Former President Joe Biden didn’t hold back during a recent speech at an AME church in Galveston Island, Texas, taking aim at those who question the legitimacy of Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
In a pointed address at the historic site where federal emancipation orders were issued in 1865, Biden tackled criticism of the holiday’s status while seemingly directing barbs at political adversaries, Fox News reported.
Standing in Galveston, a city tied to the very roots of Juneteenth, Biden emphasized the holiday’s profound significance to the American narrative. He called slavery “America’s original sin” and insisted that confronting such history head-on is non-negotiable. Yet, one wonders if every historical acknowledgment needs a federal day off to prove its worth.
During his speech, Biden appeared to nearly name a prominent figure—referred to only as “this guy”—before pausing and making the Sign of the Cross, drawing cheers from the crowd. It’s a classic sidestep, avoiding direct confrontation while ensuring everyone in the room knew exactly who he meant. Such theatrics might play well to a sympathetic audience, but they sideline substantive policy debate.
He went on to lament efforts to “erase history,” particularly in education, accusing critics of glossing over uncomfortable truths in textbooks and classrooms. While historical honesty matters, the critique feels like a convenient jab at broader conservative efforts to rethink curricula—often mischaracterized as erasure rather than reform.
Biden also took issue with moves to revert southern military base names, implying a return to Confederate tributes. However, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clarified in recent testimony, such changes honor different U.S. military figures sharing the same last names, not Confederate generals. This nuance seems lost in Biden’s narrative, which paints a starker, less accurate picture.
On the topic of Juneteenth itself, Biden sharply rebuked those who oppose its federal holiday status, claiming they refuse to acknowledge the “moral stain” of slavery. It’s a heavy charge, but let’s be fair—some critics, including former President Donald Trump, argue the added holiday burdens businesses with billions in closure costs. Economic pragmatism isn’t the same as denying history.
Trump, for his part, remarked that the proliferation of federal holidays could soon mean a day off for every workday of the year. It’s a quip with a kernel of truth; at what point does the calendar become more symbolic than functional? Balance, not dismissal, seems the real question here.
Elsewhere, leaders like West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey have issued proclamations recognizing Juneteenth while keeping state offices operational. This approach nods to the holiday’s importance without mandating a full shutdown—an option that might satisfy both remembrance and responsibility.
Biden also wove in concerns about voting access, suggesting that Black Americans and other minorities still face barriers at the polls, even decades after the Civil Rights Act. He urged outreach to family and neighbors to boost registration and turnout. While voter suppression claims deserve scrutiny, the call to action feels more like a campaign rally than a holiday reflection.
Quoting Scripture, Biden noted that “faith without work is dead,” tying spiritual conviction to civic duty. It’s a poignant line, but one might ask if the work he envisions aligns with all Americans’ priorities or just a specific agenda.
He further mused on the idea that “darkness can hide much but erase nothing,” a poetic jab at those he sees as obscuring historical truths. Yet, this framing risks oversimplifying complex debates over how history is taught and commemorated in a diverse nation.
Reflecting on his past, Biden recalled frequent visits to a Black neighborhood in Northeast Wilmington after attending Catholic Mass in Delaware as a youth. It’s a personal touch meant to signal empathy, but relevance to Juneteenth policy feels tenuous at best.
He also mentioned chairing an African Affairs subcommittee and visiting sites tied to slavery’s origins in Africa, framing himself as uniquely attuned to these issues. While lived experience informs perspective, it’s worth questioning if such anecdotes address the practical concerns of holiday critics.
Ultimately, Biden’s Galveston address sought to cement Juneteenth as an unassailable pillar of national memory, while casting skeptics as history’s adversaries. Yet, in a nation grappling with economic and cultural divides, the conversation demands more than moral posturing—it needs pragmatic dialogue. Perhaps it’s time to honor the past without closing shop every time we turn the page.
