For me the 4th of July is always a harsh reminder and as such, the Emancipation Proclamation stands out for me as do the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts. All of these speak more genuinely to inclusion, a value purported but not practiced by the Declaration of Independence; that should read the Declaration of 'White Male' Independence..

When I was in college, at Morgan State University, 35 years ago, a professor introduced me to the Fredrick Douglass' speech "What to me is the Fourth of July". Every year, I think about that, bring out a copy, and am tempted to recite it for every white person that tells me to have a good Fourth of July. This year, because Barak Obama sits in the White House, I can let it go. I finally feel free..

I also would include the speech given by Frederick Douglas on July 5, 1852. See attached link:http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=162.

I'd include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as the 2008 ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA)..

Very myopic Mikel. What you are not recognizing is the framework which later fostered things like the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil rights movement etc. came from what started on July 4th, 1776. Not all "white men" had equal rights on that historic day either. It was mainly "white men" over the decades that overturned and found discrinination against anyone as unconstitutional. .