6/19 | Celebrate Freedom TODAY on Juneteenth
Our fathers have not always been free
As Father’s Day approaches this weekend, let’s take a moment to give thanks to the men who raised us and showed us what it means to be a man, a father and a husband. Our lives have been touched by your example. That many of us have had the freedom to enjoy our fathers and know of their history is a blessing we should never forget.
Yet not all people in America have had the chance to truly know the ways of their fathers and other ancestors. For example, African-Americans. They were not always treated as Americans. Today, anyone with steady employment can partake of payday loans in Long Beach and quick cash, but it was not always so. It is common knowledge that black slavery existed in America and elsewhere for many hundreds of years. Think of it – millions of children throughout history without strong knowledge of who they really are, without a strong connection to their forefathers. Truly, the brutality and attempt at cultural erasure brought on by slavery has been responsible for a mass racial psychosis that continues to resonate.
Today, slavery no longer exists in policy. It was banned in the United States during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. Today, June 19, a national holiday is celebrated in honor of this freedom: Juneteenth.
What is Juneteenth?
According to the holiday observation’s official Web site, Juneteenth is “the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.” African-American Emancipation Day began in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, and since then, it has come to represent a very American quest for freedom, education and achievement. Depending upon the area, Juneteenth is celebrated as a single day, a week or even a month. Celebrations that include guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings are quite common as all take time to reflect on the value of the freedom at their disposal and assess just where the path will take them as the future canvas unfolds to contain their works.
Far from a niche holiday, Juneteenth 2009 is a celebration for all freedom-loving people. By recognizing the attitudes and false beliefs that brought about slavery and celebrating all of the things that bring us together, this holiday is truly one of fellowship for all. It is only through friendship that we can truly become sensitive to the difficulties another person faces. While modern African-Americans are less severely impacted by slavery than their forefathers, there is still a palpable weight that is carried. To share that weight with someone else – friends, family and loved ones, perhaps – is to set it free. That is what Juneteenth is in part about – the joy of the weight lifting from the shoulders.
Essential freedoms
In 2005, Juneteenth marked its 140th anniversary. This was a significant milestone in American history and a fresh reminder that the holiday is “a reference point from which to measure and appreciate the progress and contributions made by African Americans to this society,” says their Web site. “Assessment, education, dialogue, acknowledgment and celebration of African American progress since 1865″ are the foci for this and every year’s Juneteenth event.
Freedom is a human right. Skin color and beliefs do not make a human being anything less. In most parts of the world, we enjoy political freedoms, we can come and go as we please, and we can enjoy the economic freedom to choose such things as payday loans in Long Beach and quick cash when we like. Celebrate Juneteenth in a way that befits your view of essential human freedoms, and be wary of those who would look to take those freedoms from you.
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