Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-20-2024
Abstract
This study investigates the factors influencing public support of Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday in the United States. Leveraging the Affect, Behavior, and Cognition (ABC) model, we uncover nuanced relationships that shape individual policy attitudes by adding family and community traditions to the model. Our findings show that positive beliefs, emotions, and preferences for celebrating with family or friends increase support, while negative perceptions, commercialization of the holiday, and conservatism decrease it. Polarization perceptions reduced support, but only for the general population. Interestingly, our findings reveal that family traditions of celebrating Juneteenth during childhood have varying effects across different racial groups, with a significant interaction between cognitive inputs and family traditions among African Americans. By considering cultural, cognitive, and emotional dimensions, this study contributes to the understanding of public sentiment toward historical event recognition and provides guidance for promoting unity and appreciation of Juneteenth’s significance. This pioneering research lays the foundation for future studies exploring the dynamics of public support for commemorating historical events and advancing social justice through public policy.
Recommended Citation
Iván Flores Martínez, Amy Eremionkhale, Wendy Zhou et al. Understanding Public Support for Juneteenth as a Federal Holiday, 20 June 2024, PREPRINT (Version 1) available at Research Square [https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4602301/v1]
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