Roommates, Juneteenth is just one step away from becoming a federal holiday in the United States of America! Just three days before the only holiday commemorating the emancipation of formally enslaved African-Americans, the House has joined the Senate in passing bill S475, according to CNN. Congress did its job with this one, but it’s not official YET. We’re now waiting on MoneyBaggJoe to wrap up his first international tour so he can add his autograph to the paperwork and secure the holiday!
As previously reported, the Senate passed the legislation unanimously on Tuesday. However, the bill faced some hatin’ in the House from Republicans, but ultimately passed with 415 to 14 votes. Conservative Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin blocked the bill in 2020, but allowed it to advance this week after dropping his objection.
This legislation picked up steam after the nation faced protests for the murder of George Floyd and police brutality. Democrats taking over the White House and Senate also helped in the passing of the bill. Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, who is one of the bill’s sponsors, called the vote momentous in talks with reporters.
“What I see here today is racial divide crumbling, being crushed this day under a momentous vote that brings together people who understand the value of freedom,” Rep. Shelia said.
As we already know, Juneteenth became a holiday in Texas in 1980. According to CNN, every state since then, expect South Dakota, has officially commemorated Juneteenth. The cause for celebration dates back to 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger announced the end of slavery in Galveston, Texas. This annoucement came two years after Preseident Abraham Lincolnn’s Emancipation Proclamation.
Nonetheless, Juneteenth is recognized among African-Americans as a celebration of our ancestors, their lives, their freedom, our progress, our joy, our resilence and everything in between the lines of being Black in America.
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