Juneteenth
Juneteenth is an annual holiday observing the end of slavery in the U.S. It marks the day (June 19, 1865) when news of emancipation reached people in the deepest parts of the former Confederacy in Galveston, Texas.
I would be remiss to let this holiday pass without mention or recognition.
Sadly, to my own shame, I had to look up exactly what the day commemorated…and I’m more than a bit of a history buff.
What does this day mean to you?
“What does this day mean to you?”
To me, a white man, it celebrates the freedom from slavery of black people. Freedom is a foundational value of America: freedom from Great Britain; freedom from slavery; freedom of women to vote; etc.
But at every point, freedom for a category of people was resisted. Freedom always comes through conflict and at a price.
America should acknowledge the past slavery of our black brothers and sisters and work to overcome the residual effects that continue to afflict many of them as a result of their former oppression.
At the same time, America should introspectively ask where freedom may be resisted today among our fellow citizens and work to eradicate such oppression.
Thank you, Jean.
I think that was very well said…appreciate your comment.
Thank you Michael.
I think Black history is part of American history. I would lament to see the two distinguished, or even worse white washed.
black nistory? …. okay
Em,
Why wouldn’t we acknowledge black history? I don’t understand…
Juneteenth will hopefully catch on faster than MLK Day. Both are worthy of recognition and celebration.
What Fil said — perfect!
Juneteenth is the day that President Lincoln extended the promises of Declaration of Independence to American slaves. The declaration stated, in part…
“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…”
The Emancipation Proclamation furthered the founders work. It stated, in part…
“That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.”
Juneteenth is the celebration of the reading of this document in the furthest extent of its denial.
Growing up in Texas, I remember learning about Juneteenth when I was in 7th grade. (Around 1985 or so.) I never thought of it as black history, per se…it was Texas history. A great day for many, who finally heard the good news of their freedom.
I’ve never understood the ultra-politicization of the day in recent years (politicization on both sides of the aisle, at that). Any time we can celebrate freedom, it’s a good thing in my book.
As was written in this post, sadly I needed to ask Google what it was about. I think my education in a pretty good Christian school left too much out. I think they wanted to teach that America was a great country, God’s favour was on it, etc. But they didn’t cover this type of stuff. We ‘Remembered the Alamo’, but we didn’t hear about this day at all. It still does my soul in thinking about this good country being so bad. Just my opinions – and not wanting to stereotype all of American citizens. I now live in Australia, formerly from California.
The Emancipation Proclamation was on 1/1/1863, but Juneteenth was 6/19/1865. Sometimes it takes time for the message of promise to be delivered and even longer to be realized. Slavery did not end instantly on either dates. More battles fought, steps forward and backward. It’s like the “already but not yet of salvation”. I was saved. I am being saved. Some day I will actually be saved.
Of course the end of slavery in this country is a great thing! But, slavery in America did not end for about another 10 years because Indian tribes had black slaves for about another 10 years.