Juneteenth
Today commemorates and celebrates the liberation of African Americans from slavery within the United States.
Today commemorates and celebrates the liberation of African Americans from slavery within the United States.
Renee Harleston
Reviewer URLName: Juneteenth, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Jubilee Day, Black Independence Day, Freedom Day
Today commemorates and celebrates the liberation of African Americans from slavery within the United States.
Origin
Union troops were on a tour to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation in all confederate states. Due to its distance as the westernmost Confederate state, it took until June 19, 1865 for this news to reach the state when around 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The announcement here freed more than 250,000 enslaved African Americans in Texas. This came more than two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln ended slavery in Confederate states with the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. The 13th Amendment abolished all slavery, except as punishment for a crime, throughout the United States and was ratified on December 6, 1865. Juneteenth was a name used by the freed slaves in Texas to recognize the day.
Juneteenth was largely only celebrated throughout parts of the South, particularly Texas (where it originated). In 2021, it officially became a national holiday, making it the newest federal holiday since the establishment of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.
Traditions
Since its inception, Juneteenth has grown from a celebration based in church services and family gatherings to include larger celebrations like parades and local festivals, often with an emphasis on traditional soul food and barbecue, recitation of literature by African American writers, voter registration drives, and performances of songs like “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the Black national anthem. Miss Juneteenth pageants are also popular during this time. To this day, Galveston remains a central point for Juneteenth celebrations and gatherings.
What to say
"Happy Juneteenth!" is a fine greeting to celebrate the holiday.