Juneteenth Lives

What a blessed time to be a black person in 2020. This statement doesn't discredit the beautiful nationalities that make us all unique around the world.. BUT black people do I love me some melanin? Hell to the yes! This is such a time to be celebrating our history and as Auntie Maxine Waters would say " reclaiming our time". Because it is our time, our time to get what is overdue to us. Equality, respect, justice, and reparations. Justice and equality for all is the American way right? At least it was suppose to be. It will be you know why? We highjacked it and made them listen. Either through riots or peaceful protesting the world is watching and listening. I often listen to Bob Dylan's song The Times They Are A Changing and from beginning to end each lyric is so moving and powerful now as the impact back then when the track was first released. When he says, 'The order is rapidly fadin', and the first one now will later be last, for the times they are a changing". I felt those lyrics in my soul. I'm sure you can feel it too. Right before our eyes we have witnessed history unfold on so many levels we can hardly keep up.

I remember when I was a little girl my late beloved mother Donna Reese who was a profound activist once was a Grand Marshall at our community Juneteenth celebration parade. I thought so cool! Wow my mom gets to lead a parade! How fun is this! When I got older and learned more about Juneteenth and the importance of acknowledging, while reflecting why black people celebrate this historical day it was way bigger than a parade. June 19th 2020 my skinfolk will be celebrating 155 years since the emancipation of the last remaining enslaved African Americans in the confederacy. We celebrate each other and our history of perseverance through so much discrimination and injustice. This moment, this time that's ours will forever be apart of American History, Global History, Black History and Juneteenth History. We heard the world heart break with us. We heard our country, the world, and major corporations that you never would imagine say "Black Lives Matter"'. A lot of our history has been erased. Lots of what is taught to our children in schools are lies or not for them. A lot of our history is hard to remember, but we preserve it and we continue to change the narrative and make our positive marks on the world remembering that All Black Lives Matter at all times. This isn't the time to be divided or to hate our oppressors. It's a time for coming together , learning, teaching, growing, winning, loving, and creating powerful memories. This time in our lives will be in the history books. Think of all the people who are no longer on earth who paved the way for change and betterment for our people. Think of their courage and truth . Think of how far you came. Think of all you accomplished through the obstacles. A call to action for Juneteenth: Celebrate a stranger and a historical black figure , love hard on your friends and family. This has been a tough year for us all. Let's honor each other this Juneteenth. Love wins and we love us right? Hell to the yes! Black King, Black Queen Happy Juneteenth! 155 years of freedom they haven't seen nothing yet. Shackles OFF!