Black Americans Disengage from 250th Anniversary Celebrations
As the United States marks its 250th birthday, a significant portion of Black Americans are choosing to sit out the festivities. The anniversary arrives among Black communities as a whisper instead of a roar, reflecting a deep-seated exhaustion and disillusionment with the nation's promises of freedom.
This sentiment has been amplified by a viral illustration of four Black women sitting atop a building, watching the world burn from a distance with coffee cups in hand, an American flag hanging over the edge. On social media platforms like TikTok and Threads, Black users have urged each other to “not give them a reaction,” referring to white people who find Black rage exciting and lucrative for their own gain.
Historical Roots of Disengagement
The current disengagement is rooted in centuries of struggle for true freedom. Even before the colonists rebelled against the British crown, Black enslaved South Carolinians shouted “Liberty!” and carried banners during the Stono Revolt of 1739, the largest slave rebellion in the British mainland colonies before the American Revolution.
This same language of “liberty” would later appear in the Declaration of Independence, but Thomas Jefferson’s 168-word passage condemning slavery was ultimately removed from the final version. Historian Gerald Horne argues that the American Revolution itself was, in part, to preserve slavery, as colonists feared the British crown might upend the institution.
Modern Tactics of Withholding Reaction
In the digital age, Black Americans are employing a tactic of silence and withholding attention. “Our energy is powerful,” said Juju Bae, a Brooklyn-based spiritual practitioner. “Animism – everything has a spirit, everything has an energy to it. These things that are meant to stir us, that is matter. You know, that is a force.”
This approach has led to notable absences at anti-Trump protests and a deliberate four-year break from mainstream political engagement. The goal is to deprive provocation and depressing news of attention, as seen in the lack of reaction to incidents like pardoned January 6 rioter Jake Lang holding signs saying “Black parents are failures” at the 2026 BET awards.
Cultural Continuity Through Music and Dance
Historically, Black communities have communicated resistance through music and dance. The Stono rebels used drums, horns, and other instruments to coordinate, leading white colonists to ban such tools. Yet these traditions persisted in Negro spirituals, the orations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Fannie Lou Hamer, and the slogans of the Black Panther Party.
Today, that legacy continues in digital spaces, where Black Americans reinforce solidarity and strength. The current tactic of silence is a modern iteration of these rallying cries, emphasizing self-preservation and mutual care over spectacle.
Impact of Anti-DEI Climate
Living in an anti-DEI world, many Black Americans feel abandoned despite their labor being the backbone of the nation. The fight from here on out looks different: Black people will no longer carry water for anyone else. Instead, they will drink it themselves, focusing on their own well-being and community.
Morgan Jerkins is a senior writer, race and equity, at the Guardian US.
