Juneteenth

June 19 is a holiday that marks the release of the last remaining enslaved people in the United States on that date in 1865, officially bringing an end to that era. Even though the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation had occurred two and a half years earlier, it did not translate to immediate freedom in some states. Texas remained the last hold out until Union troops arrived on June 19, 1865 to enforce the proclamation. The holiday is affectionately referred to as Juneteenth.

This spoken word piece was written in honor of this important event and was performed as part of the NAACP San Luis Obisbo chapter’s celebration. Although the story of Juneteenth serves as a backdrop for the poem, the piece goes far deeper, just as the impact of slavery has far reaching consequences still experienced by our society today. The poem requires listeners to examine themselves and take a hard look at what they are doing to either promote or stand in the way of freedom. It’s a sobering message that I hope you have the courage to receive.