Why Juneteenth as a Holiday in the United States?
Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans on June 19, 1865. It is also known as Freedom Day, and is celebrated across the United States. We do look at the ‘progress’ made for African Americans, but also the persistent challenges of ongoing racial injustice and the lack of equality and equity we face.
Since the beginning of this country, there has been an assault on Black history with a trend of whitewashing American history, leaving out the experiences and contributions of Blacks. Slavery happened and African Americans have not been repaired from the atrocities of that time in history. The continued systemic racism is faced by Black people daily. In an attempt to protect how “white people look to their children and the world,” recently there is an aggressive, concerted effort to silence or downplay this vital part of our nation’s past that involves African Americans.
The teaching of Black history in American schools is the teaching of the country’s history. Under the guise of promoting “patriotic education” or protecting children from discomfort, white and other non-Blacks seek to sanitize the curriculum. Whites want to omit uncomfortable truths about slavery, segregation, ongoing racial injustice and the continued actions of white people on the Black community. By erasing or distorting Black history, white people deny future generations the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of the past and stop perpetuating harmful myths of racial superiority.
Claims that slavery was a “necessary evil” or that it was not as brutal as portrayed in historical accounts serve to diminish the suffering of millions of enslaved Africans and their descendants. This revisionism not only disrespects the experiences of African American ancestors but also pushes harmful stereotypes and prejudices of the Black culture and community. The Black community will continue to demand honest and inclusive education that acknowledges the full scope of Blacks in American history.
On this Juneteenth, yes, we will happily commemorate the end of legalized slavery. At the same time, we will aggressively push forward a strategy to preserve and celebrate African American heritage, while challenging the racist forces that seek to erase it.
Black people, never forget that freedom is not free!
