This is 5 Minute Friday!

I want to start the podcast today with a quote from James Henry Gooding, an African-American

man who served as a union soldier in the Civil War.

In a letter from the front, Gooding wrote,

The American people as a nation knew not what they were fighting for till recently,

and many have different opinions now as to the ends and results of the contest, but there

is but two results possible.

One is slavery and poverty, and the other is liberty and prosperity.

Today is June 10th, the oldest national holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United

States.

This celebration dates back to 1865 when African-Americans in Galveston, Texas were informed

they were free.

A full two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation and two months after Confederate

General Robert E. Lee surrendered.

It's 155 years later, but we are still so far from achieving racial justice and equality

in this country.

And in this moment, June 10th isn't just a commemoration.

It's a call to action.

I've learned so much in the past few weeks about the history of black Americans and the

systemic racism that is still pervasive today, and educating myself about the significance

of June 19th has been just a small part.

But I know that my words on the subject can only go so far, so I'd love to bring you

...