In this case, the word made manifest on June 19 was “jubilee” (derived from an ancient Hebrew term for a day when, among other things, slaves could be set free). Juneteenth, as it came to be known, turned into an annual day of celebration for African Americans in Texas and then in other parts of the country. Many people helped bring about the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, passed in 2021 by substantial margins in both houses of Congress. One of the most prominent advocates was Opal Lee, a retired schoolteacher who has spent her retirement doing good things, including advocating for the holiday. But above all, it is a day for celebrating the ideals of freedom and equality — not only in the nation’s laws but in the hearts and minds of one another.

Source: Washington Post June 18, 2022 23:05 UTC