True Grit Is Behind Juneteenth

Black History holds the potential to reveal truths and dispel misconceptions regarding the vital roles that Black individuals played in advancing democratic freedoms for everyone, particularly during the Civil War and Reconstruction era. This pivotal period in American history has often been “misrepresented,” as articulated by W.E.B. DuBois. In his seminal 1935 work, Black Reconstruction, DuBois clarifies that the North “needed Black men to save the Union, abolish slavery, and establish democracy.” On “Juneteenth” 1863, when Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation, he acknowledged a reality already shaped by countless enslaved individuals who liberated themselves, causing a significant workforce shortage for slaveowners. This event marked what DuBois termed “the first General Strike.” More than 180,000 self-emancipated men enlisted in the Union Army, along with their families, effectively altering the Civil War's dynamics. Despite superior resources, the North initially struggled due to profound Southern military preparedness and waning morale among enlisted workers, while wealthy individuals evaded service. The committed Black soldiers were instrumental in achieving victory for the Union.