Juneteenth in the New Know Nothing Age
(Official Juneteenth Flag)
Justice delayed is Justice denied — the legal maxim has a centuries-long pedigree, but few historic episodes capture its meaning in sharper relief than what happened on Juneteenth. On June 19, 1865, the Union Army arrived in Galveston, Texas with the news of the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves. But the Emancipation Proclamation actually took effect on January 1, 1863, two and one-half years before the news reached Texas. 250,000 enslaved persons in Texas rejoiced as they entered the new age of freedom, and the date of June 19 became known as Juneteenth, sometimes referred to as America’s “Second Independence Day.”
Juneteenth 2023 is no cause for celebration in Texas. Just three days ago, Governor Abbott signed legislation banning offices for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in all public universities in Texas. The legislation also bans diversity training programs for students and staff. The Texas action follows similar legislation in Florida and other states. In all, according to the tracker maintained by the Chronicle of Higher Education, 21 states have considered 38 bills to limit DEI programs and 6 have become law.
America has entered a new age of Know Nothingism. In the mid-19th Century, the Know Nothing movement formed a nativist political party opposed to the larger influx of immigrant Catholics who, the Know Nothings claimed, were controlled by the Pope and had a political agenda to seize power in the United States. The Know Nothings were white Protestants who believed that they were the real Americans.
Nativism is alive and well in certain quarters of the body politic in 2023 America, manifesting a virulent antipathy for immigrants and giving voice to those who proclaim racist and white supremacist ideologies. The new Know Nothing strain is manifesting itself in a broad campaign against teaching the truth about this nation’s roots in slavery — the “1619 Project” is a specific target in some states — and the racism that continues to pervade our current reality. The new Know Nothing strain deliberately and with clear political purpose is banning teaching about slavery and racial issues in K-12 schools and higher education, bans books in libraries and classrooms, and threatens serious reprisals including loss of jobs and even criminal prosecution for teachers and librarians who choose to teach the truth about race in America despite the bans.
To all appearances, most of higher education’s leadership is remaining silent on these assaults on teaching about the truth of American history and contemporary racism. Rather than using our bully pulpits well to proclaim our freedom to teach whatever we believe is right and necessary, too many college presidents are looking away from this slow train wreck of our democracy, abjectly hoping that the destruction of our values of intellectual and academic freedom will not encroach on our individual campuses. But the toxic cloud of political repression of curricula and teaching and books and libraries is already here like the smog from the Canadian wildfires. Silence gives consent. Looking away from the wreckage that is already clear in Florida and Texas and building in Virginia and elsewhere does not mean it does not exist or could not happen here.
If Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, then let’s use Juneteenth this year and every year to teach the truth of our history and present realities as free people, as people who value and defend intellectual and academic integrity in the face of political repression. Let higher education be a bolder, more audacious force in support of the freedom of K-12 teachers and librarians to teach the truth as well, to resist the pernicious politics of governors and legislators who pander for votes among the Know Nothing corners of their states and this nation.
Another great legal maxim attributed to the Roman philosopher Solon: “Justice will not come until those who are not hurt are just as outraged as those who are.” Teaching the truth of our history is all about justice. We cannot hope to be a truly just society if we allow official repression of the truth about slavery and racism. On this Juneteenth, let’s reaffirm our commitment to teaching the truth in freedom and with purpose to advance the cause of freedom and justice for all.
