Juneteenth - Slavery, George Floyd & The Current State Of Our Society

Today, we will be celebrating and exploring Juneteenth with our community. We asked the GTeX Community some questions on what this day means to them and these were the responses. 

Sapphire Gray

https://www.instagram.com/50savvywomen/

https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/savvywomen/

WHAT THIS DAY MEANS TO YOU

Slavery: Moving from paper diplomacy to implementation/actuality

On Juneteenth, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln outlawed slavery and proclaimed emancipation in the state of Texas despite every other state’s rebellion against this, it’s also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, Emancipation Day (TX). Over 156 years this is still being celebrated by the African American community across the USA.

Juneteenth has become an annual holiday which is commemorating the end of slavery in the United States and since the 1800s has been celebrated by the African American community.

If Juneteenth is to mark a day of freedom, why is it that the African American community still feel enslaved?

Events that have happened in 2020 bring to question whether we are free when you assess the death of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and thousands of black African Americans that have brutally died at the hands of the police and other racists bigots. Can we really call this a celebration of freedom?

There have been worldwide protests to stop the injustices still happening to the wider black community and yes black lives do matter. Juneteenth is supposed to mark a significant day in the black African American community, which is supposed to mark freedom from slavery, but what is true freedom are we not living in the times of modern-day slavery defined by the killings that have been happening worldwide to the Black community. These celebrations are still resonating in different ways that people have been protesting about for many years and more publicly for the killing of Mr. Floyd.

Although these celebrations became an annual event and grew extremely popular over the last few decades. This is about bringing family together, praying and eating together. In some celebrations, there are men and women that were enslaved, and their descendants have made an annual pilgrimage in Galveston.

In current times most celebrations take place amongst families in their home’s gardens. Where food is the basis of getting together in places like Atlanta and Washington, they hold larger events festivals and parades with residents and local businesses and much more. In 2020 celebrations were largely subdued due to the coronavirus pandemic and some cities are pressing forward in 2021 with their plans to celebrate it.

The question still stands. Has there really been any change in 156 years? Can we honestly say that we've seen these changes? Are we not supposed to of seen slavery stopped? Which intern should have brought us all together no matter the race? and not just paper pushing, policies that have been implemented but not worked, government creating regulations and rules, but has it worked? but one needs to ask whether they favour African Americans or the wider community of black people? Are we still not enslaved do we have the opportunities afforded to us like other communities in the world? These are the questions I continuously ask myself.

In Galveston in 2021 the city is to dedicate a 5000 square foot mural entitled absolute equality, but do we have equality is this something that we can visually see and feel?

So why has Juneteenth become so prevalent in 2021?

The outpouring of disbelief and discussion for the killing of George Floyd; a 46-year-old black man who died in the custody of the Minneapolis police in May 2020 there were thousands of people across the United states pouring into the streets protesting about the disgusting behaviour of the police and the killing of Mr. Floyd's, his name became the rally cries across the USA and the world which re-energize the movement of the black lives matters movement. There have been many changes by officials but is this enough?

Democrats in Congress are sweeping legislation that targets misconduct and racial discrimination by the police this was the most expansive intervention into policing proposed in the most recent events and years. Companies also voiced their support for the black lives matter movement that Either suspended or fired employees who mocked George Floyd's death and his memories who made any racist remarks.

An African Americans study scholar at the Duke University Mark Anthony Neil stated that they're also comparisons between the end of the civil war to the unrest that swept The United States of America added that the movement felt like a rupture although “The stakes are a little different,” Mr Neal said. “Many African-Africans, Black Americans, feels as though this is the first time in a long time that they have been heard in a way across the culture.”

“I think Juneteenth feels a little different now,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for folks to kind of catch their breath about what has been this incredible pace of change and shifting. Which has begun in 2020.”

So, what does Juneteenth actually mean to you? 

Even though I live in the United Kingdom, it matters a lot to me. I'm a black woman living in a society that still has unrest, still feeling enslaved by the changes that said would come in 1865, and yet still despite Juneteenth is supposed to be a celebration, we are still pushing the papers for change, with little or no action been taken. We can only hope that one day change will come, and what President Abraham Lincoln set out to do by outlawing slavery, we will be able to celebrate this day as it was meant to be back in 1865. Here’s hoping.

Sian Young

https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/sianyoung1/

https://www.facebook.com/sian.young.731

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UK Emancipation legislation went into effect in August 1834 whereby all slaves in the British Empire were considered free under British law. After long and heated debates in Britain, the government agreed to compensate West Indian planters for shifting from slave to free labour, allotting ￡20 million in compensation to slave owners. Freedom was not automatic slaves remained in servitude "apprenticeship" for several years. Specifically cruel was the continued enslavement of people from Sri Lanka and St Helena beyond 1834 by the East India Company

From the American perspective "Forty acres and a mule" concept.....is part of Special Field Orders No. 15, a wartime order proclaimed by Union General William Tecumseh Sherman on January 16, 1865, during the American Civil War, to allot land to some freed families, in plots of land no larger than 40 acres. The provision of a mule was not part of the original order but Sherman subsequently ordered Union soldiers to give mules to former slaves. The provisions under the order were rescinded by Abraham Lincoln's successor. 

Six months later on June 19, 1865 announcement of General Order No. 3 by Union Army general Gordon Granger, proclaiming freedom from slavery in Texas the last slave owning American state. Despite this it is useful to note Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862 became effective on January 1, 1863, declaring that all enslaved persons in the Confederate States of America in rebellion and not in Union hands were freed. Although the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution ratified in 1866 formerly ended the institution of slavery. American Indian Territories that had sided with the Confederacy, namely the Choctaw, did not release those enslaved until 1866.

There are interesting parallels between the British emancipation of enslaved people and the US approach:

The enslaved and their descendants were never compensated 

 Perceptions of Africans and persons of mixed ethnicity being intellectually inferior or incapable of self-governance persists.

The political elite never engaged or asked the former slaves/descendants their requirements and needs.

“The islands from Charleston, south, the abandoned rice fields along the rivers for thirty miles back from the sea, and the country bordering the St. Johns river, Florida, are reserved and set apart for the settlement of the negroes [sic] now made free by the acts of war and the proclamation of the President of the United States.” 400000 acres

Babatunji Fagbongbe

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I didn’t really know about Juneteenth until last year after the death of George Floyd and everything that happened around that time. 

While Juneteenth highlights, commemorate and celebrates the abolishment of slavery, it offers an opportunity to ask questions?

Are black people truly emancipated?

Is the playing field really level?

In the wake of various stories and sometimes facts and figures that show racial inequality across the world, the reality of black people is still different from that of white people - the black person’s economic position notwithstanding. 

While black people may no longer be held as slaves physically, there is ongoing social, psychological, and emotional slavery. From the teacher that starts treating the young black boy and girl differently and sowing seeds that the black child need not try cause he/she won’t be much, to inconsistent standards in discipline for the same or similar offense from teachers, school authorities, law enforcement authorities. 

What more can be done?

If I could speak 1 on 1 with all black people especially the ones in their middle age, I will say, “Dream again”. The world may have attempted to steal your dreams, hope, and aspirations but it is time to Dream Again. 

And after dreaming, is to act in line with your dreams. 

Attempt. Try. 

Don’t allow what was said or done define you. Rewrite the story. 

As a society, we all need to be educated in this area; Black and White people. There should be a proactive approach to learning history, how we got to this point, what we can all do better for a better tomorrow for everyone. No more sitting back waiting for the black people to come educate the white people. 

In our areas of influence, we should call out injustice, speak up for what is right and always do what is right because the colour of our blood is neither white nor black. 

We also need to stop conditioning the younger ones to have biases and raise children to live by truth, principles and not prejudice. But if an adult does not understand and acknowledge their own prejudice, how can they change and ensure the next generation is brought up without prejudice?

Then some people say I won’t check my biases with the assumption that they have none! It is almost like saying I will not go for a medical check-up as I feel OK, look OK, and not in any pain! Checkups, as we all know, are great because it shows what is not always obvious to the “physical senses”. And knowing about an issue when there are issues does help to contain such issues rather than burying the head in the sand that there is no issue and there can’t be an issue. A good place to start is here: 

https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/featuredtask.html

Fleur Sclarandis

https://www.facebook.com/fleur.sclarandis.73

https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/fleur-sclarandis-0a508520b/

What does this day mean to you? 

Juneteenth, like all anniversaries, is about acknowledgment and reflection... It's only been a mere 156 years since this date... This date is a reminder to contemplate where we stand on equality... This day to me is about listening, respecting, and encouraging others' stories with the intention of understanding and learning... What more needs to be done? In 2002 researchers found that humans shared 99.9% of the same DNA... this may or may not be true, but what's certain is that is more that unites us than separates us... therefore, continually educating people to enable them to foster more empathy, respect, and understanding is the foundation to creating a more equal world. Education is the cornerstone to creating a global tribe of oneness that celebrates diversity, not a world that creates socially constructed & misguided hierarchies... This isn't about pointing the finger, real change starts with the individual. Self-awareness of our own cultures, prejudices, inherited beliefs and values requires compassionate challenge... for without challenge there is no change. 

On a macrocosmic level, there have been noticeable changes, yet, on a microcosmic level there is much lurking in the shadows of the collective global psyche... let us not kid ourselves that the work is done... Real change comes down to each and every one of us as individuals reflecting on our attitudes and behaviour and asking ourselves if we are being fair, kind and respectful to every human being. 

A story that is related to the matter:

I have no personal story... I can only share my own reflections of what I have noticed as I have traveled and met people from all backgrounds. What I notice is that all too often we fear what we don't understand... we may see people as "different from us" and judge them... what if we were to look for what unites us & how we can enrich each other? We meet people who aren't "like" us and so often it's met with suspicion, defensiveness and contempt (even if it's concealed with a saccharine smile)... compassion, humility, curiosity, and most of all empathy can do much to encourage mutual respect and unity. 

These are my reflections on the day and what it means to me... I am not an expert on equality and diversity... and I know my privileges... I speak with no authority, no absoluteness... only with heart... because I care. The Zulu greeting, Sawubona, means "I see you"... I love this greeting because it reminds us to recognize ourselves in the "other"... and I care to be part of a world where we see each other and embody the values of kindness, tolerance, and respect.

Final Thoughts

After hearing what this day means to different people, I have come to the conclusion: 

A lot more needs to be done.

We have come a really long way from 1865, but we can do and be better. It has been an extremely long time for us to still be having issues surrounding race; 156 years to be exact. We are all human.

That should be the end of it.

However, we all know that we humans and the world don’t necessarily work like that...but we can work on it.

I look forward to seeing a future filled with equality and respect for all people and races.

Until then, I will constantly educate myself and others on the issue at hand and continuously work on this issue as a community and collective.

I want to know from you...

What does Juneteenth mean to you and what can be done to move towards a more just and equal society?

Leave your thoughts in the comments.