The 13th amendment ended slavery in January 1863. But slaves in Galveston, TX were the last to be told on June 19, 1865, that they were no longer slaves. This became known as Juneteenth; also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, or Jubilee Day. Last year, Juneteenth celebrations were virtual. The meaning probably still hadn’t reached a wide majority of the population. Then again, protests were still going strong because the world had just witnessed another murder in the street albeit different than previous police acts. Many were just seeking something to do because covid-19 had us shutdown. Where are we 158 years later?
Reflecting – What does progress look like since many of us listened to Marvin Gaye’s anthem “What’s Going On”, 50 years later? There is a reason this song was heard during protest marches last year. “Mother, mother, mother, there’s too many of you crying. Brother, brother, brother, there’s too many of you dying.” “For only love can conquer hate.” Two other songs on Marvin Gaye’s album” cry out “Save the Children” and “Mercy, Mercy Me”.
Questioning – Some ask whether we really are free. The “noise” of systemic racism, the outcry not to teach critical race theory, or being told to not talk about how many people killed by police were questionable and never went to trial, has caused a segment of the population to not want to hear about why there is such a question. How many generations have said this?
Cogitating – We have to figure out what’s going on because this question hasn’t gone away. Since racism is a part of every facet of our lives, we need to unlearn racial bias and find ways to move towards each other; not away from each other.
Wondering – This Juneteenth reflection acknowledges those who have walked by faith and answered Gods call to be voices of justice; to make certain that what happened doesn’t happen to the next man or woman that comes after you. For those who don’t feel this calling or reassurance, the hope is that others will stop and reflect about the historical impact to black Americans and why people are saying today there is no turning back.
Considering American History – Germany has paid reparations to Jews who were victims of the holocaust. This required Germany to confess their acts of horrible extermination and imprisonment. There were at least 100 mass murders in America between the Civil War and 1940. Today, the Tulsa Massacre is making the media rounds after a century of silence. While it has been claimed as one of the most horrific homegrown criminal acts against blacks, there have been many more recent acts of violence against blacks. We can talk about the Holocaust but not slavery?
This article isn’t to list what has happened in America for centuries. Juneteenth provides yet another inflection point of an image of one pulling a thread through material to keep it together and ultimately to view a final product of wearability, usefulness, or something worth sharing.
Reckoning – Sometimes we have to turn away from a discussion about reparations and walk away. It doesn’t mean we don’t want it. We have come this far by faith (our faith) does in fact move mountains. How else could we have survived brutality, starvation, working for free, murder, misunderstanding, lies and ultimately still be standing because of our resilience.
America isn’t ready to acknowledge this history and its role, but some descendants of slave owners are saying they must do this. Just because something is hard to accept doesn’t mean you shouldn’t said Clint Smith, author of “How the Word is Passed – History of Slavery and How to Reckon with It.” Today we may be right, but it doesn’t seem to yield desired outcomes. Maybe we just need to be as effective as we can even if some ignore what is right. Seems like words have become riddles these days and we do see history repeating itself.
Ethos is the characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community as manifested in its beliefs and aspirations. This is what social engagement for the greater good should look like. Voter suppression based on systemic racism cannot be accepted as any of just a philosophical position. The fact is we must all be free, in all aspects, to say we have democracy.
There are strides being made today. I heard Bill Bratton recently promoting a book he wrote where he speaks about policing. I haven’t read his book but to hear him say implicit bias is a human issue and that policing is at a crossroads, which includes better accountability, means positive momentum. But it is difficult to take a victory lap when we see all of the lives being taken by gun violence at both ends of the spectrum: criminals and police.
Your Attention Please, hosted by Craig Robinson, shows how we are involved in all things livable and moving. It is about changing perceptions of potential and accomplishment including food, music, and contributions to the world in spite of overwhelming odds! They are too numerous to annotate. I love what Anthony Anderson said about black people: we are amazing, limitless, and remarkable. This Jubilee more will educate themselves and have a cultural appreciation.
Champion progress! We cannot keep the names buried. We cannot hide the secrets so that America ignores the shame. There has to be a moral conscious; a voice to disenfranchised people and the marginalized. We must be uncompromising advocates for social justice.
I also love a recent Proctor and Gamble commercial that ends with “Let’s widen the screen so we can widen the view”. A life well-lived means I have to help some of those who need an ear, a hand (can be money or truly our physical help), understanding, whatever is laid on your heart if you stand still and seek what that should be.
So, it may be difficult to celebrate Juneteenth, but we do acknowledge its importance and where we are today. We can promote the power of joy as well as promote positivity every day. We will not hide behind music or comedy as if wearing a mask. Our music or rhetoric will be used to exhale not inhale. Resilience and faith cannot die while we seek true liberation.
Another reflection comes from reading 6 June 2021, Daily Bread, “Our True Selves”, 1 John 3:2. This requires a daily walk, daily introspection, daily speaking, fortitude and exhibiting humane acts of kindness. I get to be unique and so do you. What I see from those who claim Christ but enact rebellion against laws, arouse others to false claims, conspiracy theorists are not who this scripture is talking about. Who are you and what are you called to do?
Photo by Tim Mossholder, Unsplash.com
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