Juneteenth

[TysonLPrice]

I had to laugh listening to the local news covering Juneteenth. They mentioned, rightly, it took years for news of the emancipation proclamation to reach the slaves in Texas. The local news said back then news traveled slowly. I had to laugh at that and I wonder if Sinclair news dictated they say that?

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-...ript-in-unison

It was a deliberate act to not tell them to get more work out of them, not news traveled slowly

Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective in 1863, it could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control. As a result, in the westernmost Confederate state of Texas, enslaved people would not be free until much later. Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas.

https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/storie...acy-juneteenth

At least I was amused for a bit

[wes4dbt]

I'm confused why suddenly Juneteenth is treated like a national holiday. Feels political.

I don't see anything exceptional about this. The Emancipation Proclamation didn't cause all the slaves to suddenly be freed. It took the Civil War ending in 1865 and even then it wasn't instantaneous. My guess is there were lots of places where it took Union troops arriving before the slaves were freed.

It seem like this should be more of a local celebration. If this is suppose to be a special day celebrating the freeing of the slaves then lets be clear about it. Maybe I'm missing something here.

[themindgoblin]

Gotta love how anytime something is done for black people that it's suddenly "political."

[wes4dbt]

Gotta love how anytime something is done for black people that it's suddenly "political."

Instead of just trying to being insulting, why don't you say something meaningful. Why don't you think it's political? What sets this act apart from all the other salves that weren't freed until the owners were forced too.

I think a national holiday celebrating the freeing of all slaves would be more meaningful, perhaps that's what Juneteenth is suppose to represent, it's unclear, this just seems to be very selective. An easy way for politician to act like they've done something meaningful, with very little effort. Of coarse it's political, it can't turn into a Federal holiday without politics, perhaps I should have said "it feels like lazy politics". If you don't agree put some effort into an explanation and not just take cheap shots at people.

[FunkyDexter]

it took Union troops arriving before the slaves were freed

I think what Tyson was highlighting is that this is a historical fact but that certain outlets are portraying it as not a deliberate delay, which is dishonest. And that those organisations had publicly dedicated themselves to honest reporting, which also made it hypocritical.

Of coarse it's political

Agreed but I think what's happening here is that "it's political" is increasingly used as a way to dismiss something as disingenuous, not valid or just unimportant. For the record, I don't think that's what you were doing, but I can see that your post could be read as such. So probably just a misunderstanding. Beyond that I'll let you guys thrash it out between you.

I think a national holiday celebrating the freeing of all slaves would be more meaningful, perhaps that's what Juneteenth is suppose to represent

I honestly don't know much about Juneteenth but I think that is what it's for. It doesn't celebrate the Emancipation Act as such but rather celebrates the end of slavery in practice. It feels worthy of a public holiday to me but they could definitely do with coming up with a better name for it that gets the point across.

I should say that I know very little about the history or the holiday so take anything I'm saying with a pinch of salt.

[wes4dbt]

I should say that I know very little about the history or the holiday so take anything I'm saying with a pinch of salt.

Yeah, me too. I had never heard of it before 2020.

Agreed but I think what's happening here is that "it's political" is increasingly used as a way to dismiss something as disingenuous, not valid or just unimportant.

I don't question it's valid and import event, I do question why Juneteenth was selected to represent the ending of slavery. The way it became a federal holiday has the feel of a disingenuous act by congress. Then again, I really haven't paid a lot of attention to the subject. My initial post was just a passing comment on my confusion on the subject. As I remember it,

George Floyd was murdered, the BLM's protests were gaining traction, there was a report in the news about a largely unknown Juneteenth celebration in Texas, afterwards Juneteenth was declared a Federal holiday. As I said,

An easy way for politician to act like they've done something meaningful, with very little effort.

I don't remember discussions about what would be a good day/event to choose to celebrate the end of slavery. Though I could be wrong.

[techgnome]

It was selected because it was when Union solders arrived in Galvaston effectively ending the last trace of in use slavery.

It's been a state holiday for several states across the South for quite some time... starting, oddly, in Texas ...

Juneteenth became a state holiday in Texas in 1980, and a number of other states subsequently followed suit. In 2021 Juneteenth was made a federal holiday, in part because of the actions of activist Opal Lee to raise awareness. The day is also celebrated outside the United States, being used by organizations in a number of countries to recognize the end of slavery and to honor the culture and achievements of African Americans.

Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Juneteenth

And it looks like it was started right from the beginning:

The following year, on June 19, the first official Juneteenth celebrations took place in Texas. The original observances included prayer meetings and the singing of spirituals, and celebrants wore new clothes as a way of representing their newfound freedom.

So it's been a slow moving process... finally in 2020/2021 it had gained enough momentum tothe point where it landed on the POTUS's desk.

I was in Texas in the early 80's ... I don't remember Junteenth, but then I was in weeeeeest Texas (El Paso)... so show knows. I did hear and know about it befoire 2020 living here in Charleston SC now...

-tg

[wes4dbt]

If we simply go by the dates on which the Tribes ratified these treaties, slavery in the continental United States came to an end as a legal institution on June 14, 1866, when the Creek Tribe agreed to abandon African-American slavery.

Was bored today so I did a little research. I had no idea that Native American even participated in slavery.

Interesting look at what happened in Galveston, https://www.wbur.org/npr/1007315228/...in-observation

I'm not trying to argue what was the exact date slavery ended in the US, I don't don't think there is an absolute answer. Because of the shear number of slaves in Galveston it does seem like a reasonable date to choose. I don't have a better date in mind.

The day is also celebrated outside the United States, being used by organizations in a number of countries to recognize the end of slavery and to honor the culture and achievements of African Americans.

Learn something new everyday. Now if I can just remember it. lol

[FunkyDexter]

I do question why Juneteenth was selected to represent the ending of slavery

I guess one date is as good as another as long as they're somehow significant to the the end of Slavery. That does leave me with a question, though: Do you have any other federal holidays that celebrate the end of slavery? (I genuinely don't know). If not then I kinda think I don't care what the motivation behind it was, I think there ought to be one. If there was already one or more then I think I might agree with you that it was unnecessary pandering to the moment.

I do think the end of slavery is worthy of a federal holiday and I think that could be any of several suitable dates. I think I'd probably say to 2 or 3 were appropriate if they had different nuance. There is a boundary, though, at which you'd have to say "we're already celebrating this thing, we don't need another day" though I think that boundary's highly subjective and up for debate. I'm also aware that we tend to have a lot more holiday days than you guys so one extra day over there is probably more significant than one over here.

[wes4dbt]

No there were no holidays celebrating the end of slavery.

If there was already one or more then I think I might agree with you that it was unnecessary pandering to the moment.

I must be doing a crappy job of making my point. I don't think the holiday is unnecessary, but I do think it was pandering to the moment. It seemed like a convenient way to throw the black community a bone. I don't remember a lot of engagement around selecting the day. As I said, I could have missed it. I will say, I haven't heard any complaints about selecting Juneteenth from the groups involved.

Oh, we have 11 federal holidays. That's the perfect number, any country with more is just being political and pandering to lazy people.

[FunkyDexter]

I just looked and we only have 8, you slovenly lot! I think my perception was probably coming from us having 28 days statutory leave (that's on top of bank holidays so 36 leave days in total) while you guys only get 12 (so 23 days total).

I guess you guys just have more to celebrate.

[wes4dbt]

I think my perception was probably coming from us having 28 days statutory leave (that's on top of bank holidays so 36 leave days in total) while you guys only get 12 (so 23 days total).

Don't know what 12 days your talking about. Don't think we have any statutory leave. I googled it and gave me links to the federal holidays. Never heard of bank holidays. Other than banks usually close on federal holidays.

[FunkyDexter]

I took it from here under the bit about the Family and Medical Leave Act. I didn't give it a proper read, though, so I might have jumped to the wrong conclusion.

Bank holidays are our equivalent of your federal holidays. I'm not sure of the etymology but I think it's to do with, historically, national holidays being the only time a bank would be closed on a normal working day.

[wes4dbt]

Darn, I wish you were right, I could have went into my "people have it so much easier nowadays" speech.

I love trashing those young whippersnappers.

In the UK, most full-time employees who work a five-day week are entitled to a minimum of 28 days of paid annual leave, or 5.6 weeks, each year. This includes bank holidays, which may be counted towards the total.

That's a sweet deal. But it does include your bank holidays. You must be self employed to make that mistake. lol

[FunkyDexter]

You must be self employed to make that mistake.

Yep, and since I work from home I pretty much never take leave except maybe a week or two a year to go away on hols.

[sapator]

In Greece we have 22 days but after 10 years of work on the same company or 12 in more you get 25 to a max to 27-29 I think, not 100% sure on that.
We got some holidays also except Xmas and eastern, p.e. today it's the Holly Ghost day so I'm not working. Next on is 15 of August it's Virgin Mary holiday and we have 2 war holidays , Liberation wwII and Liberation from Turks (1821) , ahh and some more I'm forgetting now.
The problem is with working hours. We have 8 - 5 Days work, while in Europe they are evolving to 4 days work, our traitors passed a legislation for 6 days work for certain branches. Food industry, tourism,Security guards, Supermarkets, banks (in discussion) and some more fields. The traitor proclaim 6 days equals better salary...Well 7 days is even better salary, non? The goverment was raped in the recent elections, dropped 14 units so they are puking every anti population idea swiftly until they get the F out. Also a quiz, how can a government still be in power when they have close to 27% ...The answer is,...Greece.

[FunkyDexter]

In Greece we have 22 days

I thought you guys took 365

[sapator]

The public sector Funky, the public sector

P.S. There was a public sector employ in an off city department that took a leave of absence and recently found that, that particular leave we 8 years.... Till he was kindly asked to return to his office.