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Soapbox Philosophy: Three holidays more important than Juneteenth in West Branch
by Gregory R. Norfleet · Op-Ed · April 16, 2025
Regarding Juneteenth: The city administrator asserted on March 17 that it is the most important holiday in West Branch’s history.
But I don’t think he meant it.
I think Adam Kofoed acknowledges that Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are the Top 3.
Rather, when trying to make an argument for giving city staff the day off on June 19, he was trying to emphasize the role West Branch residents — particularly Quakers — played in undermining slavery in the United States.
West Branch did not play a role in the founding of Thanksgiving, Easter, or Christmas, all much older holidays than Juneteenth. However, West Branch residents have a long history of celebrating these three every year — without fail.
That’s not to say that West Branch did not applaud the ending of slavery. Iowa was never a slave state, but its residents did establish stations on the Underground Railroad, including Traveler’s Rest in West Branch and the Maxson Home, just east of the city limits.
While incorporated in 1875, West Branch was founded in 1851. Traveler’s Rest was built a few years later, and owner James Townsend hosted abolitionist John Brown at least by 1856. President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, and troops freed the last group of slaves in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865.
That gives us about 15 years of overlap between the founding of West Branch and the end of slavery.
West Branch established its first newspaper in 1878, which eventually became the West Branch Times. A search of the digital archives (1878-1939) makes no mention of Juneteenth and does not tie June 19th to the end of slavery.
However, the West Branch newspaper did talk about slavery and it was mentioned in sermons printed in the weekly publication.
“The South desired to destroy the union that she might keep slavery,” Rev. George H. Furniss preached at the West Branch Presbyterian Church on May 28, 1899. “But it was the design of neither (the North or the South) that slavery should be abolished. But it was God’s design that it should. And to bring it about he allowed failure and repeated failure to visit the northern camp, until, as one writer says, it was burned into the heart of the North that God would give no blessing, nor render victorious northern arms until they were used for the abolition of slavery.”
Easter — which we will celebrate on Sunday — Christmas, and Thanksgiving are rooted in Christianity, despite all three suffering from a certain degree of secularization. And, as Rev. Furniss suggests, the end of slavery is also rooted in the faithful carrying out Biblical values.
While slavery was widely practiced throughout history all around the world, we commonly think in terms of whites enslaving blacks. Yet most American slaves were sold into slavery by their own people: as part of the transatlantic slave trade, African blacks kidnapped and sold other blacks for money.
The Old Testament is the first record of a religion expressly prohibiting chattel slavery. It devotes an entire book (Exodus) to the story of Egyptians enslaving the Israelites and God setting plagues upon Egypt until they freed the Israelites.
The Bible then lays out a framework for the end of slavery, which includes the death penalty for anyone who kidnaps someone for slavery, even if they sell them before they are caught (Exodus 16:21), and even if the victims are unharmed. That places a significant value on human life
Christians also believe God created mankind in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). That “image” is not a reflection of one’s face or skin color or social status, but the intangible and unseen qualities God grants to His creation so that we may strive to be like Him: peace, patience, self-control, bravery, curiosity, intelligence, free will, compassion, love, etc.
Further, the Bible lists four sins that “cry to heaven for vengeance”: 1. Wilful murder, 2. sexual immorality, 3. defrauding servants of their wages, and 4. oppression of the poor.
Slavery accounts for, at minimum, two of those.
So, without the values of Christianity and the religious holidays that in part remind us of the value of our fellow human beings, there is likely no Emancipation Proclamation and, thus, no Juneteenth.
Fast forward to the March 17 City Council meeting and Kofoed arguing Juneteenth’s importance.
“If there’s one day we should be celebrating in this town that should be off, it should be this day above others,” Kofoed said.
Taken out of context, this statement seems objectionable. However, the council did not publicly admonish its city administrator for lack of perspective. They knew what he meant.
The Bible has one big story arc: God created us with free will to love Him, we rebelled, and God humbled himself to become the perfect sacrifice to win us back if only we would accept that unmerited gift.
Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving mark God’s generosity to us, God’s sacrifice for us, and our response to accepting that gift. It’s the Biblical story arc in three main points.
Nothing is more important in life than securing one’s place in heaven by humbling oneself to confess and repent of one’s sin, asking God for forgiveness, and asking Christ to come into one’s life.
Helping end slavery, one of the greatest atrocities in history, is a very big deal. West Branch residents should be proud of their heritage in fighting against it.
But whether we are free or enslaved, if heaven awaits us after death, the eternal life that follows will make even a hundred years of brutality, subjugation, and injustice seem insignificant.
On the other hand, whether your role is a nation’s president outlawing the practice or a local Quaker hiding slaves, neither can earn their place in heaven. Free 4 million or just one, you still need to admit your need for God’s salvation gift.
I think Kofoed understands that.
Gregory R. Norfleet is the editor of the West Branch Times. You may reach him at gregory.norfleet@westbranchtimes.com or 319-643-2131.
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