On June 17, 2021 President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. The law made June 19th a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Juneteenth's commemoration is on the anniversary date of the June 19, 1865, announcement of Union Army General Gordon Granger proclaiming and enforcing freedom of enslaved people in Texas, which was the last state of the Confederacy with institutional slavery. The House version of the bill was sponsored by Texas Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, and was co-sponsored by 166 members, two of whom are Republicans. It passed 415 to 14, with all the no votes coming from Republicans. It passed the Senate via unanimous consent.
Narrow down the conversation to these participants:
Discussions from these authors are shown:
Voting for candidate:
Zipcode:
@8WZLX844yrs4Y
No, it is a specific holiday for Black Americans to celebrate their freedom from slavery, and if it is a federal holiday, all Americans including those who historically enslaved them will be eligible for a free day off; however, as it is a cultural holiday, the US government should federally recognize it, and require all workplaces to allow Black Americans to take the day off if they choose
@938C7TK3yrs3Y
Yes, because who doesn't want another federal holiday?
@924RNVF3yrs3Y
No, it's patronizing and a stupid waste of time
@8ZG6BC2Republican3yrs3Y
Why not celebrate other races all year round?
@8ZDJ95DConstitution3yrs3Y
No, but we should celebrate it.
@8YTGB8G3yrs3Y
It already is a federal holiday, so there's no point in asking. Besides, I get to have another day of from school!
@8XBMZPT4yrs4Y
We should allow it. It was a big day. But to be mad and say that it's a cultural holiday doesn't make sense. It's not as much a cultural holiday as a big moment for all of our citizens
@8X84WQX4yrs4Y
No man nor race should get special treatment no matter what.
@8X84GZZ4yrs4Y
I do not believe it should exist.
@8WXRVK24yrs4Y
Yes and we need several more federal holidays including Election Day
@8WQ5FGY4yrs4Y
Politicians should not be making facile and ultimately worthless attempts like this at garnering sympathy from black voters, and instead work to address the real material concerns of marginalized and oppressed groups, which would go beyond mere reparations and instead attack the very foundations of capitalism itself.
We should not just focus on 2 races in America's history but include those who were here originally at the very least.
@8VJRLBV4yrs4Y
holidays are dumb so no.
@8V8Z6SX4yrs4Y
Sure. It doesn't bother me so go for it.
@8V268NC4yrs4Y
There should be no federal holidays.
@8TG9N494yrs4Y
Yes, but name it Emancipation Day instead
@937PVK83yrs3Y
The more federal holidays, the better. Add one for every ethnicity.
@92RPCPQ3yrs3Y
It's trying to help black people but it ends up only helping the white people who own the companies because more of the companies are owned by white people.
@8YQ32423yrs3Y
it doesnt nessisaraly need to be a holiday but it does need to be relevant in our history and comunity.
Join in on more popular conversations.