CELEBRATING FREEDOM

By C. Diane Wallace Booker, Esq., Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President
June 16, 2023

With freedom in 1865, shortly thereafter came citizenship. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified in 1868. The 14th granted citizenship to Black Americans and also equal protection under the law. This included the right to vote... at least for Black men (although this right would be violently suppressed during the Jim Crow era).

I wonder whether my family celebrated or were they cynical of failed government promises and cautiously approached this idea of freedom and citizenship. Although history and the evidence demonstrates that many Black men at that time registered to vote and actively engaged in the political process - voting, running for office, passing legislation and helping to rebuild the United States after a civil war. Scholars have identified at least 2,000 African Americans who held public office from the local level all the way up to the U.S Senate during Reconstruction.

She was buried in Cross Creek Cemetery, a historically segregated cemetery where many former enslaved people were buried. Efforts have been made to preserve this cemetery and research done to identify the names of all the unmarked graves which is how we discovered where Maria was buried.

While I proudly celebrate Juneteenth, I cannot help but think of my great great grandparents struggles, trauma, abuse and perhaps also the ways they sought joy in the midst of turmoil and change. As the great great granddaughter of a woman who would have felt a mix of emotions this day, I write today to honor her life - once nameless, Maria Simms Wallace legacy lives on in me, my father, my sister and brother and a host of cousins, aunts, and uncles who today are grateful for those who came before us.

Ways to celebrate Juneteenth

1.   Many cities now host Juneteenth celebrations - grab your family and friends to join one of these celebrations and connect with your community.

2.   Take a virtual visit The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture to learn more about Juneteenth' s history, celebrations, foods and resilience - start the virtual tour here.

3.   Listen to the "Sounds Good" podcast feature of Professor Annette Gordon-Reed, an American historian and Harvard professor, where she shared why she wrote the book "On Juneteenth".

4.   Learn about Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas where the community of formerly enslaved men and woman began celebrating Juneteenth in 1872. It is a fascinating and rich history of a community determined to celebrate and commemorate their freedom.

5.   Watch a movie or series that showcases Black joy and culture in a positive light.

        Recommendation: High on the Hog: How American Cuisine Transformed America. A Netflix docuseries where Chef and writer Stephen Satterfiled traces the delicious, moving throughlines from Africa to Texas.

6.   Volunteer for a local organization that supports Black communities. Use this day to give back. We invite you to learn more about becoming a volunteer mentor for the U.S. Dream Academy.

Juneteenth is the perfect opportunity to make a meaningful difference and help a child reach their full potential.