Juneteenth

Written by Faisal Khan, Nixon Law Group Senior Attorney

Juneteenth National Independence Day became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, honoring the emancipation of the last enslaved African-Americans on June 19, 1865. Recognition of this milestone will clearly impact people differently. For some in the workforce, it may represent an extra day off of work. While others, particularly those with a familial connection to slavery, federal recognition of this holiday may bring tears, joy, or an opportunity to reflect on the continued path toward social justice and equality. Regardless of how Juneteenth personally impacts you, I implore you to appreciate the history of this holiday and how important education is in our continued fight to ensure the longevity of American ideals.

President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, which declared slaves living in states not under Union control to be free. Two years later, on January 31, 1865, the Congress passed the 13th Constitutional Amendment abolishing slavery. Less than three months later, on April 9, 1965, Confederate General Lee surrendered to Union General Grant, commonly referred to as the end of the Civil War (even though President Andrew Johnson did not formally declare an end to the Civil War until August 20, 1866). The 13th Constitutional Amendment was ratified on December 6, 1865, finally abolishing slavery within the United States and any place under its jurisdiction.

You may be asking yourself why I am I reciting historical facts? To make this point: If we as citizens or residents in this country truly hold American ideals in our hearts, then we must know our history to understand what we have achieved, to learn from our successes and mistakes, and to appreciate how our collective actions and inactions have consequences for our society. By means of the Juneteenth example, it took over two and a half years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation for the last enslaved African-Americans to be freed, six more months  for slavery to be abolished everywhere within the jurisdiction of the United States, and another 156 years for the Federal Government to recognize Juneteenth as a pivotal moment in American history where the county truly furthered its Constitutional path toward becoming a more perfect Union.

To me, today is a small but significant step in the advancement of social justice within our country. What is not small, however, is that even in today’s sociopolitical age of fast talk and polarizing rhetoric, our federal elected officials are still able to find common ground within American ideals, and take meaningful action to help right historical wrongs in our continued exploration and path for prosperity, equality, and freedom for all. I hope we all appreciate the gravity in this.