'The Ghosts of Slavery Live On' - A Juneteenth Message from Countable Founder Bart Myers
How do you feel about the current state of civil rights in America?
Today, Juneteenth, marks the end of slavery in our country. On June 19, 1865, the last remaining enslaved Americans were emancipated. Yet, this painful chapter of our history isn't a relic of the past. The atrocious stain of slavery still remains with us, haunting our present with institutionalized racism and discriminatory policies—it is a somber legacy that remains real and terrifying for so many Americans.
For 246 years, Africans were torn from their communities, homes, and loved ones to be forcibly transported to the United States. Their fate? To be sold as commodities, forced into grueling labor until death, their families a distant, heart-wrenching memory. And the story did not end with the abolition of slavery. Every freed slave had to start from scratch, with no property, education, inheritance, or support. They followed the American Dream, heroically overcoming such staggering obstacles. Their objective wasn't to seek retribution; it was to carve out their existence.
But the country did not welcome them with open arms. Racism was rampant, and the ghosts of slavery lived on through segregation and Jim Crow laws. African Americans were second-class citizens, forced into separate schools, buses, water fountains. The promise of the American Dream, symbolized by economic opportunity, remained elusive due to widespread job discrimination.
Despite this, heroes rose to fight for freedom and justice. People like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Thurgood Marshall, and the Little Rock Nine—along with countless other unsung heroes—fought for the right to be treated as equal Americans. Their collective efforts culminated in the eradication of segregation and the inception of the Civil Rights Act.
This momentous achievement occurred 60 years ago, in 1964—that's less than three generations.
Fast-forward to 2024, and it's clear that while we've made significant strides since the Civil Rights Act, much remains to be addressed.
The realities of being African American in this country are a stark reminder of the disparities that persist. Compared to their peers, Black people face higher likelihoods of arrest, falling ill, not completing college, and earning less. Most alarmingly, they remain the demographic most susceptible to fatal encounters with police. The echoes of slavery persist in the prison-industrial complex, and in our housing, education, and law enforcement systems that perpetuate racist actions and policies.
As a father, I can’t even imagine the very real fear that African American parents face every day, dreading the thought that their children could be the next to fall victim to an unjust system. The fear is palpable, substantiated by too many tragic incidents. And it’s not just the fear that is real, but the systemic racism on which our country was built.
This is not right. This must stop. We deserve better. We need to raise our voices and bring about a change. Yes, it's going to be tough, but we can do this together.
As we step up, so must our leaders.
Congress successfully amended the Constitution with the 13th Amendment in 1865, abolishing slavery. They legislated the Civil Rights Act in 1964. As our nation finds itself amidst another wave of civil rights protests triggered by police-related fatalities of African Americans, it's time for our leaders to act once more. Police reform, voting rights, and equal rights are being debated in Congress right now, but we need to make sure it's real change that everyone can get behind. Your elected representatives must hear your voice. They must realize that your vote in upcoming elections hinges on their decisive action.
Call your representatives, let them know you care, and demand real action. June 19th is the perfect opportunity to honor the legacy of those who came before us by taking action today.
This isn't about politics. It's about humanity. If you love your children, you must demand action - on behalf of every parent - to protect them.
To a more-perfect union and justice for all,
Bart Myers
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Progress has been made but still more to go. Recently, Minneapolis Police Department DOJ consent decrees along with a dozen other cities are good signs of improving policing along with new AI systems that monitor police body and dash cams despite lack of action by Congress. Hopefully the Supreme Court does not turn the clock back, nor a new administration in 2025 which is why it's so important who you vote for in 2024.
The lack of compassion these days is saddening.
I feel pretty sad as I see the Republicans trying to cancel all the progress which has been made over the years.They are blatantly racist while trying to hang that tag around the Dems necks. Projection appears to have become their working model.
It's sad @causes has moved forward so little it's threads are a year old.
We still have a long way to go for equality.
I have the History Channel on watching Black Patriots: Hereoes of the Civil War. What I learned was Black people were pivotal in the Civil War and free themselves.
They were soldiers and spies. They were able to operate a ship to free themselves.
We always hear the horrors and not the triumphs.
Read about Robert Small. His story was truly awe inspiring and courageous.
So, I am so grateful to the past who made my present. It is so important to vote locally, stately, and nationally every single year.
We've come a long with 1865, but we have more work to do.
Black people are still killed by police at much higher proportions than other people.
Black people are still incarcerated and held without bail at much higher proportions than white people.
Black people still are not paid as well as white people for the same work.
Black people are still not treated equally in housing and real estate in many places across the country.
Black people are still more likely to live in food deserts than white people.
Black people are more likely to receive inadequate healthcare than white people.
Black people are still more likely to stand in long lines to vote for white people, and right now several states are trying to deny Black majority areas equal representation in legislatures.
All of this is systemic racism, and until Congress takes its job seriously and passes laws to address these issues, Black people are not truly free and equal.
I hope today every American reflects on what they can do to live up the promise of Juneteenth.
The Voting Act has still not passed. The ERA still has not passed. People in the LGBTQ+ Community still live in fear that what rights they HAVE managed to get could be taken away tomorrow. Racism and Misogny abound......ever since Trump got into office and MAGA started this country has taken a downwards spiral and all Republicans support Fascsim.
That's how I view civil rights today.
The absence of universal civil rights in the United States is astonishing and impossible to justify. Too many people are given the sh*tty end of the stick. These people obviously include Black People and Latines. They also include Asians and Native Americans and LGBTQ people and the largest group of all--WOMEN!
It makes me angry that my government keeps putting its thumb on the scale of justice and equity for the benefit of White Men instead of those who a treated so poorly!
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There is a deliberate and alarming movement in conservative states to roll back civil rights advances to establish a white Christian nation. Conservative politicians are working to suppress voting rights and redraw district boundaries to give minority votes less power. Donald Trump's rallying cry of "Make America Great Again" lacks a clear definition of when America was supposedly greater, yet the pushed legislative agenda resembles a throwback to the 1950s.
As we approach the election, I hope Biden will openly advocate for protecting minority rights, including women's rights and the rights of LGBQT+ people. The election needs to focus on policies rather than fear.
The ghost of slavery lives on because people like your founder continue to flame the smoldering ashes. What are you hoping to accomplish? We can never change the past.... those that were done wrong years ago have made peace with the past, but liberals won't allow the black community to do the same. Liberals are terrified of the black community waking up and seeing how the liberals have stifled them.
If the fucking Republicans wouldstop trying to strip people of their right to vote, their right to engage in peaceful protest, their right to observe or not observe their choice of religion, their right to reproductive freedom, and would STOP trying to turn our country into a fascist state with a fucking idiot who wants to be another Hitler I'd feel much better about our civil rights. Even with that while the US has made strides in the area of civil rights we still have more to do to ensure that all people are treated equally and have equal oportunities to reach their full potential.
While there is some progress, there is definitely some regression. I'm dismayed by the number of hateful right-wingers who have been emboldened to slink out from under rocks in recent years. I'm a 72-year old white woman who remembers when three Freedom Riders were murdered, and when People of Color were harassed for peacefully trying to order lunch. It's time for Americans to learn that people who look different than you do are as human as you are.
John Lewis said, You must never, ever give out. We must keep the faith because we are one people. We are brothers and sisters.
We all live in the same house: The American house.
We need to continue to work diligently to ensure the promise of America is attainable for all of us no matter our skin color, religion, or sexual preference. And we still have a lot of work to do.
with every small step of progress made since the end of the civil war, those opposing civil rights have continued to diminish even that. and today they are working overtime to remove ALL progress made. the opponents won't be happy until white men are completely in charge: women relegated back to the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant and all minorities kept "in their place." of course, white men are 95% in charge right now and they want to be 100%.
Ever since the Turd Cheeto took office, things have fallen apart!
Not equal!
I am very disappointed where we are!! It seems we are going the wrong direction and one of the primary reasons is #45 and his legion of followers!! He is so bigoted and racist and he pushes that approach. We cannot elect him again. I live in Oklahoma and am about 80 years old. I grew up with segregated schools, restrooms, water fountains, restaurants, etc!! My first job out of college in 1966 was in Louisiana and Mississippi on an oil field exploration crew. We had a large group of black men that worked with us as brush cutters so we could lay out seismic recording lines. We all went to the field together and came back together. We would stop on the way out and coming back for coffee or a cold drink. All of the white crew members went in the front door and the black members went in a back door! I look back on this and feel ashamed I did not stand up and say this was wrong!! We are all of one race and that is the human race!! We should behave that way! There is discussion about revoking the Civil Rights Act. That would be another step backwards!! We need to be working towards equality amongst all of us!!
There is still a wide gap in equality in America. The mere fact that the ERA has not been passedIs shameful! This should be rectified! This is not the 1800s!
Our civil rights have taken a big hit. The supreme court keeps taking our rights away. From voting rights, abortion rights, our rights to get health care. Gerrymandering that is preventing the people who gets the majority vote from taken office. And now our rights to birth control & IVF is under attack. Equil rights are under attack.
Equality of opportunity. Not sucess by tribal membership. Look who Bide selected.
We have come some of the way but have a long way to go!