Emancipation Day, Richmond, Virginia, circa 1905 (Photo source: Library of Congress)

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We use the holiday to reflect on the resilience of our Black ancestors.

I didn’t learn about Juneteenth until after I came to prison. Being incarcerated made me want to learn more about the history of slavery in this country. Most of what I’ve learned is sad, but it’s helping me understand the present better.

Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of African American slaves in the U.S. While President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation declaring all slaves free on Jan. 1, 1863, midway through the Civil War “it could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control,” especially the westernmost Confederate states, until years later, according to the National Museum of African-American History & Culture.

It’s my belief that enslaved Black people gave blood, sweat and tears to ensure we have a future they could only dream of having. Juneteenth allows me to reflect on the resilience of my ancestors who first lived in this country and on everyone who died trying to survive.

Now I’m in a position as a prison journalist to use my voice to get the truth out, whether it’s about the conditions of incarceration or educating folks about Juneteenth.

We have to be honest about the past to fix our broken country. Racism was a learned and taught behavior that was perpetuated over centuries. White people need to rectify the wrongs of slavery with honesty and understanding. Then the healing process can truly begin.