Happy Juneteenth!
Juneteenth.
Juneteenth, is a holiday, which commemorates the official end of slavery. On June 19th, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Texas, with news that the war ended and all slaves were to be freed. Two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was made official, but had little effect on Texas because of a minimal number of Union soldiers, there to enforce the new Executive Order. Juneteenth symbolizes total freedom for all slaves, including the slaves in Texas. Today, Juneteenth holds so much more significance and meaning because of current world events.
The death of George Floyd emphasized two points: First, it shined a light on the struggles and oppression that African Americans still face in America everyday, despite all the progress and achievements made since the Jim Crow era. Lastly, it reignited the Black Lives Matter moment, which re-emphasized the important role and power we, the people, have in advocating and invoking change. We have power. Most times we are unaware of the true power and influence that we possess.
Today, as we honor Juneteenth today, use this day to not only celebrate, but also to reflect and ponder the different ways you can invoke change and make a difference around you.
TheBlack.Blog 