Juneteenth

- And why we need to celebrate it

By Miko Evans

Sources: The Smithsonian Institution

Photos: History of Black Gay America/Meak Productions

Juneteenth is one of the newest treasures added to the list of federal national holidays.

Union soldiers, many of whom were black, marched onto plantations and across cities in the South, reading small copies of the Emancipation Proclamation and spreading the news of freedom in the Confederate States. Only through the Thirteenth Amendment did emancipation end slavery throughout the United States.

While many in our country consider this a recent phenomenon, the black community has carried this tradition for years. For those who don’t know the reason for this memorable holiday, let’s bring our attention to American history.

The post-emancipation period, Reconstruction (1865-1877), marked an era of great hope, uncertainty, and struggle for the nation. Formerly enslaved people immediately sought to reunify families, establish schools, run for political office, push radical legislation, and even sue slaveholders for compensation. Given the 200+ years of enslavement, such changes were remarkable. Not even a generation out of slavery, African Americans were inspired and empowered to transform their lives and country.

By definition, Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated on June 19 to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the US. The holiday was first celebrated in Texas, where on that date in 1865, in the aftermath of the Civil War, enslaved people were declared free under the terms of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation.

However, many history books forgot to mention that not everyone in Confederate territory would immediately be free. According to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Emancipation Proclamation could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control. As a result, enslaved people would not be free in the westernmost Confederate state of Texas until much later. Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state were free by executive decree. This day came to be known as “Juneteenth” by the newly freed people in Texas.

Because of the continued injustice that people of color still face, Juneteenth was considered the black community’s independence day. Many millennial and Gen-Z African-Americans no longer had an interest in investing their time celebrating July 4 as many felt this country never really rectified its original sin, “Slavery.” Although long celebrated in the black community, this monumental event remains largely unknown to most Americans.

Juneteenth makes the 2nd holiday dedicated to African-American heritage (The 1st being MLK Holiday).

The historical legacy of Juneteenth shows the value of perseverance, strength, determination, and endurance. Making this moment a national holiday was long overdue and a step in the right direction for this country to heal and progress.