Juneteenth

[strngrnrth]

Juneteenth is a several-day-long celebration of the end of legal slavery in the USA. It begins this week. I was thinking of celebrating but I’m seeing less of the people in my life most likely to be planning anything big for it, some Black families I was close to, because I don’t go to church where they do anymore. But maybe there will be something going on in the parks. Anyway, does anyone here celebrate, and does anyone see Juneteenth as a divisive celebration or do we all agree that it’s a needed reminder of the value of freedom and how hard-won it is? Is it appropriate for the city or county to put on a public event for it? For public schools to celebrate? If so, how should it be done?

 

[rpp]

In all my years, I have never heard of this.

I thought legal slavery came to an end in the USA on January 1, 1864 when the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect.

The 13th amendment, which outlawed slavery, was ratified in December 1865.

 

[1ke]

Juneteenth is a celebration particular to Texas-- June 19th.

That is when word finally reached the slaves that they had been freed.

I lived in TX my whole life until my move 3 years ago. I have never had any affinity for that holiday, nor do I support it/celebrate it.

It is not celebrated by whites or hispanics in TX, I can tell you that. It’s not like Cinco de Mayo where it has become an expanded cross-cultural “party holiday” (mostly promoted by Mexican beer companies!)

It is pretty much an exclusively black “holiday”. It’s not an official holiday of any sort. But there are typically lots of festivals and parties. In my experience, the celebration are nothing more than a drunken brawl in the city parks, on the beaches, etc.

 

[pnewton]

Here is a link to the history of this holiday.

juneteenth.com/history.htm

Sounds like a better reason than most for a barbeque and celebration!

 

[rpp]

Thank you, 1ke.

Juneteenth is a celebration particular to Texas-- June 19th.

That is when word finally reached the slaves that they had been freed.

I lived in TX my whole life until my move 3 years ago. I have never had any affinity for that holiday, nor do I support it/celebrate it.

It is not celebrated by whites or hispanics in TX, I can tell you that. It’s not like Cinco de Mayo where it has become an expanded cross-cultural “party holiday” (mostly promoted by Mexican beer companies!)

It is pretty much an exclusively black “holiday”. It’s not an official holiday of any sort. But there are typically lots of festivals and parties. In my experience, the celebration are nothing more than a drunken brawl in the city parks, on the beaches, etc.

Like what Independence Day (the Forth of July) has become.

 

[surfinpure]

Frankly, given the history of this holiday, I don’t know why it isn’t given the recognition we give to MLK Jr. Day. And it certainly deserves a good deal more hoopla than we give Mexico’s national holiday!

 

[Fitswimmer]

Thank you for posting about this. I had never heard of it either. You truly do learn something new every day.

 

[jc-servant]

It is pretty much an exclusively black “holiday”. It’s not an official holiday of any sort. But there are typically lots of festivals and parties. In my experience, the celebration are nothing more than a drunken brawl in the city parks, on the beaches, etc.

Wow, your Texas experience must be pretty limited. Did you ever associate with anyone unlike yourself? Also pretty negative for you to demote this official state holiday to nothing more than a drunken brawl.

1. State of Texas employees do get this holiday off work if it falls during the workweek which is the same treatment for multiple other Texas holidays such as San Jacinto Day, Confederate Heroes Day and LBJ’s Birthday.
2. I have never once been to a Juneteenth celebration that was a drunken anything. They have been fun picnic type events sometimes cultural programs and always suitable for the entire family.
3. There are many non-black people in Texas who are apparently more diverse in their lives than the people you knew and they do celebrate this event.

 

[ruslan]

I have never once been to a Juneteenth celebration that was a drunken anything. They have been fun picnic type events sometimes cultural programs and always suitable for the entire family.

I agree. There are always parades, cookouts, a one mile run. There is a Juneteenth Museum in Ft. Worth. It’s a big thing in Texas.

 

[jman507]

Juneteenth is a several-day-long celebration of the end of legal slavery in the USA. It begins this week. I was thinking of celebrating but I’m seeing less of the people in my life most likely to be planning anything big for it, some Black families I was close to, because I don’t go to church where they do anymore. But maybe there will be something going on in the parks. Anyway, does anyone here celebrate, and does anyone see Juneteenth as a divisive celebration or do we all agree that it’s a needed reminder of the value of freedom and how hard-won it is? Is it appropriate for the city or county to put on a public event for it? For public schools to celebrate? If so, how should it be done?

Personally I’ve always liked celebrations like this. I think part of it really helps give more form to an identity. It really should be used to teach young blacks about important figures of the time, and the general fight that was done to set the process in motion. It should also be used to help showcase to non-blacks, the story of blacks; not as inferiors, nor blame of others, but as one group to another.

It’s kinda of a nice compliment to MLK Jr. Day. That day is more of a memorial, this week is more of a celebration.

 

[LCMS_No_More]

In all my years, I have never heard of this.

I thought legal slavery came to an end in the USA on January 1, 1864 when the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect.

The 13th amendment, which outlawed slavery, was ratified in December 1865.

Actually, the Emancipation Proclamation only freed the slaves in the Confederate States that had not yet been brought back under Union control. Slaves in territory that was under Union control were not freed.

 

[rpp]

Actually, the Emancipation Proclamation only freed the slaves in the Confederate States that had not yet been brought back under Union control. Slaves in territory that was under Union control were not freed.

:doh2: Doh! You’re right. I knew that. I made another mistake, it went into effect on January 1, 1863.

I really need to start checking before I post.

One day I’ll get it right.

 

[1ke]

Wow, your Texas experience must be pretty limited. Did you ever associate with anyone unlike yourself? Also pretty negative for you to demote this official state holiday to nothing more than a drunken brawl.

Yes, you are correct, it is a state holiday. It is not a federal holiday.

The experience I have includes shootings and riot police on the beaches of Galveston and Surfside.

That is why I stay AWAY.

I have no desire to be a part of that “experience”.

 

[surfinpure]

Yes, you are correct, it is a state holiday. It is not a federal holiday.

The experience I have includes shootings and riot police on the beaches of Galveston and Surfside.

That is why I stay AWAY.

I have no desire to be a part of that “experience”.

Being born and raised in Galveston, I can testify to this. It isn’t always a family day in the park … although it should be.

 

[pnewton]

Being born and raised in Galveston, I can testify to this. It isn’t always a family day in the park … although it should be.

Yup. We always gear up for a rough day as far as arrests and disturbances. Most celebrations are calm family affairs. But make no mistake, there will be plenty of drinking and fighting. That’s what the news.

 

[Eden]

I had first heard about Juneteenth celebrations in Pittsburgh, so it’s definitely celebrated outside Texas, too:

juneteenth.com/0penn_us.htm

 

[didymus]

I had first heard about Juneteenth celebrations in Pittsburgh, so it’s definitely celebrated outside Texas, too:

juneteenth.com/0penn_us.htm

And yesterday I learned for the first time that June 12th is Loving Day:

Loving Day is an annual celebration held on June 12, the anniversary of the 1967 United States Supreme Court decision Loving v. Virginia which struck down all anti-miscegenation laws remaining in 16 states citing “There can be no doubt that restricting the freedom to marry solely because of racial classifications violates the central meaning of the equal protection clause,” .[1][2][3] In the United States, anti-miscegenation laws were state laws banning interracial marriage, mainly forbidding marriage between non-whites and whites. Loving Day is not an officially, government-recognized holiday, but is celebrated by a growing number of people throughout the United States, especially by those involved in interracial relationships

 

[Eden]

And yesterday I learned for the first time that June 12th is Loving Day:

Oh, the Plaintiff’s name in the anti-miscegenation lawsuit was named Mildred Loving! :doh2: I thought the name was about “loving” people of other races before I read the link.

 

[Maxply]

. . . not really an Illinois thing. Pulaski Day is, though.

 

[ruslan]

I had first heard about Juneteenth celebrations in Pittsburgh, so it’s definitely celebrated outside Texas, too:

It’s been celebrated outside of Texas for years - but, Texas is where is started and for years we were the only ones celebrating it.