Why Every African Immigrant Must Celebrate Juneteenth

Juneteenth

On Tuesday, June 15, 2021, the United States Senate unanimously passed a resolution to establish June 19 as a national holiday called the Juneteenth National Independence Day. The holiday is to commemorate the abolishment of slavery in the United States.

The legislation became a topic for discussion in early 2020. It gained momentum in the wake of the massive Black Lives Matter protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd. Following the Democrats’ takeover of both the White House and Congress, the bill remained high up President Biden’s agenda.

After the Senate passage, President Biden speedily signed the legislation into law in front of White House staff. Federal employees will first observe the holiday on Friday, June 18. At the signing, Vice President Kamala Harris said,

“Throughout history, Juneteenth has been known by many names: Jubilee Day, Freedom Day, Liberation Day, Emancipation Day, and today, a national holiday. We are gathered here in a house built by enslaved people. We are footsteps away from where President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.” 

While signing the bill, President Biden said, “I’ve only been president for several months, but I think this will go down, for me, as one of the greatest honors I will have had as President.”

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth image
Juneteenth is now a National Holiday in the US. [Photo Credit: DoDEA]

On 19 June 1865, a few months after the North had conquered the South in the Civil War, African-American slaves in Galveston, Texas, were freed. This came two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

Although slavery was still in existence in a few states, the declaration by General Grainger to bring the Emancipation Proclamation into effect in Texas signaled the end of slavery. It finally brought the practice to an end in the last state still holding the enslaved.

Juneteenth is an informal word obtained by merging the words “June” and “Nineteenth” together. Americans all over the world celebrate it on June 19th.

How did it become Federal Law? 

Before the declaration of the Juneteenth National Holiday, 49 states and Washington DC already recognized it as a holiday. South Dakota is the only state yet to do so. As a Senator of Illinois, President Obama sponsored legislation to get Juneteenth recognized as a holiday, but it never succeeded—even during his time as President. 

In 2021, companies such as Nike, Uber, Twitter, and many others have announced they are giving their employees a paid day off for Juneteenth. The House of Representatives voted 415-14 in favor of the bill, while the senate unanimously approved it. President Biden’s signature on Thursday means it is now federal law. 

Why is Juneteenth Significant? 

Juneteenth National Holiday is significant for the black population who were direct descendants of slave parents. It represents an opportunity for social reflection, an opportunity to address issues of social injustice and discrimination.

It represents a reminder to black people of where they are coming from and what they can achieve both individually and collectively. 

For non-black people, the Juneteenth National Holiday is an opportunity for re-orientation and awareness. It is a window for education on issues of racial justice. It is also an eye-opener to why it is important that the world stamps out racism once and for all.

What People are Saying 

Many people took to social media after the declaration to comment on the Juneteenth National Holiday declaration. See some of the reactions below.

Opposition to the Bill 

Although the general reaction to the declaration was positive, not everyone is a fan of the legislation. In 2020, Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson blocked the bill, opining that the day off for federal employees would cost American taxpayers millions of dollars.

However, in 2021, Johnson shelved his objection, paving the way for the bill’s unanimous passage in the Senate. He said,

“Although I strongly support celebrating emancipation, I objected to the cost and lack of debate. While it still seems strange that having taxpayers provide federal employees paid time off is now required to celebrate the end of slavery, it is clear that there is no appetite in Congress to further discuss the matter.”

Juneteenth 2023 Celebration

The Juneteenth national holiday celebration is now in its third year. The 2023 celebration fell on Monday, June 19, 2023.

However, not every establishment or state in the United Sates is observing the holiday. Some stores across the United States and state governments as well as all federal agencies will remain shut on Monday. However, TD Bank will be closed on Sunday but will be operational on Monday. Here is a list of most of the agencies and firms that will be closed.

Whether you want to increase awareness about the celebration or want to surprise your loved ones, here are some amazing products that will come in handy;

  1. Awesome Messy Bun Juneteenth T-shirt
  2. Juneteenth Baseball Cap
  3. Juneteenth Garden Flag
  4. Juneteenth: It’s a Celebration
  5. Miss Juneteenth

Conclusion 

It is an important moment in the history of Black America that Juneteenth is now a federal holiday. Many Black Americans excelling in different fields today would never have had the opportunity if not for the price paid by the slaves.

As the world intensified its efforts toward battling racism, this news is a whiff of fresh air. Where and how will you be celebrating your Juneteenth holiday? Let us know in the comment section.

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