The History of Juneteenth
Written by Rolando Segovia
Wars are fought for various reasons, and the American Civil War was no different. Slavery was just one of the many root causes. The Civil War led to Abraham Lincoln signing the Emancipation Proclamation, which considered the slaves free in Confederate states that participated in the Civil War (Wong 2022 https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/emancipation-proclamation).
Even though the idea of freedom is viewed as universal by Americans during the 4th of July, it’s important to realize that it didn’t apply to every group centuries ago. That’s why Juneteenth exists: to directly celebrate the freeing of Black slaves. Therefore, we are here to share with you the history of this important holiday.
Even though the idea of freedom is viewed as universal by Americans during the 4th of July, it’s important to realize that it didn’t apply to every group centuries ago. That’s why Juneteenth exists: to directly celebrate the freeing of Black slaves. Therefore, we are here to share with you the history of this important holiday.
How it was created
Juneteenth celebrates the freeing of all enslaved people in the United States by recognizing when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, which was 2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Major General Gordon Granger read General Order 3 to the public about Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation: “The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive Office of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer.” While the proclamation did not necessarily free the slaves immediately, it set the precedent for what would become the 13th Amendment, which made slavery illegal throughout the country.
Reverend Jack Yates, a minister and community leader, made the first instance of a land purchase that was made through the spirit of Juneteenth in 1872. Booker T. Washington Park in Mexia, Texas became a cultural landmark for people to celebrate that day, despite disapproval from white landowners. Currently, there is an average weekly attendance of 20,000 African-Americans. Even so, its significance still failed to gain much traction outside of the small community.
Reverend Jack Yates, a minister and community leader, made the first instance of a land purchase that was made through the spirit of Juneteenth in 1872. Booker T. Washington Park in Mexia, Texas became a cultural landmark for people to celebrate that day, despite disapproval from white landowners. Currently, there is an average weekly attendance of 20,000 African-Americans. Even so, its significance still failed to gain much traction outside of the small community.
Juneteenth in the 20th Century
The 20th century marked the biggest highs and lows for Juneteenth. Much of the decline occurred at the start of the era, when it was overshadowed by July 4th and school curricula that ignored the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation from Black perspective. Reignited awareness of the holiday started to pick up during the Civil Rights Movement of the 40s and 60s. The movement led to great social and judicial changes in America, as well as an increase of Juneteenth celebrations for all of the victories of the African American community against racism.
Albert Ely “Al” Edwards, an African American state legislator, worked tirelessly to pass a bill to make Juneteenth a state holiday. His efforts led to success on January 1, 1980, when Texas became the first state in the country to make Juneteenth an official holiday
Albert Ely “Al” Edwards, an African American state legislator, worked tirelessly to pass a bill to make Juneteenth a state holiday. His efforts led to success on January 1, 1980, when Texas became the first state in the country to make Juneteenth an official holiday
Juneteenth in the 21st Century
Far from the early 20th century, the new millennium has consistently kept the tradition of Juneteenth alive with organizations that proudly commemorate this day. A website has been designed specifically about the special day, filled with its history, merchandise, and tips on how to celebrate it. The main takeaway is that, whether you’re a small website or a corporation, spreading the word about Juneteenth has never been easier. Their income has been applied to creating annual Juneteenth events in parts of the U.S. to further spread information about it.
Juneteenth becomes a Federal Holiday
Centuries of activism finally came to fruition in July 2021, when President Joe Biden signed legislation to officially make Juneteenth a federal holiday. Decades of African Americans fighting for increased representation doubtlessly helped formulate this historic event. This should be viewed as an inspirational story of what occurs when brave people battle against the odds of bigotry.
Disclaimer regarding articles that discuss race/ethnicity:
At Run on History, we strive to promote equality and make sure that all of our articles that cover sensitive topics are covered in the most respectful way possible.
While we aim to treat these topics with utmost mindfulness, we understand that best practices for referring to racial categories are debated. For both clarity and consistency, we have chosen to capitalize terms like “Black” and “White” when used as racial descriptors.
At Run on History, we strive to promote equality and make sure that all of our articles that cover sensitive topics are covered in the most respectful way possible.
While we aim to treat these topics with utmost mindfulness, we understand that best practices for referring to racial categories are debated. For both clarity and consistency, we have chosen to capitalize terms like “Black” and “White” when used as racial descriptors.