Nationwide Juneteenth holiday a solemn celebration for the incarcerated

Incarcerated residents at San Quentin are joining Americans around the nation in celebrating freedom in the month of June. 

“Juneteenth reminds me of our struggles, it brings consciousness and awareness,” said Jeremiah Brown. “Every Black person on this yard should take advantage of rehabilitation because of what our ancestors went through, and then we can come home right.” 

Prior to 1863, slavery was legal and there were prohibitions against Black people learning how to read or write. Any type of learning could actually mean death. But today educational instruction is essential. 

“In the past our ancestors were not allowed to get an education. Now that I have that opportunity, it gives me a reason to change,” said SQ resident Joe Bennett. 

Juneteenth was made an official holiday on June 17, 2021, when Pres. Joe Biden signed it into law. The holiday marks the end of the enslavement of Black people the U.S. It’s the end of both physical and mental slavery. 

Juneteenth is the most recent federal holiday since the creation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983. 

On June 19, 1865, Black people in the former Confederate municipality of Galveston, Texas, were the last to hear of the abolishment of involuntary servitude when Major General Gordon Granger, along with 1,800 federal troops, arrived with news that the slaves were free. 

Throughout the years, informal observances of the holiday brought families together in recognition of Black freedom; those observations included religious services and reading passages from the Emancipation Proclamation. 

The first official Juneteenth celebration, however, was held when the state of Texas declared Juneteenth a holiday in 1980. 

Less than 200 years after the abolishment of slavery, communities now observe the holiday with food, prayer, and scholarship programs. These celebrations are taking place around the nation, while at San Quentin; the holiday is marked with public readings of inspirational messages of hope and resilience. 

“It keeps me in perspective. For me to persevere, do not give up no matter how bad things may seem,” said SQ resident Carrington Russelle. 

Resident Jamal Harrison said awareness of the meaning of the holiday allows him to move forward with his rehabilitation. 

“Before, I did not know what Juneteenth was about, I thought it was for barbeques,” said Harrison. “I got educated, and realized what my people went through, which enabled my change.” 

Another resident, Anthony W. William, added, “My roots started in Montgomery, Alabama — nothing has changed. There is still brutality. It is just a holiday.” 

Royce A. Miller, a Mount Tamalpais College student, reflected on how in history things were one way. “Today they still are the same,” said Miller. “We need to learn about ourselves instead of others, each one should teach one.” 

Many incarcerated residents continue to lack an understanding of what the holiday means. They struggle with how to celebrate freedom and seek opportunities to advance their lives though unity. 

“When I realized all the struggles and suffering our people went through, and that it still exists today, this tells me how much our people have endured,” said C. Jackson. 

Rodney “Pit” Baylis, an incarcerated peer mentor, reflected on how things were back in the day; he explained his efforts to restore what he witnessed as a young man. 

“I do not see the unity today that I saw growing up,” said Baylis. “We do not have the same significance. Therefore, I decided to change my ways to bring unity back.”