OUR VIEW : Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated on June 19 that was recently recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.
This is a holiday that commemorates the freedom of those who had been enslaved in the United States, which started in 1865. This was two years after the Emancipation Proclamation when enslaved people in Texas finally learned that they had been set free from slavery.
We, the editorial staff of The East Carolinian believe that everyone should take the time to learn the history of Juneteenth, and celebrate this holiday as a way to recognize how far our country has come.
Juneteenth was always about celebrating progress.
This change in history happened in 1865 and was just made a federal holiday in 2021. As a country we should be asking ourselves what took so long, but It shouldn’t be that difficult to realize why when we see everyday how hard it seems for America to move on from the past.
Companies should also respect Juneteenth as a federal holiday and the same way they respect the Fourth of July as a federal holiday. Why are some companies still making their employees work on this day?
If you are one of those people who have an issue with Juneteenth being considered a federal holiday then you should look inside of yourself and ask why that is. Why is our country officially recognizing the freedom of a community that it used, literally for years, such a problem for you.
Junetenth is a reminder of the ongoing journey toward equality and justice.The same things that Black Americans are still fighting for today.
