Today is Juneteenth, and today’s article is written by bestselling author and historian Jemar Tisby. We’re now in year three of Juneteenth as a national holiday, so you’re likely familiar with the general story. On June 19, 1865, Major-General Gordon Granger read General Order No. 3 to enslaved people in Galveston, TX declaring their freedom. Every year since then, African American communities have marked Juneteenth—a mashup of the words “June” and “nineteenth”—as the oldest celebration of emancipation from slavery.
Jemar Tisby has been an incredible person to follow over the past few years. I love reading his work. The Color of Compromise is such an important book for white Christians to understand our history of hindering the fight for racial justice. Thank you, for uplifting Black voices on your platform!
I like the reminder that we can’t just assume freedom is always going to exist or that it’s fully given to ALL of us. Dr Tisby is reminding us of this. Support the ones making the change is probably a step that feels less overwhelming to me. Because sometimes me who isn’t going in a history book for anything radical feels like what small change can I make? It starts with us right? Change in our homes. Talking to our kids about facts and the history as it happened.
Thank you for this article. My husband and I were just discussing this holiday with our son at dinner last night and why we still have hope that our Nov elections go the way we want. He is 13 and very concerned about the possibility of the former president returning to office. Tonight I will read this article to them - your words and work are wonderful. Thank you for educating me and I will in turn educate my family!
I love the concept of how the arc of the moral universe bends toward justice—and we can keep bending it more! In fact, it's our responsibility to pursue justice. I find it interesting (and convicting) that, in the Bible, the evidence that someone is "righteous" is found in his or her just actions. Thanks for this mini history lesson and reminder to keep doing the work.
I am so excited for Dr. Tisby’s new book! His first two books have been hugely significant in helping me learn about this country’s history and racial justice. Thanks to both of you for this post!
Thank you Dr Tisby for this article (and for all your work including on your own substack newsletter Footnotes).
While reading this article, what comes to my mind is that freedom is not inevitable. Growing up, I was under the impression that history happened because it was meant to be, but I'm no longer under that impression. Things happened because people made them happen. And it's the same for us today. Ain't nothin going to happen unless we make it happen.
You often hear the MLK quote about the moral arc of the universe being long, but it bends towards justice. I love that at the end of this article you make it plain that it only bends because of the hard work of so many.
Thank you, Dr. Tisby for adding further insight on how far we have come, but how far we still need to go. Interesting to read the exact wording of the General’s order and feel the underlying “fear” of what emancipation could bring (fear is still behind racism).
A great explanation of why the work of justice is ongoing, not a single event, and how the roots of the ongoing struggle were visible in the declaration itself.
We all can sometimes ignore injustices suffered by people who are different from us ('them'). But, it's just a matter of time before those injustices, mandates, legal decisions, etc., are also wielded against 'us.' We are SO litigious as a nation. That's a huge concern for me. I love the focus on the point that the responsibility of justice belongs to all of us.
Obviously I am not a careful reader. Halfway through the piece I'm thinking "Yeah Sharon, you go!" because I thought you were really taking the gloves off, so to speak on a very important issue, when you normally are so very measured in tone and content (except when people make unwarranted and ugly comments on your socials!). I was so surprised, I went back to the beginning to see the piece was written by Dr. Tisby and a fine piece it is. I was interested in Dr. Tisby's call to action, in addition to supporting the organizations and buying the books. He said "Voting, talking to recalcitrant neighbors and family members, sharing information online about the danger of plans such as Project 2025 are all necessary. Our civic responsibilities to each other and our nation compel us to action." I kind of feel like those of us who paid to subscribe to The Preamble and thus have the ability to comment, are much of a like mind and probably don't need to be persuaded about the importance of democracy or of the need to stamp out racism and oppression. But Uncle Jerry or Aunt Lucy? Not so much. Two elections ago, when some of my relatives would still ask me if certain things they saw in their email inboxes or on Facebook were actually true. I often went to Factcheck.org to find out. That site had a great feature called Viral Spiral where they factchecked all kinds of things that were floating around. It was a great resource. I wish Sharon would start something like that where people could ask about issues, things they've heard, things they've seen and we could all fact-find and start discussions and be informative and really, kind of be forearmed for discussions with all of our Uncle Jerrys and Aunt Lucys and other potential voters. She could call it "Uncle Jerry Said What?!?!" Or something and we would all be better equipped to follow Dr. Tisby's call to share information and talk to recalcitrant neighbors and family members. One last thing before I cause a rule that limits the length of comments. There was an opinion piece in the NYTimes today that was very germane to Dr. Tisby's subject, about how so many people currently serving prison sentences who are forced to work for little or no wages then have nothing to help support them or their families when they do get out. It is entitled "End Legal Slavery in the United States."
Jemar Tisby has been an incredible person to follow over the past few years. I love reading his work. The Color of Compromise is such an important book for white Christians to understand our history of hindering the fight for racial justice. Thank you, for uplifting Black voices on your platform!
I can tell you firsthand that Jemar is every bit as great as you think he is. ❤️
Thank you for your encouragement! Happy to have you with me on the journey!
I like the reminder that we can’t just assume freedom is always going to exist or that it’s fully given to ALL of us. Dr Tisby is reminding us of this. Support the ones making the change is probably a step that feels less overwhelming to me. Because sometimes me who isn’t going in a history book for anything radical feels like what small change can I make? It starts with us right? Change in our homes. Talking to our kids about facts and the history as it happened.
Thank you for this article. My husband and I were just discussing this holiday with our son at dinner last night and why we still have hope that our Nov elections go the way we want. He is 13 and very concerned about the possibility of the former president returning to office. Tonight I will read this article to them - your words and work are wonderful. Thank you for educating me and I will in turn educate my family!
I love the concept of how the arc of the moral universe bends toward justice—and we can keep bending it more! In fact, it's our responsibility to pursue justice. I find it interesting (and convicting) that, in the Bible, the evidence that someone is "righteous" is found in his or her just actions. Thanks for this mini history lesson and reminder to keep doing the work.
I am so excited for Dr. Tisby’s new book! His first two books have been hugely significant in helping me learn about this country’s history and racial justice. Thanks to both of you for this post!
Thank you Dr Tisby for this article (and for all your work including on your own substack newsletter Footnotes).
While reading this article, what comes to my mind is that freedom is not inevitable. Growing up, I was under the impression that history happened because it was meant to be, but I'm no longer under that impression. Things happened because people made them happen. And it's the same for us today. Ain't nothin going to happen unless we make it happen.
You often hear the MLK quote about the moral arc of the universe being long, but it bends towards justice. I love that at the end of this article you make it plain that it only bends because of the hard work of so many.
This is so important. It bends because *we* are the ones bending it towards justice! And it takes a lot of us all working together!
Thank you for sharing your platform, Sharon.
I love Dr Tisby and love his wisdom and writing. What a great match of Sharon and Dr Tisby to educate and inspire!
Thank you, Dr. Tisby for adding further insight on how far we have come, but how far we still need to go. Interesting to read the exact wording of the General’s order and feel the underlying “fear” of what emancipation could bring (fear is still behind racism).
Look forward to reading your writings. 🤔
Thank you for sharing your wisdom Dr. Tisby!
A great explanation of why the work of justice is ongoing, not a single event, and how the roots of the ongoing struggle were visible in the declaration itself.
Thank you for sharing this article. Gives great historical insight to Juneteenth and definitely worth sharing with others who may have questions.
What a beautiful article - thank you!
We all can sometimes ignore injustices suffered by people who are different from us ('them'). But, it's just a matter of time before those injustices, mandates, legal decisions, etc., are also wielded against 'us.' We are SO litigious as a nation. That's a huge concern for me. I love the focus on the point that the responsibility of justice belongs to all of us.
Obviously I am not a careful reader. Halfway through the piece I'm thinking "Yeah Sharon, you go!" because I thought you were really taking the gloves off, so to speak on a very important issue, when you normally are so very measured in tone and content (except when people make unwarranted and ugly comments on your socials!). I was so surprised, I went back to the beginning to see the piece was written by Dr. Tisby and a fine piece it is. I was interested in Dr. Tisby's call to action, in addition to supporting the organizations and buying the books. He said "Voting, talking to recalcitrant neighbors and family members, sharing information online about the danger of plans such as Project 2025 are all necessary. Our civic responsibilities to each other and our nation compel us to action." I kind of feel like those of us who paid to subscribe to The Preamble and thus have the ability to comment, are much of a like mind and probably don't need to be persuaded about the importance of democracy or of the need to stamp out racism and oppression. But Uncle Jerry or Aunt Lucy? Not so much. Two elections ago, when some of my relatives would still ask me if certain things they saw in their email inboxes or on Facebook were actually true. I often went to Factcheck.org to find out. That site had a great feature called Viral Spiral where they factchecked all kinds of things that were floating around. It was a great resource. I wish Sharon would start something like that where people could ask about issues, things they've heard, things they've seen and we could all fact-find and start discussions and be informative and really, kind of be forearmed for discussions with all of our Uncle Jerrys and Aunt Lucys and other potential voters. She could call it "Uncle Jerry Said What?!?!" Or something and we would all be better equipped to follow Dr. Tisby's call to share information and talk to recalcitrant neighbors and family members. One last thing before I cause a rule that limits the length of comments. There was an opinion piece in the NYTimes today that was very germane to Dr. Tisby's subject, about how so many people currently serving prison sentences who are forced to work for little or no wages then have nothing to help support them or their families when they do get out. It is entitled "End Legal Slavery in the United States."