Friday, June 19th has been declared "Juneteenth Celebration Day" in Michigan by Governor Gretchen Whitmer commemorating the day in 1865 when slavery was abolished in the United States. Following the deaths of several African Americans by police, a light has been shone nationwide on the problem of systemic racism in our country.
WEMU's Lisa Barry is talking--mostly listening--to a number of community voices about what Juneteenth means to them, beginning with Alize Asberry Payne, the Racial Equity Officer for Washtenaw County.
Listen to Alize Asberry Payne's speech about Juneteenth.