Thomas Gouard
This past weekend I attended my second Juneteenth parade within my neighborhood. I tailored my whole day for it because I understand its meaning and except it. This year, Juneteenth felt like that layer peeled back exposing the African American identity that most wish not to be reminded of. I would have enjoyed marching downtown on the official date, but I just didn’t have the tolerance to be within a large crowd of people. In my honest opinion, Juneteenth should be celebrated like July 4th which I personally plan to do going forward. And from what I saw within my neighborhood in Chicago, others our celebrating it like that as well because all that was heard was fireworks all day from sun up to sun down. I loved the thought of supporting black owned businesses if I were not in the mood to cook something within the lines of southern food. What I found was that most black owned businesses had very great specials on what is known as our Independence Day as African Americans. As a dreamer, it gives me a warm tingling feeling when I think about what this day could be going forward. I dream about Pan-African flags or Juneteenth flags hanging on posts in my city with a parade similar to Chicago’s Bud Billiken Parade marching down the street.
#chicago #juneteenth #virily #google #panafrican #independenceday #freedom #texas #budbilliken #celebration #parade #eastgarfieldpark #westsidechicago #blacklivesmatter
An important factor is the positivity that comes out of a difficulty. Keep pressing on to do better.
How did it get this name Juneteenth?
Juneteenth (a portmanteau of June and nineteenth) – also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day – is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States. Originating in Texas, it is now celebrated annually on the 19th of June throughout the United States, with varying official recognition. Specifically, it commemorates Union army general Gordon Granger announcing federal orders in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, proclaiming that all slaves in Texas were free.
I get that now. Thanks for that vivid explanation.
The longer I am on Virily you’ll see more going forward.
Enjoy the moments Thomas. And stay safe.
Everything will be brought to the light. The movement will continue.
i suspect that many are uncomfortable acknowledging the at best bad behavior that led to the celebration.
first, that there was something that led up to it.
second that it was 2.5 years later for the slaves of Texas.
It is a holiday i agree should be welcomed into the national celebrations. But it is also a moment for some of us, to look back and find sorrow.
My family (both sides) came to America in the 1890s and I still feel shame.