Sen.
Ted Cruz responded Thursday night after former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick posted a passage earlier on the Fourth of July from a famous speech by Civil War-era abolitionist Frederick Douglass.
The passage Kaepernick cites is from Douglass’ speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”
Douglass delivered to the speech at a meeting of the Rochester Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society in Rochester, N.Y., on July 5, 1852 – nearly nine years before the Civil War began.
Kaepernick
posted the following portion, without adding any comments: “What have
I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? This
Fourth of July is yours, not mine…There is not a nation on the earth
guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of
these United States at this very hour.”
But the former San
Francisco 49ers signal-caller includes a video montage of a longer
version of the speech, accompanied by drawings depicting American slaves
and photos from the Civil War era. Interspersed are videos from recent
years, showing police using force against people of color.
“You quote a mighty and historic speech by the great
abolitionist Frederick Douglass,” Sen. Cruz writes in response, “but,
without context, many modern readers will misunderstand.”
Cruz
goes on to acknowledge that slavery was an “abomination” in the U.S. but
was eliminated through the efforts of Douglass and “so many other
heroes.”
The senator then asserts that Douglass “was not anti-American; he was, rightly and passionately, anti-slavery.”
As evidence, Cruz quotes another portion of the same Douglass speech:
“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.”
After quoting Douglass, Cruz then writes:
“Let me encourage everyone, READ THE ENTIRE SPEECH; it is powerful,
inspirational, and historically important in bending the arc of history
towards justice.”
The senator then includes a link to the full text of the Douglass speech.
Kaepernick
has gained notoriety away in recent years for drawing attention to the
issue of police use of force against African-Americans and other
minorities. It began with his kneeling protests during the playing of the national anthem before NFL games and continued in other ways after he left the league.
Earlier this year, Kaepernick reached a settlement with the NFL after being unable to get a job with another team since leaving the 49ers.
This
week, the former quarterback made headlines for opposing the so-called
Betsy Ross flag added to a new design of Nike sneakers, viewing the flag
as a reminder of slavery.
The
apparel company agreed to halt sales of the sneaker after Kaepernick’s
complaint, “based on concerns that it could unintentionally offend”
people. Kaepernick has been an endorser of Nike products.
Others
have argued that the 13-starred Betsy Ross flag is symbolic of
America’s fight for independence from Britain, and is separate from the
slavery issue.
Cruz was one of several top Republicans to oppose Nike's decision to end sales of the sneakers.