Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom Day

Through it all, we persevere.

June 19th is a day that carries many names, from Juneteenth to Freedom Day, to Black Independence Day. All represent a moment of celebration, reflection, and remembrance. It is a day Black people across the country celebrate: in Atlanta, for example, the annual Juneteenth parade was underway last week, and in New York City, people are taking to the streets in red, yellow, and green for the Juneteenth Festival. Needless to say, Juneteenth is a special day for anyone of African American descent: the descendants of slaves involuntarily brought to the United States of America.

Juneteenth commemorates the anniversary of the end of slavery, on June 19, 1865. Reflecting on the historic moment in American history, we should acknowledge the profound impact that the end of slavery had on our country and how pivotal the moment was for the Black community. Though that day officially (legally) ended slavery, it did not erase the systemic oppression that Black people face in America, nor did it eradicate racism. We've progressed substantially since the late 1800s; however, much work is left for this country when it comes to ending systemic barriers for people of color.  

A phrase by an unknown writer reads, “If I shoot you in the foot, you will limp later.” 

This idea directly applies to the ongoing plight of Black people in America; even though the oppressive structure of slavery ended over a hundred years ago, the consequences still exist. We still fight for visibility in housing, medical care, employment systems, and justice systems every day — a product of the biased systems that remained in place for decades after 1865.

Whether it’s the lopsided maternal mortality rate for Black women, the disproportionate racial population in prisons, or the banning of AP African American History courses and books by Black authors, there are still remnants of racism that we strive to do away with. Racism, unfortunately, does not disappear — it evolves. What was once slavery became Jim Crow, and today becomes discrete forms of bias like micro-aggressions. And, with the purchase and consequent rebranding of X (formerly Twitter) by Elon Musk, racist comments are shared rampantly and unapologetically upon the platform once again under the guise of "free speech."

We should remind ourselves that these moments in history were not as long ago as they seem; just two generations ago, today's grandparents had to sit at the back of the bus in the South. They had to use separate water fountains from white people. They had to attend segregated schools, forced to walk on the "other side" of the sidewalk. Countless people alive today in America were forced to live through Jim Crow laws, and the trauma of those moments lives on in the next generations. These are the things that we, as a society, must continue fighting against.

And yet, that is what makes Juneteenth all the more special: our ability as a community to overcome the struggles put on us by society, the government, and the country. May Juneteenth forever be a day of pride for the Black community, and a reminder to keep pushing forward.

Happy Juneteenth to all!

Always Be Mindful of your impact, Be Purposeful in what you do, and Be Positive in what you say.

Best,

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