June 19th marks Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of chattel slavery in Texas. While the Emancipation Proclamation officially ended slavery, the news didn’t reach Texas until then. And now, it is one of the oldest commemoration dates to celebrate the end of slavery.
Former President Lincoln declared the end of slavery in 1863, but slavery still exists today in a different form — in prisons. Many prisons today are privatized and use slave labor to develop “American-made” products.
As we celebrate Juneteenth and the end of the former version of slavery, we need to talk about what slavery looks like today and its impact on our most marginalized communities.
Black and Brown people are disproportionately incarcerated and that is because of the historical structures in place that streamlines Black and Brown people through the criminal justice system: overpolicing in low-income areas, laws and regulations that criminalize Black and Brown folks but give white folks a pass, racial profiling, and more.
In Minnesota, prisoners do not have the right to vote, and are counted in the Census — disproportionately impacting how the number of representatives, funding, and resources are allocated to each state and how district lines are drawn.
Yeah, get mad.
Knowing and learning about Juneteenth, its importance, and what slavery looks like today is an important step in anti-racist work.
The next is to do.
- Attend a Juneteenth Event. Find one here or check out this listing.
- Have you taken the Census yet? While Minnesota boasts of one of the highest response rates for the 2020 Census, a closer look reveals that there are pockets of Minneapolis and St. Paul that is far below the national average response rate. Make sure you’re counted! → my2020census.gov
- If you’ve already taken the Census, try reaching out to friends and family and making sure they complete the Census. Let’s get everyone counted. → my2020census.gov
- Are you registered to vote yet? Register here.
- Have you applied for an absentee ballot yet? Apply here.
- Learn about police alternatives and what that looks like.
Read more:
Movement to Restore the Vote PDF