History I Never Learned In School: Juneteenth

Somehow (unsurprisingly, we know who makes the curriculum) I went through K-10th grades without ever really hearing about Juneteenth. The only reason I learned what Juneteenth was when I was a junior was not because I was taking one of the two sections of African-American History class available at my high school (for some odd reason my counselor would not let me take that class even though the teacher and I both knew I should have been taking it. I digress.) but because my American History II teacher was basically a Black Panther.

Thinking back on what I remember in all the various years that I learned American history, the timeline I remember of Black history in this white-washed classes goes:

Slavery -> Emancipation Proclamation -> Plessy v Ferguson -> Jim Crow -> Brown v Board -> Civil Rights -> Equality!

And although it makes me sad that our history is so watered down, I can’t say I’m surprised. I guess this is why there are so many white people that say things like, “Slavery happened so long ago, get over it,” but still cry about the Confederate Army. Or that say things like, “We freed the slaves, you should be grateful. What are you so mad about?” or my personal favorites, “We live in a post-racial society” or “America’s not racist.” But you know, I went to underfunded schools until college so I also don’t know what white kids read in their new textbooks, they could be getting an even more watered-down, white-washed version of history that makes slavery seem like it was a job or an internship.

I am loving the discussions about making Juneteenth a national holiday. We deserve it. Too many people think that everyone was freed July 4th, which just is not true. I have no idea how this has been a continued thought and I am going to call it brainwashing that I’ve celebrated July 4th my whole life like all my ancestors were free to celebrate this day.

But I also feel very protective of Juneteenth. Seeing white celebrities try to pander and seem woke feels gross. Like they’re overcompensating too much, and it’s not the vibe. I don’t want this to become a day that gets gentrified like Cinco de Mayo, where whites are celebrating with dashikis and Henny for all the grossly wrong reasons. Because it’s not their holiday, it’s ours. And even now, over 100 years later, we’re still fighting for the right to live freely.

Moving forward, I know I’m going to teach my kids about Juneteenth, whether this day becomes a national holiday or not. My kids will know June 19th like second nature. This will be the day that we have a cookout and light fireworks and watch Black ass movies and relish in our Blackness, because in all honesty, June 19th will always matter more in our history than July 4th ever will.