There were no familiar holidays while living in the U.S. in June.

If Memorial Day is the last week of May, Independence Day (July 4th) is still a month away.

However, there is a holiday designated as a federal holiday in the U.S. in June. Its name is Juneteenth.

You might still find the June holiday unfamiliar, just like I do. But this commemoration is quite significant in American history and is also a heavy day.

Juneteenth?

The name is a bit unusual, right? It combines June (6th) and Nineteenth (19th) to call it Juneteenth.

It marks the day on June 19, 1865, when the news of "freedom was granted" was officially delivered to enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas.

In fact, two and a half years earlier, on January 1, 1863, President Lincoln had already announced the 'Emancipation Proclamation', and the American Civil War ended in April 1865. However, Texas was the most remote area in the South, and information was slow to spread, so the last enslaved people remained in bondage until this day when they were proclaimed free.

Thus, Juneteenth is often referred to as 'Black Independence Day', 'Emancipation Day', and 'Freedom Day'.

Juneteenth is not just a simple festival. It commemorates the liberation from slavery while also being a day to remember the countless African Americans who died unjustly.

They were lynched simply for being 'Black', mocked while tied to trees. There was even a time when such acts were proudly made into postcards and sold. This is the story of America from the 1890s to the 1960s, during the era of Jim Crow laws.

Juneteenth is also a day to confront this tragic past.

In fact, Juneteenth was not an official holiday for a long time. Many white people and non-Black individuals viewed it as merely a local festival for Black people and showed no interest. However, since the 1960s, as the civil rights movement and anti-racism movements spread, interest in Juneteenth has revived.

From the late 1980s, official events began to be held in places like California, Wisconsin, Illinois, Georgia, and Washington D.C., and finally, in 2021, the U.S. federal government designated Juneteenth as an official holiday. This signals that the U.S. is now recognizing the past of slavery and taking steps towards racial reconciliation and equality.

Is it meaningful for Koreans?

Juneteenth certainly prompts reflection on the structural issues in American society and is creating new consumer trends, corporate culture, and directions for social investment.

Beyond just having a day off in June when there were no holidays, it is becoming a day that encourages both public and private sectors to think about improving awareness and economic circulation.

And most importantly, this holiday can be seen as a cost for American society to move towards a healthier future.

Long-term trust and inclusivity can create greater value than short-term productivity.

On June 19, Juneteenth is now gradually changing America.