Juneteenth is largely about race, and how racism presents itself in American society. The novel also explores how race affects one's psychological and personal life, as well as the impact it has on identity. At the beginning of the text, we see how racism is ingrained in the political system, as Senator Sunraider makes an outspoken and racist speech about the state of America, expressing his bigoted attitudes. When Hickman, alongside a group of black men, attempts to speak to Sunraider, they are met with hostility and contempt by the politician's secretary, being searched and turned away.
Another way racism presents itself in the text is through violence. For example, Hickman's own brother was killed by a lynch mob after having been accused of rape, despite the fact he was clearly innocent. This act of violence is then not followed up by legal action, which also reveals the inherent racism in the American legal and justice system.
This act of horrific violence is contrasted with examples of mercy and kindness from African-American characters in the text. For example, after the death of his brother, Hickman decides that he will kill the woman who accused his brother, alongside her child. However, when the child is born he has a change of heart and instead raises the boy as his own. Again, at the end of the novel we see an act of mercy towards Sunraider, who is symbolically taken to the afterlife by a group of black men in a large black car. This act of mercy can be contrasted with the Senator's angry and bigoted speech at the beginning of the text.
