Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free.
One of
General Granger’s first orders of business was to read to the
people of Texas, General Order Number 3 which began most
significantly with:
"The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer."The reactions to this profound news ranged from pure shock to immediate jubilation. While many lingered to learn of this new employer to employee relationship, many left before these offers were completely off the lips of their former 'masters' - attesting to the varying conditions on the plantations and the realization of freedom.
Today, right now, we are treating those who are seeking asylum at our southern border in an inhumane way that echoes our treatment of slaves. It is a return to wrenching children from their parents. The depiction of immigrants as not human is how our ancestors viewed slaves. It is as immoral as slavery, and I would contend that it is also criminal.
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