I was getting ready to finish up today's blog post this afternoon, when I happened to check my calendar on my Apple iPhone. Today is June 19th, or Juneteenth Independence Day. I am embarrassed to admit that I wasn't sure why today was called Juneteenth, so I looked it up. Today happens to be a very important day in our nation's history. Would it help if I told you that today is also called "Freedom Day"?
Juneteenth, or Freedom Day, commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas on June 19, 1865. Texas was the last of the former Confederate States of America to abolish slavery, which had occurred more broadly with the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Texas was the first state to establish Juneteenth as an official state holiday in 1980 - today, Juneteenth Independence Day is officially recognized as either a state holiday or special day of observance in 46 states. Apple added Juneteenth Independence Day to its calendars in iOS under official U.S. holidays in 2018.
It is right that we recognize a day like today. Today, we celebrate freedom. We also recognize that even today, more than 150 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, we have work still to do. Today, we should take a moment to reflect on where we are as a nation. Today we should take a moment to reflect on the work that lies ahead to eliminate prejudice of all kinds. Remember, and do not forget what it means to be free. Remember, and do not forget that only 150 or so years ago, we finally granted that freedom to an entire group of our fellow Americans. Remember, and do not forget, that even today, prejudice and inequality exists in our country.
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