Abstract
For Black Americans, the Constitution symbolizes both despair and hope, oppression, and freedom. This is the case primarily because the Constitution speaks in troubling exclusionary/inclusionary terms regarding Blacks’ humanity or their partial lack of it. I he document both excludes Blacks as being inferior and includes them as being equal under the preamble’s “We the people’’ clause. Except for the Bible, the Constitution’s ritualistic place in the consciousness of Blacks is without rival. All national public officials must promise to uphold the Constitution in their oath-taking ceremonies for public office or service.