Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.
For more information, visit Juneteenth.com
I love Juneteenth
The bitter sweetness of today speaks unintelligible volumes about the black people in America. Across the nation, reactions to Juneteenth vary from anti-celebratory to jubilee- with plenty of apathy between. Some consider Juneteenth an embarrassment- citing January 1st as the real day of emancipation. After all, who's fault is it they didn't get the news on time?
Others celebrate privately, but most allow July 4th to monopolize freedom celebrations.
But what should be celebrated today, if anything? When I think about the creation of the holiday, perspective blooms.
What is January 1st to those who were still enslaved January 2nd? Or should they have waited until the next month to join the freedom celebrations they previously watched from bondage?
Celebrate Juneteenth. Celebrate the freedom you have but didn't know. Celebrate the difference between emancipation, and the Emancipation Proclamation. Celebrate with the promise that next time, you won't have to be told 'you are free'.
I proclaim Juneteenth a day of putting freedom into practice. Perhaps in two years the world will join me.
Quick Thoughts: Transparency
Transparency? More like Opaque
By Amber
Obama is a great leader and I'm glad he's in the White House. But he is also a politician. I think sometimes we expect too much from him. If what he's doing (or not doing) isn't detrimental to the American people then.....who cares. He's barely into his first term! Hit me up in about two years and I'll give a real report card.
Riding Them Until Wheels Fall Off
By J
I still support Obama fully, but he has presumed leadership to a government I will criticize until perfection or my lungs go out on me. In a short time, I believe Obama has done more for the US than in the past eight years, but if he doesn't correct the mistakes of his predecessor, he takes the responsibility for them.
By Amber
Obama is a great leader and I'm glad he's in the White House. But he is also a politician. I think sometimes we expect too much from him. If what he's doing (or not doing) isn't detrimental to the American people then.....who cares. He's barely into his first term! Hit me up in about two years and I'll give a real report card.
Riding Them Until Wheels Fall Off
By J
I still support Obama fully, but he has presumed leadership to a government I will criticize until perfection or my lungs go out on me. In a short time, I believe Obama has done more for the US than in the past eight years, but if he doesn't correct the mistakes of his predecessor, he takes the responsibility for them.
Govt Still Unclear on Transparency
Obama blocks list of White House visitors.
Despite President Barack Obama's pledge to introduce a new era of transparency to Washington, and despite two rulings by a federal judge that the records are public, the Secret Service has denied msnbc.com's request for the names of all White House visitors from Jan. 20 to the present.
Click here to read the full story.
The President and Vice Presidential oaths both claim to defend THE CONSTITUTION against all enemies both foreign and domestic. BlackEveryday calls for the immediate release of all public records, and the repeal of the Patriot Act, which also supersedes The Constitution in the name of national security. Protecting the Consitution IS national security.
Despite President Barack Obama's pledge to introduce a new era of transparency to Washington, and despite two rulings by a federal judge that the records are public, the Secret Service has denied msnbc.com's request for the names of all White House visitors from Jan. 20 to the present.
Click here to read the full story.
The President and Vice Presidential oaths both claim to defend THE CONSTITUTION against all enemies both foreign and domestic. BlackEveryday calls for the immediate release of all public records, and the repeal of the Patriot Act, which also supersedes The Constitution in the name of national security. Protecting the Consitution IS national security.
In Obama's defense, "Transparency" was only promised via an analog signal.
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