Tomorrow is #Juneteenth, which marks the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States. Honoring today means celebrating Black power while drawing the connection between this country’s past and present history of anti-Blackness. Dynamics of violence we talk about every day within the context of interpersonal relationships, are replicated by the state and by other systems against Black communities. When we talk domestic violence, we see harm doers economically, emotionally, verbally, and physically hurt their partners. The United States government, culture, and systems replicate these tactics of abuse against Black communities. It is strategic. It is intentional. This is why the criminal justice system – through its courts, policing, and law creation – steals the autonomy, safety, and life from Black individuals in this country. We cannot talk about harmful (and healthy) power dynamics within relationships and exclude the relationship that systems have with Black survivors and Black communities. The liberation of Black communities is inseparable from survivor justice.
