Juneteenth: The US’s “Second Independence Day”

BY SUZIE WELLS

services, and other activities, and as Black people migrated from Texas to other parts of the country, the Juneteenth tradition spread.

In 1979, Texas became the rst state to make Juneteenth an o cial holiday; several others followed suit over the years. In June 2021, the US Congress passed a resolution establishing Juneteenth as a national holiday. President Biden signed it into law on June 17, 2021. In 2022, New York State recognized it as a state holiday. State legislators strive to bring awareness to issues of racism and violence that plague society to this day.

According to Governor Kathy Hochul, New York honors Juneteenth “in recognition of the Black community’s persistent and intergenerational resistance to institutional oppression.” New York and much of the US signals its “solidarity against the senseless violence and discrimination in icted upon Black communities, families, and individuals.”

Lieutenant Governor Delgado said, “ e painful legacies of slavery and segregation live on within our hearts, but the continued ght for justice and equal representation give us hope [for] an equitable future where our children can live in peace and love without bearing the weight of the injustices and scars of the past.”

Illuminated in red, black, and green, state buildings, Fairport’s Li Bridge, Niagara Falls, and the State Fairgrounds’ Main Gate & Expo Center in Syracuse will visually re ect the day. e city of Rochester hosts a Juneteenth Festival on June 17th at MLK Memorial Park. e Rochester Freedom Riders (bicyclists inspired by the original freedom riders to “support Black space, Black places, and to acknowledge Black faces”) host their annual ride.

Rochester Museum and Science Center celebrates with local performances, music, face painting, food, and activities for the whole family. e Blackstorytelling League of Rochester will share the origins of Juneteenth through storytelling, historical reenactment, and discussion at the Rochester Public Library.

With Rochester’s deep roots in the abolitionist movement, with key historical gures such as Frederick Douglass and nearby Auburn’s Harriet Tubman, Rochester has a rich history in African American heritage and culture. is Juneteenth, consider re ecting on the challenges faced by Black people of yesterday and today. Let’s work toward a more civil tomorrow!

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