Episode 104 - SLAVERY: THE COSMPOLITAN HISTORY OF THE JUNETEENTH TABLE, AND MORE

Historian Dr Vashna Jaganarth joined me to explain why Juneteenth
matters. We inevitably hear her brilliant narration of many
complex aspects to the historical (formal) end to slavery in
1865. Along the way, she talks about the gaps between legal
declarations of freedom, and forms of enslavement that continue
thereafter. Unsurprisingly, who can access legal justice becomes
a matter of class politics. 

Vashna spends a lot of delicious time on food, and what the lives
of enslaved peoples have gifted us, and hence why we have certain
typical foods on the Juneteenth table. This begins a discussion
about the importance of humanising slaves. They did not merely
endure, suffer and survive slavery. They also had humanity within
the enslaved conditions (itself a form of resistance) - dance,
music, food, love, etcetera. Vashna explains why, historically,
white supremacy wanted the full humanity for slaves to be
suppresed in the descprtions of 'slaves'. This, in turn, means
that when emancipatory politics sets out to achieve full justice
for the oppressed, it is important to not perpetuate the brittle
view of enslaved persons. Vashan explains in this episode what
this means and requires. 

We ended the episode by discussing what the modern project of
justice for slavery entails, beyond breaking bread. 

Enjoy!