Minds set on freedom

Even before they reached these lands, Africans bound for slavery in the Americas had their minds set on freedom. While on board wretched ships bound for these lands, some Africans gave their lives to the sea for freedom’s sake while others like those on the Amistad mutinied in order regain authority over themselves. Upon arrival on these shores, some men and women escaped slavery’s bonds and created new communities in the wilds of the Americas.

Those not able to avoid enslavement did not give up on being free. The Stono Rebellion of 1739 in South Carolina and the German Coast Uprising of 1811 in Louisiana were just two attempts of enslaved Blacks to become free. While attaining freedom peacefully was preferred, the enslaved who rose up were prepared to use violence if necessary.

Though not a common experience, some enslaved women and men arranged to “self-purchase” from their enslavers using proceeds they earned of various kinds of enterprises. Many others reclaimed their freedom by escaping from slavery using the network of help commonly known as the Underground Railroad. However, the majority of enslaved persons would not become free until the conclusion United States Civil War and the abolition of slavery with the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865, despite President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which only freed enslaved persons living in places that were in rebellion against the United States of America.

For enslaved Texans, Juneteenth marks the word and fact of their freedom finally reaching them over two years after they were technically freed by the Emancipation Proclamation. While Juneteenth is a new federal holiday that is meant to commemorate the freedom of all enslaved Black Americans, it has been celebrated by Black Texans since 1866.

One of our sisters prepared a festive meal replete with traditional Juneteenth fare including a red punch that featured hibiscus tea. Delicious!

Like most Americans, learning about and observing Juneteenth is new to me. I celebrated my first Juneteenth last summer around the table with my mother and most of my siblings. One of our sisters prepared a festive meal replete with traditional Juneteenth fare including a red punch that featured hibiscus tea. Delicious! Over dinner we talked about growing up in the “Last Capital of the Confederacy,” Danville, Virginia, and about stories Mom had told us about our maternal great-great grandmother who was born enslaved, endured the war and emerged from it a free woman, and lived well into the 20th century to see great grandchildren such as our mother born.

I hope to do more this Juneteenth.

While these were all good things to do, I hope to do more this Juneteenth. This year and in the years to come I want be mindful about what being free meant to our enslaved ancestors, to consider the dispositions of mind, spirit and heart that made their love of freedom endure despite its long delay for the majority, and to do something to help the millions of enslaved persons today whose minds are also set on freedom.

Cecilia Moore is an associate professor of religious studies at the University of Dayton, where she has taught since 1996. Her area of specialization is U.S. Catholic history, and currently she is working on the history of black conversion to Roman Catholicism in the 20th century.

Map image from the Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division.