Why all Americans should honor Juneteenth

An historian explains the history and significance of the holiday.
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Note: This video was previously titled, "Juneteenth, explained." The title has been changed to better reflect the video's content.
When American schoolchildren learn about chattel slavery in the US, we’re often told it ended with Abraham Lincoln’s signature on the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863.
But, as late as June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Texas were still held in bondage. On that date, the Federal troops entered the state and began to punish slave holders and former confederates who refused to obey the law.
“Juneteenth is a deeply emotional moment for enslaved people,” says historian Karlos K. Hill, of the University of Oklahoma.
In Texas and across the country, emancipated African Americans began celebrating annually, with parades, concerts, and picnics. “Being able to go wherever they want and being able to wander about; for enslaved people, it was an expression of their freedom,” says Hill. “Formerly enslaved people celebrating, in public, their newfound freedom, was an act of resistance.”
However, by 1877, the Federal government had largely abandoned the South. The lynching era- when hundreds of African Americans were killed by white mobs each year across the North and the South- began soon after.
Today, Dr. Hill says, commemorating Juneteenth is important for all Americans because it helps us see all the ways that slavery still shapes this country, including, as he says, “the desire to master and dominate black bodies.”
Sources/further reading
Why celebrating Juneteenth is more important now than ever (P.R. Lockhart, Vox, 2018) www.vox.com/identities/2018/6...
The Impact of Lynching on Black Culture and Memory: The Impact of Lynching on Black Culture and Memory (Karlos K. Hill, Cambridge University Press, 2016)
The Murder of Emmett Till: A Graphic History (Karlos K. Hill and Dave Dodson, Cambridge University Press, 2020)
Lynching in America: Confronting the Legacy of Racial Terror (Equal Justice Initiative, 2017) eji.org/reports/lynching-in-a...
The National Museum of African American History and Culture- online collection: nmaahc.si.edu/explore/collection
Portraits of African American ex-slaves from the U.S. Works Progress Administration, Federal Writers’ Project slave narratives collections (Library of Congress) www.loc.gov/pictures/item/200...
Voices Remembering Slavery: Freed People Tell Their Stories (Library of Congress) www.loc.gov/collections/voice...
Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers’ Project, 1936 to 1938 (Library of Congress) www.loc.gov/collections/slave...
African American Spirituals (Library of Congress) www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200197495/
Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida floridamemory.com/
New Georgia Encyclopedia (Georgia Humanities) www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/
Austin History Center General Collection Photographs in The Portal to Texas History. University of North Texas Libraries. texashistory.unt.edu/explore/...
Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out www.vox.com.
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[@Vox]

Read more about the history of Juneteenth on Vox: bit.ly/3hQU4GH

[@blondemommyvomit]

KZbin search; *Dr. Tony Martin* for the real story.

[@danielleoxendine9342]

Has the team at Vox looked into doing a video on who Nancy Green was?

[@oliverqueen5883]

I don't have clue what you're all on about

[@myemperor]

We should... and we are... On Juneteenth, REPUBLICANS freed the slaves from their DEMOCRAT owners.

[@TheOnlyZiTRO]

Hey Vox, Great video - but please start giving your reports credit in the descriptions!

[@teammmx]

My employer made this day an annual paid holiday with the option for us to take off

[@ah-ss7he]

J K yes

[@mudkip9166]

@@JK_JK_JK_JK probably its not legal otherwise

[@kingslushie1018]

Awesome! That’s nice of them

[@devtekve1396]

Not to mention it would be racist otherwise

[@greyerbaby3323]

That’s awesome!!! It should be a public holiday for all.

[@jahjoeka]

30 years of being black in America and this is the first time hearing about juneteenth.

[@DavidJohnson-dp4vv]

Wow.. I've a;ways known about it.

[@juneberries8176]

oh hec i learned it this year because i was checking if there are any holidays on my birthday

[@davidalao5336]

I've never been to the U.S., I've know about it since I was 19. (I'm still not as old as you though) I would be sad if my fellow citizens didn't know this important part of their history, the way history is taught in the US is baffling.

[@chuy7781]

Even I knew and I’m Mexican

[@VioletEnds]

That's because it's not recognized as a federal holiday. It's usually organized and celebrated on a local level, so if your community didn't celebrate it, it's unlikely that you would have heard about it. I'm biracial, and I also hadn't heard about it until recently. I've never heard of any community events surrounding the holiday in my area, and I've never heard my dad talk about it before, so I guess it never spread to my community.

[@xXxtroublebehindxXx]

I love how no company has wanted to talk about juneteenth until this year.

[@austinmoon6974]

It’s more important than ever this year. 2021 will probably be the first year that it is a federal holiday, so it’s going to be talked about more and more every year... Just wait for Hallmark to commercialize it like all the other holidays 😂

[@jcarroll296]

These marketing departments are on a roll lol

[@xXxtroublebehindxXx]

One Purpose It's not just the Black Dollar. It's any situation. I wish for a world where most Americans are aware as to how every single penny is getting stripped from them because of the deep, greedy hands of modern capitalism. What I'm typing in this comment is being picked up by google and being sent to advertisers. It's annoying.

[@jamiewise7821]

Exactly I didn’t even know about it until this year

[@lucasdecampos6487]

ZOEY WHITE this is the first year that is a federal holiday “zoey”😐

[@kidemmy]

Who else never learned this in school

[@chaoskumagawa1464]

Aye.

[@asandwich6823]

That's weird, I did learn this in school

[@kidemmy]

@@asandwich6823 different school systems have different teaching standards ig

[@asandwich6823]

@@kidemmy well I went to a charter school

[@ttmike42]

Because it wasn't a real thing then, either.

[@ekagranigam2813]

How is Columbus Day a holiday and this isn't?

[@charnaeyoung9815]

Priorities. Simple as that.

[@lewakar]

You know how "powerful" the Caucasian has stolen from old power like mali empire for example

[@latananderson3289]

And Columbus was basically a pirate

[@tvTwo1]

Fascination of a sacred figure that in true nature a pirate and a native indigenous massacrer

[@TehKaizokuKing]

We celebrate Lincoln's Birthday. You know, the 1st Republican president. The one who freed the slaves to make Juneteenth a reality at all

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

American Freedom has a lot asterisks

[@PatheticTV]

A lot.

[@silversunset]

“It is, unless it isn’t” Basically America

[@mattrussillo4587]

*It was apparently WRITTEN by a bunch of ASTERISKS!

[@transvestosaurus878]

Says the dictator who legalised slavery

[@jL000]

American Freedom has a lot asterisks because its imperfect. If people are not perfect, then its safe to assume America made by its people are not perfect.

[@Lifeishard237]

Ngl I didn’t even know this holiday existed until like a month ago.

[@marcmarc4776]

No one did...cause its made up.

[@marcmarc4776]

@@Lifeishard237 It's a holiday from Texas, so Texans know of it. Just like every single state, they have holidays no one has heard of unless you live in that state. There is no reason to celebrate Juneteenth nationally. December 6, 1865 (the ratification of the 13th amendment) should be the date we celebrate.

[@Lifeishard237]

Oh ok interesting

[@kimberlygabaldon3260]

Maybe it's more recognized in some parts of the country. I know it's been a big celebration in Denver for at least 15 or 20 years.

[@SweetEssie]

@@marcmarc4776 Aren't all holidays made up

[@assumptanandawula3038]

Man I can’t even imagine. Those recordings are a bit haunting

[@vlove888]

I felt the same, brought chills, just proves this was not ancient history, I know of a elderly man that knew his grandparents and they where slaves, he used to tell the stories of what they told him.

[@dtay8913]

This actually makes me proud as an African American that June 19th is my birthday

[@bekahbooski]

Happy Birthday!!

[@ah-ss7he]

Happy Juneteenth 🎈 ✊🏽

[@dtay8913]

@@bekahbooski Thank you. June 19th 1994. I used to be excited that every few years my birthday fell on Father's Day, now I will commemorate juneteenth.

[@hedgehog3180]

Happy birthday!

[@AlexClementine]

Happy birthday!!

[@nxomsa]

The vocal recordings from that first song was so *haunting* to listen to

[@nxomsa]

Butcher Bird It has a strong eerie, ghostly, and somber tone to it. Understandably, given the context of the time and history.

[@noonehere4332]

Butcher Bird It is low quality recording.

[@shortleafmedia1255]

I'm jamaican, n i learnt about the gruesome events of what happened in tulsa from watching "watchmen the series."

[@radicallyBLended]

I love how black writers are using entertainment to educate

[@aufajohan9528]

“Stop being political”.... all I’m saying is people shouldn’t be treated differently, or worse, killed because of their melanin I-

[@sammyb6938]

The basic human right to live (and be free), is not a political statement. Those who relate it to politics just try to find a way to avoid the problem, because they are too brain-dead to see and accept reality. Only then, changes can be made.

[@kyh6767]

Well, when difference in melanin means a significant statistical difference then... you know it's kinda deserved

[@gixxenss2512]

@@kyh6767 are you saying what happend to black people then was ok?

[@Misosam123]

They aren't rly treated differently because of their skin color tho

[@aufajohan9528]

MCFC AM are you white?

[@idenli1160]

The recordings and photos gave me chills.

[@justkadeeja]

Watch CNN's account of what was done to Black Wall Street...the chills will continue. Still there is resilience, still there is hope.

[@syedshahrukhraza2923]

@@justkadeeja I actually learned about it from another Vox video. Unimaginably horrific.

[@laquitacamon5059]

Princess C That’s a sad reality

[@Nicki17321]

Me too

[@StrokeSeat91]

Yep. For me, it was the singing.

[@aditraha5027]

Who's here after Juneteenth became a federal holiday.

[@trhansen3244]

I am here. But I would never celebrate Juneteenth. Another way to divide people. That's all it does.

[@annunakian8054]

If this is the direction the nation is going, there definitely needs to be a holiday for Native Americans.

[@delysia5]

All Americans should know “all” American History! Even it’s shameful parts. History should be honest, always.

[@brown9671]

We do

[@annabelscorer8505]

Brown no luv u don’t x

[@shinozaddy5939]

Brown ive rarely heard of anything that makes the US look remotely bad. We see ourselves as the good guys. But in reality it is far from the truth.

[@parkchimmin7913]

Luna Platinum I think it depends on where you are in the the US. I’m from Massachusetts and we did learn quite a bit about black history and the civil rights movement. We even learned about Emit Till (the documentary we watch showed some pretty graphic pictures and footage. Like Emit Till’s body and policemen being ordered to hose down and sent police dogs on black protesters in the South).

[@G-gnome]

Like General Order 11 of 1862, and why it was never corrected to end illegal trades against the US Army...

[@randomindianguy]

As an outsider, I've only recently heard of Juneteenth and wanted to know more about it. In comes Vox with this video! Thank you so much for this.

[@juanvaldivia8001]

same here! and I'm actually surprised that many USA citizens haven't heard about it either :c

[@balinttoth9287]

Same thing here. Very informaive video!

[@kelsielewis]

Juan Valdivia it’s because the American education system is so beyond white washed

[@wonderwall62]

Same here 2!

[@tagorewithlyric4394]

Same here... I'm from India and I only got to know about Juneteenth because of the Trump rally cancellation.

[@elizabethmacdonald96]

The fact that most of us had never heard of Juneteenth until a week or two ago speaks volumes

[@brandonarmstrong3615]

No. But with God on our side. t That just may be the next holliday. Did wverything else. Why cant it happen.... All Praises...

[@trhansen3244]

All they did was talk about it THREE YEARS ago. Unbelievable. It was everywhere. Most of us do not celebrate it, of course.

[@JustBored589]

I never heard of Juneteenth until a few days ago. I can’t believe this hasn’t been widely celebrated all along.

[@archiebareno624]

I celebrate and honor Martin Luther King on his holiday but I will never celebrate Juneteenth it’s divisive and racist Sorry liberals

[@superstar2446]

Archie Bareno we are just celebrating the day we were freed from slavery

[@_NoHandle_]

@@superstar2446 It's interesting that he finds Juneteenth racist. He also believes black colleges only educate black people. He would likely hate the memory of MLK if the conservatives didn't constantly prop him up as a way to tell black people how they should protest/treat injustices.

[@russellrobinson519]

What we need is for schools to cover Junetenth. I only heard about it once or twice in my entire school life. And even when it was mentioned it was just a footnote. And I lived in Texas where it had a huge impact on. Edit: Wow thanks for the likes I didn't expect to get so many.

[@waterotter3625]

While they're at it, ditch Columbus Day. Tell the truth. A great nation is able to look at itself in the mirror.

[@dylan.s4898]

Water Otter America wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for Columbus, we’re not ditching one of the most important days in American history

[@mikeliberty7462]

Only black history i was taught in school was MLK , Malcolm X , booker t Washington etc.

[@spliffspiegel834]

@@dylan.s4898 the Americas existed before Columbus. The fact that the US considers itself America, when that actually includes the entire continents of South and North America along with all it's countries and people, just shows how self important we think we are as a nation.

[@willcherry4243]

Dylan Sneed Columbus didn’t even discover America. He never even got to North America if we wanna be specific. He went to Central America and the Caribbean but never North America.

[@equi9317]

Can we just appreciate how good the quality this video had.

[@fredericchopin4821]

Bold words for a person who watched a 7 minute video under 20 seconds

[@equi9317]

I dont need to watch the vid. Ik its gonna be good ;)

[@equi9317]

Talon Clibourne ;)

[@equi9317]

Talon Clibourne I already watched the first minutes anyway. And they were quality.

[@ChadPANDA...]

@@equi9317 ok Ricardo

[@HikeYourHeartOut]

And now it’s a national holiday! One step at a time. Progress is slow but sure.

[@justinkanicki2761]

Lol

[@vancitycanucks]

I'm sure giving a day off to everyone is what people have been asking for...SMH

[@justinkanicki2761]

@@vancitycanucks hahaha...dfn

[@paperseagull4297]

it's actually a federal holiday, which if im not mistaken only means that government officials get it off :/

[@alexm7627]

Its a great holiday, but physical freedom isn't the ultimate emancipation

[@juanmedrano6997]

Vox also has a video talking about some of the history behind the Confederate statues in the South that are being talked about today.

[@Trund27]

Bruh Moment Putting that on my playlist ASAP.

[@wolfvonderr4487]

check out John Oliver's take on that from a few year ago, very informative!

[@iammrbeat]

The Reconstruction Era might just be the most important period of American history to learn since it seems to be the most misunderstood. The story doesn't end with the 13th. It begins.

[@pc_115]

Hey I watch your videos

[@slopflop9006]

Love your vids man

[@john-zf8ig]

Facts

[@AngelaDunnjenkinsBey]

I say this everyday. The most important for context.

[@88mike42]

The reconstruction era was squashed by the democrats. BTW American history does NOT begin with the 13th amendment...what about the founding, and the first settlers? None of that counts? You White guilt liberals are really something. Name another country in the history of the world that went to war with itself to end slavery...

[@dairyproducts2775]

schools really need to teach more black history in America

[@justkadeeja]

Yup, because black history IS American history. They also need to expand beyond the atrocities of slavery because black history did not begin or end there. (For another version of a video that talks about Juneteenth, please check out my channel)

[@szymonsierzega]

good vibes they do you just gotta listen and put ur phone away in class

[@IndomitableAde]

"Black" history is American history. What's needed is for the country's history to not be selectively edited.

[@superbros1690]

They gotta learn Islam thats what their missing.

[@shrek7957]

Ade Akili Exactly! They needa get rid of black history month and just put it in the American history curriculum.

[@armytech8098]

Happy Juneteenth!!! A now federally recognized holiday. Not enough, but a good step. Equality for ALL!!!

[@redrocket8062]

I agree it's not enough to fix all the problems but if we can give more Americans reasons to love their country and build it back better than I am all for it.

[@sbyrstall]

This isn't about equality, it's about liberal segregation that the blacks happily accept.

[@computertable3746]

@@sbyrstall No, its about equality

[@crusty8394]

@@sbyrstall what?

[@Z-ManTheOriginal]

We still aren't Free. As ridiculous this may seem to millions of others, we aren't quite free yet in our own country with our country men. But we celebrate Juneteenth and our fallen ancestry.

[@mavservices9369]

Ain't nobody free until we go back home to God. Give it up people a d quit feeling sorry for yourself get up get a job find God and move forward..

[@jayasri6764]

Yea,Remove all democrats and RINO's ,so that you can be free .

[@artificial_S]

Z Man for minor stuff yes, but if you look at other countries outside the U.S. it’s a lot worse

[@millychap7849]

Exactly because our minds still in bondages

[@MMShaggy]

I find it sad that I am close to 50 years old and not once was this date taught in one single classroom I attended.

[@1990758]

Oh really did you know Rosa Park it's not the first black person that refused to give up her seat for a white person read read read she's not the first one she's the first one they put out there in front of us

[@fiddelsworthdinkle]

Cuz it dont apply to most americans.

[@jaceweyant7418]

Fiddlesworth Dinkle the emancipation of enslaved people affects every person in america. Do you mean to say any historical moment thats not centered around white americans isnt worth teaching? Or do u mean something else? Why shouldnt this be taught?

[@chidubem826]

Well at least you can teach your kids. Change the future. 😉

[@4bluekitty]

I didn't know of this date either. Never heard of it till a few days ago.

[@onewhoisanonymous]

I am an American History Teacher who was educated in the South. This was never addressed or put in the curriculum. This is an embarrassment to American education.

[@KDH-br6hy]

It said that Germany have to get shoved holocaust down there throats and America is too afraid to talk about race. Hiddening the problem is the problem.

[@1990758]

But people should know when slavery ended and who freed the slaves I knew that when I graduated from high school in 1981. As far as the celebration that's a different story .

[@stephenlasko9217]

Hiddening?

[@LM-ix7pk]

Keith Hopkins In my US history and global history class, we have always talked about race. My teachers never hid anything from me. But I guess not all schools are created equal.

[@kittychang332]

I remembered my children spending time working on every year of Black History in school. May I ask did you not know this? what school did you teach?

[@lindanuno331]

Enough is enough , no more racism , United We stand , ✊

[@RoKuSa007]

USA - land of freedom* (*Terms and Conditions applied)

[@clementines.4276]

Wow this is actually a great way of putting it

[@gshsgsfruwfhr5709]

@distantvoices Because the streets are paved with gold

[@leftyfourguns]

Brought to you by our proud sponsors ATT, Exxon-Mobil, and Lockheed Martin!

[@peji636]

if this ain't america...

[@tantecosenelmondo2350]

@Oscar Yes ... beside Europe, China and Middle-East in their golden age i guess.

[@minns5515]

No excuse but It's a shame I wasn't taught this in school or even heard about Juneteenth until recently

[@faheemahmedumrani1710]

Arrogance has destroyed us, it’s going to destroy you. So let’s repent!

[@stephaniecamille947]

It's only because of the riots.

[@stephaniecamille947]

@Ella Presley This happened to you personally?? And, to be honest, there really aren't many "racist whites". Black people can be just as racist. The media likes to put black and white people against each other. Once we stop seeing color, we'll all be better off.

[@justinhearst]

I mean, if Americans can celebrate Columbus Day, why not Juneteenth?

[@voltrono4166]

who really celebrates Columbus day?

[@imatruetexan9950]

Voltrono yeah who does

[@imatruetexan9950]

I didn’t know it existed until a few day agos

[@justinhearst]

@@imatruetexan9950 Italian Americans.

[@justinhearst]

@Nonato Macias Juneteenth is also for a day. So whats the problem. If Black History is American history, why isn't it taught as much in schools?

[@raymondyorysh7401]

I got one thing to say about Juneteenth, thank you. I didn’t get to see my mom since last year in March and this holiday was a miracle, I got to see her on that Friday in June.

[@kathyschreiber9947]

Thank you for the amazing images, text, context and story. I learned so much.

[@Baegitte]

I remember growing up in grade school confused learning about the Declaration of Independence's "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal" when slaves and Native Americans were treated like objects or sub-human.

[@rosean374]

Please visit African American museums in the cities you can find them in. You would be astonished by the amount of suppressed black history available. Do you know text books in some states describe slavery as a 'family experience '??

[@shinersrus2608]

@distantvoices Everything?? America is built from all races so you be grateful

[@superstar2446]

distantvoices except for the very foundation you stand on if you live in America! Also the first clock (sundial)

[@alveolate]

all men are created equal, but those with more money are more equal!

[@Baegitte]

@@alveolate All men are created equal, but those with more money dictate who those men are!

[@kendallr6323]

Black History is American history. You cannot open a history book on america without seeing prominent african american or Black people in the ideal. Even some things arnt covered in school and its sad.. As a black person in america im disappointed and ashamed school never tought me this

[@y0n_8]

Their are other important things to teach than some black history.

[@kendallr6323]

@@y0n_8 I didn't say ONLY black history should be taught. Buy black history has been censored and white washed and many ppl don't know about events that happened in Americana history cause it wasn't majority white people.

[@abdulrahmanx2900]

African American were given USA citizenship before Native Americans. That's sad.

[@kendallr6323]

@@abdulrahmanx2900 colonisation rlly took a tole on the original people living the land

[@y0n_8]

@@kendallr6323 how is it even whitewashed?

[@AliAli-lm8fp]

Whose here after this just became a national holiday

[@Errxr_404]

Juneteenth is a federal holiday: 😃 It’s during summer break: 😦

[@JobinFrost]

I'm from India but work for a US client. I saw my calendar updated with 'Junteenth' and I was curious what this holiday was about. Did a quick Google and now this video.

[@kevinfreeman3837]

good on you for educating yourself :)

[@abdulrahmanx2900]

I don't understand

[@IM_Cmac]

I sang a good amount of songs in my high school choir that slaves would sing. One of my favorites is called, “A City Called Heaven.” Very emotional and heavy

[@ThisIsNotAlex]

“America”, the land of the “free”.

[@chrispopovich700]

Yes, the land of the free. Don’t like it? have fun in Venezuela, almost any middle eastern country, china or north korea!

[@joeconnor1821]

@@chrispopovich700 "love it or leave it!!! REEEEEEEEEE!!!"

[@ak47chan20]

@@chrispopovich700 How is freedom having to fight for your rights, to fight for being human in a country that allegedly said you dont need to?

[@blufferfish0896]

chrisPbacon Are you trying to say that because other countries are less free than America, America is a free country? I’m not American and know very little about American history, laws, and culture, but what I do know is that is just about the worst possible logic someone could make. Even if America is a free country, saying something is good because other places are worse just isn’t a good argument to make, ever.

[@queeniebeanie3196]

China is not as bad as media makes it-

[@goosetaylor2336]

I appreciate this vox , was never taught this in school

[@nathancampbell79]

It was also never taught in school that Africans sold Africans to slavery and still do it to this day! They also did not teach that memorial day was originally the day the free slaves gave thanks to all the Union soldiers who gave there lives for there freedom!

[@Sharkyktc001]

I was really shocked looking at the dates on those interviews from people who actually remembered when emancipation happened. Thanks for putting this video together, I've been wondering lately what juneteenth is about.

[@CadeTheReaper]

I knew about this for a while but nobody ever payed attention to it and it wasn't even brought up in schools but it makes me proud to be African American

[@fullmontycarlo]

BLUE Lives_Matter! You need an enema.

[@parkchimmin7913]

BLUE Lives_Matter! You do realize that America was built by immigrants rights?

[@nolalala7444]

@BLUE Lives_Matter! bruh do you ride the short bus or

[@MENACE-km6bd]

@@fullmontycarlo Watch him set us apart when he starts talking about "statistics" 😒

[@adrmax3292]

@愛HiImAmii uh nah with that logic all humans are african from that theory about everyone being from africa. I'm from jamaica

[@greatbasin100]

History class in our school (america) just skips the 19th century for the most part. This is awesome to see it on yt

[@arianaanderson4432]

Phenomenal documentary! Thank you so much for this wonderful tribute. Beautifully done. We must never forget and keep the fight going in honor of our ancestors.

[@sadpeepolv6185]

This needs to be a national holiday

[@edenslittlebean7637]

Va made it a holiday 😊

[@houseof192]

Why a single holiday? Why not every day instead of confining out thoughts to the one day or one month

[@maureencora1]

Hear-Here!!!

[@robertlind186]

Not that there shouldnt be a seperate day to celabrate the abolition of slavery, but June 19th was the day Texas abolished slavery... its a state holiday in Texas because it was specific to Texas. Juneteenth makes little sense to be a national holiday, perhaps a holiday on the day the 13 amendment passed would be better

[@MarioPanait27]

Imagine living in a country that sees people as property and then has the audacity of calling itself the land of the free. For a place that considers itself the land of the free, there was very little freedom on US soil, it was freedom for the rich and powerful that wanted to escape great colonial empires but not for the poor and downtrodden or for the colored fold, of African or Asian descent . I see now that I am so blessed to live in a civilized country, not a rich country, not a powerful country but a country that was not tainted by slavery, racism and racial violence. You cannot wash that taint no matter what you do, a country that wiped out the natives and their culture and enslaved generations to build its cities on the very burial grounds of the people it wiped out proves that the US was rotten from the very start. You cannot escape tyranny by becoming a tyrant

[@charliewalton3942]

'But if he's scared of me, how can we be free?' - Boogieman by Donald Glover

[@madsox627]

Thought you’d enjoy it, but one of the most well written books I’ve ever read has to be “the invisible man” by ralph ellison

[@rageraptor7127]

He’s afraid you won’t make him money without benefits and not having the authority to talk down to you

[@bbcbritishbroadcastchannel7478]

Scary people are the most unpredictable dangerous people on earth.

[@tomasneel1980]

Dear black community, There once was an owl that sat on a oak, The more he saw, the less he spoke, The less he spoke , the more he heard, Plz be wise , like that ole bird! Shelby Steele, black philosopher .

[@bbcbritishbroadcastchannel7478]

@Bobby Wick that's why Europe and America hate Haitians so much.

[@ethanmackler1892]

I'm a conservative and i like a watching Vox a lot. They make quality content and make cases in a compelling, historically based way. Juneteenth should 100% be a national holiday.

[@Jersey1287]

hopefully you are not a trump supporter

[@ethanmackler1892]

@@Jersey1287 nope but my guess is plenty of them would support it too if it were framed in the right way.

[@ravenn2631]

@Ethan Not forcing anything to you, but I suggest looking for the Vox video “How Trump Makes Extremes Look Normal,” on how Trump’s extremism makes less extreme people with similar beliefs look more “ordinary” in comparison. That is, particularly, anti-Trump conservatives.

[@ethanmackler1892]

@@ravenn2631 I've seen the video. What's your application to this?

[@ginandromeda1618]

Glad to see people with your political beliefs here in a channel with mostly progressive content, pal. I might not agree with you on a lot of stuff but I wish everyone could deconstruct their political biases more often.

[@19Musicismylife96]

"I'll tell you what freedom is to me, NO FEAR! I mean, really, no fear! If I could have that half of my life, no fear." -Nina Simone

[@ApeFlyyy]

Thank you VOX! Now, let's make this a National Holiday!

[@stevencooper4422]

I'm celebrating by going to Trumps rally in Tulsa Oklahoma!🥳🥳

[@cooperwulkopf2256]

Nope dosent deserve to be

[@cooperwulkopf2256]

@You can't guess my name! Since June 19th only applied to Texas, the 13th amendment was ratified by the necessary number of states to make it law on December 6th

[@cooperwulkopf2256]

@@hemnamusunur6088 Refer to my previous comment

[@nerdgem7]

Steven Cooper you guys really love to double down on racism. It’s wild.

[@daemonblackfyre3238]

I'm Irish. When I visit America my friends that celebrate Juneteenth always invite me to hangout. We are about to head to a cookout right now. Enjoy your day everyone.

[@the8568]

Daemon Blackfyre I hope you enjoyed yours as well

[@coronarona4481]

We must seperate from our enemies. Blk ppl wake up. No more being nice

[@LeninNCM]

Corona Rona racial segregation? 🤔 I’ve heard it already, that’s not a good idea

[@coronarona4481]

LeninNCM For whites it didn’t work, but when blk Hebrews decide , our God will make it that way and it’ll be prosperous.

[@koba5152]

@@coronarona4481 yeah.... no

[@assassinabir6728]

How free are we?Are we free?-Literally gave me chills.

[@jadenleone2056]

This shows up in my recommended on Juneteenth as it just became a federal holiday.

[@spectacularspaghetti1849]

That man talking and explaining in the background, deserves a lot of respect.

[@YoUwIsHuDiDDaT]

Makes my birthday that much more special as a black man ✊🏾

[@01firstlast]

Happy Birthday

[@luckzthesecond1694]

Happy Birthday to ya! Happy Birthday to ya! Happy Birthday!

[@thecardcollector6094]

Happy birthday!

[@Michaela-yh9sm]

happy birthday!!!

[@shanettequao9043]

Cinci -B happy birthday 🥳

[@chris-hayes]

Who's back after it became a federal holiday? 🇺🇲

[@lpalm5235]

I am from New Zealand. 'Black Lives Matter."

[@edenli6421]

Loretta Palmer well so am I and I disagree, no one said black lives didn’t matter.

[@lpalm5235]

@@edenli6421 my apology, I am with you. Have a fantastic life.

[@duckonmyquack]

Every single vox video feels like if I heard it around the corner in a dark quiet spot of a museum exhibit I would go sit through it and then stay to watch the first few minutes that I missed as it loops.

[@mordecaismopstick]

Why is this SO ACCURATE 🤔

[@grapefives7762]

Especially this video i agree

[@ginandromeda1618]

This a greatly accurate description of what Vox is. Their edition, script, footage, information and passion everyone working on Vox amazes me.

[@arghyadas6978]

@@ginandromeda1618 True. They do put in a lot of effort in their videos.

[@MattGreenland]

It's immensely disappointing and aggravating that people still don't get in 2020.

[@brainthebrian3690]

No people get it, but the democrats want to divide and keep people mad so they make it see like they don't. And of course there are outliers who don't want to get it.

[@1990758]

What do you expect from this generation

[@gilbertogomez4041]

They never will , until Jesus Christ returns.

[@gilbertogomez4041]

Brain the Brian that they are causing all this madness to gain power for there own agenda

[@roeland195]

What are you guys talking about? Last time I checked there are protests for this exact reason all across the US, by (young) people of all colour. Not saying there aren't a lot of ignorant people but look for the light or you'll only see darkness my friend.

[@ffm595]

This was incredible to watch, thank you Vox

[@grayolsen8769]

showing the faces of those dead in recently years (at 5:26 ) hurt my heart so much...

[@AllPileup]

The battle to end racism is FAR from over.

[@alexsclewis]

sure, but we have bigger things to worry about at the moment... together.

[@SpiritMover314]

@@alexsclewis Like????

[@TheSiaubakas]

Indeed, a ton of people were putting their hopes into the Obama, but sadly, as we can see, racism continues. Image after all these years, a black president and yet, nothing changed.

[@alana1959]

*”For the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house. They may allow us to temporarily beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about true change”* - Audre Lorde

[@briannamccray7947]

@@alexsclewis What is more important then human rights?

[@dHolbach77]

For more on Black American history, this is an essential read: "Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America" by Ibram X. Kendi

[@lilyludwig4323]

I'm reading it now and I can't believe it isn't required in schools!

[@mottedreissig7874]

The paperback is sold out right now, but it´s available on KIndle. Will definitly put it on the list, thx for suggesting.

[@12Gates.]

I also suggest "lost tribes and promised lands: the origin of american racism" by ronald sanders

[@tfn19lel12]

I also believe that there is an adaptation made for children

[@BOB-wx3fq]

I'm currently reading mein kauf It's so far the struggle of a young Austrian man who just wanted to paint but ended up in the trenches of ww1, dont ruin the end for me

[@anniesri7790]

This was so well put together, educational, compelling, and thought-provoking. Thank you!

[@rasheednesbitt8667]

Wow, this video is really well done. I’m not generally moved by stuff, but this was almost tear inducing.

[@slightside]

This is a video that makes it worth it to be proud to be African-American.

[@daniellehoreau7721]

My uncle used to tell me about this holiday when I was a kid. My understanding was so little. I thought all the holidays were on the calendar so I didn't believe him. Black history is so cruelly swept under the rug because it's painful to look at.

[@addisonwelsh]

...There's an entire month dedicated to it.

[@sylodui]

Black history doesn’t focus on all black history shut upppppp

[@daniellehoreau7721]

@@Skii_NA Since you are okay with a month. Let's switch then. White history gets the shortest month and black history the other 11 months. 😉

[@jahendrix1543]

@@daniellehoreau7721 there is no white history month 🧐

[@daniellehoreau7721]

@@jahendrix1543 Doesn't have to be. It's called U.S. history. Aren't Christopher Colombus and pilgrims white history?

[@ArchTazer]

This felt like a Ken Burns documentary

[@noregrets8481]

"The victors write the history." Bil Barr AG.

[@safiabarou1622]

Wheres the lie?

[@noregrets8481]

@@safiabarou1622 The Trumpbola-Virus-Pandumbic has told 16,879 lies so far. Which lie does it want? I do not see the word "lie" in My comment. Where are you getting this from _Deliverance?_

[@superstar2446]

Z Coleman 1. That video was real, 2. Who wrote about the euros taking the land, the Native Americans?

[@eltayebmohamedelhassan8468]

@@zcoleman4187 the vid was real you racist

[@nathancampbell79]

It's the Democrat that takes the history out because he feels Black heros are not needed!

[@oskarelysee9076]

Slavery came to an end in 1865, de jure, in reality, the south continued slavery unofficially for much longer than that, most likely up until the civil rights movement.

[@briannamccray7947]

Actually, slavery is still present today. In the 13th amendment, slavery is banned upon all people except criminals. Thats why so many poc are in jail

[@oskarelysee9076]

@@briannamccray7947 true, the prison structure in the US is de facto slavery

[@Miquelalalaa]

@@oskarelysee9076 Don't commit crimes then.

[@oskarelysee9076]

@@Miquelalalaa acting like the judicial system is perfect

[@Miquelalalaa]

@@oskarelysee9076 If you're going to complain then point out a tangible change that isn't abolition (of criminal justice system, police). You only want abolition because you know we already have legal equality, it's just that the outcomes aren't as you'd like. Most judges are progressive types anyway, ironically.

[@JD-xk4yc]

In the audio from 0:54 to 1:06, the man says “That day master promised so, to give we forty dollars a month in pay. A lot of the boys said they ain’t want it. They rather go free, you know.” If anyone could provide some more information about that audio, or a link, I would appreciate it.

[@Vox]

Hi, J.D. Thanks for watching. The audio from the Library of Congress, which maintains a collection of interviews conducted as part of Works Progress Administration's Federal Writers' Project. During the Great Depression, the Federal government paid writers like Zora Neal Hurston and documentarians like Alan Lomax to conduct oral histories with formerly enslaved people. This was in the 1930s and early 1940s, when the last generation of freedmen and women were nearing the end of their lives. You can listen to the audio and read transcripts of the interviews at www.loc.gov/collections/voices-remembering-slavery/about-this-collection Happy Juneteenth, Liz Scheltens (producer)

[@javi7636]

@@Vox That's awesome! And thank you so much for putting together this research and sharing this topic, it is so badly needed.

[@Ildskalli]

@@Vox That's fantastic to know, thanks.

[@Conisking540]

Yo the thing is that school is not telling us about this

[@jaminwaite3867]

My 11th grade AP US History tecaher literally skipped over the entire chapter on slavery...and no other chpater in the textbook. The erasure is real.

[@GypsyLove369]

HAVE YOU GUYS WATCHED THE "13TH AMMENDMENT" PLEASE DO IT'S ON NETFLIX AND ON KZbin GUYS WE ARE STILL SLAVES JUST NOT IN PUBLIC PLEASE WATCH THIS WE HAVE TO END SLAVERY FOR GOOD ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽

[@geejay7633]

I'm African American so I know about this, but today is also my brothers birthday. Like to wish him a happy birthday

[@TheMidtownPookiee]

WE NOT AFRICANS WE ARE THE AMERICAN DESCENDANT OF SLAVERY

[@luckzthesecond1694]

Happy Birthday!

[@brown9671]

Happy birthday

[@esthermoureen]

Happy birthday! Wish him all the best!

[@mountianfolks]

This is the celebration of when Republicans freed the slaves.

[@oliverqueen5883]

America should make this a national holiday.

[@hellotheir1427]

Patricia the astrologist it will.

[@willcherry4243]

Luís Filipe Andrade This isn’t just black history it’s American history. This day is very important and should be highlighted

[@xianzai_ad1928]

IT IS

[@LadyPinkster]

Patricia the astrologist Yep it should

[@SoulsNThings]

@Luís Filipe AndradeWhy does that matter ? Everyone in America should reflect on this day , regardless of the color of their skin.

[@Loweredexpectationss]

Good one, Vox. Short yet eloquent and to the point.

[@davearreola6758]

This should be a holiday right up there with the fourth of July.

[@notpenguino]

@Kabukichō yeah

[@notpenguino]

@Kabukichō you wanna explain why or are we gonna do this back and forth😐

[@yir9383]

Amen!!!

[@voltrono4166]

@@notpenguino no explanation required...most blacks had no idea what this meant until someone just told them..

[@notpenguino]

@@voltrono4166 so, because an important date was lost in history, it shouldn't be celebrated?

[@Crzyangelgirl]

I appreciate him saying "enslaved" people. People aren't born slaves, it's laws that America put in place to label people as such from birth. Cruel design to the system. And then they just reformed the system to still keep black people enslaved. It was never abolished.

[@shinozaddy5939]

distantvoices so every black person has 23 cars? Nice

[@vjvdyvvbh9yearsago941]

distantvoices what? You know how low of a chance it is to get into the NFL?

[@riptyurass302]

Crzyangelgirl while yes there is an economic divide between races, saying they are still enslaved and nothing much has changed really makes you quite ignorant

[@vjvdyvvbh9yearsago941]

Ripty Mulqueen it’s kinda true. Look up the documentary “the 13th”. It shows very well how slavery is kept alive in prison systems torwards blacks. And not to mention generational trauma.

[@camarajordan1143]

So well put, ditto, ditto ditto!

[@yaebinnie]

i cant believe tht ive never learned this in school! i did not know anything about this holiday.... what a shame

[@ailujd]

I as well. I never even knew about slavery until I was well into my twenties. I'm 70 now and deeply ashamed of my countrys involvement in slavery. Change is going to come now, I can feel it. Peace, love.

[@mountianfolks]

This is the celebration of when Republicans freed the slaves.

[@ClementinesmWTF]

That’s because it’s not a national holiday. It’s nice that people are learning about it, but it’s specifically a holiday about Texas history and for the African American population in Texas, not the entire US.

[@WalterKayesse]

@Salvatore Coscino You jest yes?

[@WalterKayesse]

@Butcher Bird Bro these days you never know. I'm not surprised by anything anymore honestly.

[@anabellethurston7777]

the fact that i’m in high school and never once learned about this day in history class is sickening

[@jimmehgakou3099]

He precised, “en”slaved. Thank you.

[@r.h.6249]

i have been following american media for years and i had never heard of Juneteenth until the recent trump rally that trevor noah spoke of and then only i got to know about this and also the tulsa massacre.....and it feels weird that the history of an entire segment of people is erased from the history books and it makes me wonder what history has been hidden by my own country

[@bbcbritishbroadcastchannel7478]

That's what happened when you not raised up in a all black neighborhood and don't go to an all-black School.

[@rosean374]

Please visit African American museums in the cities you can find them in. You would be astonished by the amount of suppressed black history available. Do you know text books in some states describe slavery as a 'family experience '??

[@1990758]

Well it depends who you talk to Maybe it was talked about but not in great detail .

[@bbcbritishbroadcastchannel7478]

@@1990758 the thing with us black people is we need to stop explaining ourselves to you white people and and stay to our own people.

[@chiemxerxobi]

BBC British broadcast channel that don’t even make no sense woadie

[@erikasantoshafitness348]

I grew up in Texas. We knew about Juneteenth and I had always thought it strange that it wasn’t observed by everyone...it should have been made a public holiday long ago.

[@archiebareno624]

Why should it be a federal holiday? The Mexicans like myself built this country so did the whites Asians Jews Italians Irish let's give each of them a holiday Black Lives Matter is an one sided racist movement wake up people

[@archiebareno624]

I honor and admire the contributions celebrated on Martin Luther King holiday Dr King would be horrified and saddened by the recent violence looting killing of the demonstrators

[@superstar2446]

Archie Bareno it’s not racist though? Mexican,Asian, and Native Americans have a month and holiday for themselves each, so we can have a holiday too for all we dis

[@marteza654]

This is a Texas holiday. Only celebrated by Blacks in texas forever now it a American holiday

[@chaoskumagawa1464]

@@archiebareno624 This statement. Proof Latinos can be racist. Your comment's pointedness towards Africans.

[@lindanuno331]

Together we stand ✊

[@Anthronauts]

This is an excellent and somber perspective on Juneteenth. Thank you! I will include a link to it on my video as well...

[@marissaford3670]

I have lived on this earth for almost 20 years and have also attended school for all of my life. This should NOT be the first time I am hearing of this day. Thank you for educating us on something that the American education system has failed to do so.

[@rewade70]

Don't feel bad, look up Benjamin Banneker, Garrtt Morgan, Madam C. J. Walker, Lewis Howard Lattimore, Elijah McCoy. We have to Educate ourselves, America tells His--Story.

[@beyondredemption8179]

trip sticks And what should we be spending those billions on instead? I agree that the education system is flawed, hasn’t changed in over 150 years, and could be way cheaper if we tweaked it a bit - but where should we redirect that money to?

[@xolalianaglate6803]

So many things I don’t know about my ancestors. As an African, All I’ve been taught is my ancestors were taken to a foreign land. There’s so much more I need to know and I’m glad I’m making that conscious effort to learn.

[@1990758]

So what you were not taught in school you can learn on your own by reading

[@vjvdyvvbh9yearsago941]

And we were actually quite like wakanda. We weren’t poor, but the richest place on earth!

[@justrandom4304]

@@vjvdyvvbh9yearsago941 sad coz it's true, wish our ancestors didn't trust European arrival on our shores did id what happens when you're too nice

[@vjvdyvvbh9yearsago941]

TheMolonana exactly

[@xolalianaglate6803]

1990758 exactly what I’m doing🔥✊🏾

[@Priceless889]

Vox, Thank you for creating this video. You all consistently do a great Job. Unfortunately, I don’t think this vid was your best. Don’t know if it was rushed or done reluctantly, but you all normally do a better job.

[@kennakenna555]

Im so thankful and happy that it is now a holiday it always should have been

[@LilDroidBlue]

This is needed, I'll be sharing this.

[@SerenityM54L2SAM5L5N1]

Feel free to elaborate on how it's "needed".

[@mariagalleriaxi8632]

@@SerenityM54L2SAM5L5N1 its independence day for black Americans! Why would it not be needed?

[@kevinfreeman3837]

@@SerenityM54L2SAM5L5N1 @Pete R. Puller your racism is showing

[@berkancelebi3559]

This is not random violence. This is violence sustained by the state and its institutions.

[@SkylabBeats]

Berkan Celebi it's systemic racism/violence

[@yir9383]

True..

[@superstar2446]

Skylab Beats finally someone brings up that’s it’s systemic racism

[@jayasri6764]

Yes,Remove all Democrats and regain control of the institutions .

[@HateBear-real]

Just like Waco and Ruby Ridge and two World Wars to destroy Europe.

[@magdalenasoul1734]

I would love to air your broadcast in public on my radio station KMSF-DB

[@r_a_]

Whoever recorded and preservd these voices, images, paintings, photos, etc did a great service to humanity.

[@mestrong6017]

Hi from Texas, we’ve been celebrating this.

[@KDH-br6hy]

Make since

[@1990758]

Exactly so I need you to get out there and educate people

[@Trund27]

B Excellent! Hello, Texas! Blessings from Canada

[@superstar2446]

Hello from Cali, we have also been celebrating this! Though not more than Texas probably

[@mestrong6017]

HeyItzLaurel ! I think we have just had a great head start since the 1800s 😂

[@davidliang913]

Progressive companies are making this day a holiday for their employees. I hope this becomes a norm so we can recognize these important days in history.

[@angiedickinson2309]

ErRrRR, mAke tHis a nATUinAL hOLiDaY

[@m.1167]

Angie Dickinson Don’t you have anything better to do than disrespect the memories and legacies of enslaved people? Grown Up!

[@Boyd2342]

@@angiedickinson2309 Get a life whitie

[@puggerinopug9280]

I just want an extra day off, honestly.

[@m.1167]

Puggerino Pug You people are so disgusting. Disregard and disrespectful to the memories and legacies of enslaved African Americans. It’s not funny nor is it conducive to ANYTHING what so ever. Grow Up!

[@xxphunguyenxx]

l❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Vox. Always well crafted informative videos for learning and helping us understand current events

[@mixmastersbarandbeverageco4402]

Thank You for the history! This was great!