Just a few days ago, we celebrated Juneteenth, and now we’re preparing to celebrate the Fourth of July. Both holidays honor freedom, but they also remind us that freedom has not always been experienced equally.
When our nation declared its independence in 1776, not everyone was free. It took another 89 years before the emancipation of enslaved people was finally announced in Texas on Juneteenth in 1865.
I’m embarrassed to admit that, until Juneteenth became a federal holiday, I had never connected those two dates while celebrating the 4th of July. It wasn’t because I didn’t care; it was because I had never been personally affected or encouraged to see it from that perspective.
I think that is also true when it comes to domestic violence. Domestic violence survivors’ struggles may not be visible to us. If we haven’t experienced abuse ourselves—or don’t know someone who has—it can be easy to overlook. But our responsibility as a community is to care about all of our neighbors, not just those whose experiences mirror our own.
As we celebrate this 4th of July this weekend, I hope we will all take a moment to be grateful for our freedoms, and to reflect on those in our communities who are still seeking freedom from fear, abuse, and oppression.
Enjoy a safe, fun holiday!
Thanks for reading,
