Juneteenth commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States. This federal holiday, first observed on June 19, 2021, originated in Galveston, Texas, in 1865, commemorates the Emancipation Proclamation and symbolizes the celebration of freedom from centuries of enslavement.
Juneteenth serves as a powerful symbol of the freedom of enslaved Blacks, widely celebrated through various festivities and events. While blacks may be physically free, the African American community still has a significant journey ahead to achieve true freedom. This freedom, in my opinion, follows the consequences of the Emancipation Proclamation. After the African American community explored their desire for true freedom, white supremacists imposed barriers that prevented them from achieving it. White supremacists established rules to disenfranchise and stain the Black community through Jim Crow segregation laws, racial injustice, poverty, housing disparity, limited resources, impoverished neighborhoods, etc.
The ongoing racism against the Black community through systematic structures left a stain, hindering true mental freedom. However, it’s essential to acknowledge the resilience of the Black community in the face of these challenges. The Black community has faced numerous challenges. Lynching, racial injustice, and voting inequality faced by African Americans exemplify centuries of oppression that keep our minds enslaved.
As a mental health professional, I understand how this can affect one’s mental health. Still, it hit differently, like never before, approximately 3-4 months ago, when I witnessed people controlled by the negative mindset that echoes through the pain of the family lineage that had experienced because of white supremacy.
In my field, I observe the mental struggles of my clients, particularly among my mentally imprisoned Black clients, facing a distorted reality shaped by trauma, grief, institutionalization, rejection, lack of education, limited job opportunities, family dysfunction, broken homes, poverty, mental health issues, etc. The concept of ‘mind control’ significantly impacted by systemic racism can take a toll on an individual’s mental health. This influence is evident in behavioral patterns, thought processes, violence, health concerns, substance & alcohol abuse, and interpersonal interactions.
In my personal life, I observed how the mind control influenced by our ancestors is transmitted through trauma, shaping the knowledge we pass on to our children and future generations. This process can distort our worldview, often preventing individuals from reaching their full potential in this world.
I recognize the influence of these circumstances on an individual’s mental health, particularly those engineered to affect Black individuals, leading to a continuous cycle of trauma that persists across generations within Black communities and shapes our interactions with one another. It is essential to recognize the significant influence of historical trauma on the Black community, as this awareness can cultivate more profound empathy and understanding.
The current political climate and efforts to erase Black history highlight the ongoing challenges African Americans are still facing to achieve true freedom after centuries of racist structures.
What is the solution? The matter of systemic racism represents an ongoing cycle of reconstruction following centuries of confinement. It is uncertain whether this will influence the perspectives of those accountable for the systemic racist structures inherited through generations. It is essential to draw inspiration from the stories of resilience demonstrated by our ancestors, particularly during challenging times, as exemplified by the heroes within the Black community. The perseverance of the African-American community during difficult times is a significant focus for me. The history of the Greenwood community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, particularly the creation of their own Black Wall Street in 1921, represents a pivotal moment and stands as a testament to their strength and resilience. In response to the devastation caused by white supremacists, generations have found motivation in those narratives, cultivating resilience through the pursuit of Black wealth and business ownership.
It is essential to examine all possibilities to comprehend our objectives concerning the traumatic effects within the Black community and their influence on those impacted. Leaders, especially those who have faced and navigated comparable challenges, should devise ways to contribute to promoting the genuine mental freedom of Black individuals. It is essential to offer support to others through mentorship and discipleship, enabling them to navigate challenges and transform their perspectives. Past trauma and persistent falsehoods often influence these mindsets, which can impede progress. It will require a group of genuine leaders capable of empathizing with the challenges faced by the Black community to recognize that this is a mission aimed at assisting a community in distress, bound by circumstances that necessitate addressing through positive examples. Each of us needs to play our role in advancing this solution and promoting the objective of genuine freedom as we commemorate Juneteenth.
