HAPPY JUNETEENTH
On June 19, 1865, Texas was forced to comply with the Emancipation Proclamation that freed slaves back in 1863. Many slaves did not know they had been free (legally) for over two years. Let that sink in. Juneteenth is now called Liberation Day or Freedom Day because the last of the slaves were informed of their freedom.
“The biggest threat to white privilege is Black Power.” -Kia Amy Woods ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻
When I released my second book “1,000 Roads to Discovery” in 2017, I was nervous about this quote which I included in the “Discrimination” chapter. To this very day when I get an order from a white person and it includes this book, I get a little nervous and think “what if that quote about white privilege offends them?” When is released this hoodie on my website last year I thought “Oh God this will surely offend the white people trying to support me.”
In this very moment my thoughts are the following: Those people who still don’t acknowledge white privilege are willfully ignorant at this point, and therefore I can’t care about their feelings. Those who do and don’t want to threaten that privilege by dismantling racism of all kinds (overt, covert, “polite”, and systemic) are complicit in my oppression and therefore I can’t care about their feelings. Those who claim to not be racist, who acknowledge white privilege and are just “put off by the wording” need to ask themselves why they are offended by the word Black when it precedes the word Power. Black people being given the respect, equality, love, justice and life they deserve is the Power I am referring to. That Power would in fact threaten white privilege. In order for there to be true equality, one group of people cannot consistently be privileged over the other. So if you say you want equality, and yet are offended by us demanding it, in whatever way we see fit, you should unpack that. It’s your work to do. At this point in my life, I am no longer concerned about respectability politics. You’re with us or against us. It’s really that simple. It’s no longer enough to “not be racist” you must be actively ANTI-racist. What side of history will you be on?
Happy Juneteenth to those of us whose ancestors were slaves.
If you are White or non black and consider yourself an ally, note: YOU should also be celebrating the end of slavery. If you are, Happy Juneteenth to you as well!
Models : Tas & Josh
Hoodie Designed by B. Broadnax
