The essence of America isn’t characterized by four centuries of racial subjugation but by the 247-year-long persistent and often heroic struggle by Americans of every race and creed to live up to our highest ideals. This ideal continues to inspire countless individuals, both domestically and internationally. Juneteenth stands as a symbol of this enduring inspiration.

Juneteenth signifies an essential milestone: the cessation of slavery within America’s borders. In an era of divisive culture wars over holidays, one might assume the MAGA realm views this new holiday with a measure of skepticism. Perhaps so, but it was Donald Trump himself who, in an unprecedented move among presidents, threw his weight behind the elevation of Juneteenth to a federal holiday.

Many appreciate that the new holiday celebrates an event of national transformation rather than exalting a solitary individual in the vein of Columbus Day or Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Yet, there is this critique of Juneteenth: it unintentionally glosses over a notable portion of the historical narrative.

For prior Juneteenths, Google offered a blurb explaining that Juneteenth commemorates “[e]mancipation of the last remaining enslaved people in the United States,” and countless websites explain that the holiday signifies “[e]mancipation of the last remaining enslaved African Americans in the Confederacy.” A lot of people appear to believe that, but it’s false.

On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger shared the news of emancipation with the enslaved population of Texas. Yet, a Confederate faction under the leadership of Stand Watie, operating within the fringes of the disintegrating Confederate Indian Territory, stood ground until surrendering four days later. Considering that Watie’s Cherokee community held slaves, a handful were likely emancipated only upon this military unit’s capitulation, which disputes Google’s succinct summary.

Perhaps more significantly, the bitter stain of slavery within America persisted beyond Juneteenth, even outliving the Confederacy’s defeat. While Maryland and Missouri, two border states, abolished slavery during the conflict, Kentucky and Delaware remained resolute. Thus, even after the Confederacy was subdued, two slave states persisted within the reunified Union until December 18, 1865, when the Thirteenth Amendment took effect.

The conclusion of slavery in America was not marked by a singular moment or the stroke of a general’s pen, but rather it faded into a somber dusk following epochs of steadfast commitment to change, economic progress, and technological innovation. This change was largely sparked by concerted religious, social, and political efforts.

Acknowledging the enduring legacy of slavery within our national history and culture is vital. Yet, celebrating Juneteenth does not tarnish the American Dream; on the contrary, it signifies its ongoing realization. The Founding Fathers spearheaded a global endeavor to abolish slavery, a significant pursuit rooted in principle. In a time when slavery was globally commonplace, it was the notion of freedom that emerged as the unique institution.

While the promise of America remained somewhat unrealized by the Founding Fathers, it was their vision that propelled an international discourse on human liberty and its compatibility with slavery and other forms of forced labor.

The essence of America isn’t characterized by four centuries of racial subjugation but by the 247-year-long persistent and often heroic struggle by Americans of every race and creed to live up to our highest ideals. This ideal continues to inspire countless individuals, both domestically and internationally. Juneteenth stands as a symbol of this enduring inspiration.