We are in the midst of Emancipation Season here in the South. It was during this time 160 years ago that our ancestors learned of the end of the US Civil War, heard the Emancipation Proclamation, and met the Union soldiers whose role it was to enforce this new freedom. Between April 3, when Richmond, Va., then the capitol of the Confederate States of America, fell; May 20, when Union soldiers reached Florida’s capitol in Tallahassee; and June 19 when troops reached Galveston, Texas, with the news of the intention to end chattel slavery in the United States, it must have felt like a long-awaited answer to a prayer.
One can only imagine the shock and jubilation the enslaved must have felt when they learned of their liberation. We know that the moment was treated with both solemnity and ceremony, as, over the past 160 years, communities throughout the region have consistently commemorated the occasion with reflection, singing, picnics, parades, speeches, and games. In addition to these celebrations, freedmen and freedwomen translated their joy into action by uniting and formalizing their family units; forming communities like Frenchtown in Tallahassee, LaVilla in Jacksonville, and Lincolnville in St. Augustine; starting or expanding their churches; organizing themselves politically and running for office. Last but not least, our ancestors invested tremendous energy and resources into education. All of Florida’s historically Black universities were founded within the first 25 years after emancipation—Edward Waters in 1866, the Cookman Institute in 1872, Florida Memorial in 1879, and Florida A&M in 1887.
A shadow looms over our celebrations this year, as we commemorate the 160th anniversary of freedom. Many alumni of Florida A&M University, my alma mater, are in shock by what many of us consider to be the hostile takeover of the institution with the announcement of the 13th president. The candidate has no experience in higher education, and holds close affiliation with the Republican Party at the federal and state level. This is a grave concern because of the administration’s laser focus on the elimination of anything associated with diversity, equity, inclusion, or “wokeness.” HBCUs are the embodiment of DEI, so the logic follows that Republicans view FAMU as a problem to be solved.
The issue with FAMU is but one facet of a larger problem. There are many indicators at both the state and federal level which represent the erosion of civil rights, equality, and economic advancement for Black Americans. As we commemorate emancipation, Black Americans would do well to use the occasion as an opportunity to critically evaluate the current state of freedom and opportunity for our community. What is the state of our institutions? Where is our power and how are we using it? Are we able to preserve and protect what our ancestors left to us, or are we currently in a state of political precarity? Are the pathways for our children’s advancement being widened, narrowed, or shut off altogether?
Dr. Tameka Bradley Hobbs is regional manager of the African American Research Library and Cultural Center.