We the People

An Assessment on Declarations of Independence



When in the Course of human events, 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.   So starts one of the most famous statements of sovereignty, the Declaration of Independence.   But, as celebrated as it might be, it is not the only of its kind.   Everyday people everywhere proclaim autonomy.   Examples would be Richard Wright in Black Boy, “You” in The Journey, and Sandra in Only Daughter.   Each of them declares independence, and each in a different way; for you see, there are many ways to break free.



Take Black Boy again.   Richard was forced into his independence in order to survive the cruel world he was brought up in.   He, against his family’s will, began writing stories for the local newspaper to raise money for lunch and acceptance.   His family (excluding his mother), in disgust, then disown him and he is forced to live off what he has earned.   This is a great exemplar because he tells the world he is free of his tyrannical family by pursuing his dream.



Another prime example is The Journey in which “You” must figure out how to help themselves before anyone else.   They must rise up against the urges to live other people’s dreams and identify their own before it is too late.   In the end, they realize that the most persistent voice in the throng of wanters was their own.   This case implies that to be free, you must understand your needs before anyone else’s or else you will never get anywhere in life.   It is a great example of declaring independence.



A third choice specimen would be Only Daughter when the narrator must prove to her father...