Juneteenth is just around the corner. Historically, this celebration that is rarely recognized, but that is changing. Juneteenth commemorates the freeing of the last enslaved people in Galveston, TX on June 19, 1865, over 2 years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. It has only been 156 years since the last of the enslaved people were freed and then there were so many hurdles to cross to get where we are.
Juneteenth has been getting a lot more recognition in recent years. Just about every major city has its own celebration for Juneteenth. Most people have cookouts, parades, and church services to commemorate this day. Lately this has gathered crowds and demonstrators to speak out about the inequities in this country.
Last year organizers of New Orleans held a protest and led crowds to Congo Square to advocate for reparations. Congo Square is a historic gathering place for enslaved people and free people of color. They would gather on Sundays, which was traditionally a day off for most slaves. In 1817, the mayor of New Orleans actually restricted all gatherings of enslaved people to Congo Square. Below is a video of the protest from Juneteenth 2020 where demonstrators congregated outside the gates of Armstrong Park.
On June 15, 2021, the Senate unanimously passed legislation to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. It is expected to pass in the House and then be signed by President Biden without major objections. This is proof that our senators and congress members can get legislation passed, but at this moment the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act, bills on expanding voting rights, and many more just sitting on the sidelines. There is so many issues in this country that need to be addressed in order to make it more equitable for all.