#382 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Monday June 20)
Good morning,
CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH
Today is the celebration of Juneteenth. A lot of people don’t even know what we are commemorating on this day. Many do. One of those “in the know,” is Mark Farrell, a classmate of mine from high school, who noted the importance of the day and posted on his Facebook page, “How is everyone celebrating Juneteenth?”
It’s not a crazy question. While it has its roots in Black communities, its observance is a relatively new phenomenon for many of us. I don’t really know how one should celebrate the date upon which the last emancipated slaves in Texas learned they were free. My hunch is that for some it is a day of nearly religious significance. I hope it is a day of remembrance, contemplation, and companionship. For most people, I suspect it will be like most other holidays, when we briefly acknowledge the day (like Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Labor Day, Presidents Day, and MLK Day) and move quickly to a day of leisure with family. But as is the case with those holidays, I would hope we all stop what we’re doing and think for a moment of its significance.
To paraphrase Churchill, this day of celebration marks the “end of the beginning” of the story of Black Americans. It was on this date that the last wave of emancipation was realized. But as we all know, the simple act of emancipation was not sufficient. The march toward equality would continue for over a century (and continues today).
1863 marks the Emancipation Proclamation and Memorial Day remembers the Civil War dead (later extended to all wars)—all important milestones in the reckoning with slavery and the bloody war. But Juneteenth is a holiday of the formerly enslaved—not the enslavers or the enablers and not those who recognized the error of their ways. It is the celebration of the emancipated. It is a vital date.
CELEBRATING ALL OF A COMPLEX HISTORY
One respondent on Mark’s Facebook page said he would celebrate the date that slavery first became illegal in the U.S., on July 2, 1777, when Vermont was the first to outlaw slavery.
This response reminded me that history is complex. There is no single event that changes everything. And there are multiple threads of complex stories that weave together to form a diverse, rich history. No one date defines our history. History is about reconciling all of the contradictions and complications of the past. There is no single narrative, despite what those who want to control our children’s curriculum might suggest. Neither the hagiography of the celebration of all things American nor the rejection of our history as one simply of exploitation is a satisfactory telling of the American story.
One should remember Vermont’s actions, less than a year after proclaiming our independence, when the first state stood against the peculiar institution. In addition to Vermont’s courage, we should celebrate July 3, 1863, the date when Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, after the bloody Union victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg. And we must remember MLK and the continuing struggle for equality. Finally, we should all remember Juneteenth, when a slave population celebrated, finally, becoming free Americans—joining our story and helping to write our history.
CELEBRATING SANDY
The Dodgers unveiled a statue this weekend commemorating Sandy Koufax, perhaps the greatest pitcher of all time. His final four seasons were won-lost records of 25-5, 19-5, 26-8 and 27-9. He had a 0.95 ERA in world series games. He lead the National League in Earned Run Average five years running. Four no hitters, one perfect game, three unanimous Cy Young awards and four World Championship teams.
Ross Porter wrote on Friday about how Sandy would take out the journeyman players on off-days to the best restaurants, always picking up the tab. A gentleman and a great ballplayer.
His was one of two “number 32s” on my wall when I was a kid. The other was O.J. Ok, so I’m batting only .500.
Happy Juneteenth,
Glenn
PS: Next Monday I’ll return to policy ideas.
From the archives: