A historian has spoken out about "Juneteenth" and why all Americans should be celebrating this historical date...
Juneteenth is not celebrated enough in our country...
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And a historian has explained why in the best possible way. But firstly, let's recap a few things...The Black Lives Matter movement has taken over the world...
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Since the death of George Floyd, protests for the movement have been happening across the globe in volumes we've never seen before.Racially motivated police brutality has been happening for centuries now...
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But George's death has sparked an outrage like never before.Thousands upon thousands of people have been taking to the streets in protest...
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And they are all marching for one thing: For the blatant racism and injustice in this country to be brought to an end.Many protests turned violent...
Violent scuffles have broken out between police and far-right protesters staging a counter-protest to the Black Liv… https://t.co/tTD1IsPxJO— Andy Vermaut (@Andy Vermaut)1592058606.0
Remarkably, however, they seem to be working.
BLACK WOMEN MATTER. BLACK MEN MATTER. BLACK CHILDREN MATTER. BLACK FAMILIES MATTER. BLACK POSSIBILITIES MATTER.… https://t.co/y6dlDWKPN3— a gem (@a gem)1591104461.0
It has also taken over our streets...
Ahead of a planned protest this weekend, the road to the White House was painted with a giant "Black Lives Matter"… https://t.co/6M3H6ehuNs— David Luganda🇺🇬 (@David Luganda🇺🇬)1591398030.0
Protests have been happening across the pond too...
Hundreds of thousands of people have been taking to the streets in the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.But what about what's already written in history books?
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In school, we were all taught about our country's rich history... but it turns out that we are all completely oblivious to some very important facts in regard to the black community and slavery.We're all well aware of the history America has with slavery...
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And when children are taught about it in school, they're more than often told it ended with Abraham Lincoln’s signature on the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863.But this didn't mean slavery was over.
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As late as June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Texas were still held in bondage, and on that date, federal troops entered the state and began to punish slaveholders and former Confederates who refused to obey the law.This date became known as "Juneteenth."
Today, we commemorate Juneteenth. https://t.co/lf2H0wLayH— Muhammad Ali (@Muhammad Ali)1592577958.0
In Texas and across the country, emancipated African Americans began celebrating annually, with parades, concerts, and picnics.
And they carried themselves with the dignity that had been denied them and their forebears for 246 years.... Happy… https://t.co/h2nT1d4hle— Isabel Wilkerson (@Isabel Wilkerson)1592577392.0
However, by the time 1877 had come around, the federal government had largely abandoned the south.
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The lynching era — when hundreds of African Americans were brutally killed by white mobs each year across the North and the South — began soon after.It is so important for people of our country to be aware of these brutal occurrences...
Various images recognizing #Juneteenth flood social media timelines as Black Americans recognize their… https://t.co/XoR1kfI3wd— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan)1592578827.0
Even though Juneteenth is not a national holiday...
how is juneteenth celebrated today? https://t.co/4lQa3lpIfC— nancy (@nancy)1592580314.0
Activists continue to campaign for the United States Congress to recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday...
Happy Juneteenth!! Image: Kids (1965) by Bob Lee https://t.co/Zg1KvFn9Uy— Christena Cleveland (@Christena Cleveland)1592582673.0
Hill is one of those who believes that Juneteenth should be celebrated on a wider level...
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He said that commemorating Juneteenth is important for all Americans because it helps us see all the ways that slavery still shapes this country, including, as he says, "the desire to master and dominate black bodies."Juneteeth is all about the freedom of black people...
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But if the racism that they face on a daily basis is never dealt with properly and the people responsible aren't held accountable, how on earth are they considered to be free?