Juneteenth New to Some... Reminder to All

The Brand Newness of Juneteenth

It just seems like yesterday when many had no clue what Juneteenth was. Now that many have awakened themselves with trending knowledge, we have seen an increase of events around the historical holiday. We now have festivals, concerts, and community reflections. While some chase a dollar by monetizing the event, we need some education to go with all that.

Freedom is not free and the true story of Juneteenth should be learned by all. Quiet as it is kept, the South has celebrated Juneteenth every year since 1865. Parades to honor those that fought in the wars for freedom are acknowledged along with the reading of the proclamation.

Then there are the foods and desserts. Red velvet is not just your aunties favorite cake. It is the cake of Juneteenth in that the red represents Congo and all of the blood that was shed for freedom. The colors of Juneteenth mean something too Then there is Ashton Villa. On the balcony, Maj. Gen. Granger read said proclamation that was two years old. Many were met with mass incarceration while many of the sick and elderly were not properly supported. On the other hand, literacy increased by 70% after 1865 and we had political power

History often hides in plain sight awaiting discovery. The event are great but the education of the moment is needed. We are resilient We adapt We fight as we always have.

Every generation is a gatekeeper of knowledge. If we do not share the truth about Juneteenth, how will our children and grandchildren know ? Just like the fight is continuous, our stories of victory and triumph should be as well

Paula J Hutchinson is CEO and Founder of The Stiletto Talks, LLC.

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