What day is Juneteenth celebrated? June 19
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is a national holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
On June 19th, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger and the Union Army arrived in Galveston, Texas, bearing news that the Civil War was over and that the Emancipation Proclamation had officially ended slavery. Because Texas was a remote state within the Confederacy, the Emancipation Proclamation, released two-and-a-half years (2½?) earlier on January 1, 1863, had not yet been enforced.
Upon Granger’s announcement and its subsequent enforcement, now-former slaves rejoiced. Many immediately abandoned the plantations to which they had been bound and moved away — often to the North —– while others remained with their masters-turned-employers to figure out what life would be like as employees instead of slaves.
Over time, and especially into the 1900s and the Great Depression, celebration of this holiday waned. But when the Civil Rights movement began in the 1950s and ‘60s, it experienced a resurgence. Activists remembered the day as a reminder of the past and as a galvanizing influence to continue fighting against segregation for equal rights.
On January 1, 1980, the efforts of Al Edwards, an African-American legislator from Texas, resulted in Juneteenth becoming a state holiday. Since then, Juneteenth has increased in popularity and in celebration all throughout the country, and it has evolved into a day celebrating African-American culture and heritage.
How to celebrate: Juneteenth festivities are similar in tone to Fourth of July celebrations, often involving cookouts and barbecues, along with playing and observing games of baseball or going fishing. Juneteenth traditionally also focuses on self-improvement and education, with prayer services also commonly being observed.
What is the hashtag? Hashtags for Juneteenth include #Juneteenth, #NationalFreedomDay and #Emancipation