June is a milestone. The midsummer month is best known in my social circles as Pride Month, a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. But African American Music Appreciation Month and Juneteenth both take place in June as well.
Considering recent events, including the killing of George Floyd and the ensuing Black Lives Matter protests, President Trump’s revocation of health protection for transgender people and President Trump’s attempt to hold a campaign rally in Tulsa, OK, on Juneteenth, it is more important than ever to recognize the significance of this month.
Let’s break down this history a little.
Juneteenth
Juneteenth commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers brought news of the Emancipation Proclamation and end of the Civil War to Galveston, Texas. This was two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed into law on Jan. 1, 1863, but Texans had resisted the executive order until Major General Gordon Granger and his forces overpowered the resistance.
This delay has been explained in several ways over the years, including a messenger with news of the proclamation murdered on his way to Texas and the deliberate withholding of information from Texas slave owners to maintain labor at plantations.
1921 Tulsa, OK, Race Riots
On May 31, 1921, a young Black man named Dick Rowland was arrested after riding in an elevator with a white woman, Sarah Page. Exactly what happened in the elevator is unknown, but it sparked a confrontation between armed Black and white mobs later in the day.
The Greenwood district, also known as the Black Wall Street, was looted, burned and destroyed by white rioters early on June 1.
Over 6,000 people were imprisoned, some for up to eight days. 35 city blocks lay decimated and historians believe 300 people may have died as a result of the violence.
African American Music Appreciation Month
Former President Jimmy Carter declared June as Black Music Month on June 7, 1979, a time to honor Black music, musicians, singers and composers. In 2009, former President Barack Obama renamed the holiday African American Music Appreciation Month.
The month is honored each year by listening to and honoring Black people in the music industry both past and present. Spotify revealed its plan to celebrate AAMAM in a post this week. Highlights include curated playlists, playlist takeovers and continuing to honor Black creators in the industry.
Stonewall and Pride
The riots at Stonewall Inn, a gay dance bar which provided support to homeless gay youth in New York, are commonly referred to as the spark which ignited the modern pride movement. There are many stories of what “really” happened between June 28 and July 2, 1969, but the legacy of the uprising led to the pride celebrations of today. One thing can be agreed upon, though: Stonewall was not peaceful.
After the police raid, there were stories of thrown bricks and bottles, fire hoses forcing people into the streets and broken windows. It was described by some as ‘chaos.’
Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans woman, is credited as one of the leaders of the Stonewall riots.
Pride celebrations in the U.S. nowadays typically appear as extravagant, colorful parades where LGBTQ+ people of every identity can unabashedly show their colors. Although we’ve come a long way since Stonewall, we still have a long way to go before every LGBTQ+ person can come out safely.
Moving forward
A lot will have to change in the U.S. before Black people, especially LGBTQ+ Black people, are given the respect they should be treated with. But we can start by acknowledging our history and vowing to do better. I realize I, as a white person, need to educate myself and actively participate in anti-racism. Those around me need to do so as well.
So no one is confused where I stand:
Black Lives Matter.
Black women’s lives matter.
Gay and lesbian Black lives matter.
Trans and nonbinary Black lives matter.
Black lives of all sexualities, gender identities, shapes, sizes, ages and shades matter. No matter your pronouns, no matter your preferences, your lives matter. And should be treated as such.
Lex Miller can be reached at [email protected]