Juneteenth: A Writing Exercise Toward Freedom with George Moses Horton and Harriet Jacobs
Daily Nourishment Read Time: 30 seconds
Pause/Prompt/Practice Time: 15 minutes
“Lift on high ten thousand voices, Blow the trump of Jubilee; All the slavish land rejoices, Sing triumphant all are free; Sing delightful, All who live this day to see.” - George Moses Horton
Pause.
Take deep breaths with a six-count inhale and a six-count exhale while watching this recording of a 1925 Juneteenth parade in Texas.
Prompt.
Read “Harriet Jacobs was a pioneer in exposing racial and sexual violence” (This is paywalled by WaPo. Please watch the video linked below to learn more about Harriet Jacobs..)
Read “Song of Liberty” by George Moses Horton, originally published in 1865.
Practice.
Set a timer for 10 minutes and write in response to the film, poem, and article above and/or the questions below.
What do you know about Juneteenth?
What more do you want to know about Juneteenth?
Where do you see the need for greater freedom for yourself and others today?
Write about the intersection of Juneteenth and July 4th.
How can your creative practice help you move toward more freedom?
How can your creative practice help others move toward more freedom?
Want More?
Read “What Is Juneteenth?”
Explore more items curated by the National Museum of African American History and Culture
Watch “Harriet Jacobs: A Woman of Conscience”
Listen to this playlist by NPR
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Today’s Daily Nourishment was provided by Charlotte Donlon.
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