Juneteenth set to become a federal holiday in the USA

[kanerf]

The problem is that many people will now lose a holiday somewhere. Right now there are 10 Federal Holidays, which one do you (or your company) give up? Most companies cannot just simply add another paid vacation day.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

The problem is that many people will now lose a holiday somewhere. Right now there are 10 Federal Holidays, which one do you (or your company) give up? Most companies cannot just simply add another paid vacation day.

If they don't outright give them June 19 off a whole holiday won't be lost. It'll just be changed.

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

The problem is that many people will now lose a holiday somewhere. Right now there are 10 Federal Holidays, which one do you (or your company) give up? Most companies cannot just simply add another paid vacation day.

Why not? Most global companies already give their European employees significantly more paid time off than the employees in North America.

 

[RedAngie]

Easy. Banish Columbus Day.

That certainly will p.o. a lot of people.

Or change the name to Native American or Indigenous Peoples Day. THAT might p.o. even MORE. Win win.

 

[Pink Partridge]

it will just turn into another “big sale at stores “day.

If this happens, I hope the focus will be on black owned businesses.

 

[Kestryl]

I am curious from a purely selfish perspective how my employer will handle this. Right now, we get 10 holidays (New Years Day, MLK, Good Friday, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving+Black Friday, Christmas Eve+Day), plus an extra- for union workers, it’s a companion day with July 4; for non-union, it’s a floating holiday. I wonder if they just won’t do anything. It’s not like we get Washington’s Birthday or Columbus Day or Veterans Day.

It definitely should be recognized, of course.

 

[rigs32]

I've got no problem with it. I'm just annoyed that almost every year I have to fight with a judge about not being in court on Rosh Hashana or Yom Kippur.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Easy. Banish Columbus Day.

That certainly will p.o. a lot of people.

Or change the name to Native American or Indigenous Peoples Day. THAT might p.o. even MORE. Win win.

Considering Columbus isn't the first one to discover the New World and considering he never actually stepped foot anywhere where the current United States is, I concur.

 

[monsterkitty]

So you may lose another paid holiday in its place. I prefer to think that at least you get paid holidays. I've never had a paid holiday. If we didn't have school that day we didn't get paid. Hourly workers are the same - they don't work they don't get paid.

 

[Moliphino]

The problem is that many people will now lose a holiday somewhere. Right now there are 10 Federal Holidays, which one do you (or your company) give up? Most companies cannot just simply add another paid vacation day.

I already don't get MLK day, Washington's birthday, Columbus Day, or Veterans Day, so I just assume I won't get this off, either.

 

[leahgoogle]

yes. It sounds like a cutesy mashup and not like something to be taken seriously. Much prefer simply June 19th or Freedom Day.

I totally agree! Needs a better title for sure.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I work for the state of Illinois and our Governor just signed off on this. We will get this as a paid holiday only when June 19 falls on a weekday, so it will start for us in 2023.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I’m glad, especially because it will irritate some people.

I doubt it will ever become a paid holiday for me. No paid MLK, Prez, Columbus, or Vets Day in my company. We do, however, get paid holidays on Good Friday and your “birthday,” which can be taken any time in the year.

I love watching the annoyed folks.

I work for a hospital and get 6 paid holidays a year. My SOs company and gets about 10 or more
MLK, Presidents Dat, Columbus Day. You name it. He’s off.

My DD22 just started working full time for a government contractor. We recently went over her work calendar to check her paid holidays. She also only gets 6 of the 11 paid government holidays off. But last year the company president sent everyone an email on June 19th telling them to leave work at noon in honor of Juneteenth. It’s on a Saturday this year, so I doubt it will happen in 2021. I’ll update next week if it does.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

The company my DD22 just started working full time for government contractor. We recently went over her work calendar to check her paid holidays. She also only gets 6 of the 11 paid government holidays off. But last year the company president sent everyone an email on June 19th telling them to leave work at noon in honor of Juneteenth. It’s on a Saturday this year, so I double it will happen in 2021. I’ll update next week if it does.

My SO is off this Friday for Juneteenth.

 

[GAN]

Easy. Banish Columbus Day.

That certainly will p.o. a lot of people.

Or change the name to Native American or Indigenous Peoples Day. THAT might p.o. even MORE. Win win.

Kind of surprisingly -I get Columbus Day off, but not Veterans' Day. I think it's more because it's in October -and it just works better with Labor Day(Sept) and Thanksgiving(with Thurs & Friday off in Nov).

 

[JimMIA]

I frankly think the passage of the new holiday is just selfie-posing by the politicians of both parties.

I have no problem with it, but symbolic stuff like this is the easy stuff...and accomplishes nothing.

"Juneteenth" is also kind of an empty symbol to me. Texas may have officially "freed" all slaves then, but so what? I'm old enough to remember separate water fountains, restrooms, and many other things all over the US -- in the early 1960's. The legal barriers nationwide didn't even start to change until 95 years after Juneteenth with the Greensboro Sit-ins in 1960...and we're still working on it.

And what about women...and Asian-Americans...and Hispanic-Americans...and Jewish people...and Native Americans...and Irish-Americans (St. Pats is not a national holiday)...and Swedish-Americans...and Pacific Islanders...and on and on and on and on...

 

[EMom]

First, “Juneteenth” is not a cutesy mashup and it most certainly doesn’t need another name. It has ALWAYS been called that by the very people who celebrate it. My family lived near the Black community in our town and were always invited to, and attended, Juneteenth festivities for at least 100 years. Maybe longer, but I have no way of asking those who would’ve celebrated over a century ago. But the name Juneteenth is the legitimate name of the holiday.

As a Texan, I’ve always known what Juneteenth was. I always considered it a Texas-specific event. It does strike me as a bit odd that the federal government wants to make a Texas holiday a federal holiday, but then, I’m puzzled by much of what they do. I do believe it will become a marketing gimmick, because that’s just what happens.

 

[Wendy1985]

Juneteenth set to become federal holiday. Thoughts?

I say it’s about time

People have recently asked me if I’ve ever heard of it before.
And that’s exactly the point. If you’ve never heard of it before maybe it’s time you should.

I did not know it existed till last dumm

June 19th, 1865 marks the day that federal troops arrived in Galveston Texas to take control of the state and ensure that all slaves were actually freed. Texas was pretty much the last hold out.

I just wish it would be popularized as something other than "Juneteenth."

I thought Mississippi was the last I did not know Texas had them

I’m glad, especially because it will irritate some people.

I doubt it will ever become a paid holiday for me. No paid MLK, Prez, Columbus, or Vets Day in my company. We do, however, get paid holidays on Good Friday and your “birthday,” which can be taken any time in the year.

Wow I have never herd of that

In this climate, of course it passes unanimously. I don't have a dog in the fight. Another holiday, great. I'm sure most companies will just take one day away or offer a floating day. When MLK day was added in WA State, they took away a day of Christmas. Marketers will love a June holiday, it's a dead period.

Anything on the horizon for August?

Apparently they have not herd of my family next to Christmas June is when we have the most to celebrate

yes. It sounds like a cutesy mashup and not like something to be taken seriously. Much prefer simply June 19th or Freedom Day.

I vote for freedom day

If this happens, I hope the focus will be on black owned businesses.

100 perce

So you may lose another paid holiday in its place. I prefer to think that at least you get paid holidays. I've never had a paid holiday. If we didn't have school that day we didn't get paid. Hourly workers are the same - they don't work they don't get paid.

No but hourly employee get double or time and a half

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

I frankly think the passage of the new holiday is just selfie-posing by the politicians of both parties.

I have no problem with it, but symbolic stuff like this is the easy stuff...and accomplishes nothing.

"Juneteenth" is also kind of an empty symbol to me. Texas may have officially "freed" all slaves then, but so what? I'm old enough to remember separate water fountains, restrooms, and many other things all over the US -- in the early 1960's. The legal barriers nationwide didn't even start to change until 95 years after Juneteenth with the Greensboro Sit-ins in 1960...and we're still working on it.

And what about women...and Asian-Americans...and Hispanic-Americans...and Jewish people...and Native Americans...and Irish-Americans (St. Pats is not a national holiday)...and Swedish-Americans...and Pacific Islanders...and on and on and on and on...

We celebrate July 4th despite very large portions of our population not being "independent" after that day. Is that an empty symbol as well?

National holidays create awareness along with reflection regarding that day. Despite the flaws noted, Juneteenth is very deserving of that status as slavery was a huge stain on our history.

 

[Buzz Rules]

We celebrate July 4th despite very large portions of our population not being "independent" after that day. Is that an empty symbol as well?

National holidays create awareness along with reflection regarding that day. Despite the flaws noted, Juneteenth is very deserving of that status as slavery was a huge stain on our history.

Maybe France, UK, Portugal, and Spain should pass something similar? Did Canada (when it was just British/French North America) have slaves before 1763?