The fourth of July is in the USA, one of the highest holidays. On a national holiday, many people have free, you come together with family and friends, it is grilled and all evening to watch the fireworks that everyone shoots little place for the Celebration of the independence from the British colonial masters in the sky.

it was, However, for whom the independence from foreign masters, the on 4. July 1776 has caused signing of the Declaration of Independence - the Declaration of independence - to life, and since then, every year is celebrated? Frederick Douglass, himself a slave, and later Anti-slavery activist and writer, brought it in a speech in 1852 on the point. "This fourth July is yours, not mine," said Douglass, at an independence celebration on may 5. July in the state of New York. For the black slaves for freedom and independence was not.

they had to wait until 1865, at least in Texas. Slavery was officially been two and a half years before its end. President Abraham Lincoln had all of the slaves from 1. In January 1863, declared free. Only in Texas, as well as no soldiers were on the ground, to the new law to enforce. But in the 19th century. In June of 1865, met the army of the Northern States in Texas, announced the glad tidings, and to set them against the resistance of the former "slave owner". Since then, African-Americans celebrate the 19. June as Juneteenth, a combination of June and Nineteenth, as liberation day. Never heard of it? The many white Americans, too.

Juneteenth - an important piece of American history

How many of you know the holiday and its meaning also depends on where in the U.S. you are located. "I've lived here for 15 years in Maryland," said Melvin Edwards, a spokesman for the Anne Arundel school district, in the vicinity of Baltimore. "There's not a lot of people here, the Juneteenth know, anyway, a lot of White." Edwards ' ancestors were slaves in Texas, he himself also grew up in the Lone Star State. "Juneteenth is a holiday in Texas, so more people know about it."

the day of the liberation of the last slaves in comparison to independence day is so unknown, has a simple reason for this, said Edwards of the DW. "That is not taught." Even in the "Black History Month" of February, in which students of all grade levels throughout the country more about black history and traditions, learning, games of Juneteenth is not a big role.

Who listens to anything in school from the holiday, and in a mostly white environment to grow up, little points of contact, through which he is from the "black independence day", as Juneteenth also called, could know. The importance of the 19 for all students is important. To know June 1865 - it was an important piece of American history, he says. "I don't want to, that is only limited to the black Community," says Edwards. "We are all part of the USA, so we should all know the story."

Proud of their own roots

The National Museum for African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington, DC, brings to eight floors to the history of African Americans. Even if the Museum is currently closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic: On Juneteenth interested can view on the Website of the house presentations on the history of the holiday, or in an Online Workshop on the family and country of origin research to participate.

Joanne Hyppolite is a curator at NMAAHC and an expert on cultural history. "In Texas, Juneteenth was celebrated one year after the liberation of the last slaves," she told DW. That former slaves from the southern States moved to the end of slavery in large cities in the North and West of the country, a large effect was perceived, and how and where the public holiday in the Rest of the country and was committed. Until Juneteenth in the black Community as a public holiday established, it took, like, 100 years. "After the civil rights and the Black Power movement in the 1960s and 1970s, African-Americans wanted to celebrate their history and be proud of your roots look. The Juneteenth was a good opportunity to do so," says Hyppolite. Since the 1970s, the 19 was. June, a Black important day in the calendar.

Today, Juneteenth is celebrated with special Church services, or a BBQ, with the family or with the whole neighborhood. An important role is played by colour in Red - why, she did not know, says Hyppolite with a Laugh. But many of the celebrants wear red and serve red food such as strawberry soft drinks or the American classic Red Velvet Cake.

"It's not about what White

think," But also protests against racism and police violence for years to Juneteenth. Melvin Foote, the President of the Washington D.C.-based political organization "Constituency for Africa", the U.S. citizens and politicians, topics from and about the continent of Africa brings you closer to the. For Foote Juneteenth is a day of reflection, for people to think about how far the country has come since the liberation of the slaves, but also about what still needs to change.

This year there is special reason to Think, not only because of the police violence, to George Floyd's death and the country-wide Black led Lives Matter protests. The persistent Coronavirus pandemic, have shown how great are the inequalities in the US health system. Little sensitive also to the Plan of U.S. President Donald Trump was found to have been the Juneteenth his first major election event, according to the Corona-Lockdown stop in Tulsa, the place where in 1921, one of the worst massacres of Black people in US history instead of. After the announcement was made for horror, suspended Trump the Event by one day. All of the have arranged for "more attention" for Juneteenth, says Foote.

while It is positive if more people knew of the importance of the holiday. On Juneteenth, the black Community should reflect on the year but especially on yourself. "It's not so much about what white people think, but about what we think," said Foote of the DW. "What we think about ourselves, what we think about our children, about our Community. On this Juneteenth, it is important that we get up."

author: Carla Bleiker (Washington)

*The contribution of "Juneteenth: liberation day of the Blacks in the United States" is published by Deutsche Welle. Contact with the executives here.

Deutsche Welle

Date Of Update: 19 June 2020, 02:27