The Story behind the Story.
by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 06/18/2023
This is our third celebration of Juneteenth as the nation’s newest federal holiday. It’s happening on Monday, June 19th. How will you celebrate? Good question. Let me suggest that you listen to wfpr.fm online or at 102.9 on your radio.
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| A More Perfect Union |
11 AM 2 PM and 8 PM A More Perfect Union – with Dr. Michael Walker-Jones, Representative Jeff Roy and Dr. Natalia Linos
We recorded our program on Friday morning 6/16, and held an enlightening conversation with our roundtable of radio regulars along with our special guest, Dr. Ken Elmore, Dean College President.
The simplistic telling of events for Juneteenth is that it marks the end of slavery. The Union Army’s General Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to inform the last of the slaves in the region that they were free men. The fuller understanding of that time and events is not so clear cut. The news was suppressed. The entrenched interests of slavery and forces of fear and hate were not so easily eradicated.
We discussed the historical record, the attitudes of the times and the significance of Juneteenth. Then as now, beyond the oppression of slavery, the pernicious forces of systemic racism were also in play – and they continue to this day. True freedom for all was not wrought in an instant through a simple declaration – like flipping on a light switch – et voila – freedom. Juneteenth marks the end of slavery and offers a national moment for reflection and jubilation. However, writ large, it also marks the beginning of a long, painful yet necessary journey toward truly equitable, unfettered freedom – not just for the black community but for all of us. We know the immortalized words – All men are created equal. Juneteenth offers all of us an annual opportunity to listen, learn and live those words.
That’s why our march to truly equitable freedom – and the vigilant, steadfast work to eradicate hate and systemic suppression in all its forms must go on.
Join us on Monday and listen as we delve into the deeper story of Juneteenth.
Thanks for listening to 102.9 wfpr●fm.
And – as always – thanks for watching.
Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf
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