Unknown legacy

How should Black Independence day be celebrated respectfully and truly honor Juneteenth?

Graphic by Krystal Wu, Social Media and Business Manager

Reagan Horne, Staff Writer

For years, people were blinded to the true importance of Juneteenth. Though it was never an official holiday, President Joe Biden signed a bill declaring Juneteenth as a federal holiday on June 16, 2021. Although some of the Black community appreciates the long-awaited recognition for the freedom of our ancestors, I am not satisfied with this decision.  Biden enforced the bill to make Juneteenth a “federal,” holiday, not a national one. This is only a small progression in the right direction.

The Oxford Language Dictionary defines “federal holiday” as, “a public holiday established by the federal government of a country.” The significant difference between a federal and a national holiday can be quite confusing, but Juneteenth is not to be celebrated as just a “public holiday.” In today’s society, people are unaware of the history that revolves around what Juneteenth truly is, and why we should celebrate it. To compare the true meaning behind both holidays is to understand the true meaning that revolves around it. People with an interest in justice and who have the passion to spread awareness of important topics, no matter how uncomfortable, will care to see Juneteenth as a national holiday and receive its rightful praise.

A national holiday can also be defined as a “day when a nation or a non-sovereign country celebrates its independence, establishment of an otherwise important occasion.” We don’t want to replace the Fourth of July as it’s celebrated by millions of patriots, but Juneteenth deserves to be recognized and passed as a national holiday. 

Juneteenth should be embraced loud and proud by every American citizen, as it celebrates the independence of a significant part of this country’s history. It is a blemish on the country’s past, one that was corrected when freedom was given to those enslaved. The last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were informed the Civil War had ended without realizing they had been freed for nearly two years. Freedom was delivered by Ulysses. S. Grant and the Union soldiers, and it was thus time to celebrate their Independence Day. Juneteenth deserves the same attention and praise as the Fourth of July, if not more. 

On July 4, 1775, America celebrated the enforcement of  the Declaration of Independence, written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Ben Franklin, with hopes to, “announce and explain separation from Great Britain." The world-known document states that “all men are created equal.” However, slavery was still legal, meaning Black people weren’t considered equal in anyone’s eyes. When the document states that all men are created equal, they are referring to white men only. When it comes to making Fourth of July plans every year, the more that is learned on what we are truly celebrating, the more spirit that is lost.

The abolishment of slavery in the rebel states, first through the Emancipation Proclamation in Jan. 1863 then through a formal declaration on June 19, 1865, marked a revolutionary period in Black history, which is solidified by Juneteenth. As tradition of the Black community, we celebrate our ancestor’s freedom and honor the lives that were taken before their time. Juneteenth is our holiday, our Independence day. Since the first celebration a year after that declaration, the holiday is celebrated generation after generation for as long as people continue to celebrate Black history and Black culture.  

  In the end, by refraining from replacing the Fourth of July with Juneteenth, both holidays can be celebrated with the appropriate intentions. To respect each other’s values and beliefs and their will to celebrate the Fourth of July, Juneteenth isn’t intended to replace America’s Independence Day. Juneteenth should be celebrated by everyone willing to recognize and honor the freedom of the last enslaved Black people. The outrage should be heard in regard to our true Independence Day being January 1st,1863. The younger generation of America deserves to be raised in a country that honors and embraces the historic empowerment that comes with Juneteenth.