History of Juneteenth

What is Juneteenth & why do we celebrate?

THE BEGINNINGS OF FREEDOM

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States. Although the Emancipation Proclamation was issued on Jan. 1, 1863, the news didn't reach Texas until June 19, 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger and his troops arrived in Galveston and delivered General Order Number 3.

"The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer."

At this point, 250,000 slaves in Texas were officially considered “free”. Sadly, many slaves were not released immediately after Granger delivered the news. Some slaves were killed while trying to escape their former masters.

There are many possible reasons why the news was delayed for over two years. Some believe the original messenger was murdered. Others believe news was purposefully withheld to keep slaves working on the plantations and sustain the South's economy.

THE JAMBOREE

The first Juneteenth celebration took place in 1866 in Texas. Communities and families gathered for sporting events, cookouts, and parades. People prayed, danced, and sang spirituals like “Many Thousands Gone” and “Go Down Moses." Some celebrations even had a version of fireworks. At the time, fireworks were created by filling trees with gunpowder and setting them on fire.

Juneteenth was first recognized as a state holiday in Texas in 1979. Since then, nearly every state and the District of Columbia has signed legislation recognizing Juneteenth as a state holiday or observance. Today, Juneteenth celebrations take many forms, including cookouts, parades, concerts, parties, and church gatherings.

In 2020, President Donald Trump scheduled a rally on Juneteenth in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the infamous 1921 Tulsa race massacre, one of the most devastating acts of racial violence in United States history, took place. This insensitive decision understandably upset many Americans and Trump ultimately decided to move the rally to June 20th. That same year, the U.S. saw a resurgence of Juneteenth celebrations across the nation, many of which were in the form of marches and protests in response to the murder of George Floyd by former police officer Derek Chauvin.

WHY IT MATTERS

In 2021, President Joe Biden signed an official order finally making Juneteenth a Federal Holiday. Many applauded and celebrated his efforts in acknowledging the African Diaspora. He was quoted saying:

“Juneteenth marks both the long, hard night of slavery and subjugation, and a promise of a brighter morning to come. This is a day of profound — in my view — profound weight and profound power.”

Many people had pushed to make Juneteenth a national holiday. In order to help acknowledge the historical significance of Juneteenth and African American history, heritage, and identity on a national scale. This degree of legitimacy could help spark conversations about slavery, the systemic inequalities that ostracize African Americans and Black Americans to this day, and the continuous fight for freedom and equality.