A Personal Reflection on Juneteenth
By Jenn Luevano-Brummett
To dive deeper into the history of Juneteenth, I read On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed. On Juneteenth is a blend of American history, memoir, and a family chronicle that explores the significance of Juneteenth and its complex relationship with Texas and our national history. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Annette Gordon-Reed, a Texas native and descendant of enslaved people, provides a unique perspective on the holiday's origins and its ongoing importance in the fight for racial equality. She weaves us through the historical dates we did not learn in our public history classes.
June 19th, 1865 is the true end of enslavement in the Confederacy, a two and a half year delay after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Moreover, Juneteenth wasn’t officially recognized as a federal holiday in the United States until June 17, 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. As we begin to hold space and acknowledge the painful truths of our past, it's important that we continue to do the relearning and advocate for progress in that journey.
Juneteenth's history underscores the necessity for our nation to engage in the often uncomfortable process of relearning our history. By confronting the painful truths of slavery, segregation, and systemic racism, we gain a deeper understanding of the root causes of current inequities. This knowledge empowers us to dismantle harmful systems and strive for a more just and equitable society. While challenging, this relearning is essential for our collective growth and healing.
The "Reframing Racism" training, developed by the Center for Equity & Inclusion, is a helpful starting point, providing a foundation to understand some of these root causes. As a BIPOC participant, I appreciated the model of affinity groups, which created a safe space for reflection and allowed me to process my emotions through an activity while learning more about the past afflictions of my ancestors. This training, coupled with On Juneteenth, highlighted a throughline for me and the interconnectedness of BIPOC communities and the intersectionality of our unique nation.
My equity journey has been a complex one, filled with unlearning and relearning as I navigate my multiple identities. For all of us on this journey, I hope we can offer each other grace and encouragement to continue doing the work, easing into the discomfort and allowing it to be an awakening. It took 156 years for our nation to recognize Juneteenth as a holiday, signifying the liberation of our fellow Americans. Let's continue this essential work and create the necessary trouble needed to achieve true equity.
