Freedom on Juneteenth - What have we forgotten...

This Juneteenth celebration a final blow to American slavery has moved beyond the borders of Galveston, beyond the borders of the great State of Texas, beyond the borders of the U.S. to encircle several countries and faiths and peoples. We need to ask ourselves - have we remembered to celebrate everything?

Juneteenth in Galveston Texas is sometimes celebrated for a day or a week and even a whole month. Being freed from slavery can have that kind of memorable effect to where you want generation after generation to almost feel the embrace of emancipation. To remember Juneteenth not only as a time to barbeque and drink - but as a historic marker of freedom for a downtrodden people.

Juneteenth celebrations and Texas emancipation should be synonymous in our minds - to be taught to our children as history so that it will never be repeated. Remember to celebrate everything.

Texas emancipation law is that - an actual law on a physical piece of paper, that needs to be read and remembered. Emancipation in Texas was not taken lightly 140 years ago, we must also remember and try to imagine what it was like to hear the emancipation proclamation summary. Imagine what it was like standing there with half your strength already gone from working all morning (read 4 a.m. until), what it was like to have whip marks on or backs that itched or ached even if they had already healed from years ago.

Imagine standing there barefoot and barely clothed in rags to hear - you are FREE. In your Juneteenth celebrations, remember to celebrate everything - you are FREE.

African american slavery is a crime punishable by law. Juneteenth day from now on has to empahasize, remember to celebrate everything - you are FREE.

The plight of african american people has a solution - FREEDOM. Remember to celebrate everything.

Daviyd Peterson ?2005 All Rights Reserved