Black ancestors to be honored during Juneteenth celebrations
beyond.
“Today, Juneteenth
commemorates African
American freedom, and
emphasizes education
and achievement,” it said.
“It is a day, a week, and
in some areas a month
marked with celebrations,
guest speakers,
picnics and family gatherings.
“It is a time for reflection
and rejoicing. It is
a time for assessment,
self-improvement and
for planning the future,”
Juneteenth.com added.
“Its growing popularity
signifies a level of maturity
and dignity in America
long overdue.”
It said that, in cities
across the country, people
of all races, nationalities
and religions are
“joining hands to truthfully
acknowledge a period
in our history that
shaped and continues
to influence our society
today.
“Sensitized to the conditions
and experiences
of others, only then can
we make significant and
lasting improvements in
our society,” Juneteenth.
com said.
Caribbean American
Congresswoman Yvette
D. Clarke (NY-09) noted
the commemoration of
the 156th anniversary of
Juneteenth, “when Union
troops arrived in Galveston,
Texas declaring the
abolition of slavery two
years after the Emancipation
Proclamation and
two months after the end
of the Civil War.
“With their freedom,
the original sin of the
American experiment
came to an end, and a
chapter— of optimism
and promise—opened.
Juneteenth’s prolific significance
Caribbean L 26 ife, JUNE 18-24, 2021
continues to
resonate across our global
Diaspora,” Clarke, the
daughter of Jamaican
immigrants, told Caribbean
Life. “Whether you
are from the Caribbean
or Africa, born in America
or abroad, Juneteenth
marks when many of our
ancestors were liberated
from bondage.
“However, the realization
that, although free,
Black Americans continue
to face racial discrimination,
inequality, terror;
and violence is still cause
for concern and a clarion
call for action,” added
Clarke, chair of the Congressional
Black Caucus
Taskforce on Immigration,
a senior member
of the US House of Representatives’
Energy and
Commerce Committee,
and a senior member of
the House Committee on
Homeland Security.
“Juneteenth is more
than a celebration; it is
a reminder of the centuries
long painful plight
of enslaved people,” the
congresswoman continued.
“We must never forget
the sacrifices of our
ancestors that paved the
way for us to stand here
today, the road to tomorrow.
We honor our ancestors
and will continue the
work in their honor.”
Public Advocate
Jumaane Williams also
told Caribbean Life that
the signing of the Emancipation
Proclamation
in 1863 “should have
granted people of African
descent in the United
States rights and privileges
that still have yet to
be fully realized.
“We are not collectively
yet free from this system
of privilege; but, like the
ancestors, we will celebrate
Juneteenth because
we believe as our ancestors
did in true freedom,”
said the son of Grenadian
immigrants. “And also,
as they did, we carry on
with the pragmatic hope;
it is coming.
“As a nation seems
to be waking up to the
importance of this holiday,
we will continue to
push in an effort to create
the transformational
changes, the freedoms,
promised 150 years ago
but not yet received,”
Williams added.
Assembly Member
Rodneyse Bichotte
Hermelyn, chair of the
Brooklyn Democratic
Party, said Juneteenth is
“a day of recognition for
people of color across the
nation, and I am glad
to see more people, of
diverse backgrounds, celebrating.
“Here, in New York,
we are fortunate to – at
last – be able to commemorate
Juneteenth,
a holiday marking the
emancipation of slaves
in the United States, as
an official holiday,” said
the daughter of Haitian
immigrants, who represents
the 42nd Assembly
District in Brooklyn. “As
we continue to advocate
for social justice reform
today, we must not forget
history. I am proud
to celebrate this holiday
with our wonderful community
in Brooklyn.”
Community members visit one of the murals at
George Floyd Square, now behind barricades
that formerly blocked the street, after city employees
began to reopen George Floyd Square,
the area where George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis
police custody the year before, in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, U.S. June 3, 2021. REUTERS/
Nicole Neri, File
Continued from Page 24
/Juneteenth.com