July 4th...July 9th...or Juneteenth?

Okay! July 4th 1776, date in history celebrated as Independence Day, a U.S. national holiday. Why? Because of the United States' declaration of independence from Great Britain.  Yay freedom, right?

WRONG! African Americans (Blacks) were still enslaved! It was circulated over parts of the web (and Facebook) that Fredrick Douglass addressed this issue of injustice with a lengthy speech in the mid 1800s.  Blacks were still considered 3/5ths of a human being until...July 9th 1868! Yep, on that day the 14th amendment was ratified, granting African-Americans full citizenship (What does that mean?

• Blacks have only been freed and whole for 143 years!
• The granting of citizenship happened 92 years after the Declaration of Independence! 

Of course, there is the more widely celebrated 13th amendment freeing slaves in 1865.  Juneteenth is more of an informal national holiday (for the most part) celebrating the announcement of slavery's abolition. Yep slavery ended about 146 years ago. And we've (Blacks/African-Americans) still been struggling to be recognized and appreciated as members of the human race.

Granted the population is low in the U.S., our pay-rate and representation in work and media is low, while our unemployment and incarceration rates are high. And don't even get me started about the enduring psychology of the white supremacist mentality that continues to plague and oppress the psyche and dominate institutional structures.  Though I may have to blog about it sooner or later.

For now though, I'll just say what these dates and numbers mean to me. Number one, the years to me mean that this isn't ancient history! The dates mean:

• July 4th, not much, my ancestors were still in chains while U.S. freedom was being celebrated
• July 9th: A bit more meaning, though the idea of this being debated disgusts me
• Juneteenth: More, much more, because it's the result of a reaction from those who learned they had been freed and sought solidarity and togetherness more than ever in their celebrations.  

Granted there's no holiday for July 9th, but I'd rather give an ode to that more than July 4th. Though this is more of an ode/reminder that white supremacy has never done anyone darker than themselves any good. Injustices were still committed after citizenship was granted, an continue to be, even though it's not openly reported in mainstream media.

Well, thanks, politicians. For at least saying I'm a full human being on paper, anyways.  Still got a ways to go with the personal, political and economic treatment.