“Juneteenth” , a US Federal Holiday? Since when?

Four years now since this day – 19 June – was designated so, a formal holiday to remember and commemorate the day in 1865 when all enslaved people were declared free, emancipated, released and no longer subject to bondage, to slavery.

It’s been 160 years since that day, some eight generations, and how far have we come as an American society since then…?

Sometimes it seems so so far ! , other times … big picture … macro-perspective, societally … we have so far to go. Attitudes and systems still hardened to give white people, people in power, the advantage, imbedded preference, unfair leg up.

Balance is needed; structures need to change to give everyone the same access and opportunities; this must be our way forward in our American society.

The people currently in power in this country at the highest levels don’t seem to agree with this perspective. It’s sad, but true.

160 years after that first declaration we have a long way to go, but fear not, have faith in the fight,

And it’s all the more reason to celebrate and let this day resonate all the more loudly. And then let your voice for change and fairness and freedom resonate from the highest hilltops, thru and thru,

“Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, we are free at last!”