Who took the Juneteenth holiday yesterday?

[TexasHusker]

I kind of had my doubts about whether they would make Juneteenth a holiday in 2021. But when it became official that it was a holiday this year, I basically slept in and screwed off all day. Ate 4 pieces of buttered toast, watched Dan Patrick, went to the mall, and ate myself into a cotton candy stupor at a minor league baseball game last night.

A good Juneteenth, and here’s hoping for many more.

[ua_guy]

I kind of had my doubts about whether they would make Juneteenth a holiday in 2021. But when it became official that it was a holiday this year, I basically slept in and screwed off all day. Ate 4 pieces of buttered toast, watched Dan Patrick, went to the mall, and ate myself into a cotton candy stupor at a minor league baseball game last night.

A good Juneteenth, and here’s hoping for many more.

Did you give your employees the day off?

[TexasHusker]

Did you give your employees the day off?

No. I’m a slave-driving, capitalist pig.

[Nutria]

You slept in on a Saturday???

[QuarterMillionMan]

It’s better for wage earners to work and get paid. Remember no work, no pay. Walmart worker will get thanksging off but they are not getting paid. Some of them need the money but Walmart is denying them the work. So I say let them work.

[ua_guy]

It’s better for wage earners to work and get paid. Remember no work, no pay. Walmart worker will get thanksging off but they are not getting paid. Some of them need the money but Walmart is denying them the work. So I say let them work.

How about provide them with paid holidays so they don't have to work, but they do get paid. We are still sort of a first-world nation and employers can afford to do that if they wish.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I’m sure those McDonalds workers would love it. The franchise owners not so much. They operate on slim margins. First $15/ hr, now paid holidays off, what next tuition reimbursement, funerals paid, etc.

[TexasHusker]

How about provide them with paid holidays so they don't have to work, but they do get paid. We are still sort of a first-world nation and employers can afford to do that if they wish.

I provided them 2 months worth of paid holidays a little over a year ago, and it cost me about $210,000, with no income to offset it. We also provide paid holidays for five holidays per year, as well as PTO to take time off as they wish.

[kork13]

Honest question, having grown up literally on a tiny rock in the Pacific & never heard of Juneteenth prior to the last year or so... How is one expected to celebrate Juneteenth? Is it a proper mass celebration like July 4th, or more of a contemplative/low-key memoriam like MLK's B-Day or Memorial/Remembrance Day? Or perhaps just cook up a bunch of food & have all your friends/family over, like Thanksgiving?

It also hasn't been clear to me... Was this a one-time declaration, or will this be an annually recurring federal holiday?

I'm currently deployed & working 12-hr shifts/6 days a week. Federal, state, local, international, personal, religious, Festivus, and all other holidays need not apply. Add that to the fact of it being enacted the day prior, it was literally just a day like every other. The only thing I really heard about it (besides "make sure nobody thinks they can just not come into work") was the fact that some of the federal civilians who happened to have traveled to visit my unit were happy that they would unintentionally be receiving holiday pay (1.5x I think) for working with us on the new holiday.

Frankly as with many of our other holidays that have not really been wildly commercialized (Christmas, Valentine's, Easter, etc.), most people likely will just treat it as a free day off (ex: Columbus Day, Labor Day, President's Day, etc.). Obviously it also only applies to government workers & those private companies that elect to offer the day as paid time off...

[Like2Plan]

Honest question, having grown up literally on a tiny rock in the Pacific & never heard of Juneteenth prior to the last year or so... How is one expected to celebrate Juneteenth? Is it a proper mass celebration like July 4th, or more of a contemplative/low-key memoriam like MLK's B-Day or Memorial/Remembrance Day? Or perhaps just cook up a bunch of food & have all your friends/family over, like Thanksgiving?

It also hasn't been clear to me... Was this a one-time declaration, or will this be an annually recurring federal holiday?

I'm currently deployed & working 12-hr shifts/6 days a week. Federal, state, local, international, personal, religious, Festivus, and all other holidays need not apply. Add that to the fact of it being enacted the day prior, it was literally just a day like every other. The only thing I really heard about it (besides "make sure nobody thinks they can just not come into work") was the fact that some of the federal civilians who happened to have traveled to visit my unit were happy that they would unintentionally be receiving holiday pay (1.5x I think) for working with us on the new holiday.

Frankly as with many of our other holidays that have not really been wildly commercialized (Christmas, Valentine's, Easter, etc.), most people likely will just treat it as a free day off (ex: Columbus Day, Labor Day, President's Day, etc.). Obviously it also only applies to government workers & those private companies that elect to offer the day as paid time off...

It originated in Galveston, TX.

Here is a clip from the Wikipedia article:
"On the morning of June 19, 1865, Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived on the island of Galveston, Texas,^[26] to take command of the more than 2,000 federal troops^[27] recently landed in the department of Texas to enforce the emancipation of its slaves and oversee a peaceful transition of power, additionally nullifying all laws passed within Texas during the war by Confederate lawmakers.^"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juneteenth

The bill to make it a holiday was passed unanimously in the senate and passed 415-14 in the house. With President Biden's signature a couple of days ago, it is now a new federal holiday. (And Federal workers who have to work the holiday receive double pay).

https://www.npr.org/2021/06/16/1007340587/house-passes-a-bill-to-commemorate-juneteenth-as-a-federal-holiday

[rennigade]

Honest question, having grown up literally on a tiny rock in the Pacific & never heard of Juneteenth prior to the last year or so... How is one expected to celebrate Juneteenth?

You aren't obligated to celebrate anything. I don't celebrate Columbus day. That dude was a mass murderer and he didn't even land on this continent, dafuq?

[TexasHusker]

It’s odd that we do not have holidays and months of commemoration for Native Americans, given the fact that many of our ancestors committed genocide against them, all but wiping them from continent. Atrocities that make slavery seem a birthday party.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Expectations to celebrate the day? I don't think there are clear expectations. Here is a sample, though, of some of the events and gatherings around my town yesterday.

• Juneteenth Caribbean Heritage Walkathon– Forest Park, starts at 7 a.m.
• Alton Juneteenth celebration – Killian Park, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Juneteenth Freedom Weekend– Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel,
• Beginning 11:30 a.m. Friday.
• Juneteenth Make Music Weekend– Delmar Loop
• Juneteenth “On Their Shoulders”– 12:00 p.m.- 1:30 p.m.
• Al Fresco Juneteenth at the National Blues Museum– 11:30 a.m.- 8:30 p.m.
• Juneteenth Community Ride – Bike ride starts at 9 a.m.
• Juneteenth Celebration- Northwest High School Alumni– 6 p.m. Friday
• “Show Me” Juneteenth STL– Harris- Stowe State University 10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Juneteenth Celebration at the Foundry STL – 12 p.m. – 10 p.m.
• Juneteenth Open House at Black Joy Rest – 10 a.m.- 10 p.m.
• Juneteenth Worship Service – Third Baptist Church 11 a.m. Jun. 20.
• Metro East St. Louis Community Initiative 5K – East St. Louis City Hall at 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.
• Juneteenth Celebration– hosted by Bi-State Development, Illinois bus garage from 11 a.m.- 7 p.m.
• Juneteenth Cookout – Fairground Park at 4 p.m.
• Shelter the Wellston Loop – 1414 Hodiamont form 12:00 pm- 3:00 p.m.
• Juneteenth Celebration at House of Soul – 1204 Washington Ave 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
• Juneteenth Celebration and Resource Fair – 140 14th Street in Old North, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Juneteenth Celebration- Bellefontaine Recreation Center from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Juneteenth Celebration Freedom March- Delmar and Hamilton at 12 p.m.

[Drake3287]

Honest question, having grown up literally on a tiny rock in the Pacific & never heard of Juneteenth prior to the last year or so...

Neither had 99% of the people that are now celebrating it. And at what point does the Asian community now ask for a holiday. When does this all end?

[TexasHusker]

When does this all end?

What is meant by “this”?