June 10th 2024.
On June 7, the governor of West Virginia, Jim Justice, made an important announcement. He declared that June 19th, also known as Juneteenth, would now be recognized as a state holiday. This means that all public employees in West Virginia will get a paid day off on this day. It was a historic moment, as it marked the first time Juneteenth would be officially celebrated in the state.
According to WBOY, this decision was influenced by the recent federal recognition of Juneteenth as a national holiday. President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act in 2021, establishing June 19th as a day to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. This date holds a special significance as it marks the day when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were finally informed of their freedom, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. It is also known as Emancipation Day.
In his proclamation, Gov. Justice stated, "Now, therefore, I, Jim Justice... do hereby proclaim and order that Wednesday, June 19, 2024, shall be treated as if it were an official holiday." This means that public employees will not have to use any of their accrued annual leave if they choose to take the day off.
The creation of the federal holiday has brought renewed attention and interest to Juneteenth. The New York Times reported that after the tragic deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police officers in 2020, politicians began to recognize the importance of this holiday. Mark Anthony Neal, an African-American studies professor at Duke University, expressed that Juneteenth now holds a deeper significance as it allows people to reflect on the recent changes and movements for racial justice.
One of the key figures in advocating for Juneteenth to become a national holiday is Opal Lee, known as the "Grandmother of Juneteenth." She shared with Oprah Daily in 2021, "People just think of Juneteenth as a festival and as a Texas thing. Unity, freedom, is what Juneteenth is all about." Lee also described her inspiration for a march from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C. in honor of Juneteenth. She said, "So I decided that I would walk from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C..., to symbolize that in Texas, the enslaved didn't know they were free for two and a half years after everybody else."
Juneteenth holds a powerful and important meaning for many, and its recognition as a state holiday in West Virginia is a significant step towards acknowledging and honoring this day. It is a chance for people to come together and reflect on the past, while also looking towards a more inclusive and just future.
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