Freedom Deferred
Juneteenth reminds us of the failed declarations of our nation
CW: racial violence, killing
Today across the country, Juneteenth celebrations are commemorating the arrival of Union troops in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865- to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation more than 2 years after it was officially declared.
Through the advocacy of Black figures like Opal Lee, a Civil Rights educator who fought for over 40 years to have Juneteenth recognized as a national holiday, it finally became signed as a federal holiday in 2021, 154 years after its original declaration.
For the Black community, the celebration of “Freedom Day” has a long history- with rich celebrations of Black resilience, resistance, and self-determination. It has been a day marked by parades, family reunions, marching bands, communal feasting, and even worship celebrations.
Yet it’s also a stark reminder that the promise of freedom for Black Americans has always been deferred.
Even after the arrival of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas, historical records show that around 250,000 slaves in Texas were not freed, with slave owners refusing to submit to the call for emancipation and becoming so resentful that they carried out a violent pogrom, attacking and even killing former slaves who were freed or attempted to get free. It is estimated that as many as 2,500 African Americans were killed in Texas in the years after this declaration.
This complex history reminds us of the moral hypocrisies of our nation- built upon the mythology of being a “land of the free” while acting in ways that desecrate the liberty, dignity, and humanity of marginalized people in this country- particularly the Black community.
Despite all the courageous ways that Black people have fought to uphold and preserve their freedom, the forces of white supremacy have always found Black liberation a threat. Violence against Black bodies, families, liberties, and rights persist in pernicious ways. Slave owners take on new forms- in police uniforms. In corporate boardrooms. In the pulpits of evangelical churches. In the halls of Congress. In professional sports.
Just in recent days, we’ve been reminded of the depths of these moral failures, in the horrific and avoidable killing of a Kohen Wiley, a one year old Black baby who was shot and killed by Mississippi police.
We see it in the deeply seeded misogynoir of white men in this country and the violent hatred and disdain that Black women face regularly, alongside ongoing transphobia and homophobia.
We see it in the complete dismantling of Black voting rights through recent Supreme Court cases, and subsequent redistricting that could produce the largest loss of Black political representation ever.
We see that this fear-driven violence and the need for control is asserted not merely toward Black people, but all that Black people love, even their canine companions.
And we are reminded that racial violence is not only perpetuated by white people in this country, through the killing of Cyrus Carmack Belton.
So if we celebrate this day, let us be honest about our celebrations. Juneteenth reminds us that proclamations of freedom are useless without action. And despite all the claims that this nation has made- about being a land of the free, a bastion of democracy, a liberating force, a city on a hill- we must not be deceived by empty words. A tree is always known by its fruit, and our nation’s fruit has always been a “strange” one.
Instead, let us celebrate and remember that Black freedom is never something that could be established by a written proclamation, a policy, a nation state, or governing institution. True freedom is held inside the souls of people, who refuse to be tamed or erased.
Let us celebrate that miraculously, marvelously, the Black community has persisted.
Black resistance continues on.
Black rage keeps fueling transformation.
Black creativity keeps imagining new worlds.
Black brilliance continues making the world a better place.
Black love continues birthing new expressions of community.
As Lucille Clifton writes in her famous poem, “won’t you celebrate with me”:
come celebrate
with me that everyday
something has tried to kill me
and has failed.
May we continue to remember that Black liberation isn’t just for the Black community. It frees all of us.
Let us continue to fight and work (and even pray) toward a world in which we remember and uphold Fannie Lou Hamer’s call: “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.”
Friday Fuel
Life has been a whirlwind this past month, and I am being brutally reminded of how rough summer can be for working parents, but here are a few things that have been fueling me recently:
Maybe Happy Ending
I finally got to watch this musical during a quick trip to NY, and LOVED IT SO MUCH! It was an absolute delight, including the unexpected casting change mid-show and the debut of Savy Jackson in the role of Claire. The whole night was such an inspiring and moving reminder of the power of live performance, and I can’t wait to watch it again when it comes to SF next year.
Kids Performing Live
In the continued theme of live performance, my kids attended Cole Arts Camp last week, and while their experience of the camp was somewhat mixed, the week culminated in a live show of kid performances that was a delight. The performances ranged from original skits, to drum circles, to puppet shows, to choreographed dances to Dua Lipa and Michael Jackson. It was a delight and I loved seeing kids grow in confidence to perform on stage in front of others!
Trans History Timelines
For a recent sermon I preached, queering the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch, I came across this Trans Histories timeline that’s been such a gift! It holds so many fascinating stories - from transmasc monks to bearded saints to nonbinary Quakers- and is a reminder that gender expansiveness has a long history in the church.
I baked a pie!
I continue to take advantage of my NYT Cooking subscription and baked an apple pie for Michael’s bday- just the 2nd apple pie and 3rd ever pie I’ve baked in my life. It definitely wasn’t the prettiest (still working on improving the crust and I think I messed up the egg wash!) but was really tasty and enjoyed by many.
Mexico-Korea Solidarity
I got together with some friends yesterday to watch the Mexico v. Korea world cup game and loved this video highlighting the history of Korean immigrants in Mexico, particularly who helped support the Korean independence movement in Korea! I want to learn more about this history.
What’s been fueling you lately?