Juneteenth: Past, Present, and Future
This is a little late, but I wanted to compose a message about Juneteenth—especially the first year it is recognized as a national holiday in the United States.
Thank you to Reimagined (formerly AntiRacism Daily) for the history, daily lessons, and many of these words.
The History
This 19th of June marks the 156th anniversary of Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. It marks the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and brought news that slavery had been abolished… more than two years earlier. 😳
History books have taught us that the Emancipation Proclamation, signed by Abraham Lincoln in 1862, was the day that slavery was abolished. But the Emancipation Proclamation was more of a military strategy.
By proclaiming that all enslaved people in the states that made up the Confederacy were free, he made it clear where the North stood against the Confederacy's goals, dissuaded Britain and France from aligning with the Southern states (because they opposed slavery), and encouraged Black Americans to serve in the Union Army.
But remember that during this we were in the midst of the Civil War, and states seceding from the Union, like Texas, weren't really interested in what the North had to say. Texas actually had states laws that made freeing slaves illegal.
It wasn't until the North sent some troops to carry out freedom across the state in person for rules to change, which means that Emancipation Days are different for different cities in the state.
But let's say that Juneteenth DID make everyone immediately, 100% free. Free does not mean equal. Enslaved people were no longer enslaved. It did NOT mean they had a right to bear arms, or vote, to work, or go to school, or marry someone outside or race, or own land. It gave Black people freedom, but none of their rights.
The Present
Remember that Juneteenth only happened 156 years ago. And Black people have been fighting for their rights to what white Americans have been granted since the Independence Day we still celebrate today.
The petition to make Juneteenth a federal holiday was created in 2019 by Opal Lee, a 93-year-old activist. Now that students will have the day off of school for Juneteenth, we need to make sure they will also be learning about its historical significance.
Take time today to reflect and remember.
The Future
Juneteenth may forever be a national holiday, but we need to recognize the impact of slavery and white supremacy every day. Commit to racial equity every day throughout the year, not just when there's a holiday to observe.
Apply the same sensitivity to other federal holidays that reflect both progress and pain: Pride, Columbus' Day (now commonly referred to Indigenous Peoples' Day), Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Thanksgiving.
Making Juneteenth official alone doesn't do that. It has meaning, but can easily become an optical form of solidarity if we don't keep pushing for the reform necessary to truly ensure this country gives Black people the dignity and respect they deserve.
We’ve got so much work to do so that ‘Land of the Free’ means ALL of US.
