Juneteenth and the American promise

On Wednesday, many people will observe a recently made federal holiday: Juneteenth. This date has long-standing roots, of course. It arose particularly from the announcement of freedom to slaves in Texas on June 19, 1865. It came to symbolize black people’s broader battle for liberty and its blessings in the United States.

As with nearly all things these days, there are attempts to make this day one for partisan attack. Many on the Left use it to smear conservatives as inherently bigoted. Many on the Right dismiss the day entirely as a progressive ploy.