Confronting the Past
“…to demonstrate racial reconciliation and healing from the legacy of slavery.”
This is a quote from the official document making Juneteenth a state holiday in Arkansas back in 2005. And a big topic in the national discussion on Juneteenth; made an official federal holiday just last week. Arguably the most contested part of the conversation. For many, Juneteenth’s official acknowledgement is a long-awaited step in the right direction and for others, an arbitrary gesture that addresses none of the big issues surrounding race in this country.
It is easy to see where both sides of this debate are coming from. Like Emancipation and the first Juneteenth over a hundred years ago, the official decision to make and enforce the end of 500 years of slavery did not end the abuse and oppression of black Americans by white Americans but it did make that possible. Today, the official decision to make Juneteenth a federal holiday will not end systemic racism in our country tomorrow. But brings a level of awareness to this day, this history, that has never existed.
My Personal Stance
In these situations, I try to listen more than speak. But I will say, I love Juneteenth! I’m usually a “half-full” kind of guy anyway and inclined to side with the folks that are excited to see this memorial holiday made official. However, I will never come here pretending I am something I am not. I am a white man and therefore I cannot know the daily traumas that many, many black Americans go through. Experiences that make them yearn for action so much more radical than an overdue holiday that reminds them of a past, I am sure, they have no problem remembering. As a proud resident of the southern United States however, I do believe that it is important for everyone in this country to better understand the Civil War. That it was fought to determine one faction’s right to enslave and abuse another and the reach of that, so called, right. Recognizing Juneteenth formally, and therefore regularly, can help us as a country appreciate how the Civil War ended, the following Reconstruction, the black entrepreneurial renaissance of the early 20th century, as well as the Civil Rights Movement. All chapters in our countries story that are underrepresented and/or not fully understood by the public.
We the People
Our government has done more to condemn and defend the legacy of slavery in the U.S. than quite possibly any other singular entity. Our government is a machine driven by us. Our actions, or lack thereof, are the greatest determinant in the policies set down by our countries leadership. So, I am excited to celebrate the day that everyone in this country became technically free, I’m excited for a designated day to continuing listening to and learning from the experiences of others, and I’m excited to move forward, even one step at a time. I am excited about Juneteenth!
So, dream big, celebrate, protest, vote; participate! And I think I know a big old ballroom that will welcome just that.
Keep Dreaming, Matthew McCoy
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