How To Promote Juneteenth

It’s truly despicable that Juneteenth is not celebrated in the USA. June 19th is a day that celebrates the end of slavery in America. This glorious day should be marked on our calendars and rejoiced across the country! Instead, most people don’t even know what it is, and there are a couple of reasons why.

First of all, the history of our country sadly reeks of racism. Outside of electing Obama, this nation has struggled with racial equality since its inception. The backlash-election of Trump proves that mass ignorance still lives. So of course Juneteenth gets swept under the rug. “Oh, that’s a Texas thing,” critics may say, “Other slaves were freed before then.” But that’s a poor argument, because holidays are never literal. It actually is the thought that counts, and what the day represents. As Biblical accounts describe, Jesus was born in Autumn, for Chrissakes. And, the nation was not actually independent yet on July 4th, but we declared it so.

Secondly, comically, and just as pathetic, alcohol is not tied to Juneteenth. Seriously. How can this country celebrate anything sober? Millions of non-Latino Americans celebrate Cinco De Mayo, the Mexican holiday of independence. Why? margaritas and Coronas, amigo. How about St. Pats? Nobody even cares what that holiday is for, but let’s raise a Guiness and a whiskey, my friend. The Kentucky Derby is becoming more popular, just so Americans have an excuse to down a Mint Julep. Oscar Sunday parties have increased, so people can play dress-up, drink champagne and pound martinis. Sixty-three-million cases of beer are sold here on The Fourth of July alone, the biggest beer holiday of the year.

So let’s drink, people! We can easily put Junteenth on the map with booze. So raise a Bissap, a sweet hibiscus tea (with Vodka!), and let’s get the party started. This is supposed to be a celebration. Let’s face it, racism is still a battle, but if we get Juneteeth into our vocabulary now, it will spread into the schools, and into our culture. This is an important event in our history, so let’s do what it takes to have it recognized.