To the Citizens of Akron, the State of Ohio and the Nation:
I hope this message finds you well. This opinion column piece is meant to provide proper education about Juneteenth and its subsequent establishment as a federal holiday — the first commemoration to celebrate the historical contributions and stories of the formerly enslaved and their U.S. freedmen descendants since the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Nevertheless, I have a significant concern (which is national at this point) about how Juneteenth is represented. It is a commemoration, similar to Memorial Day, and about the emancipation of enslaved people. The colors of red, white and blue and the Juneteenth flag have been recognized and promoted by local, state and federal agencies nationwide.
Texas was the first state to make Juneteenth an official state holiday. Additionally, Juneteenth has served as a time for celebration for many African Americans and is associated with the name given to Emancipation Day by African Americans in Texas (some have also called it the Day of Jubilee in Galveston).