We reached our destination at the Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia. We landed inside the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall) where Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, severing the colonies' ties to the British Crown. Since Congress debated and revised the declaration during July 1st and July 4th, this was the prime time for us to make our move. In the declaration the committee worked on, it stated, “all men are created equal.” King and I wanted to specify whom “all men” applied to. We decided to suggest to Congress that the declaration should be altered by adding the italicized words:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, no matter race or sex, 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, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
This would ensure the equality of all men, no matter what skin color, in America. I additionally brought back the Emancipation Proclamation written by future president Abraham Lincoln. Adding to the Emancipation proclamation would ensure freedom of slaves sooner in America, thus creating a more equal society. This would be suggested legislation to congress after they saw our suggested changes. Dr. King and I entered the meeting room and asked for the floor. Martin Luther King Jr. explained who he was and his logic behind the importance of civil rights. King told his “I Have a Dream” speech to win over the Second Continental Congress. He explained, “There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.” King rationally inferred the inevitable absence of peace in America without equal civil rights. Congress applauded his moving speech and strong rhetoric and considered altering the Declaration of Independence. To strengthen my point, I passed around a future news report from the American Government Archive stating how the forty-fourth president of the United States, Barack Obama, was an African-American man. The entire Congress displayed shock. They were easily moved by this evidence and could hardly imagine this at the time when slavery was still alive. Next, I passed out copies of the Emancipation Proclamation and spoke of how in the near future slaves will be released, so why not have it occur sooner than later. Congress inspected the documents having a professional verify their credibility. They were astonished at how the near future revealed such a difference, but agreed to change for the betterment of future society. The Declaration of Independence became altered, thus stating all people as equals, and the Emancipation Proclamation was established to become legislation as soon as possible. This proved a very successful journey. Upon the meetings adjournment, Dr. King and I went on our way to the next event, Japanese internment in 1942.
Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall)
American Declaration of Independence
Second Continental Congress
Obama's Inauguration
Emancipation Proclamation
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