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Juneteenth

 As a native Texan, celebrating this holiday that has been on our calendar for more than a century!

And today remembering my 4th great-grandfather, Consider Arms (1736-1792), who in April 1788, along with two other Massachusetts delegates refused to ratify the United States Constitution – at the time they provided several reasons why they could not approve the document, but the chief reason was slavery. They wrote, “This practice of enslaving mankind is in direct opposition to a fundamental maxim of truth, on which our state constitution is founded, viz. ‘All men are born free and equal.’ This is our motto. We have said it – we cannot go back.” 

If only the authors of the Constitution had listened to them!

Were all of my ancestors so enlightened about slavery? Indeed not - but I am grateful for the example of Consider Arms and hope I have even a grain of his honesty and courage.


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