COMMENTS

16 responses to “What is Juneteenth?”

1. In the 21st century we’re to those labored during those 400 years as the enslaved. Thank for an enlightening piece of American History.

   Reply to Ernestine

2. I’m in agreement with most of what’s already conveyed.
   Perhaps next year Senior Planet will hold a first-time event to recognize, educate, or celebrate the official Juneteenth Holiday. Anyone who would be open minded to attend would learn something of the importance, details, and meaning of why it became a Federal Holiday and going forward expectations of it. I, among so many regardless of race, am very sensitive to the tenacity of my enslaved Black ‘American’ ancestors who endured with the faith of reaching freedom eventually within the United States of AMERICA. Unbeknown to them USA enslavement lasted 400+ years of inhuman treatment including murder in any way one could conjure-up.

   Reply to Sheila Woolfolk

3. If you had been enslaved for 400 years, perhaps I could understand your impatience and lack of sensitivity. Some comments should be left in the confines of your mind, Janet.

   Reply to Clay

4. Articles on slavery will have a different tenor if the word ‘slave’ is replaced by ‘enslaved’.
   Slave – bland
   Enslaved conjures up a completely different set of visuals – being held vst your will; human-trafficking; brutality of the enslavers and their enforcers; injustice at its highest
   Makes white people uncomfortable.

   Reply to Glory

   1. I was reading with interest the distinction of connotations between “slave” and “enslaved” — until I reached, “Makes white people uncomfortable.” That may certainly be true of some people, Glory, but the rather smug presumption of yours will probably alienate more “white people” than inspire or educate them. I’m not sure why you felt the need to say that, but white people can identify their own feelings. You might better stick with expressing your own feelings rather than those of others.

      Reply to Margaret

      1. DITTO!! Margaret .. I wholehartedly agree with your response to Glory. There is no sugarcoating this language and lived experience, not only in the USA, but Europe (Brittain/England to be exact). Let us be realistic and blatantly truthful about slavery…

5. Regarding Juneteenth, I think some additional material should be published by Senior Planet . . . perhaps including comments from members who would like to share. I have known too little about the origins, but I care deeply, and as a white person I appreciate all chances to learn more of others’ backgrounds and experiences. Further, we are at an extremely important point in America’s race relations . . . it is time to do more, and learn more.

   In the case of Juneteenth, what moves me deeply is that while Lincoln ended slavery in 1893, word did not reach Texan slaves until 1865. Imagine all the time and progress we robbed these good people of . . . only to delay telling all they were free. There are excellent articles in the Cover feature of Google, among them a fine piece in The Atlantic.

   I concur with your (editor’s) remark concerning the importance of using our features for outreach and education. Let’s move ahead!

   Thanks!

   Reply to Eileen Kovac

   1. Eileen it’s my understanding that the enslaved didn’t hear about freedom until 1865 because the crops that
      had been planted had not yet come to
      fruition. The enslaved were kept so that the land owners would reap the benefits of the harvest.

      Reply to Ernestine

   2. Huh? If Lincoln ended slavery in 1893, as Eileen says, how is it that 1865 was a late transmission of the news? Well, I checked it out and the actual year of Lincoln’s emancipation document was 1863, and 1865 was definitely late news delivery.

      Reply to Margaret

6. omg, give it a break on this already!

   Reply to Janet

   1. Thanks for writing in, Janet. We hear you and appreciate you taking the time to express yourself.

      Here is some context on why we posted this article: Senior Planet is a project of the nonprofit Older Adults Technology Services (OATS), and social advocacy has always been at the heart of what OATS does. You can read more about OATS advocacy here (https://oats.org/advocacy/). We speak out about many issues that impact older adults, including ageism, workforce discrimination, transit issues, and more. We also empower older adults to advocate for the issues that matter to them. We specifically offer a course called ACTivate that teaches digital tools for civic engagement, and its participants have had respectful, meaningful conversations even when they disagree politically.

      Juneteenth is a day commemorating the end of slavery, which Americans have widely acknowledged as an important step in our history, regardless of their political affiliation. In the end, Senior Planet is a politically diverse group, united by our desire to improve the lives of older adults everywhere.

      We hope to see you at a Senior Planet program soon!

      Reply to Senior Planet

      1. In the 21st century we’re to those labored during those 400 years as the enslaved. Thank for an enlightening piece of American History.

   2. If you had been enslaved for 400 years, perhaps I could understand your impatience and lack of sensitivity. Some comments should be left in the confines of your mind, Janet.

      Reply to Clay

      1. Clay, I’ve heard various estimates given for the existence of slavery in the U. S., but 400 years seems overstated. Can you tell me when slavery began in this country? I’d appreciate it. (I take 1863 as the end.)

7. when I click on petition here, the page goes blank, : (

   thought you’d like to know. I’ll try other links and see if I can find one that leads me to the petition.

   thanks for all you’re doing! I love your newsletters.
   jean

   Reply to jean

   1. Hi Jean- Thanks for letting us know! We’re addressing this now. You can alternatively copy and paste the url to the petition below:

      https://www.change.org/p/united-states-congress-make-juneteenth-a-national-holiday-in-2020

      Reply to Senior Planet