Juneteenth: What Black Freedom Looks like in Monroe County
By Katybeth Davis
With the announcement of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was enacted. But despite being celebrated by African Americans since the 1800s, it wasn’t until 2021, in the wake of the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, that nationwide protests brought these celebrations to the forefront of mainstream media. Nationwide protests prompted President Biden to sign legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday at last. This saw an increase of Juneteenth activities across the nation and even right here in Monroe, Michigan.
On May 17th, 2023, the Michigan Senate voted on a bill sponsored by Senator Sylvia Santana to add Juneteenth to the list of official state holidays. That bill will now go onto the Michigan House to be voted on. On May 15th, 2023, the Monroe City Council voted unanimously to make Juneteenth an official city holiday. Mayor Robert Clark was quoted saying that “It should be shared by all members of our community for the significance it made in our country for the freedoms and rights of all.” What does freedom actually look like for black people in the community of Monroe, Michigan?
Being black and free in Monroe means that the Proud Boys and other hate groups are comfortable enough to come here and have rallies, and when they do, the Monroe City Council cannot even denounce them unanimously. (1)
Being black and free in Monroe means that you might never see a black police officer, a black firefighter, a black lawyer, a black judge, or a black prosecutor. It means that you have a higher chance of getting arrested and an even higher chance of not getting a fair trial. It means that when you get arrested someone might break your arm (2), or tell you that because an officer lived in Detroit that he is “blacker” than you. (3) It means that when you have to go to court you will have to walk past the statue of a man that was a slave owner.
Being black and free in Monroe means that if you need access to mental healthcare, chances are you are going to have to leave the county to get the help you need, and it could take months before you are ever seen. Monroe County Mental Health Authority has a record racial disparities, and the black woman who is advocating for help for her community is consistently silenced and seen as a threat. (4)
Being black and free in Monroe is having a bridge named after American civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr, and then seeing that bridge fall into disrepair having not been maintained for over 40 years. Despite the bridge being full of rust and broken lights, the adjacent statue of George Custer is routinely polished and washed as part of the city's maintenance plan. (5) (6)
Being black and free in Monroe means that you might be at the State Park with your friends listening to music when a white man who does not like your music, will hurl racial slurs at you, break your teeth with a bike lock, and be charged with a hate crime. (7)
Being black and free in Monroe means that Oprah Winfrey might have to get involved at your highschool to do a Challenge day because racial tensions are so high that it is interfering with your education and quality of life. (8)
Being black and free in Monroe is not easy. It weighs on us mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. The reason why we are so strong is because of the enormous weight of past and present oppression that we are forced to carry. AND STILL WE RISE everyday with our heads held high because we know that one day “the dream” will come true. We celebrate those who fought and endured the struggles of slavery because we are often reminded that there is a possibility it could all be a reality again.
