Let Freedom Ring

This month we celebrate a milestone, 150 years ago on June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger officially announced slavery was dead to those still oppressed in Texas and Juneteenth was born.

Remarkably, this occurred two-and-a-half years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

Juneteenth is commonly referred to as “Independence Day” or “Freedom Day.”

That day in 1865 marked an entirely new meaning to life for slaves who couldn’t imagine living any other way.

Yearly celebrations were held and still continue today. Many people in cities and states around the country parade proudly, organizing community potlucks and pageants, with games, music, and activities for everyone.

From the beginning of this tradition until its much later years, social and economic hardships made it difficult to continue the celebratory festivities.

The National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) works to have Juneteenth recognized as a national holiday by the U.S. Senate.

Forty-three states, including Florida, which passed the bill and declared it a state holiday in 1991, agreed to do the same. On June 14, 2014, with more than 40 co-sponsors, the vote was unanimous and Juneteenth became the United States second national Independence Day.

With such a remarkable and victorious accomplishment, of ending slavery, that our country proudly respects and recognizes as eminent, it is still mind boggling as to why many of us are unaware of this historical importance in our history.

Growing up, from grade school to now I had never heard of the word “Juneteenth” nor thought we could actually have TWO Independence Days, but that is because it wasn’t part of our curriculum or community celebrations.

But now I am old enough and have acquired knowledge on an age-old tradition that has given birth to entitlement every black person is deserving of: individuality, choice, rights, equality, power, respect, dignity, belonging, love, happiness, all ultimately leading up to my favorite – freedom.

It is a shame that Juneteenth isn’t taught, let alone celebrated in our schools or communities. Every black child should understand that this holiday celebrates their independence.

Everyone should. We should be proud of ending slavery.

Juneteenth is more than just the second “Freedom Day,” it is our remembrance of where we’ve been and our guide to where we should be going in this life.

It is a reminder that even after almost 400 years of wrongful enslavement, even after the long two-and-a-half-year lag for Emancipation to be instituted, even after the Jim Crow laws and racial segregation that followed, we are still here and with a clear purpose.

Juneteenth honors this sacred memory and acquaints a new generation with the painful and triumphant past.

So spread the word and Happy Juneteenth.