Zenell Brown
A friend shared with me that they were a little bewildered when a non-Black person wished them a “Happy Juneteenth.” They weren’t quite sure how to respond. Was a simple “thank you” sufficient?
My friend’s experience was a microcosm of a national experience. How do you expand the conversation on freedom and independence that we inherited and have been having for 250 years?
For generations, July 4th has been our singular acknowledgment of freedom and independence. In 2021, Juneteenth was introduced as a national holiday, and we are still in the early stages of embracing it. We are learning language from those who have been celebrating since 1865, and we are adjusting so that it deepens our appreciation of freedom and independence as a right for all.
National holidays invite everyone to learn, reflect, and participate in preserving our shared history while advancing the ideals upon which our nation was founded. Juneteenth is a national holiday experience and an invitation that invites all Americans to learn, reflect, celebrate, and engage in the ongoing journey toward freedom for all. Opal Lee, affectionately known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth, envisioned a National Season of Freedom, spanning from June 19, Juneteenth, through July 4, Independence Day. The preservation and advancement of freedom is our collective responsibility.
So I asked my friend, “What did you think the greeting meant? Was the person simply acknowledging the holiday, or were they extending an invitation to share in its meaning?”
“Happy Juneteenth,” “Happy July 4th,” “Happy Independence Day,” and “Happy Freedom Season” are appropriate greetings and replies.
And a better question is: What conversation does that greeting invite us to have?
Juneteenth is an opportunity for everybody to educate, engage, and enjoy.
—————
Continue the conversation
Justice is not just us. Explore more reflections on justice, inclusion, and civic engagement by watching my TEDxPon tiac talk, Justice Is Not Just Us: https://youtu.be/9rS9y0I3zC0
My friend’s experience was a microcosm of a national experience. How do you expand the conversation on freedom and independence that we inherited and have been having for 250 years?
For generations, July 4th has been our singular acknowledgment of freedom and independence. In 2021, Juneteenth was introduced as a national holiday, and we are still in the early stages of embracing it. We are learning language from those who have been celebrating since 1865, and we are adjusting so that it deepens our appreciation of freedom and independence as a right for all.
National holidays invite everyone to learn, reflect, and participate in preserving our shared history while advancing the ideals upon which our nation was founded. Juneteenth is a national holiday experience and an invitation that invites all Americans to learn, reflect, celebrate, and engage in the ongoing journey toward freedom for all. Opal Lee, affectionately known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth, envisioned a National Season of Freedom, spanning from June 19, Juneteenth, through July 4, Independence Day. The preservation and advancement of freedom is our collective responsibility.
So I asked my friend, “What did you think the greeting meant? Was the person simply acknowledging the holiday, or were they extending an invitation to share in its meaning?”
“Happy Juneteenth,” “Happy July 4th,” “Happy Independence Day,” and “Happy Freedom Season” are appropriate greetings and replies.
And a better question is: What conversation does that greeting invite us to have?
Juneteenth is an opportunity for everybody to educate, engage, and enjoy.
—————
Continue the conversation
Justice is not just us. Explore more reflections on justice, inclusion, and civic engagement by watching my TEDxPon tiac talk, Justice Is Not Just Us: https://youtu.be/9rS9y0I3zC0
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