A Quick Sit-Down on Juneteenth

Hey, people of pallor. It's y'boy, Pharoah. Not "your boy" - y'boy. Believe me when I say there is a difference.

But I digress.

We've got bigger fish to fry, so let me pull up a chair and straddle it like Commander Riker so we can have a quick chat.

You sitting down? You comfy? Alright. Awesome. Let's "rap."

I don't know the proper "greeting" or "well wishes" message that someone who isn't Black should offer to Black people on Juneteenth, but y'all wishing me a Happy Juneteenth does not feel right.

It gives "progeny of oppressors hoping you will give them a pass because, hey, you're getting a federal holiday for your ancestor's suffering, so why are you uncomfortable with me acknowledging the holiday that exists because of my ancestors oppressing your ancestors" vibes, which is not a good look.

So I'm gonna float a few alternatives your way so you don't have to insert your foot in your mouth on some fetish sh--.

Maybe you shouldn't say anything to the Black people in your lives outside of maybe hoping that today is a day of rest for them if they have it off from work.

Maybe you could not treat Juneteenth like a summer barbecue holiday and not diminish its significance like you've diminished Labor Day, Memorial Day, or even Independence Day.

Maybe you could take some time today to learn Juneteenth's history and significance while enjoying your unearned federal day off.

Maybe you could legitimately volunteer your time and energy to a cause supporting Black communities in your city while enjoying your unearned federal day off.

Maybe you could recognize that Juneteenth only represents the emancipation of enslaved Africans in Confederate states and that enslaved Africans as a whole weren't free across the United States until the passage and ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment in December 1865, so Juneteenth, while being a significant moment in Black U.S. history, isn't the "Black Independence Day" y'all have been led to believe it is.

...

You're gonna go ahead and ignore everything I said because it feels uncomfortable in your tummy and wish me a Happy Juneteenth anyway, aren't you?

Of course you are.

SIGH.

Well, I tried.

"Good talk."

[Image description: A cartoon of Star Trek: The Next Generation character Commander Riker awkwardly straddling and sitting in a chair.]

Image description: A cartoon of Star Trek: The Next Generation character Commander Riker awkwardly straddling and sitting in a chair.

On Juneteenth and Bank Holidays

TW: mentions sexual assault, rape, white supremacy, and chattel slavery.

I do not like that Juneteenth is a federal holiday. I have always wanted the unmelanted masses to be educated on the history and significance of Juneteenth, but I never wanted it to be recognized as a damn bank holiday. Why?

Because I will never be OK with people of pallor having Juneteenth off work like it’s just another three-day weekend.

Like, what are you off of work for, white people? Are you comfortable chillin’ out on what should be a day of service and reflection for your people? Do y'all think you somehow deserve a day off that directly results from the generational trauma your ancestors created that we're all still impacted by?

Do you look at Juneteenth as a celebration that you get to participate in? If so, what are you celebrating? Are you celebrating the fact that your ancestors enslaved, murdered, and raped my ancestors and then willingly neglected to inform my ancestors that they were technically free and no longer their hateful owners? Are you celebrating the ongoing appropriation, subjugation, and murder that your ancestors popularized as suitable actions toward my ancestors that you and yours still perpetuate?

I will say this every year until the day I die: Juneteenth is not for you, white people.

White people: Until y'all do right by me and mine, may your Juneteenth barbecues lack seasoning, your “red velvet” cupcakes lack moisture, and your red punch taste like bog water.

And you can read that last part in your head in the voice of Celie from The Color Purple.

And note that I said “in your head” because you better not do a Celie impression out loud!

Monday's Opening Thought: June 19, 2022

This week’s opening thought: I’m posting this week’s opening thought this evening because tomorrow is the federally recognized Juneteenth which, for those not in the know, is a federal holiday in the United States (note: Juneteenth is technically today, June 19, but the U.S. and western culture love their bank holidays, so c’est la vie). I’ve got some pro wrestling to catch up on and some writing I want to dive into. As a Black person, a Black cis queer man, I’m taking tomorrow off from posting about and discussing the byproducts of this country’s original sins. I’m privileged to have tomorrow off to observe some of the rights and privileges that Black people have yet also have to continue fighting for in this country. I will use that privilege to rest and care for myself, so I can be present and charged for the many battles ahead. That’s my self-care. The truth is, my people deserve this day off. But if you’re white and privileged enough to be off tomorrow?

It’s not your day off.

You’ve got a lot of work to do, white people. You better spend tomorrow reflecting, learning, and educating yourself and the young white minds in your life. You should be thinking about how you can be a better co-worker, neighbor, and community member. Tomorrow is a great day for you to mull over how to be actionable and call in or call out those white people in your life and community causing harm to Black bodies. If you’re privileged enough to do so, you should be donating your time and/or money to Black causes and the Black communities in your city. Why?

Because it’s not your day off.

If you’re a white person, you have no reason to “celebrate” Juneteenth. What the Hell are you celebrating? “The contributions of Black people?” “The history of Black achievements in the United States?” You realize those contributions and impacts happened despite your ancestors and the systems you still benefit from every day, right? Y’all do realize that you perpetuate those oppressive states by not stepping up and breaking the cycles of white generational trauma connected to colonialism and white supremacy, don’t you? With all that said, what makes you think Juneteenth is something you get to celebrate? What are you celebrating even? Chattel slavery? Colonialism? White supremacy? Anti-Blackness? Do you believe white people deserve tomorrow off with the ways most of you consciously and unconsciously practice anti-Blackness at work, at home, and in the communities you live in?

It’s not your day off, white people. It’s tasteless for you to treat it as such.

Better get to sleep early tonight so you can get to work bright and early tomorrow.

Monday's Opening Thought: May 23, 2022

Image description: Black pro wrestling legend Booker T watching white pro wrestling legends Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair hugging and having a great time at a wrestling event. Booker T has a disgusted look on his face. Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan hugging is captioned with the words “White people wishing each other a happy Juneteenth while harming Black people every day.” Booker T is captioned with the word “Me.”

This week's opening thought: When Juneteenth became a federal bank holiday in 2021, there were many Black folx who were happy. Many Black people feel that making Juneteenth a national bank holiday was a step in the right direction from a race relations perspective. They felt that by acknowledging the Black experience in this way that more U.S. Americans, more white U.S. Americans, would recognize how hard Black people in the United States have fought to get to this place in time.

No tea, no shade, but y'all should've known better than that. We're talking about white U.S. Americans here.

Making Juneteenth a federal holiday was never about learning, reflection, or supporting Black communities for white people. Juneteenth is a bank holiday because the white people who make decisions in this country wanted to feel good about themselves after the murder of George Floyd. Juneteenth, in their eyes, was the low-hanging fruit they needed to "make it right." So they swiftly signed it into law.

And in doing so, they swiftly opened the door for white people to make more money off of Black bodies while continuing the disrespect of Black people in the United States.

Here we are, in the year of somebody's lord, 2022, and Walmart is flush with Juneteenth party decorations, party favors, bingo cards, and "special edition" ice cream flavors. None of these items are made by Black people, of course. White people have put together whites-only Juneteenth parties at swank venues and country clubs and have gotten angry when called out about it. Major publications have been writing how-to guides for white people for two years now, instructing white folx how they should celebrate Juneteenth. These articles are tone-deaf and white-centered, but no one reading this should be surprised. They map out how white people can be performative allies and pat themselves on the back for Juneteenth. White companies are having Juneteenth parties in the workplace. The same companies that complain about "not being enough qualified Black candidates" are subjecting the 10 Black employees on their payroll to a "party" space with their white co-workers. If you're Black, you find yourself in a "party space" with the same white co-workers who hand out microaggressions like Juneteenth party favors every day "celebrating" the enslavement of your ancestors with red velvet cake and a Black speaker hired to "teach" about Black lives.

Real talk?

Juneteenth ain't for you, white people. It's not for you. It's not for you to enjoy. It's not for you to make a profit. Stop it.

Your people have profited from Black bodies for long enough. You don't need another opportunity to do so.

Only white people are callous enough to celebrate lying to Black bodies about the end of their forced enslavement after enslaving them, sexually assaulting them, and traumatizing them for 400+ years. Only white people are callous enough to make money off of the enslavement of Black people at the hands of white people hundreds of years after kidnapping and enslaving Black people.

Y'all really out here making your enslavement of Black bodies a federal day off for white people? Are y'all really making ice cream and party décor and t-shirts to sell to Black people and other white people with none of the funds going to Black communities? Y'all are seriously about two years away from Juneteenth sales at furniture stores, and it's harmful and tasteless.

SIGH.

I'm not going to give you tips or advice about how you should "celebrate" Juneteenth, white people. I'm not going to provide you with book or documentary recommendations. Nah, nix that. I've got one tip for you.

Just don't.

It ain't your emancipation.

You don't get to "celebrate" Black enslavement while calling the police on your Black neighbor or teaching your children "not to see color." You don't get to "celebrate" Black enslavement while treating Black women in the workplace like Juneteenth party favors: fun for a few moments but easily discarded and disregarded.

Juneteenth ain't for you. It ain't your emancipation.

Just leave Black people alone on June 19, white people. Let us celebrate in our way while we continue healing from the ongoing trauma you create.

God, I just had an image of a special edition Juneteenth strawberry Kool-Aid pop into my head.

If y'all do that, I'm leaving the country.