"Do I think that we should have an Emancipation Proclamation Day instead of Juneteenth? Absolutely. America, black and white, went to war with each other. State's rights or slavery, we still went to war with each other. It was the bloodiest war in our history."
Most of us "Boomers" who went to school and learned history (back when real history was taught), learned about the Civil War. We learned about slavery. We learned about how President Lincoln (who hated slavery), signed into law the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862. It was to take effect on January 1, 1863. It was to ensure all enslaved people in the states currently engaged in the rebellion against the Union, "shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free."
That was signed shortly after the Civil War started. Our most bloody war, state against state, sometimes brother against brother. Some say it was about state's rights, other say it was about slavery. In any event, the war ended on April 16, 1865. The last slaves to be set free were in Texas and that happened on June 19, 1865. Hence, Juneteenth Day.
To be truthful, our country was a mess around the time of the Civil War. Black and white, north and south, were blurred. Slavery was not uncommon. Some Irish were kept as slaves. Blacks were kept as slaves. Not all slaves were in the south. And America was a minor league slave nation. Slavery was common all over the hemisphere. It was not just a blot on the United States, it was a blot on human history. But we got through it. And fixed it.
Does slavery still exist today in America? Unfortunately, it does. It is called human trafficking. And it is brutal. Slavery still exists in nations near and far. Slavery existed in the Bible. But today is today. Nobody should have a slave, be a slave, nor live as a slave. That is the number one human rights issue. Human traffickers should be caught, and put away for life. It is as simple as that.
Do I think that we should have an Emancipation Proclamation Day instead of Juneteenth? Absolutely. America, black and white, went to war with each other. State's rights or slavery, we still went to war with each other. It was the bloodiest war in our history. If not for signing the Emancipation Proclamation, we probably would not have had the June 19, 1865 signing in Texas. The Emancipation Proclamation was the beginning. It let to the end. Let's not ever forget that.
Just a quick side note. When visiting Gettysburg, we were told by the Park interpreter that "this battle was the result of 18th century tactics encountering 19th century weaponry." That stuck with me.
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