Yesterday, Saturday 19 June 2021, was the first official federal holiday for Juneteenth. It’s way past time that it was a national holiday. More importantly, it needs to be elevated to a national concern because all Whites need to be reminded of the horror of their perpetually inflicted systemic racism that goes back to the American Civil war and earlier. We can’t keep running from it like it’s not real or never happened. Especially those living in states that formerly allowed Black slavery.

The original date of Juneteenth came three years after the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Lincoln on 22 September 1862, during the height of the American Civil War. It wasn’t until Northern General Granger marched into Galveston Texas in June 1865, two months after Lee surrendered at Appomattox, that the enslaved Blacks were told of their emancipation. The Galveston Blacks celebrated, and Juneteenth was born. Later in December 1865 the 13th Amendment was ratified, formally abolishing slavery.

Being an old White guy, I know this holiday isn’t about me. I’ve never had to live through the racism and descrimination that many Blacks have had to. Because I’m White I’ve never had to face death over the least excuse by White police. I’ve done everything in my life not to be a racist, but considering all the Blacks who’ve suffered and died at the hands of White racists (especially police), that’s cold comfort. If anything Juneteenth should be a reminder of all the evil that’s been done and continues to be done against Blacks.

Juneteenth can’t be just one day in the year. It has to become an everyday reminder to eliminate, by whatever effort necessary, all the problems that still exist so that Juneteenth becomes a real day celebrating all the good that has been done for all Blacks everywhere.