What is “Juneteenth”? Via Kottke, here is a helpful introduction. According to Wikipedia, citing this excellent essay by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Juneteenth originally began as an unofficial commemoration of a military order (issued on 19 June 1865 by Union General Gordon Granger) proclaiming that all enslaved persons in the State of Texas were now free. In other words, Juneteenth could also be called Freedom Day! Whatever its origins, let’s make Juneteenth a national holiday. (Postscript: My colleague and friend Alex Tabarrok agrees! For my part, I would be more than happy to give up Labor Day or Columbus Day in exchange for Freedom Day!)
