Juneteenth Weekend Reflection: Juneteenth isn’t a celebration for non-POC, you never needed “freedom”
So, Juneteenth literally stands for “June plus nineteenth.” On June 19th, 1865, Texas recognized the Emancipation Proclamation and freed Black people from the devastation of slavery. Basically, Lincoln had passed the Emancipation Proclamation almost 2.5 years prior which signified the end of slavery but only for Black people in the confederacy states. This left Black people living under union rule still enslaved. Just a quick refresher: there were 11 southern states which made up the confederacy (“slave states”) and 20 “free” states that made up the union. The beef between these two parts of the U.S is what led to the passing of the Emancipation Proclamation. So Juneteenth is celebrated because this was a major point in history where all Black people were freed from slavery. It's a huge deal because Juneteenth is not even mentioned in U.S history or social studies classes. Students are made to believe that Black people were freed by the Emancipation Proclamation and it was bliss from that point on. We were also taught to celebrate the Fourth of July as if that holiday had any real positive impact on the lives of Black people. We actually helped fight the American Revolution just to still be enslaved and treated as second-class citizens post-war.
Juneteenth just recently became a nationally recognized holiday on June 17th, 2021. Woo hoo… right? Well, making Juneteenth a holiday doesn’t really do much for Black people… yes more people are informed about the meaning behind the day and more Black people are having celebrations to commemorate our history but there still is no real tangible structural change happening. A lot of universities are giving students the day off and employers are doing the same but why should everyone have the day off? Are non-Black people really going to observe this holiday, educate themselves and celebrate blackness? Probably not. The issue is that Black people don't want the day off just to watch individuals who could care less about Juneteenth have yet another day to relax on the backs of our hard labor. What we really want is for non-Black people to acknowledge the day, understand why it is so important for Black people in general but also how our freedom has benefitted their existence. We also want to see an end to structural violence committed against Black people. The very institutions and companies that are observing Juneteenth are the same ones exploiting Black people and their labor.
I want to give y’all a quick example of what I mean by institutions being more performative rather than proactive. I know a Black female law professor that has been treated poorly by her students. Not for any real reason other than they do not take her or the course she teaches seriously. The disrespect that she faces in this professional environment is one that is condoned by the institution she works for. When she would explain the lack of professionalism and inappropriate behavior of her students, those at higher levels and in charge of mediating and rectifying the situation would leave it up to her to handle… alone. In addition, they would advise her to appease the students rather than demand the respect she deserves as an educator and simply as a human being. This institution has yet to support her or protect her from the structural and systematic harm that she faces within her workspace. However, this institution was quick to put out an email stating its commitment to observing Juneteenth and all that it stands for. Sounds pretty performative and trauma-inducing to me.
Dear institutions, employers, and companies, etc.: be about what you say you are about. Be committed to uplifting and advocating for Black people. Stop creating more spaces for Black people to experience more trauma. Celebrate Juneteenth by listening to Black people the first time and protecting them from structural violence. Celebrate Juneteenth every day. Celebrate Black people every day.
Stay safe + empowered
Love,
-BWE
