Juneteenth 2026: Broken chains and the unbroken spirit of Frederick Douglass
Alabama should celebrate Juneteenth and America's greatest abolitionist by getting rid of its Confederate holidays.
Mason Reed 
This is an opinion tribute cartoon.
“Abolish slavery tomorrow, and not a sentence or syllable of the Constitution need be altered.” - Frederick Douglass
It has been a full year since Alabama officially recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday. Can you believe it?
June 19 marks the historic date in 1865 when the news of freedom finally reached the last enslaved individuals in Galveston, Texas—a monumental realization coming more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.
161 years later, we do not need to party like it is 1865, but we can finally observe the end of slavery as a state holiday in Alabama. Hallelujah.
Navigating today's political climate can feel like an uphill battle, but it remains essential that we keep the resilient spirit of Frederick Douglass at the forefront of our progress.
Related: Juneteenth celebrations planned across Alabama in 2026
Reframing Alabama’s Holidays
I have maintained for some time that Alabama should honor Juneteenth and America’s greatest abolitionist by finally moving on from its Confederate holidays.
Currently, the state observes three Confederate-related holidays: Confederate Memorial Day in April, the birthday of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in June, and the problematic joint holiday combining Robert E. Lee Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January. That is clearly too many.
It is time we consider a swap, starting with replacing Robert E. Lee Day for Frederick Douglass Day.
The end of slavery is a triumph for all of humanity and deserves to be celebrated. The Confederacy does not share that legacy.
The Legacy of Frederick Douglass
Douglass was an indomitable voice in the fight for freedom. Born into bondage, he escaped to educate the world on the horrors of slavery. He rose to become a trusted adviser to presidents and an enduring symbol of Black intellect and excellence.
Let us honor this day of broken chains and unshakable spirit by reflecting on his profound words:
- “It’s easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”
- “The white man’s happiness can not be purchased by the Black man’s misery.”
- “Shoot down the Confederacy and uphold the flag; the American flag.”
- “Without a struggle, there can be no progress.”
- “Men do not love those who remind them of their sins.”
- “They who study mankind with a whip in their hands will always go wrong.”
- “I would unite with anybody to do right; and with nobody to do wrong.”
- “Liberty is meaningless where the right to utter one’s thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist. That, of all rights, is the dread of tyrants. It is the right which they first of all strike down.”
Happy Juneteenth, y’all.
