Juneteenth - a white boomer's perspective
Juneteenth probably means very little to the average American, certainly nothing extraordinarily personal. Perhaps this year, America's 250th, it should, if we can collectively discipline ourselves to have some level of gratitude for our nation and its history. I'm envisioning the streets of Galveston, Texas, in 1866 at the first formal celebration, or Jubilee Day, on the anniversary of the announcement delivered by Union General Gordan Granger of General Order #3, that there was no more slavery in Texas. The celebration involved dressing up, feasting, and religious activities of prayer, singing, and storytelling. What we don't see is any evidence of wide-spread cynicism and grumbling that we might see today. "Why did it take so long to get us the message that slavery was over?", "Lincoln is such a hypocrite, the Emancipation was only for the South, what about those Northerners? Isn't he the one that said we should be shipped back to Africa?" "...