Happy Juneteenth!!! What does it mean to you?
 

Not having being born in this country, I'm curious about what this means to members and what if anything they are doing to commemorate the day beyond it being a federal holiday.

Or, if it is so new, then perhaps there hasn't been enough time for traditions to form. It probably doesn't help that it is not a holiday for all.

June
 

Nothing.

Holiday for public sector workers

As a retired, Christian, woman, I hope this holiday becomes known as Freedom Day. Different than the 4th of July which celebrates our nation freeing ourselves from British rule, Juneteenth celebrates the rights of every individual.

To celebrate, I took a few moments and counted my many blessings. As a woman, I am treated exactly as a man, as an elder I am allowed to retire and enjoy the rest of my years as I see fit, and as a Christian, I am allowed to practice my religion openly. In many countries, the people are not as fortunate.

Yes, the official holiday commemorates the freeing of black slaves. But, because we became a nation that truly believes in freedom for all, women eventually fought for their rights, children were no longer forced to work, a generation of Americans fought world wars to stop those who believed in racial superiority, a black woman refused to give up her seat, a black man had a dream, gays became proud, and so many more fought and continue to fight for individual freedom. No man, woman, or child should be stripped of these basic, "inalienable" rights.

Same. Nothing.

At least I won’t lose money in the stock market today.

Sorry do not think this should be a federal holiday. To me this was pandering.

another day off for some.

I told my kids to get a gov job. Tons of vacation, sick leave and any excuse holidays paid for by the taxpayers.

Unnecessary
 

I agree with you Stu.

For me personally, nothing. For black Americans whose ancestors were slaves in this country, it means a lot. It means - that two and a half years AFTER the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, two months AFTER the end of the Civil War, the slaves in Texas were finally informed that they were free citizens.

Juneteenth as a day of celebration isn't a new thing. But it's mostly been held in Texas, where the actual event occurred. From 1866 til the 1920's it was mostly a local thing. it became more commercialized in the 1920's and 1930's. By 1979, every state and territory of the USA has had some official recognition of the day.

That's a pretty big deal. I didn't know about it until a few years ago. I'm glad I know about it now. It's gives a greater understanding of the lives and cultural backgrounds of my fellow human beings.

I am of German/Irish/Scotch/English and some other ancestry. When we came to America varies. The German side came around 1870 and the English/Scotch/Irish earlier for some and much earlier for others. Like 1650 for the Stimson tree.

All of these have suffered in some way or another through wars, illness, prejudice, stupidity and greed.

But some groups other than mine have endured unfathomable evil like those from many parts of Africa and Asia. And especially those people who are here first.

The African slave trade was profitable for many who targeted other humans as commodities to be owned. And some of these people defending that trade were native Africans. This often involved tribal warfare and enslaving conquered groups for profits. That has been happening for as long as man started living in large groups.

Do think this Federal Holiday will help some people to come to a deeper understanding of history especially about that of the slave trade.


The Woman King tells a very good story about the slave trade and people caught up in it.

I’m glad someone had the right answer. Thank You

Rosewood is a very good movie to celebrate this June 19. It is about an African American town here in Florida which was wiped out due to hate, stupidity, fear of change, and many other things.

It means I gotta wait until tomorrow to take care of of couple things I was gonna do today because many businesses are closed.