Senate Unanimously Approves a Bill to Make Juneteenth a Public Holiday

SummerMadness · Jun 15, 2021

Senate Unanimously Approves a Bill to Make Juneteenth a Public Holiday

The Senate unanimously approved a bill Tuesday that would make Juneteenth, the date commemorating the end of chattel slavery in the United States, a legal public holiday.

The holiday is celebrated on June 19, and it began in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas learned they had been freed under the Emancipation Proclamation.

President Abraham Lincoln had signed the proclamation outlawing slavery years earlier, but it was not until 1865 that those in bondage in Texas were freed.

President Abraham Lincoln had signed the proclamation outlawing slavery years earlier, but it was not until 1865 that those in bondage in Texas were freed.

civilwarbuff · Jun 15, 2021

This is one of the more poorly written articles I have ever seen from NPR, but it is published under the politics section so that probably goes a long way to explaining that........

SummerMadness · Jun 15, 2021

civilwarbuff said:
This is one of the more poorly written articles I have ever seen from NPR, but it is published under the politics section so that probably goes a long way to explaining that........

You could just say you're not happy about Juneteenth becoming a public holiday...

JSRG · Jun 15, 2021

Personally I wouldn't mind them adding a holiday in March or April. The gap between Washington's Birthday and Memorial Day is the longest gap between two federal holidays in the year.

I'm a little surprised this was passed unanimously. I seem to remember reading a while ago that some Senators were in opposition because they thought the number of paid federal holidays should be kept the same and thought what should be done is to make Juneteenth a federal holiday and drop Columbus Day as a holiday.

civilwarbuff · Jun 15, 2021

SummerMadness said:
You could just say you're not happy about Juneteenth becoming a public holiday...

Anyone who even knows the least bit about the ACW would ridicule this article.......reads like it was written by a 3rd grader just minutes before handing it in........

FireDragon76 · Jun 16, 2021

I don't really get the historical basis for this holiday. I know there are alot of African-Americans in Texas, and this is where this holiday concept has its origins, but the end of slavery in the US was far less decisive and was not tied to the Emancipation Proclamation, which only ended slavery in the Confederacy, not the US (that didn't happen until after the Civil War ended).

The Thirteenth Ammendment to the US Constitution began the process of ending slavery in the United States, and it was only later ratified by the states, with Mississippi being the last to do so. The 13th Ammendment did not guarantee social equality of freed blacks, only limits on government power concerning forced servitude (which is why Jim Crow laws could develop in the first place and were upheld until civil rights legislation in the 20th century).

U.S. Senate: The Senate Passes the Thirteenth Amendment

Arcangl86 · Jun 16, 2021

FireDragon76 said:
I don't really get the historical basis for this holiday. I know there are alot of African-Americans in Texas, and this is where this holiday concept has its origins, but the end of slavery in the US was far less decisive and was not tied to the Emancipation Proclamation, which only ended slavery in the Confederacy, not the US (that didn't happen until after the Civil War ended).

The Thirteenth Ammendment to the US Constitution began the process of ending slavery in the United States, and it was only later ratified by the states, with Mississippi being the last to do so. The 13th Ammendment did not guarantee social equality of freed blacks, only limits on government power concerning forced servitude (which is why Jim Crow laws could develop in the first place and were upheld until civil rights legislation in the 20th century).

U.S. Senate: The Senate Passes the Thirteenth Amendment

My understanding is that it started as a strictly local celebration of the end of slavery in Texas, and when Black Texans left Texas during the Great MIgration, they took the celebration with them.

durangodawood · Jun 16, 2021

People

FireDragon76 said:
I don't really get the historical basis for this holiday. I know there are alot of African-Americans in Texas, and this is where this holiday concept has its origins, but the end of slavery in the US was far less decisive and was not tied to the Emancipation Proclamation, which only ended slavery in the Confederacy, not the US (that didn't happen until after the Civil War ended).

The Thirteenth Ammendment to the US Constitution began the process of ending slavery in the United States, and it was only later ratified by the states, with Mississippi being the last to do so. The 13th Ammendment did not guarantee social equality of freed blacks, only limits on government power concerning forced servitude (which is why Jim Crow laws could develop in the first place and were upheld until civil rights legislation in the 20th century).

U.S. Senate: The Senate Passes the Thirteenth Amendment

6/19 has become symbolic, rather than reflecting a decisive actual date in history. Like Christmas on 12/25. This is fine and normal for commemorations, I think.

SummerMadness · Jun 16, 2021

FireDragon76 said:
I don't really get the historical basis for this holiday. I know there are alot of African-Americans in Texas, and this is where this holiday concept has its origins, but the end of slavery in the US was far less decisive and was not tied to the Emancipation Proclamation, which only ended slavery in the Confederacy, not the US (that didn't happen until after the Civil War ended).

The Thirteenth Ammendment to the US Constitution began the process of ending slavery in the United States, and it was only later ratified by the states, with Mississippi being the last to do so. The 13th Ammendment did not guarantee social equality of freed blacks, only limits on government power concerning forced servitude (which is why Jim Crow laws could develop in the first place and were upheld until civil rights legislation in the 20th century).

U.S. Senate: The Senate Passes the Thirteenth Amendment

The reason Juneteenth is celebrated is because that's when the enslaved in Texas learned about emancipation. We have to remember news takes time to spread, and in those days, word of emancipation moved at the pace of advancing Union troops. It's similar to the Battle of Palmito Ranch as the final battle of the Civil War despite it occurring after the surrender of the Confederacy to the Union in Appomattox. I guess it comes down to whether you think the commemoration should relate to when it was announced versus when everyone has been informed. In the case of slavery, I think it's better served to talk about when everyone is freed as opposed to announcing they will be free.

98cwitr · Jun 16, 2021

Great! I think we should all celebrate the end of slavery.

I just don't know why we have a major faction in America simultaneously pushing this through while trying to make us all publicly owned slaves (again) :scratch:

SummerMadness · Jun 16, 2021

98cwitr said:
I just don't know why we have a major faction in America simultaneously pushing this through while trying to make us all publicly owned slaves (again)

Please stay on-topic instead of making vague proclamations of people being made slaves, which disrespects the victims of chattel slavery in the United States.

98cwitr · Jun 16, 2021

SummerMadness said:
Please stay on-topic instead of making vague proclamations of people being made slaves, which disrespects the victims of chattel slavery in the United States.

I think Juneteenth and the celebration of it is a great time for all Americans to promote the throwing off of the chains of our new masters, occupy this plantation as a liberated people, and be free. Owning our own labor and the fruits thereof is respectful to their memories, struggles, and to the history of their enslavement. Isn't that what they were fighting and calling for?

Michie · Jun 16, 2021

Fascinating Facts About Juneteenth

What Does the Juneteenth Flag Symbolize?

How Marcus Garvey Bean Salad Became a Traditional Juneteenth Dish

grasping the after wind · Jun 16, 2021

I would have preferred we celebrate Emancipation Day which would be Dec 6, the day in 1865 that the 13th Amendment was ratified, rather than Juneteenth but celebrating the end of slavery, whatever day we do so, is a great idea. Funnily enough it seems Chuck Schumer doesn't think that way and expressed the idea that we are commemorating a wrong by making a holiday to celebrate freedom.

durangodawood · Jun 16, 2021

grasping the after wind said:
I would have preferred we celebrate Emancipation Day which would be Dec 6, the day in 1865 that the 13th Amendment was ratified, rather than Juneteenth but celebrating the end of slavery, whatever day we do so, is a great idea. Funnily enough it seems Chuck Schumer doesn't think that way and expressed the idea that we are commemorating a wrong by making a holiday to celebrate freedom.

There's something appropriate in the bittersweet facts of Juneteenth that make it appropriate for commemorating the transition from legal slavery to something like the legal apartheid that held sway for another 100+ years.

98cwitr · Jun 16, 2021

durangodawood said:
There's something appropriate in the bittersweet facts of Juneteenth that make it appropriate for commemorating the transition from legal slavery to something like the legal apartheid that held sway for another 100+ years.

Agreed. A national holiday for the end of Jim Crow would be much more suited IMO...and I'd welcome that.

durangodawood · Jun 16, 2021

durangodawood said:
There's something appropriate in the bittersweet facts of Juneteenth that make it right for commemorating the transition from legal slavery to something like the legal apartheid that held sway for another 100+ years.

BigDaddy4 · Jun 16, 2021

America celebrates it's Independence Day on July 4. That is neither the date the American Revolutionary War started nor ended, nor that "everyone was notified" the war ended, only the date the document was signed.

So yay for the celebration of the end of slavery, but "meh" on the actual date.

Arcangl86 · Jun 16, 2021

It's worth remembering that juneteenth is already a widely celebrated holiday among African Americans, so it makes more sense to just give it official status then try and invent a new day to ocelebrate the same thing.

public hermit · Jun 16, 2021

This is great. I grew up around Juneteenth celebrations. It always involved great food, lol. So, yeah, bring it on.

Besides, why would I not want to celebrate it? I can't think of one reason. Did somebody complain about Juneteenth? That's just one more good reason to celebrate it, lol.

Senate Unanimously Approves a Bill to Make Juneteenth a Public Holiday

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