In the past, Juneteenth has been selectively celebrated. When we forget or neglect to commemorate Juneteenth, people who were against the meaning of Juneteenth will take advantage.

The date, June 19th (Juneteenth) celebrates the end of slavery in North America. It is also known as Black Independence Day or Emancipation Day. The United States of America has made significant progress regarding race relations since the Jim Crow era. The court case Loving v. Virginia outlawed the banning of interracial marriage. Brown v. Board of Education established that segregated schools are unconstitutional. The fact that such issues had to be debated in court is disturbing.

Decades upon decades later, it was beginning to look like real progress was being made toward racial equality especially when America elected Barack Obama, an African American as President of the United States.

Unfortunately, electing a Black man in the Oval Office poked the sleeping bear of racism and bigotry. Shootings against unarmed Black men by law enforcement increased and continue to go unchecked. White men started marching with Tiki torches, mirroring the mob-like mentality of white supremist organizations demonstrated during times when they literally hunted and lynched Black people for sport.

Also, can we please agree on another name than “white supremacy”? We’re literary crowning them supreme.

From 2017 and 2021, and especially January 6, African Americans, indigenous people of color, and advocates of social justice, but especially African American’s pursuit of life, liberty and happiness was threatened.

Now more than ever, America, especially African Americans need to make a bigger deal about Juneteenth. Juneteenth represents freedom, equality and hope for a better future. People of color can never get too comfortable believing that there is liberty and justice for all until there is actually liberty and justice for all.

It is imperative that as a nation that we stand in solidarity with other groups of people who are discrimminated against, because as 2020 proved, it can be Muslims one season, Mexcians the next, then Blacks, LGBTQs, Asians, and any shade of color in between. It’s a slippery slope. An injustice against one is an injustice against all. So please do not think that just because your race hasn’t been targeted by racially oppressive organizations that it won’t be.

Also, can we please agree on another name than “white supremacy”? We’re literary crowning them supreme.

By Zorina Frey

Feature Photo by Wynn Pointox

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