Tomorrow is Juneteenth, which marks a holiday that commemorates the day Union General Gordon Granger read orders in Galveston that freed all previously enslaved people in Texas. The holiday, which combines June and nineteenth, celebrates the day the final and most remote of the slave states read the proclamation—nearly two years after slaves were officially freed in the U.S.
I mention this in light of the recent killings by law enforcement officers—another of which tragically happened in Georgia when 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks was shot in the back last Friday—and the resulting protests and unrest across this country.
Traditionally, Juneteenth is a celebratory holiday, but that will not be the case this year.
As we all know, the killings of black and brown people by police officers and other white people “standing their ground” have led to protests—both peaceful and violent. More importantly, they have led to dialogue, reflection and positive action. Many of us have found ourselves thinking about this country’s history and how we want to memorialize it. As statues of confederate officers come down, Quaker drops Aunt Jemima and Gone with the Wind is removed from HBO’s streaming options, it’s important to remember that where we find ourselves today is not just about the horrendous killings, but also about more than 400 years that include slavery, lynching, voter suppression, disproportionate jail sentences and lack of access to education, jobs and health care. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
We cannot begin to make up for these years of injustice, but we have to try. It is not enough to declare ourselves nonracist and deny direct responsibility for the failings I listed above. It is not enough to point out that we, too, worked hard for everything we have. We have to take a serious look and recognize that white privilege exists, and what many of us have was built on the backs of slave labor and all the horrors and inequities that have continued here since emancipation.
Here at Sacred Heart, we are starting to take that honest look in the mirror. Since our founding, we have proclaimed our belief in the dignity of every human being as inviolable and that the commitment to justice for the common good is necessary. And we most certainly do believe that. But some of our students, faculty and staff have rightly called us on it. They have pointed out a lack of diversity and told us of racist incidents experienced within our community. The feedback is appreciated, noted and will not be ignored.
I want to suggest that in honor of the Juneteenth holiday tomorrow that each of us take some time to ponder this country’s history when it comes to the treatment of black people and other marginalized and underrepresented individuals. You could reread my blog post about the changes we are making or watch the discussions in our Heart Challenges Hate series. You could talk these issues over with your friends and family. Most importantly, if you are white, think about how your life might have been different if you were born black or brown—and decide what you are going to do about it.