This Sunday, June 19th, marks the second Juneteenth since its official adoption in June of 2021. However, this celebration has been held for over 100 years as the day when slavery officially ended in the United States. Getting to an official declaration of Juneteenth was a long and arduous process, and many people still do not know the events that led to this day. I want to take this opportunity to give some history and context to this holiday.
In September of the previous year, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation declaring that as of January 1, 1863, all enslaved people in the confederacy “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free”. However, it was not until a full two years later that this proclamation was realized across the country. With his Proclamation, Abraham Lincoln was attempting to free all slaves in confederate states in an effort to preserve the Union and bring the war to a close. Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 after the way ended that federal soldiers under General Granger marched into Galveston, Texas to inform the people of Texas that all slaves were free. This day became known as Juneteenth to many of the newly freed people in Texas. That December, slavery in America was offically abolished with the adoption of the 13th Amendment.
The following year the first “Jubilee Day” was organized in Texas and, over the following decades, Juneteenth gained popularity as people came together to celebrate with music, barbecues, and prayer services. In 1979, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday and, with this push, several states began to follow suit. In 1921, Congress and President Joe Biden established Juneteenth as a national holiday.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture has put together a guide on how to have discussions about Juneteenth with your young children that includes details, further reading, and other resources. Find that HERE! If you are looking for ways to celebrate, Juneteenth.com has plenty of ideas on how you can get involved!