What Does Juneteenth Mean to You?

by: Amanda Hughley

In June of 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, officially making Juneteenth a federal holiday. At that point, many, especially non-African Americans, in the United States did not know what Juneteenth was or that it even existed. Although most states recognized the day, some even as an official state holiday, unless people had connections to the African-American community, the day flew under their radar.

After the president signed the law, Juneteenth became, at the very least, a word that people had heard of. But what happened on a federal, legal level has yet to permeate through American culture. Juneteenth has, and continues to be, seen as a “black holiday;” something that is only important to American Descendants of Slavery (ADOS) and no one else. But while the focus is on a particular point in African-American history and celebration of culture, this holiday is one that should be celebrated by every American.

America is still in the throes of it’s racial reckoning, and perhaps one of the ways we can overcome division is by adopting both having a healthy and informed grasp of the history of all the plights of those who call America home. Even more important is to acknowledge, not ignore, the history in which darkness was prominent. If 80% of the country sits back and chooses to see Juneteenth as a celebration only for a specific subset of people, they have missed the opportunity to acknowledge the reason Juneteenth is significant in the first place. Further, they will continue to hold tight to an ignorance that breeds nothing but more division.

I have purposefully left out a description and explanation of Juneteenth, because I would like you to ask yourself if you know what the holiday is, what it means, and what the significance is, for not just the ADOS community, but also for the United States. Do you grasp the weight of why 2 years separated the Emancipation Proclamation and Juneteenth? Do you feel this is a holiday you should celebrate? Why or why not? If you are not an ADOS, what ways can you recognize, commemorate, and/or celebrate the day (without appropriating it from the community)? How will you celebrate Juneteenth this year and onward?