Juneteenth

First,to your question as to why are you at work in Virginia on this holiday?
The state of Virginia was not included under the Emancipation proclamation in 1863,neither did the Emancipation Proclamation legally free slaves or end slavery.That didn't happen until December 18Th,1865 upon ratification of the 13Th amendment to the Constitution.

Juneteeth is just another event in the long history of our country where promises were made to different groups of people and not kept. This history does not only effect the African American community but is also apart of the American Indians history.

So don't celebrate Juneteeth as a marker of deception ,but as a marker of progress on the long road to racial equality.Don't get me wrong, America still has aways to travel on that road to equality, but at least she is headed in the right direction.

Now as you listen to Michael Obama's comment of "For the first Time in my adult life I am proud of my country" you will have a better understanding of where a comment like that comes from,and what it truly means.It doesn't mean that I don't love my country.It means that time after time my country has lied to me,and it now looks that for the first time she just might be telling me the truth.

J1

Happy Juneteenth

Wow...been gone for a while, but I'm back.





Today is June 19. To most people it's just another day, no one takes a second thought about it. However, today something did happen today.





History time:





On this day 143 years ago, slaves in Galveston, TX were informed of their freedom. At first glance this may seem like a cause for celebration and happiness, and don't get me wrong freedom is always good. But take a deeper look at it. This year is 2008. 2008 -143 = 1865. On June 19, 1865, the slaves of Galveston, TX were finally granted their freedom. If you don't see what's wrong with this, let me fill in the missing pieces. A few years earlier, a man in a top hat wrote a declaration you may have heard of. Yes, I'm talking about Abe Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation. The proclamation went into full effect on January 1, 1863. So, it took 2 1/2 years for the Texans to free their slaves. Essentially, they were the last of the bunch. Slavery was officially abolished through the ratification of the 13th amendment in on Dec. 6, 1865.





So, my question is, how to we really "celebrate" this day. This holiday is a reminder more than anything of America's refusal to let go of slavery. We should be celebrating January 1. That's when we got our freedom. I believe we should look back and remember this day, but things like this...

(A eCard from 123Greetings.com)

Is the proud legacy remembering that America was a little bit late?

But let me leave on a good note. It's good to be free!

J2




P.S. Apparently today is a state holiday in VA, so why am I at work?