MovieChat Forums > Politics > Your thoughts on Juneteenth?

Your thoughts on Juneteenth?

posted 2 years ago by [deleted]
45 replies | jump to latest

Juneteenth (officially Juneteenth National Independence Day) is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Deriving its name from combining June and nineteenth, it is celebrated on the anniversary of the order by Major General Gordon Granger proclaiming freedom for slaves in Texas on June 19, 1865 (two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued). Originating in Galveston, Juneteenth has since been observed annually in various parts of the United States, often broadly celebrating African-American culture. The day was first recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law after the efforts of Lula Briggs Galloway, Opal Lee, and others.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juneteenth

Seems a bit odd to me. I don't know... but for me holidays are something historical and this one being recognized in 2021 feels hollow and very 'modern' (aka progressive), doesn't carry the same gravitas of more traditional holidays. I guess I'm controversial in that I don't think more 'holidays' should be added.

Even stuff like 'Fathers day' and 'Valentines day', whilst not holidays but 'special' days, seems a bit silly to me.

The abolition of slavery is worth noting for sure but I'm not so sure recognizing it as a holiday and trying to celebrate it is worth becoming a thing. Seems like a phony capitalist venture. I'm sure it'll be marketed and commercialized in no time.

I'm not American and this doesn't effect me so what do I know.

Will you be celebrating Juneteenth?

[–] Filmtenk2 (4095) 2 years ago

I share a bday with Juneteenth. Doesn't bother me at all, kinda makes it more noteworthy in a way.

I don't agree but think there is some merit to the argument that Juneteenth shouldn't be a national holiday because it occured in TX and thus should be observed / celebrated only in TX. Like how only MA and a handful of other states celebrate Patriot's Day.

*Edit you're not American so to save you time:
TX = Texas
MA = Massachusetts

[–] telegonus (740) 2 years ago

It seems unnecessary to me, largely a reaction to the George Floyd case of police abuse and the death of Floyd at the hands of a police officer. There was so much controversy at the time, and for some time after, the creation of the new national holiday seemed almost, from a liberal perspective (I'm liberal, but don't share this point of view) that Floyd's death made it a necessity. Truly, I think we're too grown up for that. We have enough national holidays as it is.

[–] Information-Police (4895) 2 years ago

It's wasn't just liberal thing. Congress voted for it overwhelmingly: 421-14 in the House, 100-0 in the Senate.

[–] telegonus (740) 2 years ago

Okay. That was off on my part. My sense is that Juneteenth was easy to vote for in Congress, more so in the Senate than in the House, but a feelgood thing for both major political parties.

[–] WandererFromYs (2347) 2 years ago

Slavery itself only took place in like 15 of the 50 states. So when you look at that way it is a little weird to celebrate an end to something that was never a thing where you live.

Happy Birthday 🎊🎈🎁

[–] UncleRuckis (2631) 2 years ago

Keep in mind the Dredd scott decision. You couldn't buy a slave in a free state, but legally, you could absolutely bring a slave to a free state and they'd still be a slave.

Furthermore, prior to Juneteenth, blacks weren't US citizens anywhere(though they still didn't get most of those rights for like another 100 years), so the holiday effects every state.

[–] WandererFromYs (2347) 2 years ago

That is true, but I think the Civil Rights aspect of it is already covered by MLK day.

[–] chilidoggg (14439) 2 years ago

Technically, everyone (including former black slaves) got the rights with the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, but for the most part, no one acted to punish the people who violated those rights until 1950's/1960's.

[EDIT]

I think I have to walk back that post a little - it should read "everyone with a penis."

[–] Filmtenk2 (4095) 2 years ago

Thanks!

[–] Information-Police (4895) 2 years ago

It's very meaningful to a lot of people. I was at a company meeting last year when they announced that it was being added as a company holiday and a lot of people broke down in tears they were so moved. And these weren't African American individuals but they were minorities.

I celebrated by singing at our city's festival with a mixed church choir.

[–] WandererFromYs (2347) 2 years ago

[deleted]

[–] WandererFromYs (2347) 2 years ago

I don’t mind new holidays, as they usually mean paid time off, and/or time and half at work, or days off from school for kids if it falls during the school year. This currently is not a paid holiday at my company.

As far as celebration or commercialization, I don’t think it will be an issue. Even with the best of intentions it’s almost impossible to honor black culture without someone crying racism. We see it every February. It’s better to not even try.

[–] telegonus (740) 2 years ago

Fast food workers don't really much for national holidays. Also, many (likely most) retail workers. People who flip burgers for a living, leaving aside their race for a bit, won't get jack for Juneteenth. It's best for government workers, state federal and local, which includes school teachers and school janitors; and those school districts that still have cafeterias will give those who work in them a paid day off. There may be some benefits for health care workers, not sure. Banks will close; at least where I live they do. Likely, the stock markets. Not sure about Wall Street itself.

[–] Kowalski (77085) 2 years ago

Even stuff like 'Fathers day' and 'Valentines day', whilst not holidays but 'special' days, seems a bit silly to me.

SPOKEN LIKE A TRUE CHILD.🙂

[–] Gd5150 (11851) 2 years ago

Another flavor of the week holiday created for braindead lemmings that’ll fade away like kwanza.

[–] chilidoggg (14439) 2 years ago

I'll take a paid day off for Kwanzaa - where do I sign?

[–] chilidoggg (14439) 2 years ago

We all have to thank Donald Trump.

Nobody had ever heard about Juneteenth before Donald Trump made it very famous.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2020/06/18/trump-claims-nobody-had-ever-heard-of-juneteenth-before-he-made-it-very-famous/?sh=5fbb0235133e

I read somewhere that Trump was going to use this 2023 Juneteenth to double down on his Platinum Plan For Black Americans

https://cdn.donaldjtrump.com/public-files/press_assets/president-trump-platinum-plan-final-version.pdf

[–] SamNoyoun (5933) 2 years ago

🤣🤣🤣

What a moron! My state has been celebrating Juneteenth as a holiday since 2008...

[–] UncleRuckis (2631) 2 years ago

Lol that was one of the signature moves of the Orange clown! Any time he learned something new, he tried to make it seem like everyone else was just as ignorant as him.

"Who knew healthcare was so complicated!" - sadly, the President.

[–] Bubbathegut (18147) 2 years ago

As President of MC. I have declared the entire month of July to be European Caucasian Appreciation Month and July 4 will now be known as Julyteenth.