Today, our country officially marks – for the first time – the 1865 dismantling of one of the last holdouts to Black emancipation from slavery – while, simultaneously, upholding laws and systems in 2021 that provide a daily threat to that very emancipation. If we have learned anything over this past tumultuous year and a half, it’s that we are living in a political, social, and cultural moment where the risks to Black emancipation and freedom are as acute as ever before. If we’ve learned anything, it’s that freedom is not free.
History has confirmed this, time and time again. The years following the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement, and President Barack Obama’s time in the White House show us that periods of progress are often followed by coordinated attempts to roll back hardwon gains and curtail efforts that move our country forward. Even on this inaugural federal Juneteenth holiday, efforts are underway in many states across the country to restrict voting rights, ban discussion of race in public schools, and slow our march towards fulfilling the promise of “liberty and justice for all.”
In his book, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, educator and philosopher, Paulo Freire, reminds us that,
Freedom is acquired by conquest, not by gift. It must be pursued constantly and responsibly. Freedom is not an ideal located outside of man; nor is it an idea which becomes myth. It is rather the indispensable condition for the quest for human completion.
At Thrive Chicago, we work in the service of this “quest for human completion” by partnering with youth, communities, and the organizations that support them. Through this work, we commit to the young people of our city and the freedoms that they so richly deserve. This includes:
- the freedom to develop – physically, intellectually, and emotionally – to the very fullest of their potential
- the freedom to define their own sense of purpose and self-determination
- the freedom to be part of a strong, vibrant, and healthy community, and
- the freedom to activate their voice, their agency, and their vision to positively advance themselves and the world around them.
While we celebrate Juneteenth’s move from the fringes of American consciousness to mainstream recognition, let us also remember that the work continues – every single day. At Thrive Chicago, we are taking this Juneteenth holiday to reflect on and fortify ourselves for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and we look forward to continued partnership with you and organizations from across the city who work everyday to turn dreams of freedom into reality.
In partnership,
Sonya Anderson
President of Thrive Chicago
