I've got a bone to pick with America

Happy Juneteenth.

Juneteenth, June 19th, is an American holiday that commemorates the abolition of slavery in Texas, the last of the Confederate States to do so, on June 19th, 1865. The Emancipation Proclamation was dealt by Honest Abe on Jan 1, 1863, but it wasn't until June 19th, 1865 that all of the Confederate States agreed to abolish slavery. I guess they were holding out hope that they could win the war or something. What an idiot!

I'm surprised how few people know what Juneteenth is. I haven't seen shit about it in the media. I haven't had one conversation today about the holiday. I'm in my office pretending to work while secretly writing this blog instead of at a neighborhood barbecue celebrating the freedom of all Americans regardless of skin color.

And while that is annoying, what annoys me most is that June is Gay Pride month and February is Black History month. We need to switch the two. Gay Pride doesn't have to move to the colder, shorter month of February, but June should definitely be Black History month. With the culmination of the remembrance occurring on Juneteenth, aka June 19th.

We're all for inclusion at CSB. We're an equal opportunity employer. But what we don't stand for is inefficiency. And having Black History month be February while Juneteenth, inarguably the most important day in Black American history, is in June (hence the June part of Juneteenth) is just damn inefficient. I don't want to take an entire day away from the Gays to celebrate a different sect of society, but we also can't ignore the significance of June 19th. It's a lose-lose for both cultures to be double-booked like this. And very out of character for the gay community to plan this poorly.

Did something significant happen in June for the gay community? If so, I will hear out their argument. But I have a hard time believing it was as significant as the country agreeing that they would no longer be held as slaves.

PS - Up for debate: What's more fun to say? Emancipation Proclamation or Juneteenth. Check the comment section for people's answers.