![]() When the announcement was made and the people realized what it meant, they celebrated their freedom. ![]() On J– more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed - a group of soldiers went to Galveston, Texas, and announced to the people there they were free. But without the advantage of cell phones and modern technology, it took time for word to spread and for the enslaved Americans to know that they were now free. The legality of enslaving folks and owning folks that permeated through America at that time was changed by the passing of the Emancipation Proclamation. I use the term enslaved, as opposed to slavery, because a person has to be enslaved. The Civil War continued for years after the proclamation, as did the plight of enslaved people. 1, 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, declared the freedom of all enslaved people in the United States. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. Juneteenth was born out of the recognition that enslaved American people were now free by virtue of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. They had no idea what it meant or why it was important to celebrate. When I went to a school that was integrated, I was surprised to realize that my white friends did not know anything about Juneteenth. Growing up in the 1960s, I went to a school that was predominately black. It wasn’t until I began going to an integrated school that I realized the celebration of Juneteenth was particular to the Black community. It encourages us to remember the past, but let’s celebrate the future, too. Songs such as “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which is often referred to as the Black National Anthem. Songs were written about Juneteenth and sung in church and at other events. We knew about Juneteenth, what the date signified, and celebrated it. ![]() My mom was born on the same land in Virginia that our family was enslaved on. Growing up, Juneteenth was an annual holiday celebrated as far back as I can remember by my family and friends. Below, he offers his perspective and education on the meaning of Juneteenth. In addition to performance driving as a tool for growth, Reid ensures his students are educated on important cultural moments and holidays. NXG Youth Motorsports, which partners with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is an experiential academy for STEM education and life-skill development focusing on students from underrepresented communities. Editor’s Note: Rod Reid is the founder of NXG Youth Motorsports and team principal of Force Indy.
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