We Don’t Need Businesses to Celebrate Juneteenth

Before Juneteenth became recognized as a federal holiday it has already been celebrated for decades. Started in Texas, this day of remembrance escaped the state lines of Texas and reach as far as both the East Coast and the West Coast. We were already gathering at grandparents houses, family houses and or having huge picnics in parks celebrating this moment in history. Families who never met each other before were having good clean fun playing basketball games at the park. Volleyball nets went up and kids playing kick ball. Some of the parks held their own makeshift concerts with local bands and poets and people gathered around to hear them perform or recite. Some areas did their own parades with lines of cars playing music or walks around blocks holding banners while people would come to the streets sitting on curbs, on top pf cars and sitting in trees to get a better view.

We were already celebrating Juneteenth before business got involved. Stores were already used to the influx of spending a day or two before Juneteenth. Kids already tired of going to grocery store with mom to help get the meat, drinks, bread all other fixings mom was gonna get. Dads, Granddads and Uncles already seasoned the meat they were gonna grill. Kids getting up early like it’s Christmas to help load everything in the car. Blankets, boom box (radios), hand full of cassette tapes and multiple packs of batteries because the radio “BET NOT” go dead. Loading up grills, folding chairs, tables, ice coolers , etc. Then by 10am the smell of charcoal was already in the air. Kids playing on the jungle gym, monkey bars, merry-go-round and swings. Potato Sack races, three-legged races, wheel barrow races, basketball and volley ball and softball games, whit people you didn’t know. All you had to do was come with your crew/family and say, “We Got Next”. Even jump rope and double dutch was a competition.

So Businesses Can Keep Thier Sorry AZZ Support !

Yeah, all them businesses don’t have to find ways to say they are not supporting Juneteenth this year. They just started anyway they last couple of years. We do not need a huge venue and billboard signs and posters to say where a celebration will take place. We don’t need a big music star and a business wanting to get ion stage and give a check to say they show their support to look good in the eyes of the black community. Now that the current administration basically gave these corporations a pass to not feel obligated to support anything relating to black citizens of this nation, many are jumping on board and showing their true color, intentions and where their loyalty lies. If they have decided within days to not support they only did that to hope that put a pin in it for us, to hinder our celebration.