Juneteenth is the country’s oldest national commemoration of the abolition of slavery. Learn about the origins of this yearly celebration, which takes place on June 19th each year.
Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) commemorates the day in 1865 when federal forces arrived in Galveston, Texas to seize control of the state and free all enslaved people.
On January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation Was Issued
The Emancipation Proclamation released slaves in states that were at the time fighting the US. The Proclamation gained traction thanks to Union forces stationed in certain areas. This did not apply to the border states, though.
The Civil War ended
Part of General Order No. 3 Encouraged the Newly Freed People to Remain With Their Past Owners
“It is urged that the freedmen remain quiet in their current houses and work for wages.” They’ve been told that they won’t be able to collect at military stations and that they won’t be supported in their inactivity there or elsewhere.”3 urged newly liberated persons to stay with their previous owners.
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The Period After Juneteenth Is Known as the ‘scatter‘
Many former slaves departed the area during the original reading, despite the recommendation to stay put. Formerly enslaved persons departed Texas in large numbers in the weeks after the Civil War to find family members and start a new life in the postbellum United States. The Period After Juneteenth Is Known as the ‘scatter‘
Former slaves abandoned their posts when they heard the first reading, despite the order’s request that they stay in their owner’s place. They left their state in large numbers in the weeks following the pronouncement that they were already free.
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They left to seek better chances and reunite with their families. In every sense, these Juneteenth facts are incredible.
Juneteenth Has Been Celebrated Under Many Names
To mention a few, there are Independence Day, Jubilee Day, Cel-Liberation Day, Second Independence Day, and Emancipation Day. One of the lesser-known Juneteenth facts is that the holiday has been known by several different names. It went by various different names before becoming the Juneteenth that we know today.
Texas Was Bought Specifically to Celebrate Juneteenth
Former slaves Richard Allen, Richard Brock, Jack Yates, and Elias Dibble paid $800 for the 10-acre plot of land in 1872. A 10-acre plot of land was purchased by Richard Allen, Elias Dibble, Jack Yates, and Richard Brock. This happened in 1872, and the price tag was a mere $800. Emancipation Park, in Houston, Texas, is now the name of the park. The land’s owners were former slaves who purchased it, particularly for the Juneteenth celebration.
Early 20th-century Juneteenth Celebrations Declined.
Jim Crow restrictions stifled freedom celebrations. Furthermore, the Great Depression pushed many black farming families to relocate from rural to urban regions in search of jobs, making it difficult to take the day off to commemorate the occasion.
Jim Crow laws were municipal and state legislation in the United States that enforced racial segregation. This dampened the jubilation of independence at the time. This had an impact on Juneteenth as well. In addition, black agricultural families relocated from rural areas to metropolitan areas in search of work.
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The Great Depression was a major factor in this. As a result, many families found it impossible to take vacation days to mark their independence. This is without a doubt one of the saddest Juneteenth facts on the list.
The Celebration of Juneteenth Was Revived During the Civil Rights Movement
Jim Crow restrictions stifled the celebration of freedom. Furthermore, the Great Depression pushed many black farming families to relocate to cities in search of jobs, making it difficult to take the day off to celebrate. In the year 1968. The Poor People’s Campaign was founded by Martin Luther King Jr.
It was an attempt to achieve economic justice and equality for the impoverished in the United States. King planned the move to coincide with the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in Washington. Those who attended the march brought the same joy to their hometowns and states. Soon after, the holiday was reborn.
Celebrations of Juneteenth Continue
Public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, singing traditional songs, and readings of works by notable African American writers are among the traditions. Rodeos, street fairs, cookouts, family reunions, park parties, historical reenactments, and Miss Juneteenth contests are all examples of Juneteenth celebrations.
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Congress enacted legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday this year, thanks to the work of 94-year-old activist Opal Lee, who began touring state to state to raise awareness about the cause in 2016. On June 17, 2021, President Biden signed the bill into law.
President Biden Signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act
Since President Ronald Reagan signed a measure in 1983 making Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday, this is the first holiday to be approved. The emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans is commemorated on Juneteenth.
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On this day in 1865, Union troops led by Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to deliver General Order No. 3, which legally ended slavery in the state.
The Juneteenth Flag Is Full of Symbolism
L.J. Graf, the designer of the Juneteenth flag, crammed a lot of symbolism into her design. To show that the enslaved people and their descendants were Americans, the colors red, white, and blue mirror the American flag.
The bursting “new star” on the “horizon” of the red and blue fields represents new freedom and a new people, while the star in the middle pays honor to Texas.
Why Is Juneteenth So Important?
Juneteenth is the country’s oldest and most widely observed commemoration of the abolition of slavery. A Union General rode into Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, to announce that the Civil War was over and that slaves had been released.
How Do You Celebrate Juneteenth Respectfully?
- Learn the full history. Although June 19, 1865, marks Juneteenth, the end of slavery was not so clear-cut. …
- Celebrate. …
- Support Black-owned businesses. …
- Acknowledge and spread the word. …
- Donate to support organizations. …
- Attend Juneteenth events.
Why Should We Observe Juneteenth Every Year?
Juneteenth is a holiday in the United States that commemorates the abolition of slavery. Juneteenth Independence Day is another name for Emancipation Day. The term “Juneteenth” is a combination of the words “June” and “nineteenth,” and it refers to the holiday’s date.
