The May 24, 2007 edition of the Alexandria Town Talk
announced: "The City of Alexandria and the National Pan-Hellenic
Council of Alexandria are sponsors of the Juneteenth 2007
Celebration, June 14 - 19, 2007." As you may know, "Juneteenth"
originated in Galveston, Texas to celebrate the date upon slavery
was ended in the state of Texas.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juneteenth. Now before you start
shouting racism at this post, read on.
All groups have the right, and perhaps even the duty, to preserve
their heritage. Cinqo de Mayo, St. Patrick's Day and similar events,
such as Juneteenth, serve a worthwhile purpose in educating new
generations of their past and culture. However, official government
sponsorship is harmful to America.
First, such sponsorship always favors one culture over another.
For example, my French ancestors founded this state, yet the City of
Alexandria does not sponsor a Cajun expulsion from Acadia day, nor
does it officially sponsor a Bastille Day celebration. I am also
aware of no Spanish officially sponsored events, and we were a
Spanish colony for many years. There are also no officially
supported or sanctioned Confederate celebrations, as such have
become politically incorrect.
Second, as with the argument over state sponsorship of religion,
by officially using governments to support a particular race or
culture helps erode the goal of the "melting pot" theory. When the
government itself keeps doing things which point out the differences
in the various races and cultures which make up the United States,
such maintains the separateness of our people. Instead of thinking
of ourselves as simply Americans, with equal rights to all, we are
constantly forced to segregate into African Americans, Native
Americans, Mexican Americans and so on.
The real reason for Alexandria's sponsorship of Juneteeth, is the
political strength and numbers of Black voters here, and the fact
that our City council is predominately comprised of Blacks. Blacks
wish to "strut their stuff" and show their political strenght, while
White politicians are more than happy to go along in order to get
their votes.
No doubt slavery is an institution that has hampered the progress
of our nation, and was rightfully ended. So by all means celebrate
the end of slavery. However, unless equal treatment and financing
is given to all people, such as an American Indian Apology Day, or a
Confederate Day, or an Apology Day for over throwing the Queen of
Hawaii Day, we see through Juneteenth as not a moral statement, but
mere politics.