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Liz Michael for United States Senate

From Rage to Responsibility: Black Conservative Jesse Lee Peterson and America Today
by Jesse Lee Peterson

From Rage to Responsibility does what the entire field of American sociology fails to do. It makes the point that traditional values are transformative in themselves and, therefore, the best antidotes to social dysfunction. Peterson knows what the sociologists miss: that black Americans are simply human beings who find themselves, like all human beings, through the structure, struggle, and sacrifice of living by demanding values. This is the story of a man's return to a wisdom he already had.

A Patriot’s Journal

What a day this has been!  News has reached us that a group of men of standing have convened and agreed on a document that some say "will mean the end of it all." Exactly what they mean by that I know not, but it surely is ominous.

Bells were ringing at the small church house on Cater Road and children were allowed to run rampant through the streets.  "Disgusting," said the ladies who always gather outside Simmons’ Apothecary.  I head them as I passed.  At first I agreed, then thought better of it.  They are just children after all.  Let them have their fun.  Once the soldiers show up to restore order they will have plenty of time to sit and be quiet little ladies and gentlemen.

As I continued on my travel to the miller’s to pick up our weekly corn meal from that little patch of scratch land in the back I happened across an assembedge of men - some of whom I am aquainted with - quietly looking at something tacked up to the wall of the tavern.  Will Gaither, who farms the land adjoining ours, called to me to "come see what Hancock and the others have gone and done!" It was a single piece of parchment, hand written - and sloppily I might add, as if in a hurry - in bold strokes...almost as if it were meant to incite one.  And, of course, it was.

As Will and the others continued their discourse on the meaning of the document, and how it was going to affect our little village, I managed to get closer and began reading.  Bold indeed!  The words scratched on the parchment was even more bold than the hand writing itself!

I tried to tell myself to remember as much of it as I could, but this turned out to be not a problem.  The words, as I read them to myself, burned into my very soul.  "When in the Course of human events," it began, "it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

I remember thinking to myself, "Heady words these, but what do they mean?  A lot of wind with no sail to billow!" Then I read the next part of the document, and my heart stopped.  Everything stopped.  I was aware of no movement in the street; no words in the air; no breeze nor animals nor children.  I could actually hear the words being spoken in my head...like a trumpet calling the soul to action.  "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.  That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

It was just then that my reading was interrupted by a loud argument among the men present.  Some were saying that the government would have our heads just for reading this document...and surely the owner of the tavern was headed toward the gallows for allowing it to be posted on his establishment.  Others were just as loud, claiming that the government’s men couldn’t read anyway.  "Besides," said Will, "it’s just a piece of paper. It’ll be gone by days end and that’ll be the end of it."

"No it won’t," I found myself saying with surprise.  "These are the words we all have had in our hearts and minds for some time now.  They have finally been put on paper for all to see, discuss, and, quite possibly act upon." They just stared, mouths open catching flies.  I had never said more than three words to any of them before.  But the words I was reading had reached me with a force I hadn’t known until that moment.  The repression of the government had suddenly become a visible, hungry thing that was being unmasked.  I couldn’t take my eyes off it.

"Listen to these words, my friends," I said.  "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right -THE RIGHT!  - of the People to alter or abolish it - ABOLISH IT!  - and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles..." The words filled my mouth, filled the air, and stirred my soul as I spoke them aloud.  By the time I got to the end of the document I must have sounded like a madman, almost yelling, nay screaming the fiery words to all who would listen.  And listen they did.  The woman at the apothecary, the children in the streets, the men in and outside the tavern.

"We, therefore," I concluded in the loudest voice I had ever used, "the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES; that they are absolved for all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy war, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.

"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."

When I finished there was total silence for the longest time.  All I could hear was my own breathing and the rushing of the blood past my ears to my head.  My heart was pounding.  I was filled with pride and fear at the same time.  Then, one by one, the children began to run again.  The women went back to their talk of quilts and kettles.  The men inside the tavern returned to their ale.  And the men around me began to disperse.  Some muttering about how it wouldn’t take long for King George to put an end to this rabble talk.  Some just looking away.  Some looking at me with various emotions in their eyes.

As I returned home I thought about the words on the parchment.  And the reaction of those who read or heard it.  Perhaps they are right.  Perhaps it is all rabble talk.  Perhaps it will be a diversion for a few days, then all will return to normal.  Perhaps.

After putting the children in bed and kissing my wife goodnight I went out to the barn to make sure the cow was tied to the post and the chickens were in the coop.  Then I cleaned my rifle and wrapped it in an old cloth. Tucking it under my arm I took the lantern from the nail, closed the door to the barn and slowly returned to the house...and a long, restless night...of wondering....

--- July 9, 1776