I trust that you will join me today in celebrating the 155th
anniversary of Juneteenth, our holiday that generations of our people
have celebrated to commemorate the last of our enslaved people being
declared free.
I am surprised at the number of people who, until this year, were
unaware of the significance of this day. And now, because of the recent
events of police brutality and the protests that followed, we are in a
moment where America is really being confronted with its history. And
this is a good thing as there are many barriers remaining that continue
to impede progress towards true justice and equality for all. But, as
Dr. Martin Luther King said, "If the cruelties of slavery could not stop
us, the opposition we now face will surely fail.”
We know there is much work remaining, and I encourage you to join
me in the work and give voice to our demands that our country
acknowledge and address our ongoing concerns with the consequences of
the enslavement of our ancestors. To date, 47 states and the District of
Columbia recognize Juneteenth as an official state holiday. Let’s add
our voices to those proposing that Juneteenth be declared a national
holiday.
I also believe that our schools have failed our students by not
teaching them the true history of African Americans in this country.
Our HBCU’s must assume some responsibility for that, and as graduates of
those HBCU’s we must also be willing to take up the mantle of
responsibility in rectifying this and ensuring that accurate and
thorough history of our people in this country be passed onto future
generations.
As the familiar saying goes, “The failure to study history will
doom us to repeat the errors of the past.” Therefore, I challenge you to
remember the past and the cost our people have paid for freedom, a
freedom not yet fully realized, and join the struggle to end systemic
racism and fight for racial justice. I cannot think of a better way to
honor our ancestors and celebrate Juneteenth.
In addition to celebrating, I encourage you to take some personal
time today to reflect on the meaning of this holiday. Tune in to some
of the many virtual events online; read about our history, including
Juneteenth; watch a movie that tells our story; and, most importantly
talk with and teach our story to your children and grandchildren.
Sincerely,
Nardos
|
No comments:
Post a Comment