It’s a legal holiday for us. But it’s more than that to those who truly understand its meaning. Our founding fathers had great concepts in mind. So great, their Constitution is still governing (well mostly) the land centuries later. Although, the biggest part of it, we still have trouble with today.
“… all men are created equal…”
At the time – it only included white men. Perhaps that’s why they often referred to black men as boy. Maybe even their subconscious knew that to acknowledge they were men would reveal how wrong their actions towards them were.
Making it official
The civil war was bloody and horrible, but as a whole, when the end came, Abraham Lincoln emancipated those held as property. They were officially recognized as equal and free, if not in minds, at least officially as part of our Constitution. But it took over 2 years for some states and a General’s Decree demanding to release those still in bondage. June 19th, 1865. It’s been celebrated for over 150 years, although it took until 2021 to become an official holiday.
On the path
We’ve come a long way since then, with those willing to use their voice for change, like Martin Luther King Jr. We’ve even had our first Black President and family. He exemplified Character and Integrity well enough to be elected a second time by the will of the people.
Those who never could accept it, still spew their hate for them even today. Integrity takes a backseat to the cruelty they choose in expressing themselves. But they are thankfully not the majority, as Michelle Obama held the title of the World’s Most Admired Woman. There are those of us and the next generation that see and take inspiration from them.
We still have a long way to go in fulfilling our quest for a United States – where everyone is free to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. If we didn’t, the words Civil War would not be uttered as frequently as they are recently. This holiday, is a reverence in the steps we are taking to understand the fact that we are – created equal. We need to unite, not tear each other down.
The Voices
“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” Desmond Tutu “We have simply got to make people aware that none of us are free until we’re all free.” Opal Lee
“Black liberation has never just been about Black people. It’s been about a fight for our humanity, for our dignity.” Patrisse Cullers
And in the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.”
“The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.” Ida B. Wells After all, united we stand – but divided – we may just fall.
Written by Melody Belliveau
The Social-Commentary.Com 