'A celebration of African American culture and history': a Q&A on Juneteenth
One year ago, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation establishing June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day, a federal holiday, after the Senate unanimously passed the bill.
“Juneteenth” (“June” plus “nineteenth”), is a celebration of emancipation from slavery in the United States. On that day in 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, and announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state were free by executive decree — seven months after the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution abolished slavery and more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Juneteenth has been celebrated within the African American community for years, but a Gallup poll last year found that 62 percent of Americans know "a little" or "nothing at all" about it. Will that change with its establishment as a federal holiday? And what does its elevation, coming at a time of intense, angry debates about critical race theory, say about this moment?
Theo Randall, coordinator of the African American Studies program at Indiana University South Bend, hopes not to see what he calls the "McDonaldization" of Juneteenth — companies exploiting the holiday with special sales and products, that has happened to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Randall, an associate professor of anthropology, says he's much more concerned about Congress addressing such higher priority issues as police reform and racial disparities in health, income and wealth. But he says the Juneteenth holiday is a good step that brings an important part of American history to a wider audience. "It's a celebration of African American culture and history, and that's why it (making it a federal holiday) is positive."
Randall shared his thoughts about Juneteenth in a recent discussion with Engagement Editor Alesia I. Redding for the Q&A that follows.
Q. What meaning does Juneteenth have for you?
A. It's morphed into a time for people to get together and talk about our achievements, our education and progress. But we should really call it Emancipation Day, that's what it really is.
When I think about what Juneteenth celebrations, I think about my great grandma, a devoted member of the AME church, and the picnics that we would have when I was a child. There would be greens, green beans with fried onions on top, chicken, baked beans, corn on the cob, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, cornbread and peach cobbler … the women would have on their best summer dresses. I can think of Juneteenth being like that.
Q. The establishment of Juneteenth comes at a time of heated disputes about critical race theory and state legislatures passing bills limiting what history can be taught in schools. How do you put all of this into perspective?
A. I think we have to take a critical look at why this was passed. I think some who didn't support Juneteenth before voted for it and said, "We'll vote for it because it doesn't mean anything." They don't have to address police reform or racial disparities in health, income and wealth. It's a way to provide a "win."
Q. Although Juneteenth has been celebrated in African American communities for years, many Americans know next to nothing about the holiday. Do you have any advice for anyone who wants know more about Juneteenth?
A. I would suggest that they read Isabel Wilkerson's "The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration." I'd also suggest "What is Juneteenth" from historian and professor Henry Louis Gates at https://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/what-is-juneteenth/.
Q. Martin Luther King Day is designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. How should Juneteenth be celebrated?
A. We should use it as an opportunity to get more information about African American culture and history.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Juneteenth a chance to learn about African American culture, history
