My *only* Juneteenth Commentary

Not a holiday I celebrate personally. I understand the significance for others, and even wished that more regions recognized their own “awareness of when liberty and agency were communicated to those formerly enslaved.” But, my ear has been different on this for a while. Perhaps it’s one of those confluence bits of both growing up in Philly’s zealousness towards history telling and the communities my parents put me around to be sure I heard not just the mainstream bits, but all the nuggets from the “lesser” players. I learned early how to listen to all of the history, not just that taught and marketed stuff, so to speak.

And so I sit betwix of thoughts today. One part smiling at the awareness of the moment by more than just a few pockets of Blacks and intellectuals. Another part, hoping this wider awareness of it taking 2.5 years for Texans to receive note of their freedom can then move to making sure liberty and agency are communicated clearly in declaration, law, and behavior.

Maybe then, this moment endures. Maybe then, we celebrate a holiday which talks also about our failure to communicate and take upon ourselves a means to ensure that in all levels of society, those to whom liberty and agency are given, are not withheld from hearing and walking out on said declarations.