I want to add a link from the Equal Justice Initiative website to a daily calendar people can subscribe if they want to learn more about racial injustice.
Many are speaking of Juneteenth as the end of slavery in the U.S. The end didn’t come legally until December 6th of 1865, almost 6 months after Juneteenth. Until then slavery was still legal in the border states of Delaware, Kentucky, Missouri, and a few individuals in New Jersey. Also Juneteenth seemed to apply to Texas, not the whole U.S. It’s important to celebrate the end of slavery, but the holiday should be on the correct date. I’m not a historian, but American history has been my hobby for over 30 years. Thoughts? P.S. I’m really enjoying your excellent book. Disunion Among Ourselves. Steve Connair, Annandale, Virginia
I hear you, Steve. However, I do not think most national holidays are exact. For example, July 2 is the actual day the U.S. became legislatively independent. Also, we did not actually achieve formal American independence until the Treaty of Paris was signed in Paris on September 3, 1783. I think we collectively accept a date, among many possibilities, and go with it. That's my approach any way––attention to the spirit of things rather than disputed facts. Thanks for reading the book! LMK if you have any feedback: elimerritt@gmail.com. Best,
The treachery of slavery in the US, two centuries ago, and across the world is sad. Every true historian understands that slavery has existed across almost all cultures and societies. Indeed the Amerian slave trade was originated by African slave traders – a treachery in and of itself. Thank God for the prescient crafting of our founding documents and the courage of President Lincoln (R), aided by the Christian Right, in defeating the scourge of slavery in the USA. We are blessed that our Constitution and government structure has enabled our society to improve for all people – and of course now the world wants to come to the US.
What’s sad is the focus by today by entitled Americans (especially those whose families may have been part of the “original sin”) who remain ignorant of and ignore the slavery that exists today. International Labor Organization estimates that over 40 million people are in some form of slavery today. Great reads for those who are ignorant of world events would be Francis Bok, Shin Dong-hyuk, Nury Turkel. Also important are the chronicles of the modern day horrors against women and gays in non-Western cultures, such as books by Ayaan Hirsi-Ali. Thomas Sowell said: Slavery has existed in the world for thousands of years. Whites enslaved other whites in Europe for centuries before the first black was brought to the Western hemisphere. Asians enslaved Europeans. Asians enslaved other Asians. Africans enslaved other Africans, and indeed even today in North Africa, blacks continue to enslave blacks.
Time to stop the virtue signalling and self flagellation and remember all of those in slavery today and how they would sacrifice anything to be an American and to celebrate July 4th, the origination of this country of freedom for all.
Thanks for responding. It helps to get a perspective on the dates of other events. I was aware of the dates of other events you mentioned, but hadn’t thought of them in this context. Best wishes.
I can’t agree more, Eli. Well said.
I want to add a link from the Equal Justice Initiative website to a daily calendar people can subscribe if they want to learn more about racial injustice.
A History of Racial Injustice Daily Calendar:
https://calendar.eji.org/racial-injustice/jun/18
Subscribe here:
https://calendar.eji.org/sign-up
Beautifully stated, Eli. Let's hope this holiday gains the recognition and celebration and respect it so deserves.
Merci, mon pot.
Many are speaking of Juneteenth as the end of slavery in the U.S. The end didn’t come legally until December 6th of 1865, almost 6 months after Juneteenth. Until then slavery was still legal in the border states of Delaware, Kentucky, Missouri, and a few individuals in New Jersey. Also Juneteenth seemed to apply to Texas, not the whole U.S. It’s important to celebrate the end of slavery, but the holiday should be on the correct date. I’m not a historian, but American history has been my hobby for over 30 years. Thoughts? P.S. I’m really enjoying your excellent book. Disunion Among Ourselves. Steve Connair, Annandale, Virginia
I hear you, Steve. However, I do not think most national holidays are exact. For example, July 2 is the actual day the U.S. became legislatively independent. Also, we did not actually achieve formal American independence until the Treaty of Paris was signed in Paris on September 3, 1783. I think we collectively accept a date, among many possibilities, and go with it. That's my approach any way––attention to the spirit of things rather than disputed facts. Thanks for reading the book! LMK if you have any feedback: elimerritt@gmail.com. Best,
The treachery of slavery in the US, two centuries ago, and across the world is sad. Every true historian understands that slavery has existed across almost all cultures and societies. Indeed the Amerian slave trade was originated by African slave traders – a treachery in and of itself. Thank God for the prescient crafting of our founding documents and the courage of President Lincoln (R), aided by the Christian Right, in defeating the scourge of slavery in the USA. We are blessed that our Constitution and government structure has enabled our society to improve for all people – and of course now the world wants to come to the US.
What’s sad is the focus by today by entitled Americans (especially those whose families may have been part of the “original sin”) who remain ignorant of and ignore the slavery that exists today. International Labor Organization estimates that over 40 million people are in some form of slavery today. Great reads for those who are ignorant of world events would be Francis Bok, Shin Dong-hyuk, Nury Turkel. Also important are the chronicles of the modern day horrors against women and gays in non-Western cultures, such as books by Ayaan Hirsi-Ali. Thomas Sowell said: Slavery has existed in the world for thousands of years. Whites enslaved other whites in Europe for centuries before the first black was brought to the Western hemisphere. Asians enslaved Europeans. Asians enslaved other Asians. Africans enslaved other Africans, and indeed even today in North Africa, blacks continue to enslave blacks.
Time to stop the virtue signalling and self flagellation and remember all of those in slavery today and how they would sacrifice anything to be an American and to celebrate July 4th, the origination of this country of freedom for all.
Thanks for responding. It helps to get a perspective on the dates of other events. I was aware of the dates of other events you mentioned, but hadn’t thought of them in this context. Best wishes.