John,

Today on Juneteenth, we commemorate the day in 1865 on which the final enslaved Americans in the confederate South learned they were free.

Today is only our country's fourth year recognizing Juneteenth as a federal holiday. It took more than 150 years for America to formally celebrate something as massive as the abolition of slavery — which speaks volumes about the work we have ahead of us.

American history is often told as a simple story of continuous progress. We learn that the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment freed slaves and set the country on a path towards equality. But we know it’s not nearly as simple as that.

The legacy of slavery in America has been horrific, enduring, and damaging. Following the abolition of slavery came Jim Crow, segregation, and discrimination. Today, the inequities that Black Americans experience in housing, health care, and education are a direct consequence of the racism that was written into America’s laws and policies in the century following the abolition of slavery.

There is so much work ahead of us to take responsibility for our racist history, repair the harm caused by it, and dismantle racist systems that continue to negatively impact Black Americans.

Today, I will be celebrating Juneteenth by reflecting on what I can do to leverage my own privilege and power to challenge racist systems, uplift the needs and voices of Black Vermonters, and continue making progress – real progress – towards our vision of liberty and justice for all.

Have a joyous Juneteenth, John.

Becca Balint