It was maybe ten years ago that I first heard the word. At first, I thought it was one of the cutesy things people say, mashing two words together to create something memorable and quirky. I soon learned that the day had been celebrated in many African American communities for over 140 years and that it was connected to the emancipation of enslaved people in this country. And although it was an official holiday in a number of states, it did not become a federally recognized day until 2020. Even then, it met with resistance from 14 Republicans. Their reasons varied, but many opposed it because it honors what they call “identity” politics. Uh-huh.
I learned about this day from a friend in a somewhat tangential way. I asked him what he and his family were doing for the 4th of July, and he told me that they didn’t celebrate that day – they celebrated Juneteenth. As a privileged white guy, I was puzzled, so he explained that, with the exception of Vermont, every colony that celebrated the 4th of July that first Independence Day did so for white people only. People from Africa, and their descendants, were not free until 1863, and even then, it took some time. Delaware, which prides itself as the first state to sign the Declaration of Independence, was one of the last to sign the 13th Amendment, waiting until 1903 to do so. Juneteenth is a reminder that it took two and a half years for Texas to get around to telling enslaved people that they were free.
Juneteenth matters because it is a stark reminder that the Civil War, for slave-holding states, was only about keeping enslaved people in their place. And white folks can huff and puff all they want about it; their immature and ignorant behavior won’t change the fact that every person who is African American had ancestors who were not free when this country celebrated its freedom. It is a reminder that this country was built on the backs of enslaved people, and even when they were emancipated, most did not taste freedom for years. It is a reminder that laws remained in place for decades following the end of the Civil War to make sure people of color were denied basic rights. It is the painful realization that the Civil War never really ended for many Americans. it is being fought in legislative houses, schools, and churches. The presence of Confederate Battle Flags in northern states should be enough proof of that.
Juneteenth matters, and every child should learn about it. Every child should know the history of the Civil War and the years that followed. History matters and convicts us and reminds us of where we have been. If we remove the parts we don’t like, we will repeat them. Which is part of the plan, isn’t it? That’s true identity politics.
Prayer – Forgive us, God, for wanting to hide the truth from ourselves because it makes us feel guilty. Teach us to listen to our consciences so we can be reminded that we have a hopeful future. Amen.
Our art is A MAP OF THE UNITED STATES THAT SHOWS ‘FREE STATES,’ ‘SLAVE STATES,’ AND ‘UNDECIDED’ ONES, AS IT APPEARED IN THE BOOK ‘AMERICAN SLAVERY AND COLOUR,’ BY WILLIAM CHAMBERS, 1857. (www.history.com)