Today is Juneteenth, a commemoration of the day in 1865 when the last slaves learned of their freedom. There were a number of strong columns today, but I finally narrowed it down to two. One is a collection of firsthand accounts of former slaves recalling the news of their emancipation. The second is a modern political figure’s description of what Juneteenth means to her — the role it played in her childhood and role it plays now. I’ve decided to go with the second because (a) it’s just truly wonderful and (b) I think the author might surprise some.
For those interested in the firsthand accounts, you can find the piece here. It’s terrific and fascinating and occasionally heartbreaking. Below, you’ll find the day’s featured link. Happy Juneteenth!