b'JUNTEENTHCelebrating Juneteenth with a Mission By Omar Montgomery, NAACP Aurora Pres. many other forms of discrimination are by productsacross the country. Health Care agencies recognized ofslaverywhichisembeddedthat they needed the support of in the history of this country.the Black faith base community T he change in season is upon us and the summerThe people who question if wetoeducateresidentsabout heatiscomingearlierandearliereachyear.shouldcelebrateJuneteenthCOVID_19 and to share that the The Denver Metro has many different celebrationsask why we cant use this timevaccine is not another Tuskegee includingonethathasrecentlybeenrecognizedto come up with innovative waysExperiment but could minimize bytheStateofColoradoandtheCityofAurorato eradicate hate on all levels,theharmfulsymptomsofthe Juneteenth.JuneteenthistherecognitionthathaveanhonestdiscussionCOVID-19Virus.Churches, Galveston, Texas had a visit from General Gordonaboutslaveryincludingthemosques, and other faith base GrangeronJune19,1865issuingOrderNo.3negative impact it continues tobuildingswereturnedinto toinformtheStateofTexastoendslaverysincehave on the Black Community,healthcareclinicsespecially Texas was one of the last states to continue slaveryand how to address reparationssincesomeurbanandrural aftertheCivilWarhadended.Thecelebrationofforthedecedentsofslaves.communitieswereconsidered Juneteenth started in Texas and later spread acrossYes,seeingBlackBusinessespublic health deserts (meaning the country.andwatchingthecommunityno public health agencies in the Denver,COhasanamazingcelebrationthatcelebrate is amazing on so manyimmediateareatoservethat includes a parade, concert, and vendors stretchedlevelsorcouldthistimebeimmediate community). alongthehistoricFivePointsCommunity.Lastused to discuss the conditionsMycalltoactionfor2023 YeartheCityofAurorahaditsfirstJuneteenthofBlackAmericaandhowtoJuneteenthisthatwehave Celebration at the Aurora Town Center where theyimprovetheeverydaylifeofaBlackownedcreditunion had vendors, entertainment, and speakers sharingBlackPeopleintheUnitedOmar Montgomery orbankintheDenverMetro what the day means to them. Prior to JuneteenthStates. Regionandtoenhanceboth becoming a mainstream holiday the celebration wasThere are several issues thatmental and physical health care mostlyfacilitatedbygrassrootsorganizationswhocometomind,butIwillsharetwoIthinkweservices in low-income communities. I argue that if wanted to remind the United States that slavery stillneed to address to have systemic change in Blackeconomic development and health care continue to impacts the lives of Black people today and to shareAmericaEconomicDevelopmentandmakingbe priorities in the Black Community you will see stories of resistance that took place throughout theourcommunitiesaplaceforpositivehealthandanincreaseinwealthandareductioninhealth African Diaspora.wellness. I believe we are experiencing a renaissancedisparities. I also believe we will see Black mom and Ialsoknowindividualswhorefusetorecognizein the Black Community as we witness a mind shiftpopbusinessgrowtobecomemajorcorporations Juneteenth because of its attachment to the legacywherepeoplewanttoownsustainablebusinessesthat are committed to giving back to the community. ofslavery.ThedonotseethebenefitofBlackthatgenerateenoughrevenuetogivebacktotheJuneteenthshouldbetheannualofficialcheck-peoplearoundthecountryputtingenergyintoacommunity. COVID19 changed the landscape forin on the emotional, physical, and fiscal health of day that reminds us about the horrors of slavery.peopletobeinnovativeaboutstartingabusinessBlack America and continue to celebrate as we have ThecommercializationofJuneteenthsometimesor looking at a new career so people took risks theydoneovertheyearsbutwithmoreintentionality underscoreswhatlessonsneedtobelearnedsowouldnttakeundernormalcircumstances.Isawon why we are coming together. The Denver Metro thathistorywillnotrepeatitself.Racismandpeopleinvestinginstart-upsortakingthetimingregion has the infrastructure to be a national model during the shutdown to learn new skills.becausethereareBlackOrganizationscurrently The Aurora Branch of the NAACP in partnershipdoing the work such as the Aurora Branch of the with the Village Exchange Center received a grantNAACP,theGreaterDenverMinisterialAlliance, to businesses impacted by COVID-19 and to provideFaith base community, Bro. Jeffs Cultural Center, Juneteenth should be thefunding for new entrepreneurs. The vision is for thesethe Center for African American Health, the Colorado businesses to grow, employ people in the community,Black Chamber of Commerce, Dope Black Thoughts annual check-in on theand give back when its feasible. This is not a newLive,TheAfricanLeadershipGroup,AfrikDigest, concept to Black America but many of the differentall theNAACPBranchesin theStateof Colorado, emotional, physical, and fiscalBlack Wall Streets were sabotaged by violence andAssociationofBlackPsychologistandImsureI racism for example Tulsa, Oklahoma 1921.missed a large number of organizations so you can health of Black America.Health & wellness disparities were at the forefrontfill in the blank from here! Lets do Juneteenth right during peak of the COVID-19 pandemic (Still with us)in 2023.PUBLISHERS LIBRARYAmerican Slavery Lasted Another 100 Years TheChronologicalHistoryofThethe state unless, within 20 days afterannually from the mayor or membercorporateauthoritiescontrolledthe Negro in America by Peter M. Bergman arrival,hehadputupabondofofthepoliceboardprovingthatheland. $1,000, to ensure his good behavior.had a lawful home and employment. from the Publishers Library ThepropertyprovisionoftheInLouisianaBlackCodesstated ANegrohadtohaveaspecialMississippiBlackCodessaidthatthat;allagriculturalworkerswere license for any job except as a farmerrequiredtomakecontractswith T heBlackCodesof1865,wereorservant.ThelicenseincludedanNegroeswereforbiddentorentoremployersduringthefirsttendays regulations written into the Stateannualtaxof$10to$100.Theleaseland,exceptinincorporated ConstitutionsthatregulatedNegrolicensesweregrantedbyajudgetowns or cities, in which places theContinued on Page 18life.GenerallytheymadeNegroesandrevocableoncomplaint. subject to the equivalent of SLAVERYIncaseofrevocation,the if convicted of something as small aspenalty was a fine double the vagrancy.amount paid for the license, Childrenseparatedfromtheirhalfofwhichwenttothe parents could be made slaves. Negroesinformer. could come into court as witnesses,SouthCarolinacreated only in cases in which Negroes werespecialcourtsforNegroes. involved. Access to land was limited,The local magistrate "shall be andtherighttobeararmswasespeciallychargedwiththe forbidden!Negroemploymentwassupervision of persons of color limited to contract labor. inhisneighborhood,their Some of these Codes were repealedprotection, and the prevention under Northern pressure. The Southof their misconduct." CarolinaConstitutionofthatyearMississippirequiredevery provided that: no Negro could enterNegrotosubmitevidence BODY OF CHRIST NEWS MAY 2022 7'