — we have also succeeded against seemingly insurmountable odds. No other group of people has ever achieved similar success while remaining in the same country as the majority group that enslaved them.
We need to give ourselves a huge pat on the back. And with that self-congratulatory recognition, we should also take credit for being the foundation of the creation and building of the greatest country in the world. Were it not for us, that title would not exist. I have traveled the globe, visiting countries in Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. No country is better for Black Americans than the United States of America.
Therefore, we Black Americans should do as any successful inventor and builder would: enjoy the results of our hard work and celebrate 250th America.
Steven Rogers is a retired professor from Harvard Business School and Kellogg School of Business.
