Today is June 19th or "Juneteenth" as it's called in some inner circles. This day, 143 years ago, marked the date that slavery became non-existent for ALL slaves in the United States. While the Emancipation Proclamation was ratified in 1863, many black folk like those in Texas, Maryland, and Delaware were still living and existing as slaves. The date has become more prominent in the last few years, particularly since Kwanzaa has gotten mainstream recognition and due to people like national morning radio host, Tom Joyner.
The day ought to be recognized, celebrated, acknowleged so that coming generations will "NEVER FORGET" the horrors of the African slave trade as it existed in North America. As a teacher, I know all too well the ignorance and apathy of youth who dismiss slavery as something from long ago that has no residual effect on our lives now. This notion couldn't be more wrong.
The day ought to be recognized, celebrated, acknowleged so that coming generations will "NEVER FORGET" the horrors of the African slave trade as it existed in North America. As a teacher, I know all too well the ignorance and apathy of youth who dismiss slavery as something from long ago that has no residual effect on our lives now. This notion couldn't be more wrong.
It seems ironic that Barack Obama, quite possibly the next president of the United States, is a black man whose African ancestry does not include slavery. Using psychological theory, here instead of sociological, perhaps this speaks to the dysfunction of the descendants of slaves in terms of overcoming mental abuse directly attributed to the lasting affects of slavery. In Sociology there is a concept called, racial socialization, in which black families educate their children on bigotry, discrimination, police brutality, etc. --what it means being black in America. Of course, how it's done, racial socialization that is, is not a neat little history lesson. There is a lot of hostility punctuating those sentences. There is frustration, fear, anger, and misery behind this exchange--and it happens in nearly EVERY black home in America. This is a secret that I've given away to my white students. While the black students subtly nod in agreement, my white students frown in confusion to the lasting dialogue on race. After all, they don't have a frame of reference to overt racial bigotry and discrimination...and this is why Juneteenth is important. So that they should not forget and so that we can have dialogue on race and why the struggle with race still continues.
2 comments:
You are very welcome!
I find your blog quite interesting and your post about journalistic terrorism is so true. If it isn't negative and utterly gross and disgusting then we more than likely won't see it.
This holiday is a good reason why that all Americans, regardless of our skin color, needs to know their history. However, what few will address is that a war was fought to end that slavery and that a lot of work has been done to end the consequences of that slavery. Granted that no one should gloss over the hurt of racial issues (which really are not that but that is another story) but there is hope that many believe in a better America and are willing to fight for it.
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