The 4th of July, Juneteenth and VODOU

Today marks the anniversary of the 13 Colonies successful secession from the British Empire on July 4, 1776. It's generally hailed as the Day of Independence, but while maybe it could be accurately described as "America's Birthday" events following it should not be construed as acts of freedom or liberation.

The importation of African professionals and their impression into slavery, the indentured servitude of Chinese workers and refugees, and the genocide of Indigenous Americans constitute the darkest chapter of American history. While the vodous have much to say about all of these issues, it is MAMA TCHAMBA that is most concerned with these two days.

MAMA TCHAMBA is the vodou of Bought Persons or people whose continued survival happened at the expense of their patron. She is usually considered the vodou of slaves and slavery but that would be incomplete. MAMA TCHAMBA is the vodou of people who have been displaced by malice or misfortune and the people responsible for or benefiting from the displacement. This includes orphans, adoptive parents, exiles, prisoners of war, survivors of genocide and their perpetrators, refugees and their new nations, as well as slaves and their owners. MAMA TCHAMBA obliges an equity between those who lost their ancestral ties and those who severed or replaced them. The first part of Her edict is simple, if you avail yourself to someone cut away from their origins you must compensate their worth to you and provide them a portion of the largess made possible by their contributions.

From August 20, 1619 to July 4th, 1776 African slavery in the colonies was the distinctive burden of the British Empire. During the Revolutionary War the British offered to mitigate this burden by offering freedom to slaves that helped quell the colonial rebellion, but not abolish slavery while the Rebels made the same offer sweetening the deal with an additional $50.00. In the end, the bulk of the African slaves supported the rebellion and the rest is, as they say, history.

July 4th then is the recognition of the day the colonists absolved the British of their obligations to MAMA TCHAMBA in North America and adopted the debt themselves. Additionally, the United States owes these former slaves a full portion of the ownership of the country without any of the guilt inherent to the success of the United States prior to 1968 as they lacked the power to influence the nation's development or direction. Likewise, they are owed wages and interests on investments in industry and nation as well as creating shrines to the displaced and MAMA TCHAMBA and it's here that it gets worrisome.

The other part of MAMA TCHAMBA'S edict is that if those who profited off of Her children's misfortune don't meet the previous conditions, she will take it all from those who profited and their children, and give it to Her children. For MAMA TCHAMBA'S children, 4th of July isn't about Independence, it's about Inheritance. On this day, vɔxa, nunana, kɔ aha ɖí, and do gbe ɖa is made by US Americans for the Indigenous and African peoples who lost their lives or identity during our nation founding and we are expected to work hard to get compensation to those entitled to it. It is a warning for us to encourage the United States to meet its moral obligation to the vodous before our fortunes reverse and the Africans are faced with the moral problems of slavery and systemic oppression and Indigenous people are forced to repair the near genocide of a "savage" people.

So what is Juneteenth? It is the end of bondage, the revelation of the enemy, and the promise that this nation's success is our inheritance. Juneteenth marks the surrender of our slavers and the beginning of the fulfilment of MAMA TCHAMBA'S edict but MAMA TCHAMBA isn't acknowledged alone on Juneteenth.

Juneteenth properly belongs to MAMI ABLƆ, Freedom and Self Determination incarnate.

Juneteenth should be observed by release from drudgery and a rededication to our dreams and goals. It is She who has honored our ancestors with success despite our ancestral oppressors, making each subsequent generation wealthier and more liberated than the one before.

In the case of which holiday should be for "black people" it is not, nor should it be, a matter of either or but instead it should be Thanksgiving for our ongoing ascent to power and a cautionary tail to not repeat the errors of those who was over us lest we inherit their fate.