More than two years had passed since U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, when, on June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, with news of freedom.
While the proclamation had freed all enslaved people in the Confederate states, it was largely enforced through the advancement of Union troops. When news reached the last 250,000 in Texas, this symbolized the end of slavery in the U.S. Juneteenth—a blend of the words “June” and “nineteenth”—has since become a celebration of Black freedom, culture and achievement in the U.S., and in 2021, it became a federal holiday.
The World Tribune sat down with the national representatives of the Practicing Buddhism as People of African Descent Group (POAD) to discuss the significance of Juneteenth and their crucial role as Bodhisattvas of the Earth in creating a brighter future for young people.
Thank you very much, Carolyn and Dave, for speaking with us. In June, the POAD Group will commemorate Juneteenth with Buddhist introductory meetings. What is the goal of your Juneteenth activities this year?
Dave Goodman (POAD men’s leader): We want to always acknowledge the significance of that date, where so many of us were finally freed as citizens. This year, we want to celebrate with the fighting spirit to do shakubuku. We want to share this idea of having freedom, and celebrating freedom, not just among ourselves but also with the people in our environment, especially young people. We want young people to experience freedom on the most fundamental level—in their hearts—which our Buddhist practice enables us to do.
Carolyn Colby (POAD women’s leader): I agree. Particularly for the youth, I think it’s important that they understand how powerful they are and how this practice can help them realize and manifest that power in their lives. As for Juneteenth, it’s important to acknowledge the struggle and perseverance of African Americans in history. We have to respect and appreciate the struggle we’ve gone through. Once we appreciate that struggle, we can share with our lives the endurance of the human spirit to never be defeated and become absolutely happy.
In 2012, Ikeda Sensei sent a message to the members of the POAD Group Conference at the Florida and Nature Culture Center (FNCC). In part, the message states: “As Americans of African descent, you have awakened to your noble missions as Bodhisattvas of the Earth and have been advancing day by day, serving as excellent models for our global kosen-rufu movement. Surely, Nichiren Daishonin is praising you wholeheartedly.” What is the significance of that message and how does it resonate today?
Carolyn: It was Sensei acknowledging how important we are as Bodhisattvas of the Earth, and how important Black people have been and still are to the growth and development of this country. And still today, that message is a call to action: a conscious and continuous effort to care for and encourage the person in front of us to practice Buddhism. The message also means we must have faith that our struggle for kosen-rufu is bringing about change, even when the results may not seem immediately apparent. If we don’t absolutely believe in the power of the Gohonzon ourselves, it’s really challenging to convince others.
Dave: When we talk about the Buddhist concept of the cherry, plum, peach and damson[1] representing the ability of all people to attain Buddhahood just as they are, it’s clear that our distinct character and nature as African Americans is fundamentally respectworthy. We can celebrate how we express our humanity and how we express ourselves as Bodhisattvas of the Earth. The basics of our practice will always remain the same, but it takes our diversity as human beings to accomplish kosen-rufu.
What great insights. The youth envisioned the motto Creating a District With Many Youth Is Up to Me. What role does POAD play in this regard?
Carolyn: Sensei always expressed the importance of dialogue. I believe it’s important to engage in sincere dialogue with young people in our environment. It can be challenging, but it is essential in creating a peaceful world. There is no doubt about it. So somehow we have to use our mouths, use our minds and use our experiences in faith to open the hearts of youth who are struggling.
Dave: In 2023, the Surgeon General issued an advisory on the impact loneliness is having on our health. Young people, especially, have not felt more isolated than they do now. What enabled me to grow in my youth was the people in this organization that connected with me. I feel we must have the courage to engage our young people, especially our Black youth. We have to look past the barriers in front of us and talk directly to their hearts. Having that kind of heart-to-heart dialogue is so important. As disciples of Ikeda Sensei, our ability to connect to the hearts of others through dialogue is one of our superpowers. Human solidarity is built by opening our hearts to each other.
What Juneteenth activities will the POAD Group be conducting in June?
Dave: Each territory will conduct a Juneteenth meeting in person, but those who can’t be there physically can also join by webinar.
Carolyn: Just scroll down on this page to find your territory event. They’re open to all members and friends; please join us!
Juneteenth, a Celebration of Endurance and Hope for the Future
Central Territory
Sunday, June 22, 2025
Chicago Buddhist Center
1:00pm
In person and broadcast
East Territory
Saturday, June 28, 2025
New York Culture Center
1:00pm (Gongyo 12:00 pm)
In person and broadcast
West Territory
Sunday, June 29, 2025
1:00pm
Oakland Buddhist Center
In person and broadcast
SoCal Pacific Territory
Juneteenth Celebration will be prerecorded and made available on Juneteenth and can be viewed for one or two weeks.
For more information regarding the POAD Juneteenth Events in your area, please contact your local organization.
June 13, 2025 World Tribune, p. 10
References
- Nichiren Daishonin states: “Each thing—the cherry, the plum, the peach, the damson—in its own entity, without undergoing any change, possesses the eternally endowed three bodies” (The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, p. 200). The “eternally endowed three bodies” refers to three aspects of a Buddha: the Dharma body (the Law to which the Buddha is enlightened), the reward body (the Buddha’s wisdom) and the manifested body (the Buddha’s compassionate actions). Nichiren concludes that he and his followers, who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, are originally and eternally endowed with these three aspects (see OTT, 200–01). Faith in the Mystic Law is the source for giving full expression to those unique qualities. ↩︎
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