Juneteenth is short for June 19, 1865, when troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery and the beginning of “all men (human beings) are created equal.” Freedom for all, not just some. So, let’s celebrate a day when America’s sin of slavery could be put behind us in order for ALL Americans to live in freedom, not just some.
I like holidays where all Americans can celebrate freedom, like:
Memorial Day-freedom won by those who gave it all
Juneteenth- freedom for formerly enslaved people
Independence Day July 4 Freedom from British rule
Constitution Day- September 17- liberty under law
Veteran’s Day, November 11-those who defend the cause of freedom
“The end of a matter is better than its beginning” (Ecclesiastes 7:8a) is ancient wisdom we can apply here. Why is the end of a matter better than the beginning? Indeed we can look back and evaluate the issue with wisdom and insight and call it what it is- evil. We can put closure on the matter, learn from it, and move on. In the case of Juneteenth, you and I can remember the evil of slavery and commemorate the victory over human sin, pride, and selfishness that put slavery there in the first place.
This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. 🇺🇸
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