On Wednesday, June 19, the nation celebrates Juneteenth National Independence Day! As the 11th and newest federal holiday, Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the abolition of slavery, marking a pivotal moment in American history. The following year, the first official Juneteenth celebration was held.
Although President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 declared freedom for enslaved people in the Confederate states, enforcement was slow and inconsistent, particularly in Texas, due to the limited presence of Union troops. Liberation came when Major General Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3, asserting the Union Army’s authority over Texas and ensuring the freedom of African Americans. However, history shows that true emancipation occurred through a series of events from 1780 to 1865, and emancipation did not grant full citizenship rights or keep states and municipalities from enacting laws against African Americans.
Evolution of a Holiday
Still, Juneteenth stands as a powerful reminder of the long journey toward freedom and equality, and it continues to be a day of reflection, education, and celebration across the United States. The earliest Juneteenth celebrations included dressing in one’s best clothes, attending sermons and spirituals, and eating and drinking red foods and beverages to commemorate the blood spilled during slavery.
Juneteenth became a Texas state holiday in 1980, but it would take more than 40 years before the date was recognized nationally, thanks to grassroots efforts from activists like Opal Lee. A retired teacher, counselor, and activist, Lee began a march from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., to bring attention to Juneteenth. She later started a petition which garnered 1.5 million signatures in favor of a national Juneteenth holiday. On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act making Juneteenth the eleventh federal holiday.
Today, Americans celebrate Juneteenth with cookouts, street fairs, parades, and concerts. The day is also celebrated in countries outside of the United States to recognize the end of slavery and honor African American culture and achievements.
To learn more about Juneteenth, visit Howard University’s The Dig, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Juneteenth.com, and opalswalk2dc.com.
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