Juneteenth is a US holiday commemorating the date news of the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Lincoln on September 22, 1962, reached enslaved people living in Galveston, Texas on June 19th, 1865. While I grew up hearing about the holiday, I don't think I've every intentionally observed it. Like most folks, my family routinely celebrates July 4th commemorating the country's independence. But, Juneteenth is a uniquely black independence. Though Jim Crow laws and mass incarceration have plagued black folks since emancipation, it is important to observe the end of a very painful chapter of our history. It's also important to celebrate the triumphant spirit and determination of our ancestral survivors of slavery. The holiday falls on a Tuesday this year, but the weekend will be full of free and ticketed celebrations across Baltimore. I plan to be in the place.
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AuthorBae is a Baltimore-based art lover, foodie, music-head, history buff, and afro-futurism enthusiast. Archives
July 2018
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