Juneteenth marks a celebratory milestone but the legacy of slavery persists
Visitors arrive at the National Monument to Freedom in Montgomery, Alabama, June 19, 2024. The monument is inscribed with 122,000 surnames that formerly enslaved people chose for themselves, as documented in the 1870 Census, after being emancipated at the Civil War’s end.
Juneteenth marks a celebratory milestone in the history of emancipation in the US, but the legacy of slavery persists, not just in the US but across the globe. Also, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was just sworn in for his second term in office, despite his party losing a decadeslong majority in a recent parliamentary election. And a new series that will run throughout the summer examines key themes in the tense relationship between the US and China. The first installment of “Face Off” centers on the escalating risk of military encounters over South China Sea.
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