Beyond Symbolism: Confronting the Realities of Modern Enslavement on Juneteenth
My family and I recently arrived home from a Juneteenth celebration in Baltimore called “The Black Ass Farmer’s Market”. It was on the waterfront, outside of the Baltimore Museum of Industry and featured vendors from small Black owned businesses, food trucks and live DJing. We enjoyed ourselves and I was glad to see some old faces and laugh with some folks I hadn’t seen in a while. I also couldn’t help but notice that the overwhelming presentation of our relationship to freedom was through the buying and selling of African centered goods and services and wearing familiar iconic symbols of freedom on our clothing and jewelry. There were the people who dressed free and the people who sold em the clothes. What I didnt see was what the symbols of Afrikancenteredness and liberation symbolize; not just freedom in concept but freedom in action through organizing ourselves around issues affecting our people; education: political, vocational, academic, agricultural etc. and mobilizing ourselves to act as a collective to address a common cause. For the rest of the day I couldn’t help but question how we understand and practice freedom, which prompted me to share some of my feelings about America’s newest holiday with you today.
As we celebrate and reflect on Juneteenth, a day that marks the delayed liberation of enslaved Black people in Texas, it is crucial that we critically examine the deeper implications of this holiday. While it commemorates a significant moment in history, we must confront a troubling paradox encapsulated in a thought that kept repeating in my mind this afternoon: “Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of slaves who were unaware of their freedom, and is celebrated by people who remain oblivious to their own modern-day enslavement.“
The reason for the recapitulation of this thought this afternoon is rooted in a deep desire for Black people to look beyond the surface of our celebrations and to question the nature of our current freedoms. Are we truly free, or are we living in a state of modern enslavement, bound by systemic injustices and socioeconomic disparities that continue to plague our communities?
The legacies of slavery and segregation have not vanished; they have simply morphed into new forms. Mass incarceration, economic inequality, and systemic racism are modern-day chains that bind many of us. Our education system often fails to provide equal opportunities for all, and healthcare disparities result in significant differences in life expectancy and quality of life. As Frederick Douglass once said, “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.” We must demand more than symbolic gestures; we must demand - and more importantly, create- substantive change (primarily from and among ourselves). We also must stop asking for America to grant human rights that are not theirs to give. Human rights are asserted not granted and the second you begin to ask for your humanity is the second you start becoming less human. Whether through offense or defense, the so called “powers that be” must learn that Black people are 100% intolerant towards any form of harm, diminished quality of life or disregard of our humanity. We should literally fight anyone and anything that seeks to marginalize or reduce our inherent worth and dignity. This includes those within our communities as well.
Amílcar Cabral, the revolutionary leader, warned us about the dangers of celebrating culture and nationalism without addressing the root causes of oppression. He stated, “Culture is simultaneously the fruit of a people’s history and a determinant of history, by the positive or negative influence which it exerts on the evolution of relationships between man and his environment, among men or groups of men within a society, as well as among different societies.” Cabral emphasized that while culture is important, it must not distract from the political and economic struggles that are essential for true liberation. The symbols of our struggle can bind us to a false sense of freedom and apathy towards genuinely addressing the variety of incarcerations our people experience. If our symbols become tools of contemplation and action that helps us realize what they symbolize, they become objects of liberation.
The commercialization and superficial celebration of Juneteenth can distract us from the ongoing struggles for true freedom. When we celebrate without a deep understanding and commitment to addressing the root causes of inequality, we risk turning this day into a mere symbolic gesture rather than a call to action. Malcolm X once said, “You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.” We must ensure that our celebrations are not just about looking back but about moving forward with purpose and determination. We cannot confuse peace with freedom because the peace has neither come with a fight for freedom or against those that limit it (including ourselves).
Economic enslavement is another critical issue. Many in our society are trapped in cycles of poverty, working multiple jobs with little to no security or prospects for advancement. The wealth gap between races remains vast, and access to resources that could lead to economic empowerment is still limited for many Black people. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. highlighted this when he said, “What good does it do to sit at the counter when you cannot afford a hamburger?” This economic disparity is a form of modern-day enslavement that keeps many from achieving true autonomy and prosperity and is rooted in the failures and brutality of capitalism.
Consumerism also traps many within a cycle of materialism that distracts from meaningful progress. The incessant push to acquire the latest goods often leads to financial instability and a loss of focus on more substantive community-building efforts. This dynamic serves to perpetuate economic dependency rather than empowerment, echoing the systemic structures that keep wealth concentrated in the hands of a few.
Moreover, the allure of Black capitalism—the idea that economic success within the framework of capitalism will lead to liberation—is another trap. While entrepreneurship and financial success are important, they alone cannot dismantle systemic oppression. True liberation requires a transformation of the very systems that perpetuate inequality. As scholar Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor argues, “Black capitalism has always been, and will always be, a way to co-opt Black resistance and to protect and bolster the capitalist system.” Economic empowerment must go hand in hand with social and political change to achieve genuine liberation.
Furthermore, we must address the enslavement of Black people to entertainment, sports, and other media based distractions. The entertainment industry often profits from the talents of Black artists while failing to provide them with equitable opportunities and compensation. This mirrors the plantation economy where the labor of Black people enriched their oppressors. Similarly, in sports, Black athletes frequently become commodities, valued for their physical prowess while being denied true agency and ownership. As James Baldwin poignantly noted, “The price one pays for pursuing any profession, or calling, is an intimate knowledge of its ugly side.” The entertainment industry is also built upon the inattentiveness of people to genuine challenges in their personal and social environments in the hopes that the moments of respite from their problems will make them vanish before they return to them. Entertainers have become political pundits and stage activists who do more to boost ticket sales through their activism rather than take risks to confront systems of corruption and oppression that may come at the cost of their career.
Finally, there is a pressing need to push back against White hegemony. Too often, the dominant culture’s narrative and values are accepted without question, perpetuating a system that marginalizes Black voices and experiences. Amílcar Cabral warned of the dangers of celebrating culture without revolutionary change, stating that such celebrations can lead to a form of cultural nationalism that distracts from the need for psychological, political and economic transformation. We must challenge and deconstruct these hegemonic structures, asserting our own narratives and working toward a truly equitable society.
Comments made yesterday by Missouri Secretary of State candidate Valentina Gomez, underscore the urgent need for this critical examination. Gomez, whose campaign has primarily consisted of homophobic stunts, told Black Americans ahead of Juneteenth to “get the fuck out” of the U.S. if they still want reparations for slavery. She described Juneteenth as “the most ratchet holiday in America” and questioned what Black Lives Matter has done for Black lives, failing to grasp that BLM was founded to protest police brutality, not for reparations. I too have challenges with Juneteenth and BLM but Gomez's rhetoric exemplifies a profound misunderstanding of the historical and ongoing struggles of Black people. Her statement that those seeking reparations should “get the fuck out” of a country built on their ancestors' backs highlights the pervasive ignorance and hostility that still confronts our community.
In celebrating Juneteenth, we must remember that true freedom is not just the absence of physical chains, but the presence of opportunity, justice, and equality for all. It is imperative that we use this day not just to commemorate the past, but to galvanize our efforts towards dismantling the systemic barriers that continue to enslave minds and spirits today. As Nelson Mandela reminded us, “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
Cabral also warned against the dangers of celebrating nationalism at the expense of revolutionary progress. He argued that the struggle for liberation must be rooted in the concrete realities of the people and their material conditions, not just in the abstract celebration of cultural identity. This perspective is crucial as we navigate the complexities of Juneteenth. Our celebrations must be grounded in the ongoing struggle for social and economic justice, not just in the recognition of our cultural heritage.
As we reflect today, let it serve as a powerful reminder that our work is far from over. We must honor Juneteenth by committing to the ongoing fight for genuine liberation—ensuring that the promise of freedom is realized in every aspect of our society. Let us educate ourselves about forms and practices of physiological, psychological, social and spiritual liberation, advocate for policy changes, and support initiatives that aim to create a more equitable and just world. Let us organize ourselves in ways that help us realize a courageous, dignified and compassionate Black society that doesn’t rely on permission from America to do so. Let us mobilize ourselves against ignorance inside and outside of our communities in ways that assert our inherent human rights. Let us determine what days are holy to us based on our direct experience of holiness and wholeness. Only then can we truly celebrate the essence of Juneteenth and move closer to a society where freedom is not just a historical fact, but a lived reality for all.
We must integrate Cabral’s insights into our approach, recognizing that the celebration of culture and history must not overshadow the urgent need for political and economic transformation. True liberation involves both the dismantling of oppressive systems and the construction of a society that allows every individual to thrive. Let us ensure that Juneteenth becomes a catalyst for this comprehensive and enduring liberation.
Be well,
Justin F. Miles
~ Freedom is a long walk and liberation is ever present.