Juneteenth

I'm so happy that Juneteenth has become a bigger holiday in recent years, that we get to spend more time learning the history and understanding what it's all about. I'm embarrassed that I didn't know it existed, that I'd see it on a calendar and not understand. Juneteenth commemorates the General Order given in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865 that emancipated slaves and ended the Civil War:

"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 personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor."

Of course it didn't mean that every problem suddenly went away. But I'm grateful for the invitation it gives us-- to celebrate, to reflect, to ponder, to understand.

I want to keep challenging myself to question any automatic racist thoughts I have so I can be part of a better antiracist community going forward that values all humans as people and questions all policies that unfairly hurt groups of people. Thank you to everyone who does this important work. Happy Juneteenth.