Abolition Era
(1857-1870)
Jim Crow Era
(1870-1954)
Civil Rights Era
(1954-1968)
Post-Civil Rights Era
(1968-Present)
Mohamed Babiker
What is Juneteenth?
Why is it called “Juneteenth”?
If Juneteenth has been around since 1866, why are we just now talking about it?
THE MEAning of
key
reading
JUNETEENTH
figures
RECOMMENDATIONS
Juneteenth, which is sometimes referred to as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day or Black Independence Day, is a celebration of the end of slavery in the United States. Specifically, it’s a recognition of June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to bring news that the Civil War was over, and slavery had been abolished. By this point, it had been two months since the end of the Civil War and more than a year after the Emancipation Proclamation was enacted – slaves in Texas were the last in the country to find out they had been freed.
How the Word
is Passed
“A deeply researched and transporting exploration of the legacy of slavery and its imprint on centuries of American history, How the Word Is Passed illustrates how some of our country's most essential stories are hidden in plain view—whether in places we might drive by on our way to work, holidays such as Juneteenth, or entire neighborhoods like downtown Manhattan, where the brutal history of the trade in enslaved men, women, and children has been deeply imprinted.”
It’s a portmanteau, or blending of words, of both “June” and Nineteenth”.
Following the emancipation of slaves, Juneteenth started slowly gaining support across the U.S. until the Jim Crow era in the late 1800s. During this time the celebration declined in popularity for a variety of social and political reasons, largely related to segregation. Interest in Juneteenth would decline in popularity again during the 1960s when the observance was overshadowed by the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Toward the tail-end of the movement, after Dr. Martin Luther King’s Poor People’s March on Washington, a renewed interested in the holiday began to emerge.
Project Engineer | Denver Buildings
De’Ohndre Jackson
Project Engineer | Denver Buildings
W.E.B.
Du Bois
Ruby
Bridges
W.E.B. Du Bois was an influential Black rights activist and co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
(1868 – 1963)
(1954 – present)
Ruby Bridges became
the first Black student
to attend an all-white school during the height
of desegregation.
Shirley
Chisholm
(1924 – 2005)
The first Black woman elected to Congress in 1969. In 1972, she became the
first Black woman to run for president. Her campaign slogan was, “Unbought
and Unbossed."
Frederick Douglass
(1818 – 1895)
He was a leader in the abolitionist movement and early champion of women’s rights. His autobiography became a best seller and helped to further the abolitionist movement.
Harriet
Tubman
(1820 – 1913)
After escaping slavery,
Harriet Tubman became
a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad
to help other slaves
find freedom.
Thurgood Marshall
(1908 – 1993)
Thurgood Marshall was
an American lawyer who
was the first Black member
of the Supreme Court
and prior to that won
the Brown v. Board of Education case.
by Clint Smith
Stamped from the Beginning
by Ibram X. Kendi
“In this deeply researched and fast-moving narrative, Kendi chronicles the entire story of anti-black racist ideas and their staggering power over the course of American history. He uses the life stories of five major American intellectuals to drive this history: Puritan minister Cotton Mather, Thomas Jefferson, abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, W.E.B. Du Bois, and legendary activist Angela Davis.”
Destruction of Black Civilization
by Chancellor Williams
“The Destruction of Black Civilization is revelatory and revolutionary because it offers a new approach to the research, teaching, and study of African history by shifting the main focus from the history of Arabs and Europeans in Africa to the Africans themselves, offering instead ‘a history of blacks that is a history of blacks. Because only from history can we learn what our strengths were and, especially, in what particular aspect we are weak and vulnerable. Our history can then become at once the foundation and guiding light for united efforts in serious[ly] planning what we should be about now.’ It was part of the evolution of the black revolution that took place in the 1970s, as the focus shifted from politics to matters of the mind.”
Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts
by Rebecca Hall
“Wake tells the ‘riveting’ (Angela Y. Davis) story of Dr. Rebecca Hall, a historian, granddaughter of slaves, and a woman haunted by the legacy of slavery. The accepted history of slave revolts has always told her that enslaved women took a back seat. But Rebecca decides to look deeper, and her journey takes her through old court records, slave ship captain’s logs, crumbling correspondence, and even the forensic evidence from the bones of enslaved women from the ‘negro burying ground’ uncovered in Manhattan. She finds women warriors everywhere.”
Four Hundred Souls
by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain
“While themes of resistance and struggle, of hope and reinvention, course through the book, this collection of diverse pieces from ninety different minds, reflecting ninety different perspectives, fundamentally deconstructs the idea that Africans in America are a monolith—instead it unlocks the startling range of experiences and ideas that have always existed within the community of Blackness.”
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
by Maya Angelou
“Sent by their mother to live with their devout, self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town, Maya and her brother, Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local ‘powhitetrash.’ At eight years old and back at her mother’s side in St. Louis, Maya is attacked by a man many times her age—and has to live with the consequences for a lifetime. Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns that love for herself, the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors (‘I met and fell in love with William Shakespeare’) will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned.”
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Juneteenth is about recognizing that we can never get complacent with our approach to fair/equal rights, and treatment across all spaces. June 19th is a day to honor those before us and a reminder of the power of thought put into action. The past cannot and should not be forgotten, but used to inform and inspire us forward towards a future that is more inclusive for ALL.
June 19th, also known as Juneteenth, will always hold a special place in my heart. Not only was this the day freedom was announced for enslaved Black people, but it was also a huge milestone for Black history in America. On this day, I commemorate my ancestors and all others who had fought tirelessly for freedom in the United States. I hope that the recognition and celebration of Juneteenth inspires individuals to stand up against injustices in this world and fight for a better future.
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Quiana Hanley
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To me, Juneteenth is a time to learn; it’s a time to realize there’s always more to discover and to continue educating yourself. The holiday started when slaves in Texas found out they had been freed more than two years prior, so when you think about it, it’s been about education from the very beginning. It’s important to take the time to reflect and remember that at one point in history Africans were considered a commodity in America and Juneteenth marks the transition from product into their personhood. It’s commendable that the holiday is now federally recognized, and it’s exciting to be a part of a company like PCL that recognizes the differences between people.
HRPD advisor | Civil
How is Juneteenth celebrated?
The holiday is celebrated in a variety of ways, including barbecues, family gatherings, fireworks, parades and music festivals. In recent years, people have been encouraged to shop at local, Black-owned businesses.
In recent years, the holiday was depicted in the TV shows Atlanta (2016) and Black-ish (2017), as well as the movie Miss Juneteenth (2020). Nationwide protests following the deaths of George Floyd have also sparked a renewed interest in the holiday.
On the first anniversary of the event on June 19, 1866, freed slaves traveled to Galveston to celebrate their newfound freedom. Over the decades that followed, the recognition would spread to nearly all other states. Prior to becoming a federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth was officially recognized in 49 of the 50 states.
EXPLORE THE HOLIDAY'S HISTORY
1870
Post-Civil Rights Era
(1968-Present)
Civil Rights Era
(1954-1968)
Abolition Era
(1857-1870)
Jim Crow Era
(1870-1954)
ABOLITION
era
1868
1865
President Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring freedom for slaves in the Confederacy. Because the Union didn’t control these states, it ultimately didn’t free
a single slave. However, it did permit Black Americans to serve in the Union Army.
1861
St. Louis, MO
Dred Scott v. Sandford ruling decides American citizenship was not meant for people of African descent.
1857
The U.S. Civil War begins.
Charleston, SC
1863
United States
The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolishes slavery.
The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil.
The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants Black men voting rights. However, state practices of poll taxes, literacy tests, and intimidation prevented many from exercising their constitutional rights until
the passage of the Voting Rights Act nearly 100 years later.
United States
United States
United States
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(1968-Present)
Civil Rights Era
(1954-1968)
Abolition Era
(1857-1870)
Jim Crow Era
(1870-1954)
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Civil Rights Era
(1954-1968)
Abolition Era
(1857-1870)
Jim Crow Era
(1870-1954)
1932
1921
1919
1915
1896
1865
The Ku Klux Klan is formed by former Confederate soldiers in Tennessee.
Plessy v. Ferguson ruling establishes “separate but equal” doctrine and supports the spread of segregation.
On February 8th, Birth of a Nation film is released, which demonizes Black Americans and praises the KKK. In March, it became the first movie ever shown in the White House.
The “Red Summer” sees 26 race riots occur in Black communities across the U.S.
The Tulsa Massacre takes place, destroying the city’s Black business district known as “Black Wall Street” and killing more than 300 African Americans.
The Tuskegee Syphilis Study begins, which nearly 400 Black people with syphilis were told they were being treated for “bad blood,” but were actually being studied to see what happens when syphilis goes untreated. More than 100 participants died.
JIM CROW
era
Pulaski, TN
Los Angeles, CA
New Orleans, LA
United States
Tulsa, OK
Tuskegee, AL
Post-Civil Rights Era
(1968-Present)
Civil Rights Era
(1954-1968)
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(1857-1870)
Jim Crow Era
(1870-1954)
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Abolition Era
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Jim Crow Era
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1954
Post-Civil Rights Era
(1968-Present)
Civil Rights Era
(1954-1968)
Abolition Era
(1857-1870)
Jim Crow Era
(1870-1954)
CIVIL RIGHTS
era
Brown v. Board of Education ruling declares school segregation is illegal.
1968
1965
1964
1963
1955
Rosa Parks is arrested for refusing to give up her seat for a white man on a bus, leading to the 361-day Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. leads march and gives famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
Civil Rights Act passed, which granted the federal government more power to limit racial discrimination against citizens and mandated desegregation.
Voting Rights Act passed, which prohibited racial discrimination in voting.
Fair Housing Act passed, which address racial housing discrimination.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated leading to riots across the nation.
Topeka, KS
Montgomery, AL
Washington, D.C.
United States
United States
United States
Memphis, TN
Post-Civil Rights Era
(1968-Present)
Civil Rights Era
(1954-1968)
Abolition Era
(1857-1870)
Jim Crow Era
(1870-1954)
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(1968-Present)
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(1954-1968)
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(1857-1870)
Jim Crow Era
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(1968-Present)
Civil Rights Era
(1954-1968)
Abolition Era
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Jim Crow Era
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2021
2013
1995
1992
University of California v. Bakke ruling upholds affirmative action, which allows race to be a factor in college admission policies.
The Million Man March becomes the largest march on the U.S. capital in history with hundreds of thousands of Black men aiming to inspiring solidarity.
LAPD members are acquitted of police brutality in the case of Rodney King, despite a widely circulated video that captures his maltreatment. The case sparks the LA riots, causing $1 billion in damages for the city of Los Angeles.
1978
Black Lives Matter – a social movement dedicated to ending racism and anti-Black violence – is formed in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman, who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
2022
Juneteenth officially recognized as a U.S. federal holiday.
Lynching is federally recognized as a hate crime.
Post-Civil Rights Era
(1968-Present)
Civil Rights Era
(1954-1968)
Abolition Era
(1857-1870)
Jim Crow Era
(1870-1954)
POST-CIVIL RIGHTS
era
Oakland, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Washington D.C.
United States
United States
United States
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(1968-Present)
Civil Rights Era
(1954-1968)
Abolition Era
(1857-1870)
Jim Crow Era
(1870-1954)
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Abolition Era
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Jim Crow Era
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