By Nicoel Y. "Nikki" Williams, SPARCC, June 2021
Following the tragic events of last year, including the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and countless others, we saw an uprising both in the United States and abroad calling for an end to the violence and terror that has plagued Black communities since forever. They gathered in every city and town, borough and neighborhood with a simple message – Black Lives Matter. These protests sent shockwaves around the country rippling across the world, inviting all to take account of the many struggles Black people continue to face. The protests also showed the determination, resilience, hope, and unbreakable joy that Black people continue to embrace even as we fight racist systems that attempt to hold us down.
What often gets lost in the commemoration of Juneteenth is that it is a celebration. Also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day or Liberation Day, communities across this country have embraced this day through dance, song, art, and festivals. These celebrations remind us of what those last enslaved Blacks in Galveston, Texas must have felt when they received the news of their emancipation on June 19, 1865: Joy.
Joy is radical. Joy is revolutionary. Despite the tumultuous experiences of Black people in this country, our journey is imbued with Joy. That’s because we know from whence we came. We draw a clear line, a connection, to those Black people who arrived in Port Comfort, Virginia in 1619, to those in Galveston, Tulsa, Selma, Ferguson, Minneapolis and across this country. We share each other’s pain and mourn our losses, but also collectively embrace the hope and strength that allow us to continue on.
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