quote:
To make Juneteenth a national holiday to celebrate the official end of slavery in TX is giving too much historical weight to the delay in getting the message to every slave owner in TX to free their slaves.

But it does not celebrate just the end of slavery in Texas. Its original (and still official) name in Texas was Emancipation Day, and it has expanded to a celebration of the end of slavery generally.

The Proclamation was signed on January-1, so that date was already taken for a national holiday. Taking June-19 (from Texas) for the celebration was practical because millions of people were already commemorating essentially the same concept ("Emancipation") on that date.

Yes, it is unfortunate that it took a PoS like George Floyd to bring the issue to the forefront.

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Posted by Bass Tiger

Member since Oct 2014

46628 posts

Posted on 6/23/23 at 11:28 am to AggieHank86

quote:
But it does not celebrate just the end of slavery in Texas. Its original (and still official) name in Texas was Emancipation Day, and it has expanded to a celebration of the end of slavery generally. The Proclamation was signed on January-1, so that date was already taken for a national holiday. Taking June-19 (from Texas) for the celebration was practical because millions of people were already commemorating essentially the same concept ("Emancipation") on that date. Yes, it is unfortunate that it took a PoS like George Floyd to bring the issue to the forefront.

I think DisplacedBuckeye made a great point whether he intended to or not. Memorial Day was the original inclusive and diverse celebration of the end of slavery and for honoring those who died to end slavery. Rather than recognizing another national holiday with Juneteenth the American people should have been reminded/educated about the original meaning of Memorial Day and going forward make Memorial Day the celebration for not only those who have gave all for the nation but also the end of slavery.