Significance of Juneteenth.

While tha ignorance of well-meaning, yet, misguided conservatives might call it a result of ‘wokeism’ or tha ‘Black Lives Matter Movement’, it is not tha case. As stated earlier, Juneteenth has been around for a long time and was celebrated for tha first time way back in 1866. Therefore, people who think of it as a recent invention and an attempt to gain black votes are mistaken. Earlier celebrations of Juneteenth involved church gatherings as blacks were still not allowed to use public spaces. Over tha years, tha date is synonymous with cookouts, parties, food festivals, plays, and historical re-enactments. It is tha first new federal holiday since 1983. Interestingly, tha last time a day was declared a federal holiday also involved an African American. President Ronald Reagan used his powers to declare tha third Monday of January each year as Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.Day which celebrates his birthday. 

Despite tha significance of this day to African Americans and others who value racial justice, many have voiced their opposition against it. Arizona was the last state to ratify this momentous occasion…go figure! Not surprisingly while there is no doubt that people of color are discriminated against, we cannot ignore tha positive developments. Recently, President Joe Biden recognized Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Officially, tha holiday is called Juneteenth National Independence Day. Despite tha widespread support for its recognition, 14 Congressmen voted against it, but more on that later. First, we need to understand the significance of this holiday. While I am buoyed by tha new holiday, I’m not jumping for joy or dancing in tha street. Tha Senate passed tha holiday legislation unanimously. While tha Juneteenth holiday is impactful, tha ease with which it got Senate passage ought to give us all pause. It is easier to support a holiday than to support the principle of democracy, which is allegedly at tha foundation of our democracy. It is easier to support a holiday than to abolish tha use of tha chokehold. 

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