happy 4th

Overheard in Morningside Park:

"I don't see why we have to celebrate this cracker holiday. We don't got no independence from this bullshit." Then, catching sight of me and my friend (laughing). "See, look at those crackers. Laughing, having jokes."

Comments

[jim]

who was that, sasha frere-jones? kidding!

[through vermont, safely]

The overheard sentiment is, alas, an interesting and serious one: the idea that indy-day has traditionally represented independence for few.

Perhaps we're more comfortable with the idea when it's been reported and pre-chewed into patinated, conde-nast-approved, fact-checked, intellectual bits. So, to turn our laughs into furrowed brows, i'd like to offer an interesting piece in the new yorker (ah, our blankie/grail) whose dek reads: "When America won its independence, what became of the slaves who fled for theirs?" Link included in URL.