I want to start the podcast today with a quote from James Henry Gooding, an African-American man who served as a Union soldier in the Civil War. In a letter from the front, Gooding wrote: “The American people, as a nation, knew not what they were fighting for till recently, and many have different opinions now as to the ends and results of the contest. But there is but two results possible: one is slavery and poverty, and the other is liberty and prosperity.”
Today is Juneteenth, the oldest national holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. The celebration dates back to 1865 when African-Americans in Galveston, Texas, were informed they were free — a full two-and-a-half years after the Emancipation Proclamation and two months after Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered.
It’s 155 years later, but we are still so far from achieving racial justice and equality in this country. And at this moment, Juneteenth isn’t just a commemoration — it’s a call to action. I’ve learned so much in the past few weeks about the history of Black Americans and the systemic racism that is still pervasive today, and educating myself about the significance of June 19th has been just a small part.
But I know that my words on this subject can only go so far. For this 5-Minute Friday, I’d love to bring you a clip from my recent interview with Reverend Michael Beckwith, who came on The School of Greatness just after the George Floyd protests began.
