Zenell Brown is Region 1?administrator for the Michigan Supreme Court.
By Zenell Brown
It’s Juneteenth week. I would suggest that every lawyer celebrate, as this holiday marks the end of when the news of slavery reached the last enslaved people.
I can’t even imagine what “The Moment of Freedom” looks like or feels like. I rejoice that we have been experiencing freedom ever since, and I am indebted to those who realized freedom is not just for some, but for all. While my ancestors woke up in the morning with their minds stayed on freedom, I wake each morning taking basic liberties for granted and pursue their ideals of a justice system in a free society. Justice is accessible to all.
The social media accounts will be flooded with Juneteenth posts.
Here are the brief historical highlights:
The Emancipation Proclamation was a January 1863 executive order that proclaimed slaves in all Confederate territories were free. Notably, it did not apply to those who were enslaved in Union territories. On April 9, 1865, General Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia. In May 1865, the Texas Confederacy surrendered. In June 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce freedom to all those who were enslaved and to enforce freedom in accordance with the Emancipation Proclamation. The 13th Amendment was ratified in December of 1865. Opal Lee was born in Marshall, Texas. She was an educator, and in 2016 at the age of 89, walked from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C. in her campaign to make Juneteenth a national holiday. President Joe Biden signed the National Independence Day Act into law on June 17, 2021, with Opal Lee, “The Grandmother of Juneteenth,” by his side.
Reciting the history is the easy part, but finding ways to capture the look and feel of “The Moment of Freedom” still eludes me.
It’s Juneteenth week. I would suggest that every lawyer celebrate, as this holiday marks the end of when the news of slavery reached the last enslaved people.
I can’t even imagine what “The Moment of Freedom” looks like or feels like. I rejoice that we have been experiencing freedom ever since, and I am indebted to those who realized freedom is not just for some, but for all. While my ancestors woke up in the morning with their minds stayed on freedom, I wake each morning taking basic liberties for granted and pursue their ideals of a justice system in a free society. Justice is accessible to all.
The social media accounts will be flooded with Juneteenth posts.
Here are the brief historical highlights:
The Emancipation Proclamation was a January 1863 executive order that proclaimed slaves in all Confederate territories were free. Notably, it did not apply to those who were enslaved in Union territories. On April 9, 1865, General Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia. In May 1865, the Texas Confederacy surrendered. In June 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce freedom to all those who were enslaved and to enforce freedom in accordance with the Emancipation Proclamation. The 13th Amendment was ratified in December of 1865. Opal Lee was born in Marshall, Texas. She was an educator, and in 2016 at the age of 89, walked from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C. in her campaign to make Juneteenth a national holiday. President Joe Biden signed the National Independence Day Act into law on June 17, 2021, with Opal Lee, “The Grandmother of Juneteenth,” by his side.
Reciting the history is the easy part, but finding ways to capture the look and feel of “The Moment of Freedom” still eludes me.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
https://www.legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
