Edda Fields-Black gives a keynote speech for Juneteenth at Carnegie Mellon University in 2024. (Courtesy of Carnegie Mellon University)
kAmt552 u:6=5D\q=24< H2D H@C<:?8 @? 2 3@@< 23@FE C:46 A=2?E2E:@?D H96? D96 42>6 24C@DD E96 DE@CJ @7 2 C2:5 :? q62F7@CE[ $@FE9 r2C@=:?2[ E92E 7C665 >@C6 E92? f__ D=2G6D 7C@> {@H4@F?ECJ A=2?E2E:@?D]k^Am
kAm%96 r2C?68:6 |6==@? &?:G6CD:EJ AC@76DD@C 564:565 E@ AFCDF6 E96 DE@CJ 2?5[ ?62C=J 2 564256 =2E6C[ AF3=:D965 “r~|qtti w2CC:6E %F3>2?[ E96 r@>32966 #:G6C #2:5[ 2?5 q=24< uC665@> sFC:?8 E96 r:G:= (2C[” H9:49 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]AF=:EK6C]@C8^H:??6CD^aaehdQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmC646?E=J H@? E96 !F=:EK6C !C:K6 7@C 9:DE@CJk^2m]k^Am
kAmu:6=5D\q=24< 7:CDE =62C?65 23@FE E96 yF?6 `geb C2:5 C625:?8 2? 244@F?E 3J |:?FD w2>:=E@?[ H9@ H2D 2? gg\J62C\@=5 D=2G6 H96? E96 52C:?8 >:DD:@? =65 3J %F3>2? 7C665 9:>] w6 E@=5 @7 9@H E9C66 DE62>D9:AD EC2G6=65 FA E96 C:G6C :? E96 5625 @7 ?:89E 367@C6 D@F?5:?8 E96:C H9:DE=6D[ D6?5:?8 D=2G6D H@C<:?8 @? E96 ?6:893@C:?8 A=2?E2E:@?D CF??:?8 E@ E96 C:G6C 2?5 E@ 7C665@>]k^Am
kAmw2>:=E@? 2=D@ E2=<65 23@FE 9:D 2H6 2E D66:?8 76==@H q=24< >6? :? F?:7@C> 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6[ 2?5 E92E :>286 DECF4< u:6=5D\q=24<]k^Am
kAm“x H2D =:<6[ ‘(@H[’ 2?5 x EF4<65 :E 2H2J 7@C 2 =@?8 E:>6[” D2:5 u:6=5D\q=24<[ @7 !:EED3FC89]k^Am
kAm$96 EC:65 E@ C625 >@C6 23@FE E96 C2:5 w2>:=E@? C64@F?E65] qFE D96 7@F?5 =:EE=6 36J@?5 >6?E:@?D 96C6 2?5 E96C6 :? 3:@8C2A9:6D @7 %F3>2?[ H9@’D 36DE <?@H? 2D 2 4@?5F4E@C @? E96 &?56C8C@F?5 #2:=C@25]k^Am
kAm$@[ D96 D6E @FE E@ HC:E6 E96 9:DE@CJ 96CD6=7[ E6==:?8 :E 7C@> E96 A6CDA64E:G6 @7 E96 C2:5’D A2CE:4:A2?ED 2?5 56E2:=:?8 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 E96 C:46 A=2?E2E:@?D :? AF==:?8 :E @77[ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“x H2?E65 E@ AF== @FE 2== @7 E9@D6 6=6>6?ED[ 2?5 x E9@F89E E92E x 4@F=5 E6== E92E DE@CJ[” u:6=5D\q=24< D2:5]k^Am
kAm“k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?AD]8@G^2CE:4=6D^___^H6\42==65\@FCD6=G6D\4@>366]9E>RiOiE6IEl%96D6Ta_6?D=2G65Ta_p7C:42?Ta_p>6C:42?DTa_H9@Ta_=:G65Ta_?62CTa_E96Ta_r@>32966Ta_#:G6CTa_:?Ta_$@FE9Ta_r2C@=:?2Ta_42==65Ta_E96>D6=G6DTa_TtaTg_Thrr@>366TtaTg_ThsTa_:?Ta_E96Ta_vF==29Ta_5:2=64EQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmr~|qttk^2m[” E96 vF==29 AC@?F?4:2E:@? @7 E96 r@>32966 #:G6C[ H@? E96 AC6DE:8:@FD !F=:EK6C !C:K6 2=@?8D:56 “}2E:G6 }2E:@?Di p |:==6??:F> :? }@CE9 p>6C:42?” 3J z2E9=66? sF'2= :? 2 42E68@CJ E92E C6H2C5D “2 5:DE:?8F:D965 2?5 2AAC@AC:2E6=J 5@4F>6?E65 3@@< @? E96 9:DE@CJ @7 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D[” 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 !F=:EK6C H63D:E6]k^Am
kAm%96 ffe\A286 3@@< E@=5 “2 C:49=J\E6IEFC65 2?5 C6G6=2E@CJ 244@F?E” @7 E96 C2:5[ “H62G:?8 >:=:E2CJ DEC2E68J 2?5 72>:=J 9:DE@CJ H:E9 E96 EC2?D:E:@? 7C@> 3@?5286 E@ 7C665@>[” E96 AC:K6’D ;FCJ HC@E6]k^Am
k9c 4=2DDlQ65:E@C:2=$F3965Qmw2CC:6E %F3>2?k^9cm
kAm%F3>2?[ H9@ 3642>6 <?@H? 2D E96 |@D6D @7 w6C !6@A=6 27E6C 6D42A:?8 D=2G6CJ 96CD6=7 :? `gch[ DA@<6 23@FE E96 r@>32966 #:G6C #2:5 5FC:?8 96C =:76]k^Am
kAmw6C C@=6 :? E96 C2:5 >256 96C E96 7:CDE H@>2? 6G6C E@ =625 2 >2;@C >:=:E2CJ @A6C2E:@? :? E96 &]$] 2?5 E96 @?=J q=24< H@>2? E@ =625 EC@@AD 5FC:?8 E96 r:G:= (2C] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D452:=J82K6EE6]4@>^a_ac^_d^`b^D4\49FC49\E@\F?G6:=\92CC:6E\EF3>2?\D4F=AEFC6\4@>>6>@C2E:?8\C2:5\7C66:?8\f__\D=2G6D^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmp DE2EF6 @7 96Ck^2m F?G6:=65 :? |2J a_ac 2E q62F7@CE’D %236C?24=6 q2AE:DE r9FC49 4@>>6>@C2E6D 96C A2CE :? E96 C2:5 2?5 96C J62CD DA6?E :? q62F7@CE]k^Am
kAmqFE 9:DE@C:2?D[ =24<:?8 @77:4:2= C64@C5D[ C2C6=J 56=G65 :?E@ E96 56E2:=D[ u:6=5D\q=24< D2:5]k^Am
kAm(96? D96 DE2CE65 E6==:?8 7C:6?5D 2?5 4@==628F6D 23@FE 96C A=2?D[ E96J D:>:=2C=J :?D:DE65 E96C6 H2D ?@ H2J E@ E6== E96 DE@CJ 7C@> E96 A6CDA64E:G6 @7 6?D=2G65 A6@A=6 3642FD6 ?@ C64@C5D @7 E96 C2:5 6I:DE65] qFE E96J 5:5 6I:DE — ;FDE ?@E E96 <:?5 >@DE C6D62C496CD C6=J @?[ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“%96C6’D 2 3C@256C BF6DE:@? 23@FE 36=:6G:?8 H@>6?[ 36=:6G:?8 >2C8:?2= A6@A=6 2?5 E2<:?8 @FC H@C5D 2?5 @FC 56D4C:AE:@?D @7 @FC @H? 6IA6C:6?46D 2E 7246 G2=F6[” u:6=5D\q=24< D2:5] “p?5 E92E 925?’E 366? 5@?6]”k^Am
kAm%96 C:46 A=2?E2E:@?D[ H:E9 E96:C D?2<6D 2?5 2==:82E@CD[ >256 %F3>2?’D H@C< 6G6? >@C6 :>AC6DD:G6] ~E96C 9:DE@C:2?D 925 HC:EE6? 23@FE E96 C2:5 2D :7 E96 6?G:C@?>6?E H6C6 E96 D2>6 2D :? E96 >@C6 ?@CE96C? DE2E6D H96C6 %F3>2? 925 H@C<65[ 3FE 2D 2 C6D62C496C @7 C:46 7:6=5D[ u:6=5D\q=24< <?6H E96 DA64:7:4 492==6?86D E96J AC6D6?E65]k^Am
kAm“$96 4@F=5’G6 366? @? E96 >@@?[ 2?5 D96 H@F=5’G6 7:8FC65 @FE 9@H E@ DFCG:G6[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
k9c 4=2DDlQ65:E@C:2=$F3965Qmu:?5:?8 E96 DE@CJk^9cm
kAmpD D96 DE2CE65 E@ C6D62C49 :? 62C?6DE[ u:6=5D\q=24< <?6H D96 4@F=5?’E C6=J D@=6=J @? E96 @77:4:2= >:=:E2CJ C64@C5D @7 E96 C2:5[ H9:49 H6C6 HC:EE6? 3J E96 r@?7656C2E6 EC@@AD 4@?EC@==:?8 q62F7@CE 2E E96 E:>6] $=2G6 ?2CC2E:G6D 7C@> E96 `hb_D >6?E:@?65 E96 C2:5 @?=J :? A2DD:?8[ 2?5 @77:4:2= C64@C5D :? q62F7@CE 2?5 r@==6E@? 4@F?E:6D H6C6 3FC?65 2D 4:E:6D H6?E FA :? 7=2>6D 5FC:?8 E96 r:G:= (2C[ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmu:6=5D\q=24< EFC?65 :?DE625 E@ 2 =6DD6C\FD65 9:DE@C:42= C6D@FC46i A6?D:@? 7:=6D] u@==@H:?8 E96 H2C[ D@=5:6CD C6=2J65 :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE E96>D6=G6D 2?5 E96:C 6IA6C:6?46D :? 2? 2EE6>AE E@ C646:G6 A2J>6?E 7C@> E96 8@G6C?>6?E]k^Am
kAmp>@?8 E9@D6 DF3>:EE:?8 2AA=:42E:@?D H6C6 >6>36CD @7 E96 a?5 $@FE9 r2C@=:?2 '@=F?E66C x?72?ECJ[ 2 C68:>6?E 4@?D:DE:?8 =2C86=J @7 7C665 >6? 7C@> E96 D62 :D=2?5D H9@ 5C@G6 3@2ED FA E96 r@>32966 #:G6C 7@C 6?D=2G65 A6@A=6 E@ 3@2C5 2?5 6D42A6]k^Am
kAm%9C@F89 D4@FC:?8 9F?5C65D @7 A6?D:@? 7:=6D[ u:6=5D\q=24< 42>6 24C@DD 2 72>:=:2C ?2>6]k^Am
kAm$96 925 <?@H? 23@FE 2 w64E@C u:6=5D 7C@> H9@> 96C 72>:=J 56D46?565[ 3FE D96 925 E9@F89E 96 =:G65 :? ?62C3J r@==6E@? r@F?EJ[ ?@E q62F7@CE] %96 A6?D:@? 7:=6D[ 9@H6G6C[ E@=5 E96 DE@CJ @7 u:6=5D 2D 2 r:G:= (2C G6E6C2? H9@ 7@F89E :? E96 G@=F?E66C :?72?ECJ[ 96=A65 7C66 D=2G6D 2?5 6G6?EF2==J D6EE=65 5@H? :? r@==6E@? r@F?EJ[ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmu:6=5D\q=24< 8C6H FA :? u=@C:52[ 3FE D96 DE:== 92D 72>:=J :? E92E 2C62] w6C @H? 72E96C H2D 3@C? :? vC66? !@?5[ 2 D>2== E@H? :? E96 D2>6 4@F?EJ[ 2?5 E96 72>:=J’D C@@ED :? $@FE9 r2C@=:?2 2C6 DEC@?8[ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 DE@CJ “92D 364@>6 2 D@FC46 @7 :>>6?D6 AC:56 :? @FC 72>:=J[” u:6=5D\q=24< D2:5]k^Am
kAmtG6? 27E6C E96J H6C6 7C665[ >2?J @7 E96 A6@A=6 :? E96 C2:5 C6EFC?65 E@ r@?7656C2E6 E6CC:E@CJ[ C:D<:?8 E96:C =:G6D 2?5 7C665@>[ E@ 96=A @E96CD[ D96 D2:5] %96 C2:5 :ED6=7 92AA6?65 27E6C E96 t>2?4:A2E:@? !C@4=2>2E:@?[ H9:49 925 AC@4=2:>65 2== D=2G6D :? $@FE96C? DE2E6D E@ 36 7C66]k^Am
kAmqFE :? r@?7656C2E6\4@?EC@==65 2C62D[ E92E H2D?’E AFE :?E@ 67764E] %96 ?2E:@?’D =2DE D=2G6D H6C6?’E 7C665 F?E:= EH@ J62CD =2E6C[ @? yF?6 `h[ `ged[ <?@H? 2D yF?6E66?E9]k^Am
kAm“xE’D E96 24E:@?D @7 E96D6 7@=<D E92E D@>6 H@F=5 D2J[ 2?5 x H@F=5 28C66 H:E9 E96>[ 2C6 6G6? >@C6 :>A@CE2?E E92?[ D2J[ E96 t>2?4:A2E:@? !C@4=2>2E:@? :? E96 56>:D6 @7 D=2G6CJ 2?5 6?5:?8 E96 :?DE:EFE:@? @7 D=2G6CJ[” u:6=5D\q=24< D2:5]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D DE@CJ H2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D452:=J82K6EE6]4@>^a_ad^_e^`h^9@H\2\D4\C2:5\7C66:?8\f__\D=2G6D\3642>6\2\AF=:EK6C\AC:K6\H:??:?8\3@@<^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm@C:8:?2==J AF3=:D965k^2m 3J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D452:=J82K6EE6]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm$r s2:=J v2K6EE6k^2m[ H9:49 =:<6 E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 qF==6E:? :D A2CE @7 $E2E6D }6HDC@@>[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E ?6HD ?6EH@C< DFAA@CE65 3J 8C2?ED 2?5 2 4@2=:E:@? @7 5@?@CD 2D 2 d_`4WbX AF3=:4 492C:EJ] k^6>mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.