Past Is Prologue
How to Honor Black Liberation on Juneteenth
This holiday demands a deep engagement with American history and anti-Black oppression. Anything less is an insult.
I was born on June 19, 1982. My birthday falls on the Black liberation holiday known as “Juneteenth,” a fact that has always felt inspiring and meaningful to me.
Now, on the eve of my 38th Juneteenth, uprisings against racism are sweeping the globe, sparked by the video of the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis. We are witnessing an unprecedented reckoning as protestors take to the streets.
In response, people and organizations are scrambling to appear on the right side of history. Statements of solidarity are flying out like hotcakes, and some have identified Juneteenth as a day to perform their solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
The impulse of solidarity is great. But, a word of caution: While performative displays like “Soul Food Day” in the cafeteria may feel good, the Juneteenth holiday demands a much deeper engagement with the history and systems of anti-Black oppression. Anything less is an insult.
