juneteenth
what every american needs to know about
Juneteenth, a portmanteau of June Nineteenth, commemorates the day in 1865 when 250,000 enslaved African-Americans in Texas were freed. It was Black Texans’ version of Independence Day. In the years since, the tradition spread to Black communities throughout the country as a symbol of community, history, and freedom. Its significance has never been more essential than in it is today.
On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which abolished slavery in Confederate states, including Texas. But enslaved Texans were unaware of their freedom for two full years until June 19, 1865. On that day, Major Gen. Gordon Granger arrived with Union soldiers in Galveston, Texas, and announced General Order No. 3: "The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”
The 13th Amendment finally abolished slavery in America on December 6, 1865 and freed African Americans in Galveston began celebrating “Emancipation Day” as early as 1866, according to a Juneteenth historical marker enshrined in Galveston in 2014. “As community gatherings grew across Texas, celebrations included parades, prayer, singing, and the readings of the proclamation,” the marker states. Fun fact: the day was observed as “Manumission Day” and “Jubilee” before becoming widely acknowledged as Juneteenth, according
to Texas Monthly.
Juneteenth is a joyous affair and also a time to feast. Newspaper accounts of the earliest celebrations shared stories of large, bountiful barbecue dinners. Food historians note a link between red traditional West African drinks, such as kola nut and bissap (a.k.a. hibiscus tea), and these Juneteenth barbecues. With June being watermelon season, the fruit also found its way to the table of Juneteenth celebrations. Other red foods and drinks are ingrained in the occasion—Texas Pete hot sauce, red velvet cake, strawberry pie, Big Red pop, and spicy hot links.
Following the Civil Rights Movement, there was a resurgence of Juneteenth celebrations, according to Juneteenth.com. The late Texas Rep. Al Edwards led efforts that established Juneteenth as a state holiday in 1980. Also, Black communities outside the South—like those in Milwaukee, San Jose, California, and Buffalo, New York—launched some of the largest outdoor Juneteenth celebrations more than 30 years ago.
Stirred by uprisings for social justice, the United States made Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021. At that point, 49 states and Washington D.C. already recognized the day, and in 2022, South Dakota became the final state to establish it as a holiday. In 2020, many companies, like Twitter, Square, Nike, and the NFL, said that Juneteenth would be a holiday going forth.
According to the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, the mission for Juneteenth as a national holiday is, "to bring all Americans together to celebrate our common bond of freedom through the recognition, observance, education and historic preservation of Juneteenth in America.” As African Americans celebrate, Americans of all backgrounds can support by reflecting on the common bond of freedom marked by June 19, 1865. This could begin with a reading of the history from Juneteenth.com and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, diving into those resources for further understanding, and encouraging open discussions about how this moment has impacted our lives today.
What Is Juneteenth?
“All Slaves Are Free”
“Parades, Prayer, Singing”
Barbecue and Red Foods
Juneteenth
And Now, A National Holiday
“Our Common Bond of Freedom”
By Natelegé Whaley
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Why did it take two years for slaves to hear that they were free? An account by Prairie View A&M University breaks down a few theories and myths: one was that a messenger was murdered on the way to deliver the good word; another was that slaveholders rebelled against the order by withholding the news; another speculates that federal troops allowed slaveholders to reap a final cotton harvest before sharing the news. Historians agree that even if they’d known, there weren’t enough Union soldiers in Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation after it
was handed down.
Freedom Delayed in Texas
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Here’s what you should know about Juneteenth and its significance to American history.
illustrations by Jeremiah McNair
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