Quote by James Baldwin: "Not only was I not born a slave, I was not born to hope to become the equal of the slave-master." (Ref. from "The Price of the Ticket")
2014 Context: The year Michael Brown was killed by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri, coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, providing a frame of racial politics prior to the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Commemorations of Emancipation
Major Celebrations: Many celebrations depicted the United States as a moral exemplar for abolishing slavery.
- Emphasis on freedom declaration for former slaves and the banning of slavery.
- Celebrations framed emancipation as a moral triumph, calling it a story of continuous progress.
Commentary: Benjamin Jealous of NAACP stated that the Emancipation Proclamation liberated not only blacks but also America from contradictions of slavery.
- Celebratory tone echoed by the film "Lincoln" (2013), portraying moral fortitude behind emancipation.
Michelle Obama's Tribute: Portrayed emancipation as a part of the