Today is Juneteenth, the unofficial holiday that marks the day in 1865 — which happened to have been two months after Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomatox — that slaves in Galveston, Tex., finally got the word that they were free. Celebrations ensued, then and more than 100 years later. I've never actually attended a Juneteenth celebration — my family and friends must have never been into it — but across the country, and particularly in Texas, the day (or the weekend before or after the day) is a cause for huge cookouts and parades that are defining events in the lives of many African Americans.

Erin Evans of The Root, reflects fondly on her Juneteenth experiences growing up, and explains why she believes in the importance of celebrating a black independence day. In a counterpoint, John McWhorter writes that he doesn't really understand what there is to celebrate about white people (as if black people had absolutely nothing to do with abolition) freeing his ancestors. Instead, he explains, we should be celebrating July 2nd, the day that the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which blacks had an integral role in bringing about.*

It makes little sense to argue against celebrating the Civil Rights Act's passage, but, if they were around, people who found out that they were no longer slaves on June 19, 1865, might beg to differ with McWhorter about the meaningfulness of Juneteenth — they certainly did have something to celebrate, even if the tide would not really turn in their or their descendants' favor for some time, if ever. And now (correct me if I'm wrong, seasoned Juneteenth revelers), Juneteenth celebrations are a coming together of family and friends to celebrate a shared history, eat good food, and socialize. I don't see anything wrong with that.

*Although, as HRC reminded us once, we would never have been able to get that done without a white guy.