Individuals increase American and Pan-African flags whereas marching within the Juneteenth Atlanta Black Historical past parade on June 18, 2022, in Atlanta. | Supply: Elijah Nouvelage / Getty
With the ascension of Juneteenth to federal vacation standing together with it being so shut in proximity to the Fourth of July vacation, some Black people could discover themselves questioning whether or not they need to nonetheless be celebrating the nation’s Independence Day. In spite of everything, Juneteenth has been known as Black Freedom Day or Emancipation Day.
So whose independence ought to Black people be celebrating? That reply will not be as minimize and dry as Dr. Umar Johnson apparently thinks it ought to be.
MORE: The Lingering Relevance Of Frederick Douglass’ ‘What To The Slave Is The Fourth of July?’ Speech
The famous psychologist not too long ago took to social media to share his ideas on the matter.
In line with Johnson, there is no such thing as a selection and there is just one appropriate reply for Black folks in America: Juneteenth.
“There’s nothing worse than a negro who will rejoice his ancestors [sic] freedom on Juneteenth after which flip proper round and rejoice the slave masters who owned them on July 4th! Please decide a facet and keep on it,” Johnson implored Black America in an Instagram submit that started with a hashtag, “#UNAPOLOGETIC.”
To make certain, the subject of pitting the Fourth of July and Juneteenth towards one another is nothing new.
However Johnson appears to be pointing to the idea of an timeless allegiance to a vacation that not solely marks the abolition of slavery within the state of Texas on June 19, 1865, however can be a historic second in American historical past in addition to the end result of President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation that was written three years prior.
In spite of everything, it’s been practically 171 years since iconic abolitionist Frederick Douglass delivered a speech at an occasion commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence that questioned Black folks celebrating the Fourth of July.
“This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. Chances are you’ll rejoice, I need to mourn,” Douglass mentioned on July 5, 1852, earlier than asking rhetorically: “Do you imply, residents, to mock me, by asking me to talk at the moment?”
Opinion writers have significantly been chiming in on the subject for the final couple of years since Juneteenth grew to become a federal vacation.
Peniel E. Joseph, an African American scholar on race, wrote for CNN that “it’s value remembering that Juneteenth, as a lot because the Fourth of July, represents American democracy’s true birthday.”
Others have precisely identified that the July 4 vacation was established on the identical time that Black folks had been thought of three-fifths of a human.
“Too many Individuals consider the Fourth of July as a day marking the triumph of freedom and equality in America, as if everybody enjoys the identical liberties and alternatives,” Ethan Kytle, professor of historical past at California State College Fresno, informed Yahoo Information.
An op-ed in certainly one of America’s oldest Black newspapers mentioned there’s no want to decide on between Juneteenth and the Fourth of July “doesn’t must be both/or: it may be BOTH/AND!”
From the Chicago Crusader:
We will benefit from the incremental recognition of the brand new federal vacation, which is able to deliver extra focus to the trials and tribulations confronted by us as a folks and on the identical time observe the nation’s independence as represented by the 4th of July vacation!
Maybe a Washington Put up op-ed co-authored by Opal Lee, well known as “the grandmother of Juneteeth,” summed it up finest.
Juneteenth is “the opposite half of the Fourth of July,” the op-ed says partially. “These two holidays, which fall a mere two weeks aside, signify the very best of America. One celebrates the Declaration of Independence, which accommodates what the nice abolitionist Frederick Douglass known as “saving ideas.” The opposite celebrates America’s journey to reside by these ideas.”
That is America.
SEE ALSO:
Juneteenth, Jim Crow And A Black Household Who Fought For Freedom
Every little thing You Want To Know About Juneteenth
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