In a story that shouldn’t be a story, aspiring conservative politician Candace Owens felt compelled to let the world know her beliefs on the newly established national holiday known as Juneteenth. President Joe Biden announced that June 19, a day celebrating the 1865 emancipation of Black people enslaved in the U.S., would be recognized as a federal holiday.
“Juneteenth is soooo lame. Democrats really need to stop trying to repackage segregation. I’ll be celebrating July 4th and July 4th only. I’m American,” Owens posted on Twitter.
Azealia Banks, rapper and another controversial public figure, found it perfect timing to explain the significance of Juneteenth with a series of her own social media posts.
“According to this logic, on July 4, 1776, you would still be enslaved. Most likely on the verge of starvation due to all of America’s food supply having been prioritized for the war, while you hand sew American flags and struggle to wet nurse some depressed 24-year-old white widow’s sickly child until your nipples are chapped and dry.”
“Whereafter, you will be whipped by her 80-year-old uncle for your own malnourishment and inability to produce milk, then sent to toil over a wood-burning stove — blistering your hands while [being] forced to make a peasantly meal of biscuits and gravy.”
“You will be watched closely by her irate, sunburned and whisky-soaked 80-year-old uncle to be sure you do not sneak a single biscuit or fingerful of roux to yourself. After you’ve watched everyone eat, you will be sent to do the cleaning up. Your last task will be brushing the stressed and balding white widow’s hair to prepare for her sleeping bonnet, a deep rest in her comfortable canopy bed. Next, your final descent down the stairs and out the back door where you proudly sleep on a bedbug-infested pile of hay in a 6×4 cabin you share with 4 other slaves. Happy Independence Day @realcandaceowens.”
Instagram: Azealia Banks
Biden signed the bill commemorating the end of slavery surrounded by Vice President Kamala Harris and Opal Lee, a 94-year-old activist from Texas who has advocated for Juneteenth to be recognized for most of her life. While Juneteenth is now the 11th nationally recognized federal holiday, Black people — especially in the south — have celebrated the day for decades. Small towns in Texas, including Brenham, Navasota, Hempstead, Prairie View, Beaumont, and Galveston, have annual parades and social gatherings in honor of the day.
The recent move comes on the heels of Biden acknowledging the struggle of other demographics in the U.S. Since Biden has been in office, he has managed to sign a hate crime bill to stop attacks against the Asian community and recognize Pride month.
