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  1. Happy Juneteenth by Rhonda Hansome

    Thursday, June 20, 2013

    Dr. Joy DeGruy (Formerly Leary) spent a dozen years of research developing her theory of Post Traumatic Slavery Syndrome.  P.T.S.S. is a condition arising from the multi-generational oppression of Africans and their descendants resulting from centuries of chattel slavery.  This systemic subjugation was based on the belief of the inherent / genetic inferiority of the enslaved. 


    Even after the Emancipation Proclamation, this ingrained, economically beneficial belief enabled and sanctioned institutionalized racism and its accompanying injury.

    We Americans don’t talk very much about the present day effects of our history of enslavement.  Even the release of a movie like Django Unchained, does not spark a national examination of conscience regarding the pernicious dehumanization of a people; let alone a discussion on the residual effects manifest today.


    According to Juneteenth.com, Juneteenth is the oldest celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.  On June 19th 1865 union solders, led by Major General Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas with the news the war had ended and the enslaved were free.  So two years AFTER the Emancipation Proclamation the declaration was made real in Texas and June 19th became a regular day of celebration for many black Americans.

    My feeling is that Juneteenth should be a national day of observance.  A day to look at this nightmare episode of our collective history - how far we have come from slavery and how far we still have to go towards healing. 


    Happy Juneteenth America!


    Rhonda Hansome is an actress, writer, director and stand-up comedian.  Watch her as the Bar Owner in  the promo for Date Me Do Me Dump Me  the musical on tour this summer.

  2. 5 comments:

    1. wonderful blog. thank you for sharing the information many of us do not have. I agree it should be a recognized day in history to be observed. It should be taught about in schools. Discussing the subjugation of a people when so many are still stuck in that head -- I can see that being difficult and resisted.

      Happy Juneteenth, and yes, we have a ways to go for healing as long as any human's life is viewed as less important than anyone else's.

    2. Sharon Renay said...

      That's Beautiful -Thank You!!

    3. Sharon Renay said...

      That's Beautiful -Thank You!!

    4. She So Funny said...

      Great post. My students and I had a very insightful discussion regarding Juneteenth the other day. ~S

    5. Anonymous said...

      Thank you !

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