Culture 4 Adonis Armstrong Culture 4 Adonis Armstrong

Juneteenth Becomes a State Holiday in Nevada

Nevada officially recognizes Juneteenth as a state holiday, celebrating the liberation of African Americans. We discuss it here!

 

By: Adonis Armstrong

Juneteenth, a day dedicated to acknowledging the liberation of enslaved African Americans, is rapidly approaching. Despite the passage of a federal bill in 2021 recognizing June 19 as a national holiday, only a limited number of states have embraced its observance on the state level.

Nevada joined the movement to officially recognize Juneteenth June 8th as Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo signed the bill into law. The decision was supported by local officials with a resounding vote of 40 to one in the state Assembly and 19 to two in the state Senate, as reported by Fox 5 Vegas. This development aligns Nevada with other states, such as Texas, New York, Virginia, and Washington, that have already designated Juneteenth as a paid federal holiday.

Originating in Texas, Juneteenth commemorates the significant moment when the final Black individuals who were enslaved received the long awaited news that they were no longer considered property. Although President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 to grant freedom to enslaved people across the United States, it took until 1865 for many to learn of their emancipation.

Nevada vote had the support of Democratic Assemblywoman Claire Thomas. “As the first state to ratify the 15th Amendment, which gave African Americans the right to vote, Nevada has a long and proud history of supporting civil rights. By designating Juneteenth as a state holiday, Nevada continues to honor that legacy and celebrate the progress that has been made in the fight for equality,” she stated. By designating Juneteenth as a state holiday, Nevada continues to honor that legacy and celebrate the progress that has been made in the fight for equality.

In addition to community leaders and officials, many celebrities have also used their platform to spread awareness about the historical significance of Juneteenth. Through various forms of activism, they have sought to educate and engage the public in recognizing and celebrating this important day in American history.

As Juneteenth approaches, the official recognition of this holiday in Nevada serves as a reminder of the ongoing journey towards equality and justice. It represents a collective effort to acknowledge the struggles of the past, celebrate the progress made, and commit to building a future that upholds the principles of freedom and equality for all.

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Culture 3 Omar Cook Culture 3 Omar Cook

Opinion: Juneteenth Is A Federal Holiday, But This Is Not Enough

This day, known as Juneteenth, is now a federal holiday in the United States as of June 15. For many African-Americans, this day has always been one worth celebrating, often being referred to as the “real” Independence Day! Being recognized as a federal holiday has its benefits, but now what? We discuss it here!

 
247 Live Culture
Juneteenth

By: Cory Utsey

On June 19, 1865, the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas finally received news of the Emancipation Proclamation and were made free from chattel slavery. This day, known as Juneteenth, is now a federal holiday in the United States as of June 15. For many African-Americans, this day has always been one worth celebrating, often being referred to as the “real” Independence Day.

But now what? 

One can of course appreciate the grandiose nature of commemoration by way of a national holiday, especially during a time in which Black history is seen as something that is separate from American History. But this holiday comes over 150 years late, and the demands that Black people have in regards to justice cannot be satisfied by governmental recognition on a single day.

I will in no way try to speak for all Black people, but I know that for someone like me, change must be something that extends past Black Lives Matter murals and the closure of federal buildings on Juneteenth.

The problem with a lot of the so-called change and activism to take place over the last couple of years-- and especially since the summer of 2020- is that it is performative. When justice is performative, its ingenuine nature does absolutely nothing for advancing the lives of marginalized groups; in this particular case, it does nothing to declare holidays and say that Black Lives Matter when the actions behind these gestures are lacking.

I draw little inspiration from the prospect of Juneteenth being recognized as a federal holiday when Black people are still being lynched by the police and disproportionately thrown in jail. Watching lawmakers sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” stirs little hope in my spirit when the voting rights of Black people are still suppressed. 

The fact that this all comes at a time in which some states are trying to ban the teaching of critical race theory makes this whole spectacle even less amicable. Not only have most schools kept their coverage of race very vague, but I am curious of the answer to the following question: How will teachers explain what Juneteenth is to their students if they are not allowed to talk about race?

I will never try to minimize the successes that have been made since June 19, 1865, but I cannot act as though these accomplishments are anything more than the bare minimum. 

Juneteenth might mark a good start, but it cannot be the extent to which the livelihood of Black people is valued. Black people, and all of their intersecting identities, deserve to exist without fear of racism or execution.

As stated previously, Black enslaved people were made free from chattel slavery on June 19, 1865, but we have yet to be released from the shackles of white supremacy. 

Juneteenth being recognized as a federal holiday has its benefits with regard to visibility, but it is far from enough.

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