Juneteenth and July 4th Honor Different Kinds of Freedom: Celebrate Both

Since 2021, America has had two days to celebrate freedom: Fourth of July or Independence Day and Juneteenth. Fireworks, barbecues, picnics, and more are enjoyed by most Americans during this time. While there is much celebration, unfortunately many Americans debate about which is more important or relevant to history and which is a “fake” one. There isn’t a competition. As we start the season of celebrating freedom, let it be said that both holidays are able to coexist without competing with each other for top status. They are simply two holidays that celebrate different kinds of freedom: Juneteenth celebrates and honors physical freedom for Black Americans while Fourth of July honors national freedom. Here is why both holidays are necessary and why they both should be celebrated.

Celebrating Juneteenth: Juneteenth, officially Juneteenth National Independence Day, is celebrated on June 19th each year. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger along with 2,000 Union troops, announced to the last remaining 250,000 slaves in Texas that they were free. This event occurred two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. Signed into law by Joe Biden in June 2021, Juneteenth is America’s newest federal holiday. It is important because it expands and even dissects the promise of freedom, liberty, and justice for all. It is a more advanced celebration of the values that America is supposed to hold dear.  Contrary to some people’s ignorance on the matter, Juneteenth is not a replacement for the Fourth of July, nor should it be. It shouldn’t be used as a tool for seperation and division, but one of further enlightenment. It is a formal recognition and acknowledgment of the end of what is possibly America’s darkest time. To celebrate Juneteenth is to acknowledge America’s past while demanding better for the future. Racism, prejudice, segregation, and discrimination aren’t easy topics for many Americans to discuss; there are many who object to celebration of the holiday. They specifically say that it only honors Black Americans; the question of why should they get a separate holiday? America has many holidays that honor the experience or achievements of a certain group: Juneteenth is no different. In fact, Juneteenth was a significant moment in overall American history and should be acknowledged as such. Freedom is beneficial to all people, regardless of race. We all benefit from physical freedom. Families, friendships, workplaces, and community organizations are all better as a result of African-American freedom. While African-American identity and culture should always continue to be the focal point of the holiday, Juneteenth can and should be celebrated by everyone. The holiday is a chance for the country to sit back and examine the true meaning of freedom and how to ensure that it is being protected on a daily basis. Non-Black celebrants should be encouraged to reflect on history, progress, and the continued fight for peace, equality and justice in America. It should also be an opportunity for learning and a call to action for allyship. Juneteenth celebrates the concept that America is not only formally acknowledging the history of slavery, but that it took over two and a half years for that promise of freedom to actually be enforced. It’s a celebration that not only acknowledges that event, but one that raises awareness to the continued Black experience in America; one that included Jim Crow segregation and the Civil Rights era following the end of slavery. In today’s time, Juneteenth also is a reminder that while physical freedom is a reality, there is still so much work to be done for equality and justice for all. It’s also a time to celebrate the progress of the Black American community while also exploring concepts like critical race theory, affirmative action, and reparations and how these might fit as important steps to overall justice for the Black community. Instead of the two holidays being in competition, they are indeed complimentary to each other. Juneteenth completes the initial promise of freedom that Fourth of July introduced. 

Celebrating Fourth of July: This year, America will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The Declaration of Independence is the founding document of the United States of America, establishing the country as an independent nation, free from Great Britain. However, the validity of Fourth of July or Independence Day, has long been debated, especially amongst Black Americans and other minorities, of whether or not it should be celebrated. Many argue that Black people were not free when the Declaration of Independence was signed and went into effect; this is true information. However, it’s important to appreciate the freedom we do enjoy here in America that many people take for granted. The freedom of peaceful assembly, the right to freedom of speech, and the freedom of religion amongst other forms. America allows individual liberty, a concept that is often taken for granted. A lot of the freedoms we enjoy today are due to the sacrifices of our military as they continue to fight and protect our freedoms. Memorial Day, the first holiday Americans celebrate in the summer, is rarely debated on its importance or relevance. This holiday honors the service men and women who died in the act of duty. Veterans Day, while less popular than Memorial Day, still garners respect as the holiday honors all veterans who have served, including those still alive. So, as a country, why are we debating the status of Fourth of July as the same concept applies? Freedom is a hallmark of American life and citizenship. Over time, those values have been questionable, even debatable but never erased completely. Celebrating this holiday should expand beyond just fireworks and barbecues; it should be a reminder of the values America is supposed to hold true. The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” America should be reminded of how it was supposed to be as a country during its inception: as the example of what freedom looked like to many parts of the world. We must challenge the neglect of this statement at every chance. The Fourth of July is a time to examine the concepts of life, liberty, and happiness and how that translates into everyday life. Many would argue that in our current climate, those words are debatable given the overturning of many fundamental and important constitutional rights. That is certainly justified, but the overall concept of freedom is a part of America’s very fabric. Over time, Americans have often blurred the lines when it comes to the type of freedom that is being celebrated on Fourth of July. Individual freedom often gets examined on this day and that is perhaps the most profound form of freedom. While there is certainly no harm in exploring different kinds of freedom, the facts must not be confused: Independence Day celebrates America’s independence from Great Britain at the national level. 

In essence, Juneteenth and Fourth of July are celebrations of different types of freedom. Let them both be a celebration of American history, but also a reminder of the work that still needs to be done. Freedom is essential to every single American life, regardless of race, color, religion, or creed. Both holidays should be celebrated and are not meant to overshadow the other. Let freedom ring!