Juneteenth!

Two years ago, Juneteenth became a Federal Holiday. Quite honestly, that’s the first time I had ever heard of the day, and I had to spend some time looking up its importance. Here is what I learned:

This holiday was created to commemorate the end of all slave trade in the United States, because it took some time even after the Emancipation Proclamation was ratified for every state to end slavery.

As I reflect on the history of this country, and the fact that if we do indeed, as our Declaration of Independence says, ‘hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,’ then this is indeed a day to celebrate as a huge step towards all peoples being treated equal, as they were created.

I was a child of the South, born in Atlanta, Georgia a few years after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Racism was a part of life during my growing up years, and in fact there were a number of KKK protests in my town that I watched with confusion and sadness. I never really understood (and still don’t) why anyone would spend so much time and energy trying to put down other hard working people just trying to live their lives.

God bless America and all her peoples: every color, ethnicity, religion and persuasion. We are stronger together, and our diversity is what makes us great!