On June 19, Emancipation Day or Juneteenth, the end of slavery in the country is commemorated. Despite ongoing systemic issues of racism and injustice, this date is marked by traditions and celebrations in various states.
The “Juneteenth” holiday, an acronym of the words “June” and “nineteenth,” commemorates the day enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, received news of their emancipation on June 19, 1865.
Juneteenth, or Emancipation Day, is dedicated to educating all generations about the history of the African American community in the country, though traditions and celebrations vary nationwide.
Some states organize parades and events, while others host educational exhibitions or gatherings for food, sports, and social activities. For many, considered the second Independence Day, the day also features readings, recitals, public singing, picnics, religious services, contests, and other recreational activities.
Early celebrations included prayer and family gatherings, later expanding to annual pilgrimages by formerly enslaved people and their families, among other activities.
A Federal Holiday
The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, establishing a federal holiday to commemorate the end of slavery in the country, was signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021.
Although Juneteenth has been observed in various ways on June 19 since 1866, depending on the state, it has been a federal holiday since this legislation, meaning that all government institution employees nationwide will have a paid day off. While not mandatory, it is expected that other institutions like banks, businesses, and schools will also close and give their employees a day off, similar to Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Day.
How Juneteenth Began
June 19, 1865, marked a turning point in community history. On that day, Union troops, led by Major General Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston to announce that the Civil War had ended and all enslaved people were now free. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.
His intention was to free all enslaved people, but in August 1862, he wrote an open letter to Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune, describing his actions as an attempt to preserve the Union rather than abolish slavery.
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The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 declared that all persons held as slaves within rebellious states “are, and henceforward shall be free.” This meant the proclamation only applied to states that had seceded from the U.S., leaving slavery intact in border states and Southern areas under Northern control.
Additionally, the promise of abolition depended on the Union Army winning the Civil War, which didn’t happen until April 1865. A year later, the end of slavery began to be celebrated.
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