Not everyone grew up knowing about Juneteenth. A great way to celebrate this holiday can include sharing and educating others about it. Juneteenth, or Freedom Day is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. This holiday is considered the longest running African American holiday and has been called America's second Independence Day. It has been celebrated by African Americans and their loved ones for over 150 years.
Juneteenth is a commemoration of the Emancipation of enslaved Black Americans, which was proclaimed by Presiden Lincoln on January 1, 1863, yet it wasn’t until June 19, 1865, some two and a half years later, that Union soldiers rode into Galveston, Texas and read President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation to the public. Therefore, the Juneteenth holiday recognizes that day in 1865 when all enslaved black Americans were finally notified of the end of slavery in America. Formerly enslaved people in Galveston celebrated after the announcement. The following year, freedmen in Texas organized the first of what became the annual celebration of "Jubilee Day" on June 19.
Retired teacher, counselor and activist, Opal Lee campaigned for decades to make Juneteenth a federally recognized holiday. She promoted the cause by leading an annual 2.5-mile walk (representing the 2.5 years it took for the emancipation news to reach Texas). Today, Opal Lee’s goal is a reality, she was present in 2021 at the White House when President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, making Juneteenth (June 19th) a Federal Holiday.
Celebration Ideas
Check your local community for a list of celebrations. You will find many ways to celebrate, including Parades, Festivals, Backyard BBQ, supporting black-owned businesses and restaurants, donating to a local charity or organization, starting a Juneteenth celebration in your community or family, starting a family tree, having a family gathering and sharing personal stories of success, reading books, watching movies and visiting museums that explain history from the African American perspective. Find you way and celebrate this June 19th!