June 19th or Juneteenth is the wrong day to celebrate the end of slavery in the United States

Why do we frequently come up with bullshit made-up holidays? Juneteenth is the wrong day for a holiday that marks the end of slavery in the United States. Here are four reasons why.

1. It is an event local to Glaveston, Texas
2. Kentucky & Delaware still legally held slaves after this date
3. The 13th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified on December 6, 1865
4. The 13th Amendment became part of the Constitution on December 18, 1865

Number 4 in the list is the key. Kentucky and Delaware did not officially end slavery in their states until the 13th Amendment was ratified and proclaimed as part of the Constitution. That was the actual date all slaves were free in the United States.

The Thirteenth Amendment (Amendment XIII) to the United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. The amendment was passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified by the required 27 of the then 36 states on December 6, 1865, and proclaimed on December 18. It was the first of the three Reconstruction Amendments adopted following the American Civil War.

Wikipedia

The country can celebrate December 6th or it can celebrate December 18th but celebrating June 19th represents little more than a media event and a local story. June 19th wouldn’t mean anything without December 6th or December 18th.

If we want to pick a date to celebrate the end of slavery lets pick a real one.

Image by Wynn Pointaux from Pixabay