Anti-and-Pro Slavery Abolitionist

The abolitionist movement leading up to the Juneteenth Day Celebration was a complex tapestry of individuals and factions, including men and women of various races and nationalities. Among them were anti-slavery abolitionists, fervently dedicated to ending the institution of slavery, and pro-slavery abolitionists, whose motivations were starkly different. While the anti-slavery faction fought for the liberation and equal rights of enslaved people within the United States, the pro-slavery abolitionists, largely composed of merchants and slaveholders, sought a different resolution: they aimed to free slaves, but only if they could be removed from American soil. This fundamental divide underscored the tensions and paradoxes within the abolitionist cause.

The pro-slavery abolitionists took their efforts a step further by establishing a colony on the west coast of Africa, which eventually gained some reluctant support from segments of the anti-slavery abolitionist movement. To the pro-slavery merchants and slaveholders, the presence of free African Americans posed a threat to the continuation of slavery and their economic interests. They viewed the removal of freed blacks to Africa as a way to preserve their business model while addressing growing pressure to abolish slavery. Thus, they embarked on a project to resettle freed African Americans in Africa, using this strategy to maintain control and suppress the hope for freedom among those still enslaved.

 

The creation of this colony required meticulous planning and logistics. The pro-slavery abolitionists spearheaded efforts to organize transportation and resettlement for free African Americans. However, this endeavor overlooked the deep disconnect between African Americans and the African continent. After over 400 years in America, African Americans had little in common with their African counterparts beyond their skin color. Cultural, linguistic, and societal differences created significant challenges for those who were sent to the new colony. Despite these obstacles, the resettlement drive proceeded, fueled by the pro-slavery faction's determination to remove free blacks from the United States.

Remarkably, despite the profound cultural divide, African Americans and native Africans found ways to bridge the gaps in language and understanding. With assistance from the American Colonization Society (ACS), they learned to communicate and coexist. The ACS played a pivotal role in facilitating the transition, serving as a mediator and organizer for this controversial resettlement project. Over time, the relationships between the settlers and the indigenous populations evolved, allowing for a blending of cultures and the foundation of a new society.

This blending of African American settlers and native Africans eventually led to the creation of a distinct nation: Liberia. The nation’s origins are deeply tied to the abolitionist movement, embodying both its noble aspirations and its contradictions. Liberia became a symbol of African American resilience and adaptability, even as its founding was rooted in the pro-slavery faction’s attempt to maintain control over the institution of slavery in America. The establishment of Liberia underscores the complex legacy of the abolitionist struggle and its far-reaching impacts on history.

Ultimately, the story of the abolitionists and the founding of Liberia reflects the intertwined narratives of freedom, displacement, and identity. It reveals how individuals and factions with opposing motivations contributed to a shared, albeit conflicted, chapter in history. As we commemorate Juneteenth, it is essential to remember these layered stories, which illuminate the sacrifices, struggles, and paradoxes that shaped the path to freedom.

The 4th of July and the Slave

What to the Slave is the 4th of July, asked Fredrick Douglass? To Fredrick Douglass, the 4th of July meant that America had not lived up to its promise. What the constitution said to the abolitionist was that: all men were created equal except the slave. To Douglass and the abolitionists that supported him, Independence Day stood as a glaring contradiction to the words in the constitution, words made glowingly obvious to the anti-slavery members when it came to black men. The slaves had taken part in helping to preserve the colonies turned states by fighting in the war of independence for independence that did not necessarily apply to the slaves. That meant that slaves could fight for the American Flag, but because they were not considered citizens, at that time, were not entitled to equal protection under the law.  

To Frederick Douglass and those who supported him the constitution's elegant written design and words: all men are created equal, clearly referred only to white men. Black men, even "free black men," really had no protections under the law except where they appeared as the property of a slaveholder. The Dread Scott Decision by the courts would make it clear that slaves, black men, and women were not seen as citizens of the U.S. whose flag the slaves were being asked to honor. A situation that would persist from 1776 up to and into the Civil War. 

After reading the book Douglass and Lincoln, by Paul Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick, I realized that if Lincoln had any problem with Frederick Douglass it was that Douglass wanted freedom for his people now! Right then and there while Lincoln on the other hand preferred a more cautious approach when dealing with the abolishment of the slavery problem.

Fredrick Douglass had his wit, intelligence, and experiences with racism that drove him to advocate so forcefully for the end of slavery. Lincoln didn't see himself as a reformer, or even an abolitionist, but he did possess a deep dislike of slavery and a desire to see an end to slavery but Lincoln also realized that the issue of slavery was such an economic and emotional issue that put maximum stress on and already shaky union with pro-slavery states it could fracture that union and lead to Civil War.

As far as Douglass was concerned there was the Presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln that he received positive affirmation from their discussions about ways to institute and embrace the end of slavery, and then the new President-Elect Abraham Lincoln who seemed suddenly more reticent about the slavery issues that drove Frederick Douglass day and night. For Douglass, with the election of Abraham Lincoln, never had the time been so right for a major change in the social-economic makeup of a nation. 

Back in 1860 the U.S. existed mostly east of the Mississippi River and in an attempt to expand new additions to the union like Kansas were usually invaded by slavery and anti-slavery factions determined to battle it out over whether a new state became a slave state, or a state free of slavery. After Lincoln's election, the south began dismantling the union of states by session and declaring war on the United States with an attack on Fort Sumter followed by the Civil War. Fredrick Douglass's first attempt to impress upon the new president Abraham Lincoln to allow black troops to join the U.S. military was not well received by Lincoln. 

Two or three years into the Civil War Abraham Lincoln would announce the Emancipation Proclamation. The document would earn the disapproval of Frederick Douglass and other abolitionists because while it was a start, freeing only the slaves in confederate areas, it did not set free slaves in friendly northern areas, a fact that further inflamed the confederacy and disappointed the abolitionist.

Frederick Douglass did consider it good news when later Lincoln would allow black American troops to fight for their own freedom and just like in the war for this nation's independence from England black troops would distinguish themselves on the battlefield. The end of the Civil War was a time that represented a successful end to the underground railroad for the white abolitionist and clergy who maintained it and established a new Independence Day for black men and women called Juneteenth.

Slaves not freed on Juneteenth

The slaves that Juneteenth did not free lived in the friendly northern states. Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation was written for the slaves only in the rebellious southern states. And as the Civil War started to go south (literally) for the confederacy, southern slaveholders and merchants would shepherd their human property deeper into the south, so it's should come as no surprise that Texas held the largest slave population at the end of the war between the states. 

After taking over as the governor and assuming jurisdiction over the state of Texas General Gordon Grainger made the announcement (General Order #3) that began the Juneteenth celebration. It would be months later, and after the passage of the 13th amendment, before slavery was abolished throughout the U.S. portion of America, finally freeing slaves in the overlooked friendly northern states. 

So perhaps the Thirteenth Amendment is what should be celebrated when it comes to discussing freedom for all the slaves. If it were up to me I would go back even farther into the past for a freedom day celebration when a tattered and damaged sailing ship eased alongside the dock in New Orleans carrying the last surviving white farmers, tradesmen, doctors, judges, lawyers, and their families to survive the Haitian slave revolt.

The news the survivors landed with told of the slaves arming themselves and wiping out entire families, before destroying hundreds of white-owned businesses forcing the evacuations of all the pro-slavery whites in Haiti. The news was indeed unsettling to hear about in the years leading up to the Civil War in the U.S. For the longest time leading up to and into the unraveling of the bond between the states, white slaveholders in this country lived in fear of what might happen if black people were allowed to be armed, even to fight in a war to preserve the union of states. Which was no doubt on Lincoln's mind as he interacted with Fredrick Douglass's suggestions on the campaign trail.

Due to the persistence of Fredrick Douglass in the few meetings Douglass had with Abraham Lincoln, black soldiers were armed and allowed to fight for their own freedom, a fact overlooked by many of the Juneteenth celebrations I have attended over the years; making it seem more like freedom was simply given to black people rather than acknowledging the sacrifice made by both the free black men, and slaves, fighting not only to help preserve the union of states but for their freedom as well. If Juneteenth becomes a notional holiday then it will represent all of the above to me, maybe then the oldest African American celebration in the U.S. will make it into school history books and classes.

It's important to remember too that slaves had begun emancipating themselves long before the emancipation proclamation was ever announced, and that while slave revolts, in the U.S., were usually quickly put down slave insurrections still took place. So while June 19th celebrates the end of slavery in the south, I suppose the Juneteenth celebration can still be looked at as the beginning of slavery's actual disappearing in the U.S., an event that would eventually lead to the passage of the 13th Amendment.

Search for Equality

The road toward equality for black people in America has extended between the end of slavery and the beginning of Juneteenth, all the way up to where black people in America stand today. The road toward equality has been long, winding, and loaded with potholes. More than once my thoughts have toyed with the idea of what if---it was possible to reach back in time and bring someone from the days of slavery in America, back here to present-day America? While I imagine they would be amazed to see the tons of technical advancements (like indoor plumbing) and hopefully pleased to see how far some of us African American people have advanced on the economic scale. I suspect that my visitor from the past would also be just as amazed to see that in many places African American people are still as un-accepted by some whites today as they were in 1865.

They would learn that while many of the abolitionists who wanted to see black people in America freed from slavery, still did not necessarily want to see those same freed African Americans as their neighbors, and would eventually join with southern lawmakers returning to Washington after the Civil War, and the status quo, to craft new laws that were said to be separate but equal, for African Americans. 

Slavery lasted so long because it was accepted and justified by the status quo. Slavery was eventually ended when enough people willing to go against the status quo, did so. Today the mistreatment of black people by the police is more-or-less accepted by the status quo, how do I know? Because every time a black person is killed by a community protector some change is talked about and then instituted, but the problem in this regard is that the more things change the more things stay the same, especially where black lives are concerned. 

Until enough people say enough-is-enough and rise up to put an end to the mistreatment of their fellow citizens, which for the most part seems to be what is happening today. All over the world in Africa, England, the Pacific Island even here where I live people marched across the Golden Gate Bridge this week to say enough-is-enough.

The continued demonstrations inspired by the death of George Floyd and so many other black Americans still continue and are suppose to generate another march on Washington DC the unrest will most probably be still happening on June 19, 2020, perhaps some meaningful change in the way police handle matters concerning black lives will happen this time.

May this current slave uprising, created by George Floyd's murder, not be put down so easily, so that there might finally be equal protection under the law for black people when it comes to those who police our community, and so that the words our community police display so boldly on their police vehicles: "To Protect and Serve" finally apply to black lives. 

 

Juneteenth Cancellation

Juneteenth Day Celebration cancellations are starting to add up to quite possibly equal no Juneteenth Celebrations this summer, nationwide, due to Covid-19 concerns. To help prevent the spread of the coronavirus most state governors are asking Juneteenth organizers and others not to hold events for large gatherings of people. The African American community is being hit disproportionately hard by this virus with no vaccine. As a result of all the above, I have been watching Juneteenth celebration plans all over the country dissolve into cancelation after cancelation for summer 2020.  

In fact, as I write this post, the African American Family Reunion Committee in Vallejo-California and the NAACP's Jamestown Branch has just added their names to the list of organizations canceling their Juneteenth Day Celebration for this year. Whether a vaccine is created for the coronavirus or the new normal with regard to public gatherings stays in place I am hoping that the Juneteenth celebration will make its appearance in 2021 and continue on from there. For those of you who follow me on my Juneteenth website and FB location you know I celebrate Juneteenth all year round when it comes to sharing Juneteenth information.

June 19, 1865, and the celebration that grew into the oldest African American celebration in the U.S. "Juneteenth" should always be remembered even if it can't be celebrated in groups of more than ten. Juneteenth is all about family because after that date (in 1865) African American families separated by slavery at least had the chance to keep their immediate family together, and though it would not always be possible or in some cases desirable, begin putting their separated families back together.

Because back in the years' BC (Before Cable television) when there were no cellphones, tablets, televisions, or radios family time was often used for sharing meals and sharing stories. It didn't matter whether or not you could read when it came to the old African tradition of storytelling. The story of Juneteenth deserves to be passed down and passed on with or without becoming an official holiday.

Information is so readily available nowadays that I sometimes see my kids on their cellphone fact-checking someone in the middle of a conversation. Trying to imagine what it would be like without all of today's technology can be both sobering and kind of scary. But what if, for some reason, all of the technology we depend on today blinked out? No desktop, no laptop, no tablet, or cellphone service.

Information about the Emancipation Proclamation, and the end of slavery, should be passed from one generation to the next in honor of all those (black and white) who resisted slavery and fought to end slavery but didn't live long enough to see that dream, the abolishment of slavery, come true. From a member of the African American Juneteenth Celebrating communities, (me) I hope that the entertainment and activity associated with the oldest African American Celebration (Juneteenth) in this country will be back next year so that organizations like the African Family Reunion Committee, in Solano California the NAACP Jamestown Branch and all the other Juneteenth Celebration organizations taking a knee for the community in 2020 will be back in force next June.

I plan to still share Juneteenth related information on my Juneteenth website, and Facebook locations. A shout out to those in Rochester N.Y. area and the organizers of the virtual Juneteenth 5K Run and Walk, registration is still open through June 19, 2020. For those who register for a $10.00 donation you will receive a poster honoring Harriet Tubman, "Keep Going" by local artist Amber Stokes, and your donation will support the construction of the Rochester Civil Rights Heritage Park site at Baden Park.

June 19, 2020, public celebration or not, if you would like to join me in a quiet celebration dedicated to the memory of slavery and Emancipation my thoughts will be with yours on that date. Juneteenth around the nation, and in some cases the world, I was once contacted by a Juneteenth organization from Germany. Anyway, in places Juneteenth is celebrated with a day, a week, even an entire month, and even though it's still not easy for many Americans to accept the truth about the past or to understand the dignity that the Juneteenth celebration brings to the African Americans community, the celebration of this rich history still grows a little bigger each year.