What is Juneteenth? 
Juneteenth is the most popular day of celebration
of emancipation from slavery in the U.S.
What is the history of the holiday? On June 19th 1865,
Union Major General Gordon Granger issued an order
to Texas, notifying its people that all slaves were freed and “equal.”
“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 personal rights and rights
of property between former masters and slaves, and
the connection heretofore existing between them
that becomes employer and hired labor. The
freedman are advised to remain quietly at their
present homes and work for wages. They are
informed that they will not be allowed to collect
at military posts and that they will not be supported
in idleness either there or elsewhere.”
— Generals Orders, Number 3;
Headquarters District of Texas, June 19th, 1865
The order was issued a little late… The
Emancipation Proclamation had been
signed into law 900 days (nearly 2 1/2 years)
earlier, on January 1 1863. The Emancipation
Proclamation did not free all slaves. While it
held symbolic significance, it only freed slaves
from former Confederate states.
Slaves in bordering states were not freed
until the ratification of the 13th
amendment on December 6, 1665
Why is Juneteenth recognized over other dates?
The freed people of Texas made the holiday
well known by celebrating this local
anniversary annually with great fanfare.
In addition to remembering their lost loved
ones, people read the Emancipation Proclamation,
shared food, and played games. Eventually
Juneteenth celebrations spread throughout the country.
The civil rights movement of the 1960s
brought the holiday to the national spotlight.
Martin Luther King, Jr and his supporters
had planned The Poor People’s March on
Washington for summer of 1968. After his
assassination on April 4th of that year,
the remaining organizers chose to cut
the march short on June 19th.
With pressure from it’s black citizens and
their allies, Juneteenth became an officially
recognized holiday in Texas in 1979. Today
47 states and Wasington, D.C have recognized
the date as a state or ceremonial holiday.
IT IS NOT RECOGNIZED AS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.
How to celebrate? Education someone else.
Read books by black authors. Donate to a
reputable local or national organization.
Volunteer in your community. Celebrate
with family. Protest injustice.
#blacklivesmatter
