Do you know what Sunday is? Of course you do...Father's Day!!! It's also, what I feel is more important, Juneteenth. Sadly, I am aware that it will not be recognized by a lot of us. Not because we don't care; however, because we are unaware. It's not taught in school and our communities are not hard pressed to make it known. Please don't misunderstand, the movement is out there; however, it's hard to see or hear if you're unaware.
We all know about the 4th of July. Most businesses are closed and it's the kickoff for most family reunions. But did you know that originally it wasn't for enslaved African descendants nor women?
Juneteenth is the oldest celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. 89yrs after the first July 4th celebration and 2½yrs after the 13th Amendment was included in the Constitution and after the Executive order of the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by then President Lincoln, the news of freedom, specifically for enslaved African descendants was announced in the last rebellious state after the Civil War, Southwest Texas. Lincoln issued the Executive Order September 22, 1862 to take effect January 1, 1863. However, due to some unknown occurrences, it didn't reach Texas until June 19th, 1865. To find out why it took so long, read my post on last year's Juneteenth or go to
juneteenth.com
The order was deliver & read by Major General Gordon Granger. The General Order No 3 (as it was called) read in part:
'The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing them becomes that between employer and free laborer [employee].'
While we can, and still do, question the "equality" aspect of this order, it was a dream come true for slaves. Reactions ranged from shock to outright jubilation, that they are free, although today some are still enslaved mentally. I'll save that for another time.
Celebration of Juneteenth was & still is a time for reassuring each other, for praying, and for gathering remaining family members. What we may now refer to as our modern day family reunions was birth out of this movement. Most celebrations included education and self improvement, equipped with guest speakers and elders reminding the masses on their heritage. We must never forget on who's back the foundation was laid and how much blood was shed in order for us to continue in their legacy.
Unfortunately, in today's society, some have allowed the celebration to take a new direction. How beautiful it would be to reach back and remember our roots, integrating them authentically into our family reunions. You'll be surprised at how much little has changed.
Do you know that, not so long ago, some of our families where sharecroppers? I have an aunt that recently shared with me how she stood her ground in regards to not dropping out of school to help work in the fields with her siblings. Her logic was, 'This isn't our land. Why doesn't Margret have to leave school to work the fields, it is her family's land after all. So if Margaret isn't living school to work the field, I'm not either.' She prevailed and was an honor student throughout her educational years; paving the way for her younger siblings to finish their education. You see, it's stories like hers that remind me how important it is to know the cloth from which you are cut.
Juneteenth is meant to unite, not separate. To empower and educate, not demean. It has not only effected the slaves; however, the entire world. Young masters that grew to be old masters, not knowing any other way of life, now had to be reprogrammed to see slaves as equals and some as paid laborers. Still today the descendants of these masters still struggle with this concept proving it's a stubborn residue. Some descendants of the enslaved have their own stubborn residual thinking, bearing the scars their ancestors meant for them to learn from and become empowered by, not to have the scar ripped open, allowing it to fester & infect their mentality with hate.
We have a man running for President spreading rhetoric wanting to undo the freedom of individuals by building walls under the rues of "protecting our nation." A form of slavery which was built on segregation! How you ask? What's segregation? "The action or state of setting someone or something apart from other people or things, or being set apart." See my point?!?! However, I digress...
What will be beneficial is unification of the masses. Not just coming together because we may look the same on the outside, but unification authentically all of humankind educating each other on our heritages and learning from their past mistakes without the crabs in the barrel mentality!
Let's start by giving Juneteenth the authentic recognition not only it deserves but what we ALL deserve. It's up to us! Selah.
Blessings!
L
First up, I bring you beauty, fashion, and celebrity all in one. Saturday night in Atlanta was so bright with all the goings on that you had to put your shades on, and if they are from actress/model Eva Marcille's new eyewear line, First Ave By Eva Marcille, than you are way ahead of others for the summer. 
