The best way to honor or recognize history is not to merely reflect upon the past but to strive to make the present and future better.

The Black community understands that symbolic gestures, holidays, and the like, may be nice, but mean absolutely nothing. Conversely, good paying jobs and careers have tangible meaning and can change a person’s life.

Did the great Black leaders of the 19th and 20th centuries ask for symbolic gestures, holidays, or related nonsense? No. It was not important then and it is not important now.

The 40 acres and a mule – well, yes. That was the promised compensation for descendants of Black slaves. The promise represented not just money, but an opportunity for descendants to begin providing for their families and accumulating wealth (if given land with good soil). But the measure was never implemented. Instead, Black former slaves were forced to go into debt as sharecroppers.

Please stop giving us (Black Americans) things we do not want or need! We want what you want: a fair opportunity to compete, to be evaluated and rewarded fairly, and to have our laws enforced. That’s it!

Asking to monetarily make up for the wrongs of slavery and the broken promise of 40 acres and a mule at this point is not practical or realistic.

Most descendants of slave owners will attempt to justify the actions of their ancestors. Former Senator and Dixiecrat presidential candidate Strom Thurmond who once filibustered the Civil Rights Act said to me in our first meeting when I was the lone Black Republican in Congress, “That was then; this is now.”

We must not forget, a large number of white Americans immigrated to America long after the end of slavery. They had nothing to do with those injustices.

Too many, however, participated in the legalized racial segregation during the Jim Crow era. During that time, Blacks were also legally prohibited from working certain jobs. They lacked voting rights and had restricted educational opportunities.

What is happening today? It is my strong belief that there are still major companies receiving federal funds that racially discriminate against Black people, which is illegal.

In December CNN reported that Navy Federal Credit Union denied Black people mortgages at a far higher rate compared to white people of similar backgrounds and credentials.

The credit union denied mortgages to 50% of Black applicants in 2022.

Would investors want to know if a company is increasing or decreasing its sales? Yes.

Would we want to know if companies are racially discriminating against Black people? The answer seems to be no.

The stock market could not exist without knowing the former, however. True proof of justice and fairness cannot be determined without knowing the latter. America should care about both.

I am an American who happens to be Black. My great grandfather was born a slave in 1836. My grandfather was born in 1870 and my mother in 1912.

The Black American experience for descendants of slaves is different from that of the African immigrant who arrived in America recently or even a few generations ago. Thus, I prefer to be called a Black American, not an African American.

With the possible exception of Native Americans, no group of people has been treated worse than Black Americans of slavery descent. Yet we played an integral role in the building and growth of America with our blood, sweat and tears. And we have been in America for 400 years.

Before you think I am a “woke” liberal, you can stop it. I was the first Black conservative ever elected to Congress. I had a strong conservative voting record. I was a visiting professor and taught political science and history for 14 years at a leading Historically Black College & University (HBCU). I taught government for nine years at Georgetown University and political science at the University of Virginia. I also spent 10 years working for Fortune 500 companies and got elected six times in 90% white areas all before the age of 43.

America is not a racist country, far from it. But three bad students in a class of 25 can cause havoc for any teacher, unless rules are enforced. If you let the three students run wild without penalties, the class is doomed.

Yes, in the 1960s we needed new laws to force bad folks to treat Black people fairly. The problem today is that it is difficult to enforce those laws when money, careers, and the accumulation of wealth are involved. This allows bad people to do bad things to Black people.

Today, Black people who seek justice for racial discrimination must pay their own attorney fees out of pocket (unless it is a class action lawsuit). The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission typically choose to be impotent. They do nothing to help. This creates a David vs. Goliath situation for those wronged by racist acts.

As stated in the Bible, “Taking a person’s livelihood is like killing a person.” Who said the Klan is dead? They wear suits and dresses today. “But let Black people ‘celebrate.’ Just give them another holiday.”

The true America celebration comes with the achievements of those of all colors in America. Celebrating the past with symbolic gestures does nothing to advance one’s life in the present or into the future. The “holiday” is the equivalent of a sick day. The official act by the federal government is much like the naming of a post office.

If athletes were recognized only through “symbolic gestures” – applause, instead of mega million-dollar contracts – few would play professional sports. And we would have never enjoyed the greatness of athletes like the recently departed Willie Mays.

The Juneteenth holiday? Thanks, but no thanks.

Gary Franks served three terms as U.S. representative for Connecticut’s 5th District. He was the first Black Republican elected to the House in nearly 60 years and New England’s first Black member of the House. Host: podcast “We Speak Frankly.” Author: “With God, For God, and For Country.” @GaryFranks/Tribune News Service