What is Juneteenth? Remembering the Struggles of the Past and Opportunities of the Future

Today is Juneteenth. Even though people were legally free/emancipated they were still enslaved in some states and places. We have come a long way as a people but could do more. There is a point and place where we are all seen as equals and valuable members of our society. While this celebration relates specifically to Black Americans and their soul wrenching plight, it also relates in some ways to true equality in society for everyone. 

It is a reminder that the intent of law and the actuality of law are sometimes different. At that time, Black Americans were legally free but still forced in chains by brutality. In other words, we can pass laws but then must enact and live by those laws even when there are people who don't want to. 

(Some of these struggles continue on today. One time an angry attorney insinuated that no one cared about Black people and Muslims in his city {It was a North South border state which has seen serious racial upheavals in recent times.} I found that conversation sad and full of venom. He was rich and his parents well connected into social circles. The struggle still continues in many ways on a social level. I retorted something along the lines, Good thing your side lost the Civil War and he got miffed and hung up. The Civil War was one of the most deadly wars in U.S. History and to mock its gains by someone who was given everything even though they didn't deserve it sort of stung my heart because I have multi racial children who were locked out of things by other's bigotries. They were even put in harm's way. {One is diagnosed as a genius and the other is likely a genius and an assessment said had very high IQ; not how high. They don't get any of those opportunities because we still have things to fix in our society. The best and brightest don't get the same opportunities as "the connected" so we as a total society suffer at a time we need everyone to compete.}. I'm proud to be the outlier when it comes to this stuff. There is no glory in it, but when the big Guy/Gal/Being/One upstairs comes to take me, I'm going with good conscious. Thats the goal of doing the right thing and treating people well.)

To me, the more inclusive a society we can build in which our perception of wholeness is based in our shared principles the more we can maximize the best and brightest from any background. African Americans have been part of this country since the beginning and have an honored place. 

We celebrate to remind us of the struggles of the past and the opportunities of the future.