Black Americans living abroad reflect on Juneteenth

Slavery is part of the human failure.

Everyone must celebrate or think deeply on that day

Juneteenth wasn't even a thing outside of Texas until two years ago, and I had never even heard of it until a black friend told me about it. Now it's a federal holiday? Just more divisiveness.

It's Father's Day.

Juneteenth wasn't even a thing outside of Texas until two years ago, and I had never even heard of it until a black friend told me about it. Now it's a federal holiday? Just more divisiveness.

”I didn’t know about something, which means no-one knew about it” - a very smart person who understands the theory of mind.

Diversity is a blessing .

Each race and ethnicity in itself is diverse because humanity is diverse. It’s not a “blessing,” it just is.

I would not deny their special black person population holiday. But it is discriminating to all other groups.

Absurd.

That is akin to saying Christmas holidays discriminate against non-Christian groups.

Juneteenth is a valid and welcome holiday for Americans.

I would not deny their special black person population holiday. But it is discriminating to all other groups.

Recognition does not equal discrimination.

But for the 'unintelligible' there may need to be measures taken to ensure they are not a drag on the social construct and can be integrated properly.

Juneteenth isn't only for black people.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.

I think it’s fair to say that blacks in America are far better off now than 50 years ago. John McWhorter (who’s liberal and black, btw) has spoken and written eloquently on this subject. Systemic racism is largely gone, but the after effects of past racism still exist. Blacks make less money on average than whites, not because of current discriminatory practices, but because past practices have made it more difficult to move up the ladder. McWhorter advocates affirmative action based on economics, not race.

That said, I believe Juneteenth deserves its status as a celebration of progress and a reminder of America’s dark past.

Legally prescribed discrimination has been largely obviated over the last 30 years in the US

Institutional racism and being disenfranchised from 100s of years of capital accumulation sets BIPOCs in a disadvantageous position.

Is that so hard to understand?

But it is easier to just copy paste right wing talking points.

Is not Juneteenth redundant since America has Memorial Day, a day to remember that whites, blacks, and others fought against slavery in America?

John-SanToday 09:31 am JST

Yesterday this group were referred to as African American, today this same group are refer to as Black American, I assume these two group are the really the one group with multiple titles. Why ? When people refer to my group because we all have the same distinction colouration. White, not white Euro or white African. So why have different prefixes for this group. Are they a special group that allows for different prefixes? I don’t think so because that would be discriminating that other group which uses only one prefixes “whites”. Are we all equal ? By using these different prefixes for the same group indicates one is assumed better.

If this is the case then why do we hear people in the U.S. call themselves Italian-American or Irish-American? I've heard it ten thousand times. When I arrived in the U.S. that's all I heard but black people never had that. They had no real ethnic identity. Columbus never set foot in the U.S. but there's a federal holiday named for him and Italian-Americans proudly celebrate it as a part of their heritage. Lately, I've been seeing people post on various sites the same stuff you posted because their feelings are hurt due to another group finally getting their long-deserved respect. This whole thing was started by Europeans. Don't get mad when others use it too.

Reading this article today was when I first became aware of Juneteenth

Yesterday this group were referred to as African American, today this same group are refer to as Black American, I assume these two group are the really the one group with multiple titles. Why ? When people refer to my group because we all have the same distinction colouration. White, not white Euro or white African. So why have different prefixes for this group. Are they a special group that allows for different prefixes? I don’t think so because that would be discriminating that other group which uses only one prefixes “whites”. Are we all equal ? By using these different prefixes for the same group indicates one is assumed better.

John-san; that may be because there are people like Elon Musk who are legitimately African American, direct immigrants from countries like Egypt who don't consider themselves as black, and so on. Plus in the US there is a distinction between ADOS(American Descendents of Slavery) people and those who immigrated later, or immigrated from places like the Caribbean who are not part of the "American Slavery Experience".

Strangerland- in that case, how about using the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation as a holiday instead? September 22.

A good start but until systemic racism is brought under control it will be little more than window dressing.

Can anyone clearly explain who are the losers from the celebration of Juneteenth? There is some straight up rage about this, right here in this thread, but no one seems to want to clarify who is losing here...

Wishing all Black Americans a nice and celebratory Juneteenth, just as we see in the pictures above.

Hopefully the lives of Black Americans will continue to improve, and in our lifetimes we will no longer see the despicable attacks upon them by US Police, as we all tragically saw with George Floyd and so many more.

I know others here always disagree, but I truly believe in the statement - Black Lives Matter. They really do.

Or, the other way to look at it is that a huge part of the population who have been disenfranchised by 400 years of slavery,

”… disenfranchised by 400 years of slavery, …”?

400 years ago few people, if any, anywhere, could vote nor did they have the right to vote. White, black, or whatever.

If enfranchised means “made free” to vote, then disenfranchised means “made unfree” to vote. The disenfranchisement of some black voters occurred in some areas only - though that included a great number of black people. In other areas they were not disenfranchised.

Wright, 47, hosts a podcast “Blaxit Global” and said many of her guests are tired of the U.S.

Despite racism abroad as well, it is great to get some perspective on the American experience.

The two, part of Black Lives Matter Taiwan, are hosting performances by Black artists and musicians.

Raising awareness that Juneteenth was just the beginning, and despite all the betrayals and setbacks from "40 acres and a mule" to Jim Crow and the drug war, people are moving forward.

Slavery still exist in America,their have been prosecution for slavery on the Federal level

Federal holidays have come and gone - Columbus Day is an example. I am looking forward to a federal holiday for the day we stop using 'hyphen American' to describe ourselves and we just all say the we are Americans.

Avenger, 'systemic racism' IS under control. Has been since the CIvil Rights era. There is literally no job in America that a black person cannot hold or has not held. There are no laws that promote unequal treatment.

Avenger, 'systemic racism' IS under control. Has been since the CIvil Rights era. There is literally no job in America that a black person cannot hold or has not held. There are no laws that promote unequal treatment.

So black people are making it all up?

And have you tried just telling them that?

You say this:

not a minus for a certain group

But then you contradict it, by finishing with a statement that says the complete opposite:

But it is discriminating to all other groups

Discrimination is a minus. So which groups are losing out because of this discrimination?

Isn’t it incorrect to call anyone black?

Joe Blow - How is it divisive? That's a weird take for a non-racist.

Stranger: So you are saying freedom recognise the difference between races. It not freedom when you excludes others or stipulates only for certain type. Yeah, na I don’t see the relevance in your comments. So in the pass they were excluded from holidays now this group are recognise they can join in on holiday but to have a holiday separate from other due only to race is discrimination. It could of be the shoe was on the other feel and now we have white recognition day ??? It all self centered and devising attitude on display.

It all self centered and devising attitude on display.

Yes, it must be taking away from someone, right?

Tell us who you think this holiday takes away from? Who is now losing because of Juneteenth? Who is lesser?

Interesting how Mathew perry helped to curb slavery before coming to Japan and threatening to colonize unless Japan opened up.

Skin colors shouldn't separate us as humans .

Diversity is a blessing .

My grandfather and his co workers,did not work on Juneteenth ,they double up on their work and everybody took the day off on Juneteenth

Juneteenth wasn't even a thing outside of Texas until two years ago, and I had never even heard of it until a black friend told me about it. Now it's a federal holiday? Just more divisiveness.

Or, the other way to look at it is that a huge part of the population who have been disenfranchised by 400 years of slavery, then being cast into society with a hearty "go at it, but not in our back yards" for the following 200, may feel a little more enfranchised by having the day they were given freedom recognized nationally.

The way you look at it is glass half empty, that somehow this takes away from someone or something. Notice how I framed it in a more realistic way that accurately describes the nuance of the real world, instead of some binary hard-line rhetoric?

Stranger: So you are saying freedom recognise the difference between races. It not freedom when you excludes others or stipulates only for certain type. Y

Huh? Maybe you should try to read what I actually said:

Or, the other way to look at it is that a huge part of the population who have been disenfranchised by 400 years of slavery, then being cast into society with a hearty "go at it, but not in our back yards" for the following 200, may feel a little more enfranchised by having the day they were given freedom recognized nationally.

Musk, know the legal consequences of racism,having too pay the largest legal racial judgement to one individual of 100 million dollars

Let me also add that the current GOP strategy to make it harder for people in predominantly black districts to vote is not racism per se. The GOP wants fewer Democrats to vote, and the clearest Democratic demographic is black people.

It’s still sick, but it’s not racism.

Black Lives Matter. They really do.

Uh oh, that comment makes some posters think that recognizing it takes away from other people somehow. But they won't tell us who it takes away from.

stranger: It a bonus for a certain group, not a minus for a certain group. But good for them on getting it. I would not deny their special black person population holiday. But it is discriminating to all other groups.

I think it’s fair to say that blacks in America are far better off now than 50 years ago. John McWhorter (who’s liberal and black, btw) has spoken and written eloquently on this subject. Systemic racism is largely gone, but the after effects of past racism still exist. Blacks make less money on average than whites, not because of current discriminatory practices, but because past practices have made it more difficult to move up the ladder. McWhorter advocates affirmative action based on economics, not race.

That said, I believe Juneteenth deserves its status as a celebration of progress and a reminder of America’s dark past.

Nice to see nuanced opinions when they make an appearance. With so much right-wing extremism rhetoric, the occasional ray of non-hatred and anger is refreshing.

The problem with parrotting "Black Lives Matter" is that it instantly and tragically connects the statement, which is correct, to the discredited Marxist organization of the same name. How about we can agree that black lives are important, black lives have value, and black lives deserve equal treatment and respect? Without using the obvious trigger phrase above.

, but the after effects of past racism still exist. Blacks make less money on average than whites, not because of current discriminatory practices, but because past practices have made it more difficult to move up the ladder.

That’s more of an excuse. Most blacks have the same access and opportunity to get an education and depending on how hard they work, scholarships, grants and loans are available to anyone that wants an education. The only thing that would hold them back is themselves.

McWhorter advocates affirmative action based on economics, not race. 

That would a horrible thing to implement again

That said, I believe Juneteenth deserves its status as a celebration of progress and a reminder of America’s dark past.

Maybe, but if it is paid holiday, then certainly why not?

Its not a blessing, it just is

" it just is " ? Is that your answer to everything ?

Your comment is hypocriticaly diverse .

Iam not talking about a religious blessing which is perhaps why your confused.

Your opinion is what you made of my opinion , and without the article wouldn't have existed.

Without diversity you wouldn't have an opinion.

Your comment " just is " ?

Nah..you made the choice to make the comment it didn't just appear magically !

Who's to say a blessing isn't a blessing ?

Without diversity the whole human experience would be mundane.

Everyone is fortunate that diversity exists whether you choose to appreciate it as a blessing or not is pure semantics.

Regardless of what color your skin or ethnic origin diversity were human .

The need for these kinds of events and memorials will be with us until white supremacy is put to bed and all white people in the United States and white Europeans acknowledge they have all, either directly or indirectly, benefited from the oppression and exploitation of non-Caucasian people and apologize properly and pay reparations.

Strangerland- in that case, how about using the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation as a holiday instead? September 22.

I'll tell you what, you go tell black people in America they are celebrating the end of slavery on the wrong day, mmmkay? Let us know how it goes.