June 16th 2023.
M. Rasheed, an ADOS cartoonist, recently sparked outrage with an Instagram post in which he contended that Juneteenth should only be celebrated by Black Americans. Juneteenth is the federal holiday celebrated on June 19th, which commemorates the official and final emancipation of all Black people who were enslaved in the United States, with Black Texans being the last to find out about their freedom.
Rasheed shared on Instagram, "#Juneteenth is not an African Holiday. It's the holiday for the American Descendants of Slavery commemorating the formal abolishment of the chattel slavery institution in the #USA specifically. The official colors are the red, white, and blue of Old Glory."
Responding to a commenter, Rasheed explains his interpretation of why Juneteenth is celebrated instead of January 1st, when the emancipation was actually signed. He said, "There were a lot of laws passed that were supposed to make things better, but lack of enforcement kept my ADOS ethnic group as a wealth-less bottom caste. You're dismissive of when the news reached the people, but the practicality of pro-ADOS laws in action is very important."
The ADOS movement claims to advocate for reparations for the systemic impact of slavery, but they are also known for promoting a pro-Black, right-wing rhetoric that seeks to exclude certain Black people who do not share ancestral ties to slavery. As a result, Juneteenth celebrations have become more divisive, and conversations surrounding the holiday may become even more polarizing.
Though not all Black people are the descendants of enslaved people, anti-blackness is an issue present in the global community. ADOS rhetoric is often seen as anti-Black, and as the movement continues to gain traction their conversations may become even more so. It is important to remember that Black holidays are meant to be celebrated by all in the Black diaspora, not just those with direct ties to slavery.
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