There are two national holidays in the U.S. honoring black people, but none honoring Native Americans.
February is Black History Month and November is Native American History Month. This enumerates the commonalities of the two most significant minorities in the United States. They are represented very differently in public memory through commemorations and holidays.
Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr Day
June 19 is Juneteenth in the United States. The day is meant to commemorate the freeing of black slaves in the country and is also called Freedom Day or Jubilee Day. Although the American Civil War ended on April 9, 1865, it was not until June 19, 1865 that General Granger of the Union Forces was able to announce the end of slavery in the last Confederate state in the South as well. This happened in Galveston, Texas. Since then, the day has been commemorated in different ways in different places. This year, for the second time, as a national holiday.
Overshadowing Juneteenth 2022 were deadly shootings amid a reportedly unpermitted event in Washington D.C. Social networks had called for a peaceful demonstration as well as a music festival. However, police reported a chaotic scene in which several illegal weapons were seized over the course of two and a half hours. Suddenly, shots were fired among the crowd. 15-year-old Chase Poole, a black student, was fatally shot. Three adults, including a police officer, were injured. Police are searching for the alleged perpetrator: a black man. The background is still unclear.
After the death of George Floyd, President Joe Biden proclaimed Juneteenth to a national holiday in 2021. Nevertheless, it is not yet considered a work-free paid holiday in all states. Martin Luther King Jr Day is different. This day has been celebrated every third Monday in January since 1983, even though the assassinated civil rights leader’s actual birthday is on January 15.
Indigenous American Day and Native American Day
To date, there is no national holiday in the U.S. honoring indigenous Americans, or Native Americans of Alaska, Hawaii and the remaining 48 states (called the “Lower 48” in Alaska). On October 8, 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden declared Indigenous People’s Day a day of remembrance to be celebrated throughout the United States on the second Monday in October. However, it is not a national holiday.
In contrast, Columbus Day (Columbus Day) on the second Monday in October is a tradition across the country – commemorating the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus on Oct. 12, 1492. In many places, Indigenous People’s Day was/is celebrated on this day as a counter celebration.
According to Wikipedia, at least twelve states do not celebrate Columbus Day (Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, as well as Washington D.C.). These states celebrate Indigenous People’s Day, but without elevating it to the status of a state holiday. South Dakota officially celebrates Native American Day, Washington State celebrates Native American Heritage Day, and Tennessee celebrates American Indian Day. Quite a few states celebrate both Columbus Day and Indigenous People’s Day.
Most Native American tribes have their own individual celebrations, but many of the holidays have common themes or goals. Often, nature, the spiritual world, or ancestors are celebrated. Many holidays span an entire week.
The accompanying image, which I discovered on Twitter, refers to a particular chapter in the history of indigenous Americans during the slave era. It’s a story I want to follow up on.
