Today, June 19 is a federal holiday known as Juneteenth. It is a day that Black people have been celebrating for over a century, but only just recently become a national holiday.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth came about when President Abraham Lincoln took the historical step towards abolishing slavery as the Civil War was raging on. He did this by signing the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation stated that “all persons held as slaves” in Confederate states rebelling against the Union “are, and henceforward shall be free.”
However, the process of freeing the slaves and the war continued for years after the order was issued. More than two years after Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox in April 1865, which started the final chapter of the conflict.
On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and U.S. Major General Gordon Granger informed enslaved people of their freedom. He did so by reading General Orders No. 3: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”
Juneteenth is the oldest recorded celebration that pays tribute to the end of slavery in the United States. However, it did not officially mark the abolition of slavery in the country. That did not happen until the 13th Amendment was ratified, which made slavery illegal nationwide. This was adopted on December 6, 1865. Nevertheless, many Black Americans have observed June 19 for generations.
Paying Tribute
Tommie D. Boudreaux, a founding member of the Galveston Historical Foundation African American Heritage Committee, told Time that the day recognizes that Black Americans “played a major part of building America.”
Recognizing
The first state to recognize Juneteenth as a holiday was Texas. That happened in 1980. After which several other states followed Texas’ lead. While he was President, Barack Obama marked Juneteenth multiple times. However, it was former President Joe Biden who designated Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021. His decision came a year after the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor sparked racial justice protests across the country.
In his proclamation, former President Biden stated, “As those who were formerly enslaved were recognized for the first time as citizens, Black Americans came to commemorate Juneteenth with celebrations across the country, building new lives and a new tradition that we honor today. In its celebration of freedom, Juneteenth is a day that should be recognized by all Americans. And that is why I am proud to have consecrated Juneteenth as our newest national holiday.”
He went on to say, “Juneteenth is a day of profound weight and power. A day in which we remember the moral stain and terrible toll of slavery on our country—what I’ve long called America’s original sin. A long legacy of systemic racism, inequality, and inhumanity. But it is a day that also reminds us of our incredible capacity to heal, hope, and emerge from our darkest moments with purpose and resolve.”
A Holiday Long Overdue
Many people felt it was long overdue.
Now, Juneteenth is a federal holiday, which means many businesses will be closed, but other events and activities will be open. For example, the Chicago museums are offering admission. There will also be other celebrations around the city or close by. This includes celebrations in Evanston, Aurora, and at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center.
By Sheena Robertson
Sources:
NBC5 Chicago: Is Juneteenth a federal holiday? What’s open and closed Friday
Time: What Is Juneteenth and How Did It Become a Federal Holiday?
Image by 2C2KPhotography Courtesy of Wikimedia – Creative Commons License
