157 years ago, on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to break news that the Civil War had ended and that all those who were enslaved were now free, according to Juneteenth.com.
Here are some things to know about the important day, what historian Blair Amadeus Imani calls “a time of remembrance, action and celebration for Black lives.”
1. What does Juneteenth mean?
Juneteenth combines “June” and “nineteenth” into one word. June 19, 1865, is the day when enslaved people in Texas finally learned about their granted freedom. It was about one month after the Civil War had ended.
2. What exactly happened on that date?
Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston with a group of about 2,000 soldiers, according to the National Museum of African American History & Culture. “The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state, were free by executive decree,” they share on their website. “This day came to be known as ‘Juneteenth,’ by the newly freed people in Texas.”
He read General Order Number 3, which started with:
“The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer.”
3. Didn’t the Emancipation Proclamation free enslaved peoples two years earlier?
President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863. It was to declare every enslaved person in Confederate States as legally free. But, Texas, the furthest west territory, was still under Confederate control at the time.
So, enslaved people there did not receive emancipation until the end of the war nearly two years later. The day celebrates the triumph. However, it also shows how long it took for such freedom to be implemented in the far-reaches of the Confederacy.
And even when the enslaved populations were freed, most were left without possessions, land or resources. This made it undoubtedly difficult for them to begin new lives. “The post-emancipation period known as Reconstruction (1865-1877) marked an era of great hope, uncertainty, and struggle for the nation as a whole,” the Museum writes.
“Formerly enslaved people immediately sought to reunify families, establish schools, run for political office, push radical legislation and even sue slaveholders for compensation. Given the 200+ years of enslavement, such changes were nothing short of amazing.”
4. How should I commemorate and celebrate?
Indeed, you can use it as a day to educate yourself on the challenges faced by the Black community. Furthermore, you can continue to uplift and celebrate the Black community by supporting Black-owned businesses. Also, there are many festivals and exhibitions right here in Philadelphia where you can honor and commemorate the celebration of Juneteenth.
5. Is Juneteenth a national holiday?
Yes! President Biden signed legislation in 2021 declaring Juneteenth, June 19th, an official federal/national holiday.
During the summer of 2020, interest in the date was rightfully sparked again. After nationwide protests that followed the unjust police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, Black people across America demanded change.
Juneteenth is a national holiday that celebrates Black pride, freedom, economic prosperity, and liberation. It is also a reminder that the fight for injustice in America is never quite done.