What Freedom Day Means To Us

Only recently, in 2021, did Juneteenth become a federal holiday in the U.S. — and many believe this was far overdue.

June 19, commonly known as Juneteenth, Freedom Day, or Black Independence Day, was this past Wednesday and Black people across the country are celebrating. In Atlanta, for example, the annual Juneteenth parade will be underway this weekend — and in New York City, people are taking to the streets for the Juneteenth Festival. Needless to say, Juneteenth is a special day for anyone of African American descent: the descendants of slaves in this country.

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 big of a step forward it was for the Black community. It is also important to remember that though that day officially (legally) ended slavery, it did not end the systemic oppression that Black people face in America, nor did it erase racism. We have come a tremendous way since the times of the late 1800s; however, this country has more work to do when it comes to ending systemic barriers for people of color.  

There is a phrase by an unknown writer that goes, “If I shoot you in the foot, you will limp later.” 

This idea directly applies to the plight of African Americans; 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, and jobs every day — a product of the biased systems that remained in place for years after 1865. Whether it’s the lopsided maternal mortality rate for Black women or the banning of AP African American History courses in Florida, there are still remnants of racism that we strive to do away with. Racism, unfortunately, does not disappear — it only evolves. What was once slavery became Jim Crow, and today becomes discrete forms of bias like micro-aggressions. 

We should remind ourselves that these moments in history were not as long ago as they seem; just two generations ago, the grandparents of today had to sit at the back of the bus in the South. There are countless people alive today in America who 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 fight against.

And yet, through it all, we persevere. That is what makes Juneteenth all the more special: our ability as a community to overcome the struggles put onto 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.

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

Best,

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