JUNETEENTH
Slaves no more?
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.
On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the final Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that all enslaved people in the Confederate States of America in rebellion and not in Union hands were freed.
It took until June 19, 1865, the day when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the American Civil War for the word to reach and take effect on the last of the slaveholders.
Juneteenth is indeed a big deal.
When we think of slavery in the US, southern plantations come to mind, along with whips and chains. However, slavery can take many forms, with slaves laboring in mines, road building and other tasks requiring heavy, tedious, effort and little respite. And sex slavery can be added to that.
Today slavery still exists. Human trafficking thrives in war torn countries, and in immigrant groups fallen prey to human trafficking and exploitation.
The sages say that no one is free until we are all free.
In the capitalist system and its derivatives, in which we exist, people are sometimes entrapped by their economic conditions.
In the drive to succeed we can lose compassion in our fellow humans and push to expand profit margins through longer hours and lower wages. This is economic slavery that we can witness in the house cleaning services, landscape companies, construction companies, and in the least desirable jobs in our society. When we use services from companies that exploit workers, we perhaps become unwitting perhaps members of today’s slaveholding class.
On this Juneteenth, perhaps we should become more sensitive to the corporate culture of the companies that we use. Maybe nudge them as best we can towards improved working conditions for their employees.
How humane is it to ignore the exploitation of other human beings?
Support humanity by seeking humane working and living conditions for all.
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Thank you for the reminder, Manuel.
"On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the final Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that all enslaved people in the Confederate States of America in rebellion and not in Union hands were freed.
It took until June 19, 1865, the day when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the American Civil War for the word to reach and take effect on the last of the slaveholders.
Juneteenth is indeed a big deal."
Another solid reminder of the things we can do to support others. Happy Juneteeth