Juneteenth, George Floyd, and Tulsa: Sweet and bitter

Thinking about this column, I was reminded of a rhetorical device that an esteemed academic has frequently used: items at the top of his inbox. For me, there has been a plethora of items at the top of my inbox, specifically around the upcoming celebration of Juneteenth. Everyone likes a party. However, even with this week’s surprisingly swift passage of the Juneteenth National Independence Day federal holiday, I see a mix of bitter with the sweet in the numerous invitations and announcements from cultural, civic, social justice, and educational institutions.

Here’s the history: Belatedly, on June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned from Union Maj. Gen.