Juneteenth 101

by D.J. Norman-Cox

Juneteenth ( “Emancipation Day”, “Freedom Day”, “America’s second Independence Day”, etc.) is spreading in popularity, exponentially. Tagging along is a wealth of legends, misinterpretations and blatant untruths explaining the holiday’s origin. Often, gaps in hearsay versions of Juneteenth’s inception have been filled with far-fetched rationale minus proof or solid reasoning. Goofy explanations are easily debunked by simple questions, but too often such questions have not been asked. “How did news of the Emancipation Proclamation reach what is now New Mexico without going through Texas?”One reason why Juneteenth myths prosper is because the holiday’s basic purpose is ignored. Juneteenth celebrates slavery’s end, not the day slavery ended. Viewed independently, Juneteenth myths appear harmless. Collectively, they ignore slavery’s fundamental slaves were powerless. Therein, to properly understand Juneteenth, one must understand what slave owners knew, believed and did.Juneteenth 101 may be difficult for some to swallow as it defies commonly held beliefs. Its basic argument Juneteenth occurred because the sole entity responsible for enforcing the Emancipation Proclamation failed to do so. The author insist professional historians know this information. Therein, Juneteenth 101 was crafted in a quasi-irreverent style to educate novice historians and onlookers who are curios but lethargic. This book is not recommended for the culturally delicate.

116 pages, Paperback

Published August 5, 2018