Juneteenth should remind America what it owes black citizens
"As Americans protest, the holiday marks the end of slavery and beckons the country to close the racial wealth gap.
By Aaron Ross Coleman Jun 19, 2020
The Poor People’s Campaign calling for economic justice for the poor, in Washington, DC, 1968. Archive Photos/Getty Images
This Juneteenth, a rallying cry has taken hold as uprisings around the world take place. “Defund the police” has become the signature demand of those marching for racial justice, and is about more than just taking money from the city budget lines devoted to law enforcement. It is about investing in low-income black communities in a real and substantive way.
Responding to congressional Democrats announcement on police reform legislation, activist and scholar Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor tweeted that next, “we want the package that deals with the racial economy that pins Black people to the bottom of the US hierarchy. We must destroy the economic conditions that predispose Black people to violent, racist policing.”
Those marching have certainly captured the public imagination. Nearly every company has taken it upon themselves to issue a statement condemning racism, putting up black squares on Instagram, and investing in anti-racist trainings for its employees. Many companies, including Vox Media, Vox’s parent company, have made Juneteenth a company holiday. Meanwhile, the reformers are looking for ways to rein in the violent behavior of police."
Juneteenth should remind America what it owes black citizens