If you ask any student of American history who freed the slaves, the reply will most likely be, “Abraham Lincoln." However, upon a closer look at history, it is clear that Abraham Lincoln did not actually free the slaves. Not only because technically the war had not ended and slavery was pretty much still in effect for another two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Not even because even after the 13th Amendment officially declared slavery in the United States illegal in 1865, blacks were still enslaved by unjust laws and codes that denied civil rights.
Some would say, “Okay then, African Americans were freed by marches and boycotts and speeches and protests and such." Look closer still and see that Abraham Lincoln did not free the slaves, because the slaves were already free.
Bearing the pain of the whip and the lash, they were free. Working long, cruel, unjust, unfair hours with no pay, they were free. Having their sons and daughters taken and sold, free. Women raped, free. Men emasculated, free. No education. No civil rights. No human rights. Through all this, the black man in America somehow knew he was still free. Free because God said he was free. Free because deep in his heart, he knew he was free. Free because no whip, no shackles, no segregation, no dogs, no fire hoses could strip away this human birthright.
The gospel of freedom has been proclaimed by blacks since they arrived in chains. It is in the spiritual, the sermons, the poetry, the dance, grandma’s old sayings, and granddaddy’s quiet strength. There is a moral fortitude that comes from knowing, as the song use to go, “This joy I have the world didn’t give to me. The world didn’t give it and the world can’t take it away.”
Barack Obama became president in 2008 and even that didn’t make black people free. It didn’t change the reality of racism and oppression. In fact, organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center have found a rise in hate crimes, hate speech and hate groups since the election. Just recently, security guard Stephen Tyrone Johns was killed at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. However, evil has and will always be present. Our ancestors knew not to fear evil. So should we.
Our fear should be the detachment from the reality of the force that kept us going for almost 400 years in America. The fear should be that we may be losing our grip. That we are failing to pass down our birthright. Let us not become fooled by an illusion of freedom as seen on MTV Cribs or Access Hollywood. Granddaddy’s moral fortitude and Grandmama’s insights are the true valuables that have to be transferred to coming generations. Our freedom lies in these.
Let us celebrate Juneteenth, reminding each other of our source of freedom, reinforcing our value of faith, love and truth. Let us take time to remember and appreciate how far we have come. Let us give thanks to who brought us this far. Let us proclaim that we have a reason and a right to hope.
Make no mistake. Faith without works is still dead. However, faith must be the foundation for fruitful work. Then we can educate our young and free our minds. This will lead to economic, political and social freedom. This is an Emancipation Proclamation. You are free to leave the plantation.
Juneteenth History
The Juneteenth Celebration began in Galveston, TX in 1865 when the slaves there were given the message that slavery in the United States was outlawed. The Emancipation Proclamation had been given by Lincoln and ordered to go into effect on January 1, 1863. However, it was not a reality until General Lee surrendered in April of 1865. Major General Gordon Granger gave the order:
"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 rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer."
The celebration of this occasion began to decline in the early 1900’s. However, during the Civil Rights Movement, the Juneteenth Celebration became popular again. It became an official state holiday in Texas on January 1, 1980.
