In Oklahoma, Juneteenth gained particular significance because of the presence of Blacks who had migrated to the thriving Greenwood district in Tulsa. Known as “Black Wall Street,” Greenwood was a prosperous Black American community that encompassed a vibrant business district, flourishing entrepreneurship, and a rich cultural heritage.
However, the tragic events of the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921 had a profound impact on Juneteenth observance in the community. From May 31 to June 1, 1921, the Greenwood district was burned to the ground, resulting in the loss of countless lives and the destruction of a thriving business district. This all took place 56 years after emancipation — a cruel reminder that the freedom to pursue an American dream could be limited by the color of one’s skin.
In my high school history class 25 years ago, I vividly remember sitting at my desk and having a profound realization. It struck me that when the U.S. Constitution was signed in 1776, individuals who looked like me were not granted the fundamental rights and freedom that others enjoyed. It was a time when slavery persisted and was even legally sanctioned, enduring for nearly a century thereafter. As I left school that day, a sense of bewilderment enveloped me.
Today, as a descendant of a family that survived the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre — a community that is still awaiting justice — I still ponder my place in a society that continues to grapple with the pursuit of racial justice, healing, and harmony 158 years after the last remaining enslaved individuals in Galveston, Texas, received word of their emancipation.
Every Juneteenth, I’m reminded of the tremendous importance that places like Greenwood offered to newly emancipated people just two generations free of enslavement. Understanding the tremendous legacy I carry, I founded a company that honors my community’s iconic history and provides equitable representation in media to BlPOC founders and entrepreneurs seeking to raise brand awareness, as well as to venture capital firms that practice inclusivity.
While significant for all Americans, Independence Day — July 4 — may not carry the same weight of liberation and justice for Black Americans because of the historical context surrounding slavery and the ongoing struggles for equality and justice that persist to this day. It is why I claim Juneteenth as my Independence Day, not July 4.
Juneteenth offers a more specific and meaningful platform to commemorate the Black American experience and the quest for freedom within the United States. It represents an arc between our nation’s history and present — the ongoing struggle for freedom, equality, and civil rights, our desire for conciliation, and our ambition to participate fully as Americans.
This content was originally published here.
