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If you're familiar with Juneteenth, who do you think it's for? Do you think of it as a holiday for all Americans? Only Texans? Only Black Americans? Only Black Texans? Or something else?
Juneteenth celebrates June 19th, 1865, the day that the Emancipation Proclamation was recognized in Texas, the day that slavery ended in Texas. (Even though Lincoln had supposedly "freed the slaves" two and a half years earlier, on January 1, 1863, that was meaningless until Lee surrendered, and the Union was able to move enough troops to Texas to actually do something about it.) Since then, many descendants of Texan slaves have gotten together for cookouts, picnics, and general getting-together-and-having-a-good-time in celebration and remembrance of it.
I know white and Hispanic Texans -- well, a white and a Hispanic Texan -- okay, fine, Scott and Ximena -- who like to acknowledge the day, even though neither of them is descendent from slaves. Actually, now that I think of it, I think Bill Gawne is also a white Texan, at least by education, who recognizes the day. I've met a Black woman up here in New England whose ancestors were Texan slaves, who likes to celebrate it, or, at least, appreciates it when people wish her a happy Juneteenth.
And I don't do anything about it, but I am AWARE that today is Juneteenth.
So, I was just wondering how other people think about it. Whose holiday is it?
Juneteenth celebrates June 19th, 1865, the day that the Emancipation Proclamation was recognized in Texas, the day that slavery ended in Texas. (Even though Lincoln had supposedly "freed the slaves" two and a half years earlier, on January 1, 1863, that was meaningless until Lee surrendered, and the Union was able to move enough troops to Texas to actually do something about it.) Since then, many descendants of Texan slaves have gotten together for cookouts, picnics, and general getting-together-and-having-a-good-time in celebration and remembrance of it.
I know white and Hispanic Texans -- well, a white and a Hispanic Texan -- okay, fine, Scott and Ximena -- who like to acknowledge the day, even though neither of them is descendent from slaves. Actually, now that I think of it, I think Bill Gawne is also a white Texan, at least by education, who recognizes the day. I've met a Black woman up here in New England whose ancestors were Texan slaves, who likes to celebrate it, or, at least, appreciates it when people wish her a happy Juneteenth.
And I don't do anything about it, but I am AWARE that today is Juneteenth.
So, I was just wondering how other people think about it. Whose holiday is it?