Every June 19th, we honor Juneteenth—the day in 1865 when enslaved Black people in Texas finally learned they were free, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Yet when July 4th rolls around just two weeks later, fireworks light up Black neighborhoods across the country, cookouts fill the air with barbecue smoke, and social media feeds explode with red, white, and blue pride. But why does America’s Independence Day still feel more “celebrated” in the Black community than our own true day of freedom?
The answer is layered—part cultural habit, part visibility, part survival.
For generations, Black Americans were excluded from mainstream national pride. Our ancestors fought in wars for a country that didn’t recognize their full humanity. July 4th celebrations became a way to reclaim visibility and inclusion, even if symbolic. Over time, it became tradition. Family reunions, parades, music, fashion—all of it tied to a national rhythm that often left Black voices muted in history books, but amplified in spirit.
Meanwhile, Juneteenth remained hidden from national conversation until very recently. Only after persistent activism did it become a federal holiday in 2021. For many, it still feels unfamiliar or “new”—despite being rooted in truth.
There’s also economics. July 4th comes with nationwide discounts, days off, and major media promotion. Juneteenth, still young in mainstream recognition, doesn’t carry the same commercial push—yet.
But that’s changing. Each year, more Black families are lighting grills for Juneteenth instead of the Fourth. More youth are wearing red to honor the blood shed by ancestors instead of waving flags tied to a freedom they didn’t share in 1776.
The real question isn’t “Why do we still celebrate July 4th?”
It’s: “What would it look like if we gave Juneteenth the energy we’ve always given the Fourth?”
It’s time we find out.
