Saturday, June 19, 2010

Oh, freedom …oh, freedom…oh, freedom over me!


Today is June 19th…Juneteenth…a day that commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the state of Texas.  Juneteenth is a day that is now celebrated as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day in many communities across the nation and the world.

Oh freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom over me!
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in a my grave…
…and go home to my lord and be free!

Some people think that black folks focus on slavery too much, but I think we don’t focus on it enough.


No more mourning, no more mourning, no more mourning over me!
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in a my grave...
...and go home to my lord and be free!

On the fact that Southern pride should source from the history of social justice that sought to free a people rather than the armed rebellion against the federal government…

No more crying, no more crying, no more crying over me!
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in a my grave...
...and go home to my lord and be free!


On strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees…and tears upon tears cried for those who lost their lives to the hatred of others…

Oh freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom over me!
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in a my grave...
...and go home to my lord and be free!

On a people who are survivors and should find pride in that, not shame...oh no, never shame.

There'll be singin', there'll be singin', there'll be singin' over me!

I don't think we focus enough..that it is even possible to focus too much...on the fact that slavery still exists today

And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in a my grave...
...and go home to my lord and be free.


…or on my belief that those of us who are the descendents of slaves should be all up in the movement to abolish modern slavery.

Oh freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom over me!

This Juneteenth I celebrate freedom even as I acknowledge the present day reality of slavery.

And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in a my grave…

…and go home to my lord and be free.

Oh freedom.

Oh freedom.

Oh freedom over me.

4 comments:

Alliyah Gallows said...

Beautiful. Thank you for this.

Aimee said...

Thanks for the reminder. I'll be spreading the word today. My post over on my blog is on the rise and spread of vicious rhetoric against immigrants. The state of Florida has prosecuted over a dozen cases of slavery in the tomato fields. Slavery still exists in many horrible forms and sOme of them happen right here in these united states. Although my ancestors were more likely slave owners than slaves, I am standing up beside you.

mr pinky said...

It is official, you are now one of my heroes!

Mark said...

Beautiful post Shark-fu. I am a long-time reader. My name is Mark. I would just like to add that the economies of many other nations were built on the Atlantic Slave Trade, especially England. Rock on!

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