Page 11 - Pakistan Link - July 2, 2021

OPINION JULY 2, 2021 – PAKISTAN LINK – P11

Juneteenth Is Now a Federal Holiday, So What Do We Do Next?

n By Katrina Hasan Hamilton country, particularly Black Americans.
Council Member, MPAC’s AAMIC We must also remember 94-year-old
Opal Lee, to whom, in spite of the historical
fter more than six years of Con- context of Juneteenth, I am personally grate-

gresswoman Jackson Lee’s work ful for advocating for this bill. Ms Lee de-
Aand advocacy to make Juneteenth served the honor to witness President Biden
a nationally recognized holiday, the 117th sign Juneteenth into federal law. Especially
Congress of the United States of America, when over 83 years ago on June 19th, a then
passed S. 475 Juneteenth National Inde- 9-year-old Opal and her family moved into
pendence Day, making it the 12th federal an all-White neighborhood in Texas. Her
holiday celebrated in the United States. family had just purchased a brand new home
Congresswoman Jackson proudly stated and lost everything due to anti-Black racism
that “Juneeteenth is the living symbol of and hate. You see, Ms Opal’s White neighbors
Lincoln’s promise that this nation, under burned down the home, leaving the family
God, ‘would have a new birth of freedom’”. without protection from law enforcement, or
President Biden courageously signed the for that matter, anyone else. Her family, much
bill into law acknowledging the moral stain like 107-year-old Viola Fletcher of the Tulsa
of slavery and the need for reckoning — all Massacre, whose family also lost their home

commendable efforts. As we thank Con- and entire community when she was just
gresswoman Sheila Jackson (D-TX 18) — 7 years old, were forced to sneak out in the
who we absolutely respect — Senator John middle of the night to abandon their entire
Cornyn (R-TX), and Senator Edward J. Mar- possessions. In both cases, family homes were

key (D-MA) for leading the effort, we must burned down and there was nothing left to
also understand that recognizing June 19th, pass down to her and her siblings or for that
1865 is just the tip of the iceberg. Especially Juneteenth Emancipation Day Celebration in Texas on June 19, 1900. (Austin History Center, Austin Public Library) matter, their grandchildren, and great grand-
considering the historical context of June- children. In this case, the American dream
teenth, which began as a state holiday hon- years for the world and Germany to apologize father-son vigilante duo who killed Ahmad achieved was a dangerous reality.
oring the freedom of Texas Black slaves, who to Israel and Jewish descendants throughout Aubrey simply for running while Black. In So in honor of Ms Lee, Ms Fletcher, and

were informed two years after emancipation the world for the horrific acts of the Nazi Ho- contrast we now have federal anti-hate bills all of the countless African Americans who

that slavery ended. Not to mention the fact locaust. It also took less than 50 years for the that rightfully speak out against COVID anti- are still here, unlike my parents and grand-
that President Lincoln was assassinated two United States to issue a formal apology and Asian hate. This is commendable, but again, parents, it’s time that we as a people, descen-

months prior to their message of freedom. reparations in the amount of $20,000 to each what are we doing about ending modern day dants of Black Africans brought here against
Slavery is a moral stain that deserves of the living victims and descendants of Jap- lynching of Black bodies across the US in our own free will, are issued comprehensive

more than a federal holiday. The moral stain anese-Americans for the gross mistreatment 2021? justice. We need federal laws that will pro-
of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade is in need of their American ancestors during World Jubilance, rather, true celebration, comes tect our voting rights and our lives. We need
of a moral reckoning that includes a formal War II. Yet, some folks are still asking Black in the form of each and every one of us mak- the Senate to pass the George Floyd Polic-
apology from all symbolic actors involved, in- people in our great country to be grateful for ing a commitment on a local, state and na- ing Act as quickly as they did the Juneteenth
cluding the United States of America. African this federal holiday and to remain patient. tional level to end anti-Black racism in poli- Independence Day Bill. We need a national
Americans have been patient for hundreds of When waiting on change on the federal tics, in schools, and in our very houses of Ahmaud Arbery anti-Black hate crime bill;
years and all of the holidays in the world can- level, African Americans have been more worship and organizations. By looking into Senator Warnock, I see you and Insh’Allah

not and will not take the place of an official than patient. We as a group still do not have our own hearts, we must stop stereotyping will reach out to you more about this after

apology from the United States government. solid and sustainable protections that guar- African American people as people who are first contacting Ms Cooper-Jones. Lastly, we
The acknowledgement, the apology, and antee our voting rights, which were promised lazy, shiftless, and don’t want to do anything. as American people of African descent, who

issuing of reparations to African descendants by the Civil Rights Act 1964. We still do not Both immigrants and non-immigrants who have patiently waited for hundreds of years,
in America for a crime that happened over have a federal anti-hate bill that would make make it in this country must acknowledge are due a formal apology and compensation
400 years ago and ended only 154 years ago is it a federal crime to murder Black people on and understand the systemic racism that im- in the form of reparations before the end of
what true gratitude entails. Listen, it took 40 account of their race, as did the Georgian pacts families of African descent here in this the year.

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