Juneteenth and the Black Church:By Emanuel Walker…Unity.org
Juneteenth is celebrated as the end of slavery in the United States not because it’s the day President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. That happened two years earlier. It’s the day when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced all slaves were free—June 19, 1865. The troops were there to enforce the executive decree. It was a day of action, not just words.
For Black Americans, Juneteenth represents a moment of liberation and hope. It is a day to celebrate their ancestors’ resilience, courage, and perseverance in the face of oppression. The Black church played a pivotal role in the struggle for freedom, serving as a beacon of hope and a catalyst for change.
The Black Church: Beyond Worship
The Black church was more than just a place of worship; it was a center of community life. During slavery, enslaved Africans used religious gatherings as a way to connect with each other, express their faith, and forge a sense of belonging. They drew strength from the stories of Moses leading his people out of bondage and of Jesus’ message of freedom and equality.
After emancipation, the Black church continued to play a vital role in African-American life. It provided a space for political organizing, education, and social support. Black churches founded schools, universities, and community centers that served as vital resources for African Americans, particularly in the South.
For Black Americans, Juneteenth represents a moment of liberation and hope. It is a day to celebrate their ancestors’ resilience, courage, and perseverance in the face of oppression.
Let’s remember that Juneteenth-America’s youngest federal holiday-came to prominence in 2020 in partial recognition of the horrific murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and so many other Black folks who have died at the hands of law enforcement. Even in our recent history, Black folks’ freedoms were not their own, but the continued awakening of a country for a better democracy, which time and time again has originated from our communities of color. Green lining.org/Debra G.Mann
Why celebrating Juneteenth matters now more than ever…
ðŸ™ðŸ¿ðŸ™1 Corinthians 15: 57 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.†Liberating God, we offer a prayer of thanksgiving and praise for your hearing the cries of the oppressed. Bless your name for giving us the victory and freedom over slavery.ðŸ™ðŸ™ðŸ¿ðŸ™ðŸ¿
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