As a white Jewish American, I struggle to understand the need for an additional day off that has recently entered our calendar, Juneteenth. It seems that MLK day already achieves the purpose of highlighting the freedom achieved by Black Americans and the entire nation should rightly remember and celebrate this. Having two days confuses and dilutes the issue and many non-Black Americans view Juneteenth mockingly.
Alternatively, one can suggest that there is a difference between MLK day and Juneteenth. The message of MLK day is a universal truth that one should be judged not by the color of his skin (or sex, religion, race, etc) but by the content of their character. A lesson all Americans need to hear regularly and reminded of frequently, especially in such a diverse society as ours.
In contrast, Juneteenth recognizes specifically, the freedom from slavery achieved by Black Americans, a uniquely Black American experience and rightly celebrated by Black Americans. But I question whether the entire nation should celebrate Juneteenth and further, whether making Juneteenth a national holiday actually dilutes its meaningfulness to Black Americans and the nation as a whole.
Passover, similar to Juneteenth, celebrates the transition of a people, the Nation of Israel from slavery to freedom. We remember, retell, and actually relive our historical path some 3500 years ago on Seder night. This highly choreographed service achieves several important cultural goals, one of the primary being for the children to be active participants by asking questions. We perform strange rituals on that night specifically to prompt the children to be intrigued and inquire. This accomplishes the goal of teaching the children who they are and where they came from and perpetuates the tradition through the generations. We acknowledge the slavery and suffering at the beginning but end with and stress the celebration of freedom.
Passover is celebrated by the Jewish people as it is our unique historical experience. It is a celebration of our freedom, not a condemnation of past grievances. It allows us to continue to pass our tradition through the generations and to warn of future threats (uniquely needed by the Jewish people). It is meant to be a fun, instructive, positive, encouraging experience. To remember and be forewarned but not to dwell. To ultimately provide pride and hope.
We wouldn't expect the current day Egyptians to mark this achievement and certainly not any other non-Jewish nations. It is our journey and only we own it. It is not intended to provide universal national or international lessons. It shapes our culture.
Juneteenth can be a similar experience and can be choreographed to be an important tool to instruct Black American children and shape their culture. Of course, they will start by learning that their ancestors suffered as slaves but will then transition to attaining freedom and conclude with the remarkable achievements by Black Americans, overcoming immense challenges. This will have the consequence of the children learning where they came from and more importantly, instill pride in their historical path and provide hope for their futures. It should minimize the grievances but concentrate on the achievements and the future.
Juneteenth should be a holiday celebrated by Black Americans commemorating their unique journey. It is their history, their suffering and their achievements and they should own it exclusively. Not to be diluted and mocked by others, but to be admired and to be used as a tool to advance their own culture and provide pride and hope to their children. How much more powerful would it be for the entire nation to observe Black Americans take the day off in commemoration of their journey while the rest of us work.
Juneteenth should be a holiday for Black Americans exclusively similar to Passover for the Jews. If planned properly, it would be more meaningful to both Black Americans and for the nation as a whole. Yet most importantly, provide the pride and the hope Black American children truly deserve and need.
No comments:
Post a Comment