By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Juneteenth is an opportunity for the people in this countryto recognize, reflect and observe on the freedom, the eruditions, contributions and the history of the Black/African experience in the United States and Latin America.
So, lets ask the question “what is an appropriate message for Juneteenth?” The history of the Black/African experience throughout the Americas is significant, particularly today as “cancel culture” looks to erase Black history, but is there a deeper messaging Black people, all people, should consider as to why we celebrate Juneteenth as the holiday approaches.
On July 4, America celebrates its independence with brilliant displays of fireworks, parades, and endless red, white, and blue decorated celebrations of freedom.
For Black Americans, however, these celebrations do not necessarily reflect the lived experiences of their ancestors or themselves. Black America looks to another date, June 19, as a more appropriate and relevant time to celebrate freedom, Juneteenth.
July 5, 1852, there was no better speech written that reflected the mindset of our ancestors as it related to celebrations of freedom than Frederick Douglass’ speech regarding the “4th of July”. A speech that is now remembered as one of Douglass’ most poignant.
“The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common. The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought light and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.”
As a federal holiday, Juneteenth observes the promise of freedom for all people in the United States. It is also a day to examine the sociopsychological constructs like the concept of “race” that fuel the structural inequalities that Black Americans, but more importantly how that particular race, displayed an unwavering will to live and thrive under the most horrid of circumstances. Their resilience, strength, ingenuity and perseverance helped produced the economic superpower the United States is today.
“Juneteenth is a celebration of our resilience as African Americans, for the 450 plus years of, intentional white supremacy,” says Darrell Powell, President of the Seattle Chapter of the NAACP. “Jim Crow that we have lived under, worldwide. We are the most resilient who have had to overcome that. And June 10th, the significance of that date, the last days being notified that they were free. What better day to celebrate, what better day to have a holiday?”
Yet, as much as we continue to celebrate freedom, Black society seems to be in a struggle to sustain the progress and benefits of life that slaves fought and died for.
Should that perspective be celebrated? Can Juneteenth be a celebration of not only establishing our freedom from bondage, but also our character as a people. A people who were able to take one of humanity’s most tragic episodes in history, and produce some of the most innovative contributions to humanity and society, produce iconic personalities and leaders and influence the very culture that enslaved them?
“Our experiences provided quality contributions and leadership,” says Eddie Rye, Jr one of Seattle’s most notable civil rights activists and community leader. “I reference President Barack Obama, locally I reference Ron Sims and Norm Rice, Jesse Wineberry, Dawn Mason, and now Bruce Harrell. The list goes on and on. But I think Juneteenth needs to be a rejuvenating factor for the African American community to continue to strive for justice and equality.”
Can we celebrate the idea of exceeding usual limits: surpassing expectations. extending or lying beyond the limits of ordinary experiences, being beyond the limits of all possible experience and knowledge, the definition of “transcendent”? For a modern-day man looking back at the African bondage in American, transcending, trend setting, the original “influencer” was the only way to describe it. Powell concurs that the descendants of Africa’s influence on society is historically documented and observed.
“Regarding the ideal of transcendence, our Black culture is worldwide dominance. Our culture is the world,” says Powell. “I was just talking last night with a Nigerian friend and he said ‘the African American culture is world culture.’ He said, ‘if you go to Tanzania today, they’re playing Michael Jackson and they are moon walking and stuff like that.’ So, when you say “transcendent”, absolutely. Our culture is worldwide influence.”
As we all know, the official abolition of slavery did not bring equality. The devastating effects of segregation were first addressed almost 90 years later by the Civil Rights Movement, and it was during those years that Juneteenth started to grow in importance. Texas adopted Juneteenth as a state holiday in 1980, and on June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, making this historical event the eleventh federal holiday in the nation.
Juneteenth celebrates the day Black communities in Texas, and now across the United States, joyfully embraced their rights as Americans and declared their intention to claim those rights, despite all opposition and obstacles. And they continue to do so today.
The deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd sparked a revolution that amplified the very reasons why Black lives matter. These resounding tragedies have forced people around the world to open their eyes to the plight of Black people in this country and beyond. While the universal call-to-action from individuals and corporations regarding #BlackLivesMatter seems new, it’s important to recognize that Black Americans have been fighting for justice since this country’s inception.
Rye’s message as it relates to the celebration of Juneteenth today is acknowledging the fight for freedom, justice and equality that still exists today in America.
“June 19th freed us up to fight for our rights, and it’s something that is being acknowledged today and it should be a motivational factor for us to continue to fight for all of our rights,” says Rye. “As Dr King said, “we want all of our rights, right here and right now, because we have earned those rights.’”
“There are very few people in this country, other than the Native Americans, who have a longer history of building this nation than the African descendants of the United States enslaved. And that is an accomplishment that should be celebrated,” Rye continued.
According to activists like Rye and Powell, it’s important to celebrate our wins, small and large, along the way. That’s what Juneteenth is all about. Celebrating a melting pot full of people stolen and transported like goods, coming from African kingdoms, with hundreds of dialects and customs. They didn’t steal slaves, the stole mothers, fathers, children, kings, queens, princes and princesses, doctors, lawyers, scientist, and made them slaves and you could still hear rejoicing and strength in the midst of oppression and inequity.
Yes, working to dismantle systems of oppression is difficult, but necessary, work that often comes with physical, mental and emotional scarring. It’s okay to feel anger and sorrow, but don’t let those feelings define us. Let us be defined and celebrated by our ability to survive and thrive in such a system and under such circumstances. Juneteenth provides us a shield against attempts to erase our place in time.
“Well, I actually think Juneteenth is a big win because we have too many people trying to erase our history and our contributions,” says Rye. “It’s important because it reminds us, especially people in the African American community, of what we had to go through even though and we see the same things happening right now with affirmative action, other opportunities.”
As we prepare and gather to celebrate freedom, Powell says that its important for people to recognize their “Why.” Why are we free? What did it take to make us free? What type of people were our ancestors that garnered our freedom?
“The celebration of the day is symbolic,” says Powell. “But we have to move from symbolism to substance. And so, as we celebrate this day, if all you do is go back home and business as usual, then it was a wasted fight for the day. Substance is economic development, quality, health care, quality education, and access to digital equity. If we don’t fight and get those things, and you don’t fight for those things. And this was just a uh a nice day out at the park.”
