Joy Reid, a far-left journalist, recently argued that Juneteenth is the true celebration of American freedom instead of July 4th. In her conversation with MS NOW analyst Alex Wagner on her YouTube show, Reid stated that none of her Black acquaintances celebrate Independence Day. She noted that while her White friends embrace American Independence on July 4th, her Black friends only take the day off and enjoy barbecuing without much enthusiasm for the holiday.
Reid referred to Frederick Douglass’s critique of Independence Day as a celebration of slaveholders who stopped paying taxes to the crown. She highlighted the difficulty for African Americans to reconcile with the holiday due to its duality. Reid compared it to Indigenous people’s mixed feelings towards Thanksgiving, emphasizing that it is not something they celebrate with thanks.
According to Reid, Juneteenth represents the real spirit of Independence Day because America wasn’t a democracy until slavery ended. She added that during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments were enforced, furthering true democratic principles. Wagner, agreeing with Reid, hinted at how late these changes arrived.
Reid remarked on President Abraham Lincoln’s willingness to tolerate slavery to preserve the Union, pointing out his racism. She highlighted his suggestion of sending Black people back to Africa.
Wagner and Reid both concluded that Juneteenth provides a better understanding of patriotism. They discussed their views on President Donald Trump. Reid saw Trump as an accurate representation of most of American history, while Wagner pushed back, saying Trump doesn’t represent America’s present entirely. Reid contrasted Trump with Barack Obama, portraying Trump as a manifestation of racism that the country struggles to escape.