Today is Juneteenth, the date in 1865 when slaves on Galveston Island, Texas would become the last to learn they were no longer slaves--at least, not officially.
This morning I took a bike ride out to Fort Totten. I wanted to get some miles in before the heat and rain roll in this afternoon. Plus, I wanted to do something easy after pedaling to Connecticut yesterday. My morning ride totaled about 20 miles, which I did on Tosca, my Mercian fixed gear.
Just this week, President Biden signed the bill declaring Juneteenth a Federal holiday, which was observed (and offices were closed) yesterday, as today is Saturday. That means the holiday will be observed on Friday or Monday next year, as it will fall on Sunday.
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| From the Detroit MetroTimes |
As I rode, I reflected on this date. In my first paragraph, I said that the slaves were officially free. But just how free are African Americans today. I pondered, for example, whether I would have been taking my ride alone--or at all--were my skin and hair darker. Given the stories I've heard from friends and acquaintances, and of Ahmaud Arbery, I have to wonder how many African-Americans or dark-skinned Latinx people--or, in some places, Asians--don't go out for a bike ride, a run, a hike or even a walk because they don't know whether they'll make it back. That could be one of the reasons why African-Americans of nearly all age, education and income levels have worse health outcomes than even poor white people who didn't finish high school. (In my home state, the Bronx--which is overwhelmingly nonwhite--ranks last in health outcomes of New York's 62 counties.)
If people don't feel free to leave their homes so they can exercise--or shop, go to a library or museum or attend a concert--just how free are they?
That is why I am glad that President Biden made Juneteenth a holiday. I am all for commemorating it with bike rides and other events. I just hope that it doesn't degenerate into another orgy of shopping or other excesses, which too many other holidays that should be serious occasions have become.
