Juneteenth 101: The History, Meaning, and Why We Celebrate Today
Juneteenth (short for “June nineteenth”) is an important U.S. holiday that marks June 19, 1865 the day when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that all enslaved people were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation took effect.
Though slavery had been legally abolished earlier, enforcement lagged in remote areas like Texas.
Celebrations of Juneteenth began in 1866 in Texas, featuring church services, barbecues, and wearing fresh clothes to symbolize freedom. Over time, the holiday spread beyond Texas and became known as “Freedom Day” or “Black Independence Day”.
Juneteenth emerged as one of the oldest African American celebrations. It waned during the Civil Rights movement but resurged in the 1960s and again during the Black Lives Matter era, gaining national attention . In 2021, it became a federal holiday, the first new one since Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
We'll know it's Juneteenth when we hear General Order No. 3 read aloud or seen on display—often accompanied by moments of reflection, community gatherings, music, dancing, speeches, and traditional foods like barbecue, red velvet cake, and red drinks, symbolizing resilience.
Why celebrate?
To honor the delayed enforcement of emancipation for African Americans
To reflect on systemic injustice and the ongoing struggle for equality
To celebrate Black culture, resilience, and community contributions
Today, Juneteenth is embraced by people of many backgrounds. It’s a day of learning, reflection, celebration, and renewal, truly America’s second Independence Day.
Sources:
https://apnews.com/article/juneteenth-galveston-texas-1f8b201949c3197932d68036c0472686