A message I sent to my students about the significance of Juneteenth I have reposted here:
Happy Juneteenth!
This new federal holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. President Biden said that it is the sign of a healthy nation that acknowledges its mistakes and works to correct them. Vice President Harris reminded the audience at the signing that the White House was itself built by enslaved African American and now she is the first woman and first person of color to be Vice President.
It’s been a tough year for everyone for a lot of reasons that can weigh us down and make us feel powerless, but the history of Juneteenth teaches us that we can overcome when people organize and work for change.
Unlike other federal holidays that acknowledge an important person or acknowledge our military, this holiday honors the millions of unknown people who built this nation on the backs of their bondage and were liberated by their collective resistance to slavery.
Let us honor their memory and learn from their example.
Have a great summer y’all and see you in the fall!
I like the suggestion of Opal Lee (who led the movement that made Juneteenth a national holiday) that we embrace a national period of jubilation and remembrance, something akin to Mardi Gras, kicking off with Juneteenth and climaxing with Independence Day.
That sounds very appropriate!
I’ve thought for a couple of years this should be a federal holiday. When it comes to the progress we celebrate emancipation seemed conspicuously absent as a holiday impetus. Plus what could be more American than celebrating liberty?