Juneteenth 2007
“Nowhere in the annals of history has a people experienced such a long and traumatic ordeal as Africans during the Atlantic slave trade. Over the nearly four centuries of the slave - which continued until the end of the Civil War - millions of African men, women, and children were savagely torn from their homeland, herded onto ships, and dispersed all over the so-called New World. Although there is no way to compute exactly how many people perished, it has been estimated that between thirty and sixty million Africans were subjected to this horrendous triangular trade system and that only one third-if that-of those people survived…”
-Dr. John Henrik Clarke
Today marks the celebration of Juneteenth - a commemoration of the announcement of the ending of slavery in the so-called United States of America. It took 2 1/2 years for the news of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation to reach Galveston, Texas. Union troops arrived and made the news known to the enslaved which prompted a celebration. Of course, the cause for the delay is still under debate, but there is no question in my mind that the functionaries of the status quo withheld the news as long as possible.Â
On days like these, I take time to remember the historical significance of the cause of the commemoration, but I also explore how I must act to challenge the current injustices, racism/White Supremacy, and slavery (i.e. prison industrial complex) that entangle my people today.
Juneteenth has never been accepted by “mainstream” America and perhaps that’s one of the reasons that I attempt to place special emphasis on it and other holidays born from the bosom of Black America - like Kwanzaa. In a country that has holidays that commemorate murderers, slaveowners, thieves, and genocide; [read Afrikan people and European Holidays: A Mental Genocide (books 1 & 2) by Dr. Ishakamusa Barashango] it is important that those who have been kissed by the sun take time out to recognize those honorable ancestors and elders who have made noble contributions to our collective progress. Ancestors that the status quo consider “troublemakers” at best and at worst enemies of the state.Â
Here’s an idea - let’s create a calendar for “our” heroes. Who should be recognized on our calendar and what date should we honor them and why?Â
June 21st, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Wow, Heber! That’s a pretty good idea. I’m going to have to think about it and get back with you.
Of course, I’m not as smart as you when it comes to African American history (smile), but I’ll think about it and come up with some candidates for the calendar.