Why Juneteenth Matters to Me—and What it Has to Do with Fierce Kindness!

Juneteenth (June nineteenth) marks the date when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas (June 19, 1865) to finally enforce President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Proclamation of Emancipation. Learn more about the fascinating history of Juneteenth here.

At Fierce Kindness, we believe in courageously facing hard truths—because that’s how we grow, both personally and collectively.

And right now, there’s a truth worth understanding more deeply:

Most of us live in a world still shaped by the legacy of slavery and colonialism

Whether your country was the ‘coloniser’ (the UK, European countries like France, Spain, The Netherlands) or the ‘colonised’ (the USA, Canada, African countries like Kenya, Asian countries like Malaysia and India, Caribbean countries like Jamaica and many, many more!)—these historical forces have left their mark.

So, what has all this to do with the Juneteenth holiday?

Well, wherever you live in the world, it’s likely that America has an impact—whether it’s through television, movies, politics or economics.

And this makes Juneteenth relevant far beyond US borders…

Many of us don’t fully grasp the effects of colonisation. Myself included. Growing up as a UK citizen, I had no idea how England benefited from colonising other countries. Or that English merchants and nobility were involved in the slave trade. And I certainly had no idea how colonised countries were—and still are—impacted.

These days, there are still ongoing power imbalances, exploitation (whether of people and/or a country’s natural resources) and systemic or structural racism (where racism that is so deeply embedded in the culture that we don’t see it).

And this is where Juneteenth comes in

Juneteenth doesn’t just honour the end of slavery, Juneteenth also reminds us that racism still exists, and highlights ongoing struggles for freedom and equality. It also reminds us that slavery and colonisation go hand in hard, because colonising countries used forced labour to extract resources and profit.

Understanding a holiday like Juneteenth matters, because it raises questions and helps us educate ourselves.

And then, when we grasp the full context of where we live—and how we got here—we can contribute more meaningfully to change. Specifically, when we understand our world more deeply, we make a difference from a position of understanding, not just good intentions.

And this is Fierce Kindness in action!

Fierce Kindness is all about having the courage to learn what (often!) we’d rather not know… But doing it with kindness: no judgement—just learning.

With Fierce Kindness we can look at these hard truths and, then with that deeper understanding, help create a world we all want to live in.

So, what will you do to honour Juneteenth?

This year I have just started reading a fascinating book, Dreams of Africa in Alabama (link is to Abe Books) by Sylviane A. Diouf, about the last slave ship (The Clotilda) to land in the USA in 1860, and how they created Africa Town, to preserve African memories, culture and community.

1. For easy ideas on how to honour Juneteenth, try: 19 Ideas to Celebrate and Honour Juneteenth
2. For a deeper look at Juneteenth, try reading: What is Juneteenth and Why it Matters!
3. And a great place to start if you want to learn more about colonisation and the current impacts (whether you’re in Canada or not), this edition of Visions Magazine, indigenous people: reconciliation and healing is a fascinating, eye-opening read—a mix of easy-to-read stories and insights from both indigenous people and experts, those on the receiving end of policy as well as those who make it.

Click to see a larger version of this quote to save and share!

Finally, just because I love this quote!

No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background or his religion. People learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Nelson Mandela

Join the Kindness Revolution!