Juneteenth set to become a federal holiday in the USA

[Karin1984]

I take no issue with the holiday. I just find it fascinating that so many people have been celebrating a holiday so many of us had not heard of.

To a lesser extent, it feels like what happened after Brexit was officially announced.
The second most googled question in the UK was: "What is the EU?" also locally "What is Brexit?"

I am not an American, so my opinion doesn't really matter in this, but I'm going to give my two cents anyway. I do think the sentiment behind why it should be taught and celebrated is a good thing, however I do wonder how effective it will be as a large part of the country hasn't heard of it before and therefore there is little to no emotional connection to it.
I think it will take at least a decade before that is established, probably a few decades.

But maybe that doesn't matter for the good cause.

 

[NYCgrrl]

What we, as Americans need to comprehend is no one is going anywhere else, the power structure is changing and we are in this together.

I think it will take at least a decade before that is established, probably a few decades.

But maybe that doesn't matter for the good cause.

Perhaps time spent learning will make the more difficult to come future conversations and decisions easier. At least one would hope.

I wish your country well with the colonial problems and hope you and yours think well this coming 05.12 since none of us are alone with these issues.

 

[PollyannaMom]

History is no longer a focus in American schools. I know this because I'm an upper elementary school teacher & we kind of sneak history in wherever we can.

Bless you for sneaking in what you can! I was a substitute teacher for a number of years, and watched the shift from a balance of subjects to a heavy reading/math focus with a sad heart. Those subjects are important, of course, but for many students, history is the one that really gets them excited about learning, and we need that!

 

[JaxDad]

If a federal holiday is on a Saturday, workers are off and offices are closed on Friday. If it falls on a Sunday, then the following Monday would be the holiday.

The sad thing is, the House, the Senate, and the Administration knew full well the financial consequences of declaring a federal holiday the day before the holiday. I work hard for my paycheck and I hate unnecessary waste like this! It could have been declared MONTHS ago!!

Yes. The holiday is great, but the timing of the announcement was stupid and irresponsible. And yes, I would say most government employees are off today, but many are off Monday, because Friday is their “regular day off.”

I do engineering work for the government. We had critical meetings planned today for a $300 million fast track project, and site visits planned for Monday. I have several guys with air reservations, hotels, rental cars, etc. Nobody on the government side can tell me what’s going to happen. Most of them heard “federal holiday” and just disappeared, leaving cartoon puffs of smoke.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Bless you for sneaking in what you can! I was a substitute teacher for a number of years, and watched the shift from a balance of subjects to a heavy reading/math focus with a sad heart. Those subjects are important, of course, but for many students, history is the one that really gets them excited about learning, and we need that!

Back in the ‘80s when I took my first college level history class, I was flabbergasted by the amount of history most of my classmates didn’t know such as who fought the War of 1812 and that the American Revolution is seen by most historians as an extension of one of the first global conflicts, the Seven Years’ War. It was an eye opener.

 

[Karin1984]

Perhaps time spent learning will make the more difficult to come future conversations and decisions easier. At least one would hope.

I wish your country well with the colonial problems and hope you and yours think well this coming 05.12 since none of us are alone with these issues.

Our discussion abiut 5.12 is already going for at least 2 decades. But has become more vocal the last 5 years, and more agressive the last 2 years before Covid. And in this respect Covid has been a good thing. As we had no parades and all, the holiday went by almost unnoticed. This gave us time to process.

As for colonialism, the Dutch N-word doesnt have the same connotation as it has in the US, however museums have chosen lately to rename sculptures, paintings and other art work to Moors etc.
Our current issue is the King's golden carriage, used for certain ceremonies. It is getting renovated and one of the pictures on the side is not up to date with today's standards.

We will find a way.

 

[jrmasm]

I think what Gan was saying was that a name change might help people better understand the importance of the holiday -- and therefore respect it. Gan is suggesting that to ENHANCE the importance and respect of the holiday...not to detract from it.

I personally prefer the historical name, but Gan is just as entitled to their opinion as anyone else on the DIS.

You are the only one screaming "WHITE PRIVILEGE," and that is not a productive contribution to the conversation. It hurts whatever your argument is.

I mean we could do some research and talk to members of our community rather than insist that traditions and names be changed so our privileged white selves can feel included.

 

[Christine]

Yes. The holiday is great, but the timing of the announcement was stupid and irresponsible. And yes, I would say most government employees are off today, but many are off Monday, because Friday is their “regular day off.”

I do engineering work for the government. We had critical meetings planned today for a $300 million fast track project, and site visits planned for Monday. I have several guys with air reservations, hotels, rental cars, etc. Nobody on the government side can tell me what’s going to happen. Most of them heard “federal holiday” and just disappeared, leaving cartoon puffs of smoke.

We had foreign national visits happening yesterday and today, people out on IG inspections, etc. Apparently for us, they will still continue but they will have to get some special holiday pay or something.

 

[dclpluto]

It’s about time. But I don’t like the name they couldn’t think of a better name? Where I work they are taking away holidays . Don’t think they will be adding any. We use to have 13 now we have 11. Hopefully people will remember what’s it’s about. Not be like Memorial Day or Veterans Day when people don’t get the real meaning of them days. Not everyone of course but probably close to 50 percent

 

[stitch'sgirl]

Yes. The holiday is great, but the timing of the announcement was stupid and irresponsible. And yes, I would say most government employees are off today, but many are off Monday, because Friday is their “regular day off.”

I do engineering work for the government. We had critical meetings planned today for a $300 million fast track project, and site visits planned for Monday. I have several guys with air reservations, hotels, rental cars, etc. Nobody on the government side can tell me what’s going to happen. Most of them heard “federal holiday” and just disappeared, leaving cartoon puffs of smoke.

Yes, exactly. This was not a coincidence that this was announced this way. But you are right, very irresponsible. I did end up working a 16 hour shift yesterday/last night trying to straighten everything out. Then woke up to a Facebook post by an employee who went in to work this morning because my assistant missed notifying her in the flurry of texts. Not cool.

 

[Alicefan]

Yes they do, just look at all the people who are offended by my first comment and I'm assuming you are referring to me when you rolled your eyes.

It's unfortunate that a question can't be asked without the usual suspects getting upset or offended. Unfortunate but not surprising.

Nope you'd be assuming wrong. I rolled my eyes when someone started in with "I don't like how you worded that".

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I mean we could do some research and talk to members of our community rather than insist that traditions and names be changed so our privileged white selves can feel included.

I agree with the sentiment in your post I disagree with all the categorizations of "white people" Most of us don't know the ethnicity of posters here unless they say so so I try to error on the side of not assuming. I don't want to assume that only white people here are the ones discussing the name in a "huh" manner especially as there have been some comments about non-whites not knowing Juneteeth.

But I wholeheartedly agree about the discussion of the name change just on a different basis. Juneteeth has been Juneteeth for a long time, and not being familiar with it isn't a good enough reason, IMO, to go asking for the name to be changed as if that's the default method. Education through various means (library programs, school teachings, parades and rallies, getting Juneteeth out on material items just as a visual clue, banners around cities, billboards, museum exhibits, etc) is a great route IMO to bringing awareness to the name, to the meaning, to the history behind it....for everyone.

 

[Christine]

I agree with the sentiment in your post I disagree with all the categorizations of "white people" Most of us don't know the ethnicity of posters here unless they say so so I try to error on the side of not assuming. I don't want to assume that only white people here are the ones discussing the name in a "huh" manner especially as there have been some comments about non-whites not knowing Juneteeth.

But I wholeheartedly agree about the discussion of the name change just on a different basis. Juneteeth has been Juneteeth for a long time, and not being familiar with it isn't a good enough reason, IMO, to go asking for the name to be changed as if that's the default method. Education through various means (library programs, school teachings, parades and rallies, getting Juneteeth out on material items just as a visual clue, banners around cities, billboards, museum exhibits, etc) is a great route IMO to bringing awareness to the name, to the meaning, to the history behind it....for everyone.

Yeah, I can't imagine even thinking about changing the name of "Juneteenth" however on another forum I visit, there is much discussion about how the new holiday was named regarding the usage of words "Independence" versus "Emancipation". Seems to be a lot of internet "heartburn" over those words versus Juneteenth itself. People think it's divisive. I feel like people just look for ways to get riled up over things.

 

[Alicefan]

I'm not saying it's not perfect, and now realize people have been celebrating it for 100 or so years. I've never celebrated(as a white person -not that I'm opposed) the day and in fact never knew anything about it until 5-years ago maybe. I can tell you honestly that most white people I know never did either -and when they first heard of it had zero understanding other than it was an unusual name. My point is that if this is to be a "National" inclusive holiday it may help if it's something that will help all people recognize the significance. I agree people who have celebrated should have total say in what it's called, but it's also important that it be something that will be respected for what it is by all people ...not just those who've celebrated it in the past. But maybe that's not what we're going for here.....

Yes, Like saying July 4th is Independence day. Something descriptive of what it actually is.

 

[ronandannette]

This new holiday does remind me that we have a new federal holiday to remember us of the atrocities of residential schools in September.

Which is shamefully tone-deaf actually. Our First Nations leaders aren’t calling for a holiday for federal employees or virtue-signalling photo ops of politicians in orange t-shirts. They want meaningful action taken on the findings of the TRC, accountability from the Church, clean water on reserves and justice for MMIWG, but I digress...

 

[RedAngie]

Even in the late 1970s history/social studies wasn’t a required subject in my high school. It was strongly recommended, of course, especially for those on the college track. I took the subject three years, skipping sophomore year.

Juneteenth was unheard of in my area. I first learned of it about 6-7 years ago.

Someone upthread mentioned having another federal holiday so close to July 4. I hope they don’t “Presidents Day” it and combine the two into some type of “Freedom Day.” Or “Mondayize” it to the closest Monday to June 19.

 

[GAN]

I mean we could do some research and talk to members of our community rather than insist that traditions and names be changed so our privileged white selves can feel included.

I personally, never requested that the name be changed -maybe some others did(?)......

 

[jrmasm]

I personally, never requested that the name be changed -maybe some others did(?)......

You said you’re concerned the name may be viewed as silly or may be a barrier to respect and understanding of the holiday. I suspect for some people, you’re correct. But it’s not the name that’s the problem. It’s the people that feel that way. Nothing should be changed to pander to close mindedness.

 

[DopeyDame]

All the Karen-ing aside, how will Juneteenth be celebrated in the future? What does Texas at the moment to celebrate this holiday?

First thing that comes to mind is something like concerts. Parades?
What kind of foods, decorations, tv shows,?
And something that came to mind, will it tie in someway Black History Month?

(Disclaimer, this is an honest question. I am not an American, I only know a bit how US people celebrate Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas. No idea how you celebrate days like MLK or Memorial day)

My town is having a parade tomorrow, followed by a music and food festival. (It was all planned before the official holiday, obviously - can't pull together a festival in 48 hours

 

[DopeyDame]

This has absolutely nothing to do with the significance of the holiday. However, to have our senior leadership announce a federal holiday with only a few hours notice is beyond comprehension. I don't see the purpose of the optics of announcing the day before except grandstanding. This could have been done a month in advance or wait and declare the federal holiday for June 2022. I am going to start the coffee pot- I guess now I will be working all night notifying customers, canceling appointments. So frustrated right now!

I definitely get that.
It seems like he could have signed it on Saturday, which would have been symbolically significant (since it's the actual holiday) and would have saved the OPM and feds a whole bunch of angst in the last 48 hours.