Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is a holiday that commemorates the abolition of slavery in the U.S.A.
The holiday takes its name from the date of June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved people in Texas were now free. This event marked the end of slavery in the United States, though the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all enslaved people in Confederate territories were to be freed, had been issued by President Lincoln nearly two and a half years earlier, on January 1, 1863. Despite the Emancipation Proclamation, many enslaved people in Texas were not immediately informed of their freedom, and some were not freed until General Granger’s arrival in Galveston.
In the diary of author Amelia E. Barr, who was present at the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation in Austin, Texas, she wrote, “The sheriff read the Emancipation Proclamation. He read it with no more ceremony than if he was giving notice of a forced sale of land, or a new city ordinance about negro passes, or any other every day occurrence. He was surrounded by white men, who listened without interest or remark, and the negroes were shocked and dismayed. They had been sure that the news of their freedom would come with the calling of trumpets, the firing of cannon, and the triumphant entry of a victorious army.”
In the years following the Civil War, Juneteenth became a day of celebration for African Americans in Texas, who would gather to remember their ancestors’ struggle for freedom and to celebrate their own hard-won liberation.
Over time, Juneteenth celebrations spread to other states, and today Juneteenth is the newest recognized national holiday, signed into legislation by President Joe Biden in June of 2021. The holiday is seen as a time to reflect on the history of slavery and its impact on the United States, and to celebrate the progress that has been made in the fight for equality and civil rights. While many people celebrate the holiday by attending parades, picnics, and other community gatherings, it is also a reminder of the importance of continued work to ensure that all people are treaded with dignity and respect.
It is important to recognize and acknowledge this history when thinking about the significance of these two holidays. While the Fourth of July may be celebrated by many Americans as a day of independence, it is important to remember that this day did not mark the end of slavery or the beginning of freedom for all Americans. Juneteenth, on the other hand, specifically commemorates the end of slavery and beginning of freedom for those who were enslaved.
WHAT JUNETEENTH MEANS (TO ME) 