Reflect
In 2021, Juneteenth became a nationally recognized holiday. It commemorates the end of slavery in the confederate states. The word “Juneteenth” is a combination of the month of June and the 19th, which is the day in 1865 when the Union Army established full authority over the state of Texas. This holiday is an opportunity to stand with our sisters and brothers of color, acknowledging the evils of slavery in our country.
Pray
God of freedom,
You continually showed us in Scripture and history
how you are always for the poor, the marginalized,
those held under the weight of unjust oppression.
We who call ourselves American citizens name and repent
for the evils of slavery and the many effects of racism in our country.
Help me to be committed to owning my biases
and listening to the voices that call me to do better as a human being,
as a follower of Jesus.
Amen.
Act
Consider reading a book on the perspective of a man or woman on the experience of being Black in America today—perhaps Howard Thurman or Cole Arthur Riley. How might their perspective change you for the better?
