Juneteenth- Let Us Have This One

President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, declaring that as of January 1, 1863, all enslaved people in the states were free.

Congress voted to abolish slavery two years later in January of 1865, and it wasn’t until later that year on June 19, 1865, when the Union Army reached Galveston, Texas, spreading the word that all slaves in the United States were free.

This date is now recognized by the Black community as “Juneteenth”.

This past Tuesday, June 15, the Senate voted unanimously to have Juneteenth be recognized as a national holiday in the United States. This day will now be recognized as “Juneteenth National Independence Day”.

That’s a big step as far as recognition goes. But is it wrong for Black Americans to have some feedback?

Why did it take so long for the rest of America to acknowledge the importance of Juneteenth?

The last time there was a new federal holiday in the United States was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, back in 1983.

Slavery in the United States ended in 1865, so why is it 2021 that the government decided to acknowledge this?

Why now?

...

Well, shouldn’t we be grateful for this step in the right direction?

The police force remains as flawed as it is funded. We’re still hearing the words “the first Black ___” in 2021. Critical race theory is banned from certain school curriculums.

How am I gonna be grateful for a holiday that can’t even be taught in some schools?

Not to mention that now Juneteenth is going to be seen as another day that non-black people can capitalize and monetize off of. Juneteenth being a federal holiday while Black people continue to sit in jail for nonviolent drug crimes is not something to be happy about.

I think that Juneteenth being recognized as a federal holiday is a great idea, but we asked for education reform, housing reform, police reform, and so much more. The problem is that people are not listening to us. The government wants Black people to be happy with the bare minimum and it’s just not gonna happen. Our government will never understand the generational trauma they’ve caused Black Americans, and it looks like they aren’t trying to either.

This is nothing more than a performative act to show “how far we’ve come”. Racism hasn’t gone away at all, it’s just taking up different forms. It’s already becoming the holiday that people look forward to just because it means they can get off work.

We’re about to see signs with “Our Annual Juneteenth BOGO sale!” written on them. Does this mean white people get off on this day too? Are there gonna be more white people wearing Kente cloth?

Grateful is not the word I would use.

(And who are you to tell me to be grateful?)

Black people in the United States have been recognizing this holiday for decades. The 156th anniversary of Juneteenth is this Saturday and if you're looking to recognize the holiday on your own terms, do that! Have a cookout, go to a Juneteenth event in your area, stay at home and do things that bring you joy and comfort. Despite all the adversities you’ve faced throughout your time here on Earth, you’re still here. Celebrate your Black self!

If you’re a non-black person reading this and wondering if you can celebrate, sit this one out.

The best thing for you to do on this day is to read; learn about the holiday and the history behind it. Sit with yourself and reflect on how you uplift the Black community. Also, don’t forget to support Black businesses and donate to Black organizations!

A few of my favorites are:

Foreign Ways (apparel, IG: foreignways_ )

Legendary Rootz (apparel, IG: legendaryrootz)

and

Princess in a Power Suit (mentoring organization, IG: princessinapowersuit)

Some organizations to donate to include The Okra Project, Black Girls Smile Inc. and Black Queer and Intersectional Collective.

There’s hundreds of black businesses and organizations across the United States alone, so take some time this weekend to donate if you’re able.

Juneteenth had always been a holiday for black people to celebrate themselves and live in their joy. If you consider yourself an ally to the Black community, please, let us have this one.

Sources:

“HAVE A PROUD AND HAPPY JUNETEENTH!” Juneteenth World Wide Celebration, juneteenth.com/.

Relman, Eliza. “The Senate Voted Unanimously to Make Juneteenth a National Holiday Celebrating the End of Slavery.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 15 June 2021, www.businessinsider.com/the-senate-voted-unanimously-to-make-juneteenth-a-national-holiday-2021-6.

Sullivan, Kate. “Biden to Sign Bill Making Juneteenth a Federal Holiday.” CNN, Cable News Network, 17 June 2021, www.cnn.com/2021/06/17/politics/biden-juneteenth-bill-signing/index.html.