150 years ago today, the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery in the United States was born. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers delivered news that the war had ended in Galveston, Texas.
Fast forward to today, and it still feels like we’re in chains. No, the war might not be as obvious as say….government recognized combat, but the wounds are the same. Invisible chains of racial oppression, systematic and structural racism, cultural appropriation and now, a mass assassination of Black bodies rest permanently on our wrists as welps. They serve as a constant reminder of just how far we have to go.
The day is still worth remembering. Let us never forget how far we’ve come in the quest for freedom, and how much work that still must be done.
Click here for a list of Juneteenth celebrations in your area.
