This year, for the first time, Juneteenth is being observed as a national holiday. President Joe Biden signed the oberservance into law on Thursday.
This week on The Exchange we talk with the President of the Sioux City Chapter of the NAACP, Ike Rayford about Juneteenth, one year after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. Rayford says he is thrilled that Juneteenth is finally national holiday. However, Ike says he is still concerned about some state laws that restrict information about the history of slavery and racism in America.
We also celebrate Pride Month in June. We talk with Sioux City Human Rights Human Rights Director Karen Mackey about LGBTQ+ events and celebrations and how young people often struggle with self-esteem as they come of age as an LGBTQ+ person. Mackey also talks about the history of the gay liberation movement.
