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Dear John,
June 19, 1865, officially marks the ending of slavery in America. Black Americans commemorate this moment with cultural celebrations across the nation. We engage in intentional reflection as we continue the fight to end all versions of slavery. We celebrate Juneteenth, or Freedom Day, to honor the liberation of enslaved Black people; a day that moves the world one step closer to recognizing Black dignity and provides an opportunity for Black people to finally exercise the freedoms outlined in the Emancipation Proclamation.
As a mixed-raced Black man, a father, and community organizer in America, I live to see those freedoms actualized. We still have a long way to go. My work at Alliance San Diego, as the civic engagement organizer, allows me to help community members create the change they want to see. My Filipino mother raised me to elevate my community. She made me aware of the many challenges I’d face in the world as a Black man. For that, I am grateful. It is through her efforts, and the advice of my family, that I learned the importance of family and upholding my role as a Black father in a world where odds were stacked heavily against me. I also learned that my children would one day look to me for similar guidance.
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Before, and even after the first Juneteenth, Black fathers were often stripped from their homes by various forms of systemic and institutionalized racism and even by death. The dismantling of the family unit was a tool of oppression and hateful means to dehumanize Black people. Our families persevered and learned to push through those hurdles with unmatched grace. The Black Family Unit is a powerful symbol of resilience. It inspires all of us to continue the fight for freedom. I always remind my children of this kind of strength; I remind them that they are intelligent, deserving of opportunity, and brave enough to accomplish anything. This is the legacy I want to instill so that they might move through life as the best possible versions of themselves.
Juneteenth invites us all to pause, to acknowledge the sacrifices of the ancestors who paved the road before us. It is an opportunity to celebrate family and meaningful connections. At times my children may be the only Black, or person of color, in the room and I hope they show up unapologetically. I hope they are clear reflections of all the beautiful traditions passed down to them. I am a proud Black and Filipino father navigating the world to provide a better place for them to thrive. The foundation I build today will elevate them higher. The way I show up in their lives shall be a testament to the love and gratitude I have being their father.
Happy Juneteenth ❤️ 🖤 💚!
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Christopher Kennison
Civic Engagement Organizer, Alliance San Diego
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Alliance San Diego
P.O. Box 12266
San Diego, CA 92112
United States
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