Today is Juneteenth. I have been trying to figure out why it is that I am not bouncing out of my chair at the idea of the county and the city allowing folks to take this day off.

I know for myself, I don't think that White people should have today off. I don't. It was their ancestors who decided it was okay to enslave mine. Somehow, it was okay to rape, murder, and pillage my ancestors because they didn't look like them. Even today, their descendants rather kill a Black person than admit that they are benefitting from a system that survives solely on the disenfranchisement of my group, and others deemed "Non-White."

White people all day have been saying "Happy Juneteenth" and asking how it is that we are going to celebrate when they didn't even know it was a holiday just last year.

Many of you are probably hurrying to figure out what Juneteenth is, and doing your best to find where exactly you fit into the grand scale of things. Hopefully, this helps.

The Emancipation Proclamation should have been the day that all enslaved African/Black people were free, however, because we were in the midst of a civil war, all the states that seceded kept their slaves until 2.5 years later (like Texas).

And another thing, Lincoln stated that his primary goal was not to save or abolish Slavery, but to keep the Union. Horace Greely, an editor of the New York Tribune, published an editorial that addressed Lincoln, pressuring him to abolish it. Lincoln responded in August 1862 as followed:

"My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union and is not either to save or destroy Slavery," Lincoln wrote. "What I do about Slavery and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save this Union..."

Meaning Lincoln only saved the slaves so they could fight for the Union.

The Civil War ended in April 1865. Then, and only then, did General Gordon Granger enact "Generals Orders No. 3"; it stated: "The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.

However, Texas was not closely monitored, and so many people brought their slaves there.

So? Where the White folks then? They were not celebrating with us or "congratulating" us on our newfound freedom. No, no. In wartorn states, White people in the Union were negligent, and those who held slaves continued slavery much longer after the proclamation.

Black folks continued to free themselves by risking their lives, either sneaking behind Union lives to try and live, or joining the army to fight for freedom of their brothers and sisters.

In "Lone Star Pasts" Susan Merritt reported:

"Lots of Negroes were killed after freedom...bushwhacked, shot down while they were trying to get away. You could see lots of Negroes hanging from trees in Sabine bottom right after freedom."

Through Reconstruction, we saw what success could look like for Black people; many Black people were elected to office, Black art and literature thrived, and we began to succeed as a people.

Through Jim Crow, several massacres, and threats upon our life, Black people continue to push forward and succeed, though the system tries hard to keep us out, and our voices muted.

It's been a hundred and fifty-five years since the first Juneteenth celebration.

After three weeks of protest, rioting, and loud, unapologetic rage as we call once again for our freedom, we see the same patterns of behavior from White folks. "Allies" call for the abolition of the police, stories of people's deaths go unheard/unpublicized; Black folks continue to fight till the end for their freedom to exist and have the same resources as their White counterparts.

This week alone, we have seen five men, one woman, and one child hung from trees. All of which ruled as "suicides."

So, what is all of this to say?

You, White and Non-Black person who has taken the time to read this, do not get to celebrate Juneteenth.

It is not OUR independence day. It is Black Independence Day.

YOUR role in all of this is to learn.

"How am I benefitting from my (pursuit/value of) Whiteness?"
"How am I acting upon my (perceived) Whiteness?"
"What can I do to support my Black friends in my life today?"

These are only a few questions, but you get the gist.

If you can, toss some coin in people's direction as well since immediate action speaks louder than words.