It's not often you see the inception of a federal holiday in your lifetime. Admittedly, I didn't know Juneteenth was already an official holiday in certain states before the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was signed into law a few days ago. On June 19, 2021, Americans welcomed and celebrated the brand new holiday.
But there was something kind of lacking on that momentous day. Let us never forget the events and sacrifices that ultimately led to the emancipation and the people involved, mainly the American Civil War and the 16th President of the United States of America.
Abraham Lincoln was indeed a Republican, but the Grand Old Party, as well as the Democratic Party, in the 1860s were different from what they are now. Lincoln was also a moderate, and the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is arguably the greatest achievement in his political career.
From the master filmmaker behind the epic films Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan, Steven Spielberg's Lincoln is as much about the abolishment of slavery in America as it is about the lawyer who was born into poverty and became POTUS. Initially, Daniel Day-Lewis was very reluctant to take on the part of Abraham Lincoln, thinking he could not do the iconic historical figure justice, but Steven Spielberg insisted he was the right actor for the role. Subsequently, Daniel Day-Lewis ended up winning multiple Best Actor awards for his performance in the movie.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, which I also showcased in Ted's MOVIE OF THE WEEK, is still my most favorite film about the President (no, I'm not joking), but Lincoln is an absolutely must-see film, and despite some profanity and graphic images, I think it should be shown in schools, particularly as a way to observe the Juneteenth holiday.
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