Juneteenth
Today is Juneteenth. June Nineteenth (6/19) is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States. The news broke out in Galveston, Texas when general Gordon Granger announced it. That was 155 years ago! This is the day we celebrate Freedom! I am ashamed to admit but I only found out about it a few days ago. Just like many other people, I am learning and doing a lot of catch ups on Black history in America. Some states, cities, companies are making it a holiday by closing down their stores in observance of this day. Unfortunately it just started to happen after the pressures by the protestors and voices for justice and equality in America. Although I believe it is still behind, America is finally starting to listen to and take a closer look at the mistreatments of Black people. There are more work to do but little by little, we all are traveling towards justice, equality, love and peace on all people especially Black people here in America.
It is truly important that we curiously open ourselves up to see the scenes and things which are still hidden in obscurity. The ego we have can block our eyesights but we got to have a child like mind to see and hear and learn what we don't know. We have to accept that we don't know even though our ego might tell us we know. That "know it all" attitude can blind us from what's laid before us. We are all presented by the opportunities to open our eyes and see the "real" reality. Let us all keep learning instead of just making this merely a trend.
今日6/19 (アメリカ時間) はジュンティースと言う、奴隷解放になった自由をお祝いする日です。 155年前の今日、テキサス、ギャルベストンで、ゴードン・グランガー大将により奴隷解放の宣言がされました。
残念ながら、今回のデモや、ピース・マーチが起こるまでは黒人の方コミュニティー以外では知らない人がほとんどでした。私もそのうちの一人なので、今回をもって英語をお勉強している方にはお伝えしたいと思いました。ほんの少しづつですが、一人一人の認識が高まれば世の中の差別も減っていくことでしょう。もし興味のある方はYoutubeなどで見てみると色々と学ぶことができると思います。
州、市、会社などによってはここ数日の間にこの日を祝日にすることを決めたところもあります。LAでは市長がその報告、説明を、他の黒人の市の職員とともにYoutubeを通して報告していました。
少しづつですが、私も英語講師として、文化の違い以外にも、この深刻な黒人差別問題、これからの世界平和に対してなど色々と語っていきたいと思います。
