Juneteenth

We are generally taught a version of history that sometimes excludes or eliminates the history of certain communities. There are many stories that are left out or simply forgotten. Unfamiliar to many Americans and the world community, the celebration of Juneteenth commemorates an important story. 

Juneteenth is a celebration tied to June 19, 1865 when General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce the end of the civil war and the end of slavery. This came 2.5 years after the Emancipation proclamation had been signed by President Lincoln (stating that all persons held as slaves should be free). This date marks when the last enslaved people became free in the United States. 

During this time, we should acknowledge that there are many stories of self-liberation and acknowledgement of freedom that played a role in the emancipation of slaves not just the granting of freedom by slaveholders or state. Although the Independence Day in the United States commemorates July 4, 1776 as the day the states were free, many people were not yet independent or free. There are other important stories in emancipation such as August 8, 1863 - “the eighth of eight” when Tennessee military governor and president freed their personal slaves, among others that show that this is not just a single story.  

Today, current movements – Black Lives Matter and reactions to protests demonstrate the continued fight for equality for the Black community and call for a just society. As a community with a diverse diaspora of individuals, we can start by learning about stories in Black history, old stories, forgotten stories; not just because they are important stories of the past but because they connect to the stories of today.

“Won’t it be wonderful when Black history and Native American history and Jewish history and all of U.S. history is taught from one book. Just U.S. history.” — Maya Angelou 

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