– Carmen Baylies
June 19th, 2021
The notification that slavery in the United States was no longer lawful and that the emancipation of those who still were captive remains an essential point to remember. The marking of this occasion birthed Juneteenth. If not recognized, history tends to repeat. President Joseph Biden signed into federal law to recognize Juneteenth as a federal holiday. CLB took to the seaside to enjoy the breeze of freedom in 2021.
After a year of dealing with a global pandemic and response to COVID-19, I made a point to celebrate liberation. A trip to the Outer Banks (OBX) in North Carolina seemed an appropriate way to kick off festivities. We traveled to OBX to visit the memorial at Kitty Hawk, NC. The shoreline area provided the perfect scent for the Wright Brothers to take steps of the first flight. I found this area an excellent space to connect with my state’s history and look forward to my ideas and dreams coming true.
The breeze was light, and the sun gently warmed my skin. With arms wide open, I wanted to hug the light and embrace freedom. I felt my own communion with the world by simply standing by the sea and smiling at the love of my life as he took my picture, having fun in the sand. The brown t-shirt expressed how I really feel in one image and showed my hopes of continued growth in freedom of life, expression, and faith.