“I think we all know that today is a day to celebrate the beginning of freedom,” Harris told a group of about 12 elementary school children at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. “And think of it from a historical perspective, knowing that blacks in America were not free for 400 years of slavery.” “Let this be a day to celebrate the beginning of freedom, but to speak about it honestly and accurately, both in the context of history and in the context of its current application,” Harris continued during her seemingly impromptu remarks. . The first African slaves in the American colonies arrived in Virginia in 1619. Slavery was abolished through the 13th Amendment, which was ratified in 1865 – ending 246 years of practice, not 400. A White House official acknowledged Harris’s mistake, telling The Post that “the vice president was referring to the 400 years since he took office.” Vice President Kamala Harris gave a history lesson on the June holiday Monday. / Patrick Semansky Harris, the first vice president of part-time African descent, also said June, which became a federal holiday last year and had its roots in a Texas emancipation celebration, is an opportunity to reflect on the nature of freedom. “With the Declaration of Emancipation and the Civil War, he demanded that America really ask, ‘Who is free?’ How do we define freedom? Freedom in terms of autonomy that one should have? Are we given freedom or are we born with freedom? “Right?” Said Harris. “I would argue that it is a right that God has given us to have freedom. It is your innate right to have freedom. And then during slavery, freedom was conquered. And so, we will not celebrate that we were given back what God gave us, right? “ A White House official acknowledged the mistake made by Vice President Kamala Harris, telling the Post that “the Vice President was referring to the 400th anniversary of the inauguration.” AP Photo / Patrick Semansky “Amen!” said a member of her audience. “We should also think about the current application, asking everyone we know for free?” Harris continued. “Do we know anyone who is not free? Do all people in the world have freedom? Are there those who are without freedom? “When we talk about freedom, are we talking about freedom from – or are we talking about freedom?”
