On this day June 19th, also known as Juneteenth, we reflect on the last days of our ancestors being told of their “freedom” and being physically enslaved was no more. Here we are now over 150 years later living in a world where so many are still enslaved and treated unfairly and here in America, the mentality of enslavement lives on within us and racism is still a major issue.
After being pulled away from our African culture for many years, Black people had to find a sense of purpose and tradition while living on plantations. In 1865, as “freedom” was granted, those traditions are what built the foundation of our life here in America post slavery and it was through having a sense of community that we were able to do it. They built businesses, became active in the political sector to gain rights as citizens, and built schools among other things. So, what are some things they had then that got them through life and what can help us get back to our community connection as violence, poverty, and division has taken us in a different direction.
Respect
The respect one has for themself is the respect you can give to others. Respect for your body and that of others, respect for your time and that of others, respect for your piece of mind and that of others, and respect for your voice and that of others are all values one sets to guide the choices that are made in one’s life. We are all individuals and should be respected for who we are and listened to for what we have to say.
Morality
The differences between good and bad are based on the situation at hand, allowing you to think and better understand the consequences of your decisions before acting on them. Honesty or sincerity, fairness, and equality are all things to think about as one should always do unto others as they want done to them.
Support
Sort of like, I do for you, you do for me! In a community, helping each other is a plus because each person has different strengths and weaknesses, and one person can help the other with this balanced set of skills. Businesses succeed with relationships, communities get resources with relationships, kids grow with relationships, and so forth. Without us working together to see changes and growth, nothing is possible because working alone can’t take you but so far.
Spirtuality
Having a higher sense of purpose beyond yourself sets the tone for your decisions with your self-control, self-esteem, and overall confidence. We were all strategically placed on this Earth and it’s our choice to figure it out if we are willing to do the work.
I have so much hope for us moving forward and believe we can get back together to grow our communities as we have a little more opportunity today than our ancestors had during that time, so we know it is possible to reach.