In recent years, the concept of forgiveness has lost its significance as we focus on the faults and mistakes of others without examining our own. Our society’s self-appointed judges use judgment not to promote meaningful change, but to inflict pain and assert control. These select few have redefined forgiveness, once seen as a virtue, as a sign of weakness and an attempt to hide the actions of wrongdoers. They want us to believe that forgiving abhorrent behavior means agreeing with it or downplaying its impact, but this is far from the truth.
On Juneteenth, which is short for June nineteenth, we are reminded of America’s darkest sin of slavery and its eventual demise when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. In 2021, the Biden administration designated Juneteenth as a federal holiday to encourage Americans to acknowledge a pivotal moment in our history that propelled us toward freedom for all. This day commemorates the emancipation of enslaved individuals on the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.
As Americans, we celebrate the principles of liberty and independence from oppression, and that is precisely what Juneteenth signifies. While slavery existed globally, America strived to break away from the norm in pursuit of freedom. We cannot consider ourselves truly free if not all individuals within our nation experience freedom. The designation of Juneteenth as a federal holiday in 2021 reaffirms our commitment to progress and the aspiration to form a more perfect union.
However, there are those who wish to perpetuate a narrow version of America by viewing the past through a simplistic lens that aligns with their present-day narratives. Modern progressives propagate the idea that nothing has changed, racial progress is merely an illusion, and seeking forgiveness is a form of white supremacy. For instance, Nikole Hannah-Jones, the creator of The New York Times 1619 Project, insists that white Americans wish to forget their past, while Black Americans are bound to a past they can never forget. Hannah-Jones and others like her preach pessimism in order to solidify a racial nihilistic mindset, where we only see the worst in the world. They reduce our nation to a one-sided equation, emphasizing the horrors we have committed while disregarding the progress and positive contributions we have made.
Progressives view Juneteenth as an opportunity to guilt-trip Americans about our past instead of celebrating the progress we have achieved. Politicians and the upper class exploit this celebration of emancipation to advance their own agendas and gain power. Consequently, their opponents dismiss this momentous occasion simply because it is associated with those they politically oppose. Juneteenth should not be politicized or interpreted through a political lens; doing so only divides us. Juneteenth belongs to all of us, and its purpose is to foster unity and understanding.
Understanding history should instill humility within us about the flaws and complexities of the human condition. It is crucial to acknowledge that the actions of the past can resurface in the present and future. Juneteenth symbolizes the advancement of our nation’s moral compass, pushing us forward in the pursuit of justice and equality.
If we truly learn from history, we would understand that individuals who exploit the past to inflict pain or imply guilt on others in the present often become the oppressors of the future. As a nation, we should not dwell in shame for past actions in which we had no part, but we should remain vigilant to ensure we do not repeat those mistakes. We can celebrate the moments when we have course-corrected and appreciate how far we have come. Moreover, we should embrace forgiveness for flawed individuals, as we are also capable of committing atrocities. Refusing to forgive only perpetuates the same hatred we condemn in historical figures.
Although our capacity for forgiveness may have weakened over time, it’s not too late to restore it. Let us make an effort to exercise forgiveness on this Juneteenth. Adam B. Coleman, the author of “Black Victim to Black Victor” and the founder of Wrong Speak Publishing, shares his thoughts on Substack: adambcoleman.substack.com.
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