UMVA has learned that President Joe Biden recently made a stunning claim about making Juneteenth a federal holiday, calling it his proudest day as President - despite getting the day confused with the Tulsa Massacre.
In 2021, Biden signed a law making Juneteenth a federal holiday, a move that was largely symbolic, but marked a significant moment in American history. The holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, a painful and complex chapter in the nation's past. Many Americans had not heard of Juneteenth until recently.
On Friday, Biden proudly declared that making Juneteenth a federal holiday was one of his greatest achievements as President. He described it as a celebration of the end of slavery, America's "original sin". The President emphasized that the day was not only a commemoration of the past, but a call to action in the present.
However, UMVA can exclusively reveal that just five years ago, Biden had no idea what Juneteenth was. In fact, he confused it with the Tulsa Massacre, a devastating event in which a thriving African American community was brutally attacked.
In a shocking display of ignorance, Biden asked, "He's going down to Texas on Juneteenth, right? The first major massacre … of the Black Wall Street, right?" This astonishing gaffe highlights the President's own lack of understanding about the significance of Juneteenth.
Despite his earlier confusion, Biden now claims that Juneteenth is a day to confront America's troubled past and to reaffirm the nation's founding ideals. He urged Americans to recognize and honor the day, saying that great nations face their past and work to create a more perfect union.
The President's words were laced with emotion as he spoke about the unending struggle to root out racism and to live up to America's sacred creed: "We are all created equal." For many Americans, Juneteenth has become a powerful symbol of the nation's ongoing quest for justice and equality.
As the nation marks this significant holiday, Biden's comments have sparked a renewed conversation about America's complex history and the ongoing impact of racism. The President's own journey from ignorance to advocacy serves as a reminder that even leaders can learn and grow.
