Today, people around the country will celebrate Juneteenth, the anniversary of the day (June 19, 1865) slaves in Texas learned that slavery had been outlawed. The news came two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
The holiday is usually celebrated with festivals, parades, live entertainment, church programs and more, but this year it comes at a more somber time.
The Black community is mourning the deaths of nine innocent people from the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Carolina including, Rev. Clementa Pinckney, Rev. Sharonda Singleton, Myra Thompson, Tywanza Sanders, Ethel Lee Lance, Cynthia Hurd, Rev. Daniel L. Simmons Sr., Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor and Susie Jackson.
We’ve seen the horrific event play out in the media and can’t say it’s something we haven’t seen before. The church itself has a history of being targeted.
We’d like to know how you’re feeling about Juneteenth today amidst the sad events in Charleston. Let us know in the comments below.
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