Juneteenth

‘Juneteenth’ by Amiri Farris Courtesy Of The Artist

What is the meaning of Juneteenth? Why is it important? Why is it celebrated?

Juneteenth is the oldest celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Freedom finally came to more than 250,000 enslaved on June 19, 1865, when roughly 2,000 Union troops in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that the enslaved Black people in Texas were free by executive decree two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation which had became official January 1, 1863. This day would become to be known as “Juneteenth,” by the newly freed Black people in Texas. Juneteenth continues to be respected and honored in Texas decades later, with many descendants of the enslaved making an annual pilgrimage back to Galveston on this date.

President Joe Biden signed legislation on June 17, 2021 that made June 19th, the country’s newest federal holiday. Juneteenth celebrates a second Independence Day in the United States according to the National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC). Today, Juneteenth takes on a national, global, and symbolic perspective however, the events of 1865 in Texas are not forgotten. The African American freedom and achievement continues to encourage continuous self-development and respect for all cultures. According to Juneteenth.com, getting involved and supporting Juneteenth celebrations creates new bonds of friendship and understanding among us. This indeed brightens our future – and that is the Spirit of Juneteenth. 

Happy Juneteenth to you and yours!