Understanding Juneteenth

Juneteenth is a remarkable time in American history. For more than one and a half centuries, Black communities have held this day sacred. It celebrates the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, discovered they had been freed. This happened two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and after the Civil War had ended.

Since being acknowledged as a federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth is gaining universal recognition. Schools and workplaces observe it as a day off, with numerous events such as street festivals, fairs and concerts organized to commemorate the day.

How to Celebrate Juneteenth

You may be wondering – what’s the “right” way to celebrate Juneteenth? In truth, there isn’t one exact answer. Celebration methods can range from attending vibrant festivities to spending a peaceful day in quiet remembrance.

The Spirit of Juneteenth

Initially, the celebration began outdoors with sizeable, lively reunions among formerly enslaved family members, many of whom had been separated. These meetings were particularly groundbreaking as they were devoid of restrictive laws known as “Black Codes” that regulated the everyday life of liberated slaves.

In recent years, celebrations like the one on the White House’s South Lawn for Juneteenth have contributed to a festive atmosphere. Singers like Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle raised the excitement level by performing popular tunes across various genres. Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black vice-president, graced the stage, dancing to the inspiring tunes.

An Alternative Approach

Simultaneously, some choose to commemorate Juneteenth as a day of rest and reflection. Activities may include community service, attending an educational seminar, or taking the day off. According to Dr. David Anderson, CEO of Gracism Global, it is essential to make people feel they have a range of options to observe the day.

Juneteenth for Beginners

Haven’t celebrated Juneteenth before? That’s okay. Many, including Dr. Anderson, didn’t know about Juneteenth until they were adults. The celebrations vary, particularly for African Americans who grew up farther from Texas. In the South, commemoration times might fluctuate based on when news of Emancipation reached each state.

Nationwide Juneteenth Celebrations

There are myriads of public Juneteenth events across the country. These can range from carnival-like festivals with food trucks, arts and crafts, and parades, to educational panels that remind people of Juneteenth’s significance.

The National Park Service, for the first time since Juneteenth was federally recognized, is allowing free entry into all its sites on the holiday.

Special Juneteenth Foods

Food holds a vital place in Juneteenth celebrations. A traditional Juneteenth menu invariably includes items like barbecued ribs, watermelon, and red velvet cake alongside beverages like fruit punch and red Kool-Aid. The color red symbolizes the struggles and sacrifices of enslaved ancestors.

Celebrate Regardless of Your Race

Dr. Karida Brown, a sociology professor at Emory University, believes non-Black people should also recognize and celebrate Juneteenth. She believes it is a shared history, a record of emancipation and freedom for Black brothers and sisters under the Constitution of the law.

Dr. Anderson suggests educating oneself as a means of authentic recognition. Perusing a book on the topic or learning about Black history beyond the well-known figures can be beneficial.

In Conclusion

Whether through attending an event, reading a book, or visiting an African American history museum, everyone is encouraged to deepen their understanding of the significance of Juneteenth. Choose the way you want to commemorate the day and keep alive the spirit of Juneteenth.

Unveiling the COVID-19 Response Picture

Finally, New Yorkers have been handed a deep dive into how their state tackled the COVID-19 crisis. Governor Hochul commissioned a 262-page report in late 2022, created by the consultancy firm, Olson Group Ltd, mapping the COVID-19 emergency response in the pivotal first two years.

The report isn’t telling us anything earth-shaking. As the pandemic unfolded, the playbook had answers only up to a certain extent. After that point, the situation was like an unnerving wilderness with no marked trail. No one fully anticipated how steep and dark the COVID-19 abyss would become.

Who Could Have Navigated the Crisis?

Experts suggested that the pandemic path could have been traversed by a particular breed of bureaucrats and specialists. Those who spent their careers sketching out these types of emergency plans were in the best position to lead. But, this is where things took an off-kilter turn.

Then-Governor Andrew Cuomo took control, centralizing decisions. He used executive orders to manage the pandemic response through his office directly.

Cuomo’s spokesperson took to Twitter. He retorted that it was ironic the review suggested delegation of leadership during an extraordinary crisis. In response, it’s worth pointing out that Cuomo’s agencies were never required to hand over control. They merely needed to play their part in the grand COVID puzzle. Delegating doesn’t signify a weak leader.

The Cuomo Controversy and the Duties of His Agencies

Cuomo’s authoritative tone was appreciated amidst the disruption, but his subordinates needed to carry out their duties too. Advocates argue that delegation is not shirking responsibility but smart management.

The report brings other takeaways to the fore. It calls for better healthcare provisions for neglected communities, heavily impacted in the early phase of the pandemic. The anticipation of novel diseases and increased infection rates should motivate leaders to learn these lessons.

The Nursing Home Fiasco

What the report barely touches on is the leading controversy of Cuomo’s reign – the early-days decision to admit COVID-positive patients into nursing homes from hospitals. As was later found out, those homes were unprepared for such an infection influx.

Sorting out the death toll and tracking where the contagion began also stumbled Cuomo and his team. Olson’s report does ponder the nursing home debacle but leaves critical questions unanswered. Who green-lighted this decision? Was there a thought-process behind it? We await more definitive answers.

Looking Forward: A Proposal for a Review Commission

Insight into these question marks and understanding why city and state health departments failed to spot COVID sooner requires a comprehensive government review. The proposal is for a state law commission with the power to subpoena, a power which Olson didn’t have.

The $4.3 Million Report

The Olson report came at a heavy cost, $4.3 million to be precise. That accounts to approximately $16,500 per page, including the title and contents. While the figure might be staggering, the gravity of the situation is even larger. COVID-19 has taken the lives of more than 83,000 New Yorkers.

In the end, every dollar spent in pursuit of these answers will prove to be an investment. Figuring out the lapses in the past response may hold the key to better handling crises in the future. Whatever price tag the commission comes with, New York’s citizens deserve full disclosure.