As a Black American, am I overthinking Black holidays, or is it okay to celebrate them even if they're historically imperfect?

I'm a Black American, and lately I've been feeling conflicted about Black cultural holidays and celebrations(mostly because I went to the Juneteenth parade in Enterprise, AL)

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Every time I start feeling excited about one, I end up seeing criticism that makes me wonder if I should celebrate it at all.

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For example:

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* I've seen people criticize Kwanzaa because of controversies surrounding its founder.

* I've seen people criticize Juneteenth because it wasn't literally the day every enslaved person in America became free.

* MLK Day sometimes feels so mainstream and institutionalized that people seem to treat it as just another day off rather than reflecting on Dr. King's legacy.

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After reading enough discussions online, im starting to feel like every holiday has some flaw that disqualifies it.

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At the same time, I wonder if I'm looking at this the wrong way. Most holidays seem to have complicated histories. Independence Day didn't instantly bring freedom to everyone in America. Thanksgiving is heavily debated. Or other religious and cultural holidays have evolved over time and have imperfect origins.

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Part of me just wants a day where I can feel connected to Black history and culture, learn something, spend time with people, enjoy community events, and feel proud of where I come from. But I also don't want to be an insensitive and ignorant jerk TO MY OWN PEOPLE.

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Is that enough?

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Do you celebrate Juneteenth, Kwanzaa, MLK Day, or other Black cultural observances? If so, what do they mean to you personally?

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Am I overthinking this, or do other people struggle with the same feeling that every holiday gets picked apart until it feels impossible to celebrate?

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