Freeman speaks to Bangor Daily News about racist Juneteenth sign in Millinocket

The Bangor Daily News spoke to Mary Freeman, assistant professor of New England history at the University of Maine, about a racist sign at the Harry E. Reed Insurance Agency in Millinocket on Juneteenth. Freeman said the relation of eating collard greens and fried chicken on Juneteenth draws on stereotypes that have been present in American culture since the 19th century and probably before. “The fact that this person could create a sign that does not use an obvious racial slur, but still gets its message across by drawing on these kinds of associations and images that have had a racist association in American culture again shows how Maine is not so far removed from this history,” Freeman said. WGME (Channel 13 in Portland), the Miami Herald, Sacramento Bee, Kansas City Star and other national outlets highlighted the Bangor Daily News’ conversation with Freeman.