On the recordJune 19, 2018
Today is Juneteenth, a day to celebrate the end of slavery in the United States. The destructive history of slavery in this country flows through the fabric of our social conscience, but much more so during the month of June. On June 19, 1865--hence, the name Juneteenth--the Union Army took control over Texas. It is on that date, 2\1/2\ years after the fact, when slaves in Texas learned about the Emancipation Proclamation. That is how dominant the institution of slavery was. Slave owners were able to keep freedom a secret for 2\1/2\ years. The end of slavery didn't mean freedom came overnight. It took a cultural transformation and the course of a hundred years before African Americans could even vote. And the effects of slavery continue still today. On Juneteenth, we celebrate the end of slavery and aspire to be fully free. ____________________
