Juneteenth

Oh!

Do you know the story of Juneteenth

When the enslaved found out that they were free

Two years after 1863

The Emancipation Proclamation

Freedom

What does it mean to be free

Are you born with it

Is it God given

Or is there a cost to be free

The constitution said

We were 3/5ths human

How can it be democracy

Built on stolen land

Freedom is a right

Not a privilege

Freedom from false restriction

Skin color birthplace

Respect the ways we’re all different

Let’s take it back bout 100 years

Quick - let me paint this picture

America in the Civil War

No Marvel movie, this history!

President Lincoln had a plan to end slavery only in the south

But Black folks when they heard about it

Start spreading that word of mouth

Picked up arms and joined the Union to fight for their own freedom

The colored troops help win the war

Gave that proclamation new meaning, yup -

You betta believe it!

Do you know the story of Juneteenth

When the enslaved found out that they were free

Two years after 1863

The Emancipation Proclamation

Justice

When have we seen it and known it

Who are the ones who have grown it

Took it from notion to showin whats just

Let’s talk about soldiers who were free

Risking their lives for people like me

All the Kinfolk they may never know

Took a lead that we all could follow

Followin’ the call for What?

Justice -

Bigger than land it was for the enslaved

When you think about this Proclamation

The emancipation is knowing that WE were the brave

200 thousand soldiers organizing

Women and children home strategizing

Paper protests, learned to address

The power of truth and a culture uprising

Do you know the story of Juneteenth

When the enslaved found out that they were free

Two years after 1863

The Emancipation Proclamation

Can’t stop that joy

Freedom is not individual its collective

Can’t stop that joy

Freedom is not individual its collective

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Freedom is not individual its collective

When you think about Juneteenth

Remember how we freed ourselves,

How we stayed prepared.

We will prevail, cuz we tippin scales

Closing all the jails and we will not fail!

You believe, You dream, You move You serve.

For those who’ve past - for our culture.

No one left behind we can be sure

We stand we rise we on that joy ride.

We stand we rise we on that joy ride.

We stand we rise we on that joy ride.

Ayyyy!

Now you know the story of Juneteenth

When the last enslaved knew that they were free

We led ourselves to victory

Victory

Victory!