Today is a momentus time of remembrance for African Americans all around the country. Many of you many not know why though so let me enlighten you. It was almost a century and a half ago on Jan 1, 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Due to the obvious limits of communications technology and a degree of social resistance of that time it took a few months to a couple of years for the news to spread around the country.

It was specifically two years later by the time the news got to the state of Texas. When it did it became the genesis of the Juneteenth celebration, a tradition started by black Texans, but shared by many in various parts of the country. You’ll see some of my fellow AfroSpear bloggers writing about that particular comemoration. I’m going to let you know a little more about it’s celebratory cousin, Jubilee.

That’s how the holiday is known in the state of Kentucky. My old church began to help revive the idea and bring it back to memory in the Louisville area a few years ago. What began as a heritage and history celebration in the neighborhood of the church has grown to be a major festival downtown not far from the banks of the Ohio River.

As it turns out other states refer to the occasion in the same way. Virginia Governor Tim Kaine released this proclamation to the citizens of his state recognizing the 145th anniversary of President Lincoln’s historic federal legislation.

The origin of the word Jubilee is Biblical. It comes from the Old Testament scripture Leviticus 25: 40-54. The entire chapter covers the concept of redeeming goods and property of all sorts to families or individuals and dealing justly with one another in assorted ways every 49th year. Be sure to read the entire chapter for context. But, these particular verses deal with the redemption of slaves to their personal freedoms.

Interestingly you will notice some references to forms of slavery that were allowed. Makes you wonder if that was one of the scriptures Americans and Europeans used to justify the evil institution in modern times. The most important part for us however is the redemptive spirit of this section. If only the concept of a fifty year cycle had existed in America just think of where we could have been much sooner as a nation.

Thank God that we have advanced as far as we have. Check on local or near-to-home Juneteenth and Jubilee celebrations in your area and share the remembrance and the heritage.