एउटा दासताबाट उन्मुक्ति तर नयाँ दासतामा बाँधिएको समाजबाट कसरी उम्किने?
-Pradeep Pariyar Thapa
Updated: Exclusive: Juneteenth also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day in the United States which ended slavery of Black American people. Juneteenth is finally officially recognized by current 46th U.S. President Joe Biden is long overdue reminder of American history of inhuman slavery practice that took 167 years to acknowledge by the modern U.S. government which was ended by 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln on September 22, 1862 through his historic Emancipation Proclamation.
As history goes, on June 19, 1865, U.S. Army Major General Gordon Granger announced in Galveston, Texas that slavery had actually ended that was hallmark decision of President Abraham Lincoln who signed Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862 in which he declared that as of January 1, 1863, "That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.” Read full transcript of the Emancipation Proclamation: https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured-documents/emancipation-proclamation/transcript.html
Read Remarks by President Biden at Signing of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act
The National Museum of African American History and Culture says, “But not everyone in Confederate territory would immediately be free. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective in 1863, it could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control. As a result, in the westernmost Confederate state of Texas, enslaved people would not be free until much later. Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state, were free by executive decree. This day came to be known as "Juneteenth," by the newly freed people in Texas.”
However, one slavery had ended 167 years ago, but, now, modern slavery has been created by shameful modern society in the name of sex labor, bonded labor, human trafficking, domestic servitude, casteism, untouchability, use of child soldier, child sex trafficking and forced child labor. We must act now. The U.S. State Department defines Modern Slavery as above mentioned exploitation. Read full article at: https://www.state.gov/what-is-modern-slavery/
Moreover, systemic racism is another plaque America is struggling to contain now which engrained in the modern American society. This problem is the by-product of long practice of slavery and injustice to the minority people in America. Unless we act steadfastly to address injustices, inequalities and racism in the society we wouldn’t be able to bring harmony and create equal opportunities to all people.
But, we can do it as history shows that we always come up with the ideas to better our nation by adopting more progressive agendas that benefit whole mankind. Despite all odds, American prosperity, innovation, democracy and freedom are example of how we always lead the world.
Happy Juneteenth to you all.