This morning, Michal and I walked through the woods, amongst the wildflowers, and over the streams to vote for our community's next season of leadership--city council members, judges, and mayor. When we arrived at our polling place, the door magically opened, and a voice called out "Welcome!"
Stepping inside, we saw who had welcomed us--an African American woman in a festive yellow dress. "Thank you! What a wonderful welcome!" I said. And then, "Happy Juneteenth!, if I may offer a greeting."
"Oh thank you," she said, "And Happy Juneteenth to you two also! I woke up and looked online, and the bill got signed, and here we are!"
What a celebratory voting day!!
As a white person working for racial justice in our democracy, I am always seeking to learn more of the deeply painful truth about our country's oppressive history.
Today I am learning by reading the words of another resident of upstate New York, a longtime scholar, writer, and activist whose wisdom guides me (and many others) every day, Denise Oliver Velez, who wrote yesterday:
"As a descendant of enslaved people in the United States, including extended family members held in bondage in Galveston, Texas, I have been following grassroots efforts to make Juneteenth a national holiday for years. It has finally come to fruition.
"Much to my surprise, when I saw the long-awaited news of a victory; that the resolution making Juneteenth National Independence Day a U.S. federal holiday passed unanimously in the Senate, I also saw a slew of 'negative' takes on social media Wednesday morning when I woke up.
"The list of 'why not' included the laundry list of ills we face as Black folks living in white supremacy land. I get it. What I don’t get, is the shortsightedness of Black media pundits who are eager to pile on and dismiss this victory as meaningless at a time when states are passing legislation to ban teaching enslavement history.
"Yes, I know our voting rights are under attack. Yes, I know the effects of systemic inequality on our people. Yes, we need reparations. Yes, I’ve had partners and friends murdered by police and others who are still doing time for fighting back.
"We have to use every tool we have to continue to fight back and win. To dismiss a Juneteenth holiday is to negate a tool we can use to both organize around and educate with.
"They don’t want us to teach about 1619, racism, or slavery; A federal holiday makes it much harder for state supremacists to erase. Today, I want to celebrate and thank Mrs. Opal Lee for her efforts, along with those of the millions of people who pushed for this day."
Praise be to God for Mrs. Opal Lee, for all the millions of wisdom leaders including Denise Oliver Velez, and for our neighbor, wearing a bright yellow dress, who so warmly opened the door and welcomed Michal and me to vote this morning.
Thank you, God. Thank you!
Denise Oliver Velez's words from yesterday are published on dailykos.com, where she is one of the leading writers who transform our consciousness each day.