Changes

The Fourth is a celebration of freedom. African American celebration of the Fourth of July in southern cities such as Memphis, Tennessee, in the years following the Civil War featured a major parade with all the local black organizations marching or making floats, followed by picnics and a reading of the Declaration of Independence. At the same time, Fourth of July celebrations by the white community in Memphis tended to be much more subdued.

The Fourth is a celebration of freedom. African American celebration of the Fourth of July in southern cities such as Memphis, Tennessee, in the years following the Civil War featured a major parade with all the local black organizations marching or making floats, followed by picnics and a reading of the Declaration of Independence. At the same time, Fourth of July celebrations by the white community in Memphis tended to be much more subdued.

== What July 4^th Means to Me... ==

== Reagan: What July 4^th Means to Me ==

[[File:Reagan large 4.jpg|left|250px]]

Representative of the traditional oratory of the Fourth is this oration written and delivered by President [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1981:

{{cquote|For one who was born and grew up in the small towns of the Midwest, there is a special kind of nostalgia about the Fourth of July.

{{cquote|For one who was born and grew up in the small towns of the Midwest, there is a special kind of nostalgia about the Fourth of July.

''President of the United States''}}

''President of the United States''}}

*<small>When he was president, Ronald Reagan wrote this piece for Independence Day in 1981. Aide Michael Deaver later wrote: "This 4th of July message is the President's own words and written initially in his own hand." Contrary to liberal media fiction, many of Reagan's speeches, commentaries, and other papers were written by President Reagan alone in his own hand.</small>

[[File:Reagan large 4.jpg|left|250px]]

==See Also==

==See Also==