Juneteenth is a day of opportunity. Commemorating the final abolition of slavery (for non-criminals), Juneteenth has earned its place as a celebration of freedom from tyranny in a similar manner to the Fourth of July. Not only is Juneteenth emblematic of opportunity in the emancipation it celebrates, but also the future of what Juneteenth could be.
Cultures should express their positive differentiating qualities whenever possible and incorporate such qualities into the space around them, as extenuating one’s cultural aspects may lend to the beauty and uniqueness of a place. These qualities tend to be expressed through art and festivities. A common complaint among Americans is that the United States lacks the frequency of artistry as seen in, say, much of Europe, where cities are often adorned with common emblems of their distinct and cultured history. But what’s preventing the United States from doing the same?
The day of Juneteenth is full of opportunities to express reverence for this important moment in United States history. Many call slavery America’s “original sin” and the source of some of its most pronounced struggles—a catalyst of division and a wrench in unity, whose consequences in segregation and racism have only continued to reinforce such effects. Yet, the history of Americans is shared. History does not belong to one group of Americans. Its tales are nobody’s private property. History can be a uniting force for Americans. In much the same way that Americans are typically taught the same figures in school who participated in the abolition movement, such figures should be further venerated and incorporated into American beauty on Juneteenth as a call for unity.
Why not tout the face of Frederick Douglass or Harriet Tubman on a dollar bill or coin, starting on Juneteenth? Benjamin Franklin demonstrated that presidency is not a requirement of the coinage cameo. Furthermore, shouldn’t we erect masterful statues of these great figures in a display of gratitude, reverence, and symbolism? Why not commission paintings, monuments, and exhibits? Why shouldn’t we parade lavishly? It’s not only Douglass and Tubman that deserve note; Sojourner Truth and William Lloyd Garrison should be similarly lauded for their impacts. Furthermore, symbols of the post-slavery fight, such as Martin Luther King Jr., may also be worth paying homage to on this day.
With the spending power held by the United States, such a task is certainly feasible. Despite more libertarian notions that less spending is automatically better, we are shown time and time again that corporations fail to incentivize beauty on their own accord. The free market will not reach beauty because it is simply not profitable or easy enough for the cries for beauty to be heard. Thus, the United States should make an active effort to fund cultural projects on both Juneteenth and the Fourth of July. With the Trump campaign’s promise to celebrate the country’s sestercentennial (250th anniversary), there’s no reason not to make 2026’s Juneteenth a day of unveiling beautiful cultural projects that pertain to slaves and their descendants. America can unify beneath the understanding that Juneteenth is a celebration of the United States curing its most infamous illness, even if the illness left it scarred. Alas, the opportunity of which I continuously speak is that of cultural enrichment. In addition to its more passive celebrations, Juneteenth should be a day of beautiful contribution.
De Facto Times 