“Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed”: Reflection and Action Commemorating Juneteenth 2024

Juneteenth, commemorating the the end of the final vestige of chattel slavery on June 19, 1865, has finally become a national holiday. Although it has been traditionally celebrated primarily in African American communities, Juneteenth is truly an American holiday. For nearly 180 years, it has marked a new beginning and highlighted the resilience of formerly enslaved people to endure and to strive for change after the cataclysm of the Civil War.  

However, awareness and acknowledgment are only the first steps on the long road toward the ideal of Liberty and Justice for All. Without substantive action, the holiday becomes a mere token and its promise rings hollow.

PDA is all about substantive action, and in this election year, that means GOTV and voting for candidates who will uphold the rule of law. More than ever, the very foundations of our Constitution and forms of self-governance are on the line, in choosing qualified candidates through the primary process, and in selecting our next leaders in the general election in November.

We have our work cut out for us. In particular, we must try to protect Squad members Rep. Jamaal Bowman and Rep. Cori Bush from the onslaught of AIPAC and other corporatist dark money. They have been targeted because of their principled stands in Congress. PDA works tirelessly with allies to oppose racial discrimination and voter suppression laws, and to advance equity and fairness in and beyond the electoral process.

In the immortal words of poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist Langston Hughes, “Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed….”

If you want to take an active part in healing racial divides and the wounds of more than 400 years of injustice, please volunteer. Together, we make change matter.

In solidarity, remembrance, and action,

Maryam Ar-Raheem and Debra Schrishuhn for the PDA National Team