Listen up Americans. Today is Juneteenth, a legal, federal holiday in the US. That means no mail, don’t stop at the bank, and keep alert for road closures during parade hours.

That’s about as much as most Americans know about this holiday. And frankly, that’s about all that most Americans know about any holiday other than Super Bowl Sunday. Something that happened 150 years ago isn’t on the collective radar. “Do I get to keep my gun” and “It’s my right to free speech” are all about what most Americans are concerned with when it comes to American history. It’s a shame that more effort isn’t put into the wide-ranging interpretation of so many other things that are ensconced in the National Archives, like “All men are created equal.”

Back in the middle of the nineteenth century, there was no Internet, no Twitter or its various alternatives, no Facebook, no 24 hour cable news networks. There was basically word of mouth supplemented by telegraph. Even routine mail delivery was limited to few cities and newspapers took the “news” part of their name somewhat tentatively. So the fact that it took over two years to inform the entire country that slavery had been abolished is, although not the best look for the rebuilding government, not completely surprising. The fact that it took 156 years to formally recognize it as a happening worthy of celebration is appalling.

There is another fact that is -ing-worthy. The fact that so little has been written anywhere about Juneteenth is concerning. It has gotten so little press you might think it still is 1865 and the news media is slow in getting around to the news part of things. Granted, this is only the third official celebration of Juneteenth as a national holiday. I suppose the American retailers haven’t yet decided if it will be a good holiday to sell mattresses, used cars, or major appliances. A holiday isn’t a holiday without its own merchandising identity. Coming so close to Father’s Day, propane grills and patio furniture are out of the running.

Again, considering the holiday is but three years old, there hasn’t been enough time for the crazies across the country to work up their usual rallies, protests, or boycotts. There is a chance that Juneteenth might escape those demonstrations of ignorance and anti-inclusivity since many of the loons who would be organizing them are so busy in June protecting us from the terrors of Pride Month.

For those who have made it this far, here is a serious and real history lesson. The Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Lincoln on September 22, 1862, and took effect January 1, 1863, declaring that slaves held within the rebellious states “are, and henceforward shall be free.” The last state to release slaves as directed by the Proclamation was Texas on June 19, 1965 (hence “Juneteenth”), but that was not the last state to free slaves. The Emancipation Proclamation addressed only states under Confederate control. It wasn’t under the Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified in December 1865, that slavery was officially abolished in the United States. Sort of. The Amendment was ratified by the legislatures of 27th state to do so as required then by the Constitution on December 6, 1985 and it was certified by the Secretary of State on December 18, 1865. Because of some conflict with an existing state law on the gradual release of slaves, New Jersey had to amend its state constitution in order to comply with US law, and it wasn’t until January 23, 1866, when New Jersey, a Union State, freed its last 16 slaves.

The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Rest, recovery, and reflection are the three Rs we are not taught. We need rejuvenate ourselves so we can get back to the serious stuff of life. Just not 24/7. Read our tale in the most recent Uplift! of a time seriousness was seriously overrated. Approximate reading time = 4 minutes.