Mark Anthony Neal said that white Americans who want to join the black community in commemorating Juneteenth should look beyond symbolic gestures, as these only go so far. “There should be a space to bring as many people to the table as possible,” Neal said, noting that he’s had similar conversations about the role white students can play in his classes at Duke University.

“These folks can then become agents in other spaces to be able to pass on and engage in the kind of information and teaching that has to occur; that can’t solely be the responsibility of black Americans in the country at this moment." Neal, a professor of African & African American Studies at Duke University, joined William Brangham of the PBS NewsHour on June 18 to speak about Juneteenth.

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