Juneteenth
Juneteenth is different from most American holidays that usually commemorate an event or a single person. Juneteenth may look like it commemorates the event of June 19, 1865. But it’s much more than that. In fact, it has at least three distinct layers to it.
Jubilee Day – In is original form, the holiday celebrated the emancipation of enslaved Africans in America. But the newly created African American community had not yet established its identity. There was much work yet to do for the African American to contribute to the fabric of American life as citizens.
Freedom Day – The holiday transformed to reflect how the African American community matured through Social and Political Activism, Cultural Renaissance, Educational Advancement, Economic Empowerment, Civic Engagement, Cultural Identity and Community Empowerment. With many obstacles overcome, the holiday no longer looked backwards, but instead looked forward to a future of its own design.
Juneteenth – In its current form, the holiday gives a nod back to the event of June 19, 1865, but now with self-awareness and purpose, the African American community enjoins with the Global African diaspora to create new unique global pathways and in doing so creates a stronger community and a stronger America.
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