Argus Explains: What Is Juneteenth?
The library's period five monitor puts up quotes from students about the significance of Juneteenth. Photo: Erica Wong
By JEFFENIQUE RICHARDS and KAYANDREA DOVER
On June 20, we will all have a day off of school. Do you know the reason? It is in celebration of a fairly new holiday in the U.S.: Juneteenth. So what is this holiday all about?
June 19, 1865, was the final end of slavery for African Americans in the United States. While President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, freed the slaves in the confederacy, the Civil War was still going on, so the law couldn’t be enforced. It wasn’t until the war was over that Union generals could make freedom official in the southern states. Texas was the last state on the list, and that state’s slaves were freed on June 19.
Last year, President Joe Biden declared Juneteenth a national holiday. Now the holiday is celebrated all around the United States to reflect on the history of slavery and the struggle for equality.
Many African Americans also use this day to celebrate Black culture and to pay tribute to their ancestors, sometimes with parades or with cookouts in their backyards with family and friends. Some drink red drinks such as strawberry soda to symbolize the bloodshed of African American slaves. It’s a day to support Black-owned businesses and tell stories passed down through generations.
Some use this day to bring awareness of what African Americans are still facing today in the fight to overcome racism. The holiday brings the community together as one so we can learn about each other and how to build up our communities. When celebrating this holiday, we also celebrate the freedom of 250,000 slaves at the end of the Civil War.
Now that the holiday is official, Juneteenth can become more well-known outside of the Black community. A quick poll we conducted of 100 Midwood students found that 45% knew of Juneteenth. In our poll group, 60% of Black students knew of the holiday, compared to 35% of people of another race.
“Juneteenth means to me that Black people are finally free from the hardship and blatant racism our ancestors faced,” said junior Akeyla Chisolm. “I am happy that it's now an official holiday instead of just a day where Black people celebrate it. Now everyone can celebrate it, and we have a day dedicated to doing so.”
“Juneteenth is an important holiday, especially to me as a Black person,” said sophomore Jenaiah Goguette. “I can now celebrate my ancestors’ freedom and pay tribute to them with family and friends. I was not made aware of this holiday until Joe Biden made it official. But I am happy he did so more people are aware and can celebrate it in the country.”
This year the holiday will come during Regents week, so many may not be aware of the reason why there will be no school that Monday. However, the library is raising awareness with Juneteenth decorations and quotes from students.
“The kids will be off during this special day, but the library has already set up Juneteenth decorations with help from the wonderful library monitors,” said library worker Mrs. McKenzie.
“When I came into the library, I was in awe looking at the Juneteenth decorations,” said Patrice McDonald ‘23. “Some of the decorations that stood out to me the most were the fist drawings representing black power and freedom. Also, the pinned shirt next to the board [which read ‘Protect Black Trans Women’] was very significant as it is an important issue that is not in the media enough.”
It wasn't an easy road for our ancestors during and after the civil rights movement. However, we are here today, and we will continue to celebrate them on the special day of Juneteenth. Overall, the holiday has so much history behind it, and that history shouldn't be forgotten.
“The significance of Juneteenth matters,” McDonald said, “because we cannot afford to repeat the past.”