For a number of reasons, I’m starting to get worried about the new Juneteenth holiday: 1.) After reading this Globe story, the holiday celebration seems to have become a little unfocused, too diffuse, too much of an overlap with MLK Jr. Day and Black History Month. 2.) After reading this WSR article about how Plano, Illinois is backing off of Juneteenth celebrations due to nervous businesses pulling sponsorships amid ideological tensions, it seems the holiday is already getting politicized and 3.) related to the second point, I’m starting to hear some white people mocking the holiday’s name in a racist way, feigning a Black accent when pronouncing ‘Juneteenth,’ etc. … But I do think there’s a simple way to address the three points above, via a greater emphasis on the historic origins of Juneteenth while simultaneously shoving the word “Emancipation” in the faces of ugly critics. … Though I absolutely support a holiday celebrating the end of slavery in America (and believe there should have been one long before 2021), I’ve always thought the “Juneteenth” holiday was misnamed. Did you know its official name is “Juneteenth National Independence Day,” even though it’s directly tied to the emancipation of slaves during the U.S. Civil War? Somewhat incredibly, there’s not one mention of “emancipation” in the Congressional legislation creating the holiday. …

There’s a way to correct the problem: At minimum, change the official holiday name to “Juneteenth National Emancipation Day,” so there’s absolutely no doubt about the intent of the celebration. I’d even go a step further, officially calling the holiday “Emancipation Day,” with “Juneteenth’” acknowledged as a co-name, similar to how “Independence Day” is widely known as “July 4^th” or “Fourth of July.”  With such a blunt (and highly honorable) official name, one could counter neo-Confederates and other critics of the holiday with lines like, “Oh, so you oppose the emancipation of slaves? Do you think slavery shouldn’t have been abolished? Are you pro-slavery?” … Imagine how the business owners in Plano, Illinois would have responded to such retorts.

Btw: There are plenty of precedents of Congress tweaking the names, focus and timing of federal holidays, so my idea isn’t exactly radical. 

Update — The Globe’s James Pindell explores why the Trump administration et gang hasn’t acted to repeal Juneteenth. The reason: It’s too popular. Or put another way: a repeal effort would be too politically risky even for critics. And, as the WSJ article shows, there are indeed critics of the holiday out there.

Update II – 6.22.25 – And the Globe’s Jeff Jacoby blasts President Trump’s honoring of those who openly fought against Emancipation: “Fort Lee and the fraud of Confederate rehabilitation.”