Kyland Young on Instagram: "Since Juneteenth became a national holiday, I’ve seen a more than unfortunate amount of criticism. Some say it’s “not a real holiday," or continue to be confused about what we’re celebrating, or even go as far as calling it un-American, noting how "we already have the 4th of July, so why do we need this too?" This is where I think the importance of history and education really matters. 📚🧠 We celebrate the 4th of July because, when the Declaration of Independence was being signed back in 1776, marking the 13 colonies’ formal break from British rule, that was around 2 million people seeking freedom. And for the most part, those people already had general freedoms—they just wanted to govern themselves. Fast forward nearly 100 years, and this same country, founded on the idea of liberty, finally ended slavery and freed 4 million enslaved people. Literally TWICE as many people were granted actual freedom from bondage as had once demanded freedom from a king. If you love freedom, Juneteenth isn’t separate from America... it’s proof we’re capable of becoming the nation we say we are. 🇺🇸🙌🏾 #Juneteenth #Blackhistoryisamericanhistory #USA #Blackhistory #americanhistory #libertyandjusticeforall #🇺🇸"
